by Peter Scherer (Photos: Steve Ingers)
After the disappointment at Tuesday’s home defeat to Ilkeston, Mickleover were hoping for better fortune as they faced table toppers Hebburn Town.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2- Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Dan Bradley 6-Luke Cox 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Dylan Edwards 11- Nathan Opoko. Subs: Charlie Hickingbottom, Leojo Davidson, Dylan Scott, Toby Smith, Brandon Ferron.
The visitors won an early free kick which was headed away by the home defence, but after four minutes they were on the attack again, with Robinson’s shot blocked.
Mickleover had their first real chance on goal seven minutes in, when Edwards curling shot was just over. But with a fairly even start to the game, both defences were looking fairly solid, with Hebburn not having conceded a goal so far this season.
But there was another chance for Mickleover after 14 minutes, new signing Opoko turned defender Haywood, laying off to Beavon who earned a corner. Edwards won the ball as it came in to the box, but again it was just over.
The visitors defence had begun to be the busier of the two and after 19 minutes Opoko crossed for Beavon, he went down after a push in the back with appeals made, but nothing was give.
Hornets skipper Purewal was their top scorer last season, when they gained promotion as North Premier East Division Champions and he was the man to break the deadlock again.
Only two minutes after he had been flagged offside Purewal slid the ball past Mersin, after Noble had put the ball over the defence for him to run onto, 0-1.
Edwards then chased down a long ball out defence from Mickleover, but was caught offside, but Purewal wentdown as Hebburn attacked again, but like Mickleover’s earlier, the appeals were waved away.
But Sports were pushing hard to try and seek the equaliser, but attempts to break down the right were stopped went Walton managed to block.
Despite having gone down to the earlier goal, Mickleover were still standing firm and keeping Hebburn attacks at bay, as well as dominating the possesson.
Just after Sports had another penalty appeal waved away,when Dales was brought down, a counter attack by the visitors was intercepted again by some strong defending.
With half time approaching Mickleover earned another corner which came to nought, before play switched and the home defence dealt with another cross following a free kick.
With almost the last kick of the half, a long ball was played out of the Mickleover defence, but cleared by the visitors, only for a cross to be fired back in, with a follow up header just wide, and so it remained 0-1.
Mickleover had replaced Opoko with Davidson and started the second half with passion and after just one minute there was as hot just wide of Hunter’s near post.
But after the initial flurry, Hebburn tried to press again with Noble’s effort just wide of the far post after a positive build up. But once again it was Mickleover in possession,with the final ball thwarting the quest for that elusive equaliser.
After another Hebburn cross had been headed away, Sports tested Hunter with a shot from just outside the box, after an initial parry, he caught the ball again.
Mickleover were still very much in the game, but Hebburn were also firing in some challenging crosses, Mickleover continued to source the equaliser and Hebburn tried to seal the points.
Just after Scott had replaced Beavon, Mersin caught another effort from Heywood after 69 minutes, but seven minutes later, Purewal went down in the box, the penalty was awarded and he stepped up to make it 0-2.
Wilson put a Mickleover free kick just wide of the far post after 79 minutes, but the ball just wasn’t breaking for Sports.
In the last 10 minutes Ferron and Hickingbottom replaced Edwards and Cox, but Hebburn pushed hard for a third. Blocks by the defence, a couple of saves from Mersin and a last minute clearance off the line by Hickingbottom, kept the score at 0-2 as we now go back on the road to Leek Town on Tuesday.
“I think one of our first half penalty appeals was legitimate and the decision on their’s could have gone either way. We had the majority of the possession in both halves, so that was frustrating,” said Sports managerGareth Holmes.
“Their first goal was against the run of play, but we needed to hurt their back line to. Although we were better in defence than the last game, we made mistakes and it cost us. We are still adjusting to this league, the style and the clubs, but we need to maximise our opportunities. But some positive performances on the field, which we need to carry into the next games,” he concluded.
