by Peter Scherer
Mickleover welcomed Belper Utd to the Don Amott Arena for their second pre-season match, on what turned out to be a very wet night.
Starting line-up: 1- Jack McDowell 2- Jake Bennett 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Danny Benson 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7- Andy Dales 8- Harry Wood 9- Paddy Webb 10- Stuart Beavon 11- Steven Johnson-Fikula. Subs: Josh Carter, Liam Carter, Archie White, Ryan Wilson, James Matthews, Toby Smith, Trialist A and Trialist B.
Mickleover were onto the attack from the start, with Beavon almost connecting with Webb in the box in the first five minutes, before a late interception by the Belper defence.
A few minutes later Ferron had the first of his runs down the left, his cross was intercepted however before Sports strikers could connect again.
Dales went close after 10 minutes and earned a corner, but Belper continued to try and push forward themselves, to aid the pressure on their defence.
It was another overlap down the left from Ferron that led to the first goal after 14 mins, when his cross was met by Webb who buried it into the far corner, 1-0.
Two minutes later Belper were on the attack, but McDowell had it covered, with a save at the strikers feet, followed a few minutes later by another shot over the bar.
20 minutes in and Mickleover won a free kick on the left. Dales’ kick found Beavon, but his effort was just wide. But Belper were still trying to challenge the home defence and had another shot deflected wide after 23 mins.
With Benson, Offler and Wilkinson looking strong at the back, Bennett and Ferron were able to use the wings positively, while both Wood and Fikula had plenty of possession in midfield.
Dales and Beavon headed another good build up after 27 minutes, before Wood placed a shot just wide. Beavon was close again 11 minutes later, when Dales put him through, forcing a good save from the Belper keeper.
It had been a strong all round performance from Mickleover in the first half who more than deserved their 1-0 lead.
There were no initial changes for the start of the second half and five minutes into the restart Sports went close again. Dales cut through on the left before firing in his cross, but Wood’s header was just wide again.
With the hour mark approaching the rain was getting heavier and heavier and it also prompted a mass substitution from Mickleover, bringing all eight subs on.
Liam Carter was soon in the action, firing over the bar from close range, before Belper earned a free kick, which sailed over the bar too.
Josh Carter had a 70th minute shot saved after cutting in from the left and two minutes later Sports went close again after a goalmouth scramble.
White fired in a telling cross from the right after 74 minutes, but found no one waiting before another shot was fired in but held by the visitors keeper.
Smith sent in a telling cross from the right after 84 minutes, but Josh Carter just missed connecting. But Carter was then fouled in the box and stepped up to convert the following penalty, sealing the 2-0 win.