by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Despite going out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup to Alfreton Town last night, Mickleover leave with heads held high after a strong second half performance.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Gaby Adebambo 5-Michael Hollingsworth 6-Dany Benson 7-Brandon Ferron 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Tyreace Palmer 11-Josh Maskall. Subs: Cieron Keane, Liam Carter, Toby Smith, Finn Flanagan, Chris O’Grady.
The opening five minutes were fairly end to end, with Lund lofting a dangerous ball to Salmon for the visitors, bringing out the first save of the night from home keeper Mersin.
But only seven minutes in and Mickleover were forced to make a change when Benson was injured and replaced by Keane.
Alfreton had been pressing and earned a succession of corners 12 minutes in. Osborne had headed on, but Waldock’s final effort was blocked by the home defence.
Maskall was causing problems for the visitors defence though, with his pace on the wing. Two minutes later he sprinted clear and fired in a strong cross to Beavon, but with the ball returned to whence it came, it then came to nought.
Carson almost latched onto a half chance for Alfreton after 16 minutes, but four minutes later the visiting keeper Robson was tested by Maskall, after another sprint down the wing.
Waldock headed out of the Alfreton defence after Matheson had been beaten, but on the half hour Francis broke through after picking up a Solademi pass, but his final shot was wide.
Waldock forced another save out of Mersin 34 minutes in, but a minute later Sports keeper was caught out by a long shot from Carson and it was 0-1.
Alfreton went close again five minutes later, when Mersin saved again from Osborne and almost on half time Keane went in the book for a foul on Francis, as it remained 0-1.
Just a few minutes into the second half Francis made another break out of the visitors half, he found Matheson but the cross was overhit and went for a goal kick. Three minutes later it was Francis again, picking up a ball from Cantrill, before his shot on the turn went over the bar.
But as the hour mark approached Mickleover had more and more possession, but the Alfreton defence stayed firm and Mersin had to make another save after a 62nd minutes, when Waldock got on the end of a telling break.
Maskall had continued to impress for Mickleover and earned another corner, before Sports made a 65th minute double substitution with Bennett and Palmer making way for Carter and Smith.
Sports had one of their better chances after 68 minutes, when Hollingsworth headed across the face of the goal, but there was no one to take advantage.
O’Grady then came on for Beavon, before Alfreton sub Day almost scored, when his effort cannoned off Salmon’s head.
Ferron went close for Sports with a powerful strike after 88 minutes, well saved by keeper Burton, but in time added Waldock made it 0-2 for our visitors and it was game over.
