by Peter Scherer
It had been five games without a win, as Mickleover took on third in the table Rushall Olympic, but having won the corresponding match back September, Sports once again returned to winning ways.
Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 15-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Pablo Mills, Marcus Marshall, Mitchell Rose.
It could so easily have been an opening goal for Mickleover in the first minute. The ball broke in the clear on the right, Reeves took his time to make sure he had control and managed to round the advancing keeper Jake Weaver and put the ball across right in front of goal. But no one managed to get the telling shot in and the chance was gone.
Beavon then found Dales on the right after five minutes following a throw, but his bending shot was well off target. He soon made amends though when he spotted Weaver guarding his near post, and cut in slightly from the left sending a curling shot beyond the keepers reach, but well inside that far post 1-0 after eight minutes.
Rushall went close to replying after a Sam Mantom free kick was headed on by Kristian Green, but well saved by Hedge at his far post. But Dales then led a break with Beavon and Reeves in support, but the move was cut off early.
A succession of corners kept the Mickleover defence on its toes, with William Shorrock going close after beating Mann on the Sports right, leaving Hedge to make a critical save with his legs.
Trueman was working hard to make a break into the visitors half, and give the home defence some respite, but his final shot after 15 minutes was just over the bar.
Butler in particular was looking strong in defence, but Rushall continued to push forward, forcing another good save from Hedge low to his left, after a Green header 25 minutes in.
Warren had come deeper to help the defence too and made a strong clearance for the strike force to chase, but Mann was having to work hard down the right to keeper Shorrock at bay.
It was almost number two for Sports after 34 minutes, when Beavon sent Reeves through. As he cut in from the right again his shot was deflected against the right-hand post, but the refs assistant gave a goal kick.
Rushall continued to push forward as half time began to approach, but Warren found Dales after 37 minutes. The cross came in but there was no one to receive, but a few minutes Trueman was first in the refs book.
It was into time added when Warren jinxed his way through the Rushall defence. He was clear with just the advancing keeper to beat, but pulled his shot wide and it remained 1-0 as the whistle blew.
There were no changes for the second half and it was good to see Sports firing on all cylinders from the start, which has quite often not been the case.
Beavon had a shot blocked as he followed up a Wilson free kick after 48 minutes. Mann then won a duel on the right to pull the ball back from the line, but there was no one to receive.
Weaver then had to punch away a half chance from Reeves after 55 minutes, before Shorrock tried his luck a minute later, only to be blocked by the Mickleover defence.
Both Mann and Wilson had started to push forward more, as Rushall didn’t seem to be as a big a threat as earlier. It was Mann who then crossed to find Beavon, who layed the ball off to Wilson, firing just inches over the bar as the hour mark approached.
Trueman put in a god cross to earn a corner after 62 minutes and shortly afterwards Sports made their first change with Nunn on for Reeves.
Bateman had played a quite deep defensive midfield role for most of the game, but with both full backs pushing forward, Butler and Watt were able to cope at the back, allowing Bateman more freedom.
A self-confessed non scorer, Bateman had scored against Ilkeston, but made it number two when he fired it home from just outside the box at the second attempt after 66 minutes 2-0.
Rushall made a number of changes but failed to match their first half threat and it was Mickleover that continued to create the chances.
72 minutes and after an initial clearance from a free kick, Butler shot just wide of the right hand post. Four minutes later Trueman should have made it three, when Nunn found him in the middle after a good build up, but the chance was soon gone.
Nunn was yellow carded for the kicking the ball away, but then went close himself after 79 minutes. He found his own space, but shot just wide of the left hand upright.
Marshall replaced Dales for the final 10 minutes, but it was all three points to Mickleover in an all-round team performance to be proud of.