Mickleover Football Club

Report

By Girvane Bila

It was another week to forget for Mickleover Sports as Lancaster City beat them 3-1. This result sees them suffer successive defeats and slip down to 7th in the league. 

A consolation goal from Mickleover substitute Jiri Boula and goals from Lancaster’s Matthew Blinkhorn, David Norris and Charlie Bailey were enough to see off Sports in a deficient performance. 

In the first five minutes, Mickleover were on the front foot showing enthusiasm with the first chance coming when Samuel Ashton saved Lee Hughes’ shot from inside the area. 

Lancaster had a chance of their own when Jack Armer’s great cross was met by an even greater acrobatic strike from Charlie Bailey which Nathan Broome terrifically saved. 

The referee had a big decision to make in the 12th minute when Paul Dawson brought down Captain Jake Scott with a horrific tackle. However, referee R. Richards only gave the midfielder a yellow card. 

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Jack Armer’s free kick found their number nine Matthew Blinkhorn who guided it past Broome with his head giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

Lancaster could have doubled their lead ten minutes later when Bailey found space to unleash a shot from close range, which was metres away from goal.

The visitors eventually doubled the lead in the 37th minute when David Norris’ curling shot deflected in. 

The second half saw a red card early in the half when Richard Batchelor’s dangerous challenge sparked a mini brawl and resulted in his dismissal.

With Sports down to ten men, the visitors saw this as a chance to further punish them. And they did after Bailey found himself through on goal and sealed the win for the visitors. 

They could have furthered their lead to four when Robert Wilson’s ambitious long-range strike hit the crossbar and the fingertips of Broome saved Samuel Bailey’s fierce shot. 

Mickleover substitute Boula’s teasing cross found midfielder Stuart Beavon who could not firmly head it on goal in the 83rd minute before Lancaster’s Blinkhorn could have doubled his tally but fired over. 

Boula then had a chance to score when Beavon showed composure and found him but could only fire it over the bar. 

He made up for the miss in the 90th minute when Beavon found him with a cutback and slotted it past the keeper.

John McGrath’s men will want to rally after two dismal performances against Matlock last week and now Lancaster at home.

Sports will want to win against Basford United in a FA Trophy qualifying round encounter at Greenwich Avenue next Saturday on the 26th of October.

Mickleover Sports: 1. Nathan Broome 2. Durrell Berry 3. Ben Turner 4. Mason Warren (Boula 71’) 5. Pablo Mills 6. Greg Young (Watters 62’) 7. Stuart Beavon, 8. Jake Scott (C) 9. Lee Hughes (Tvaroh 62’) 10. Nathan Modest 11. Richard Batchelor (red card 51’)

Subs; 12. Karel Tvaroh 13. Louis Jones 14. Jiri Boula 15. Ricky Ravenhill 16. Max Watters

Lancaster City: 1. Samuel Ashton 2. Lewis Fensome 3. Matthew Williams 4. Niall Cowperthwaite 5. Green Steel 6. Simon Willis (Bailey 70’) 7. Charlie Bailey 8. Paul Dawson (Wilson 60’) 9. Matthew Blinkhorn 10. David Norris (Roache 68’) 11. Jack Armer 

Subs: 12. Samuel Bailey 13. Maxwell Povey 14. Rowan Roache 15. Bradley Carsley 16. Robert Wilson