by Harry Day (Images: Steve Ingers)
A second-half strike from Kane Richards was enough to ensure Mickleover’s FA Trophy Campaign would live on as the Sports came from behind to defeat Sutton Coldfield Town.
Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2-Darryl Powell 3-Sam Sanders 4-Josh Ashman 5- Hamza Bencherif 6-George Wilkinson 7-Andy Dales 8-Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Kane Richards 11-Theo Rowe
Subs: Manni Norkett, Charlie Hickingbottom, Jude Taylor, Josh Carter, Will Atkinson
It was the visitors who came out of the blocks the quicker of the two sides, as they looked to get on the front foot from the first whistle. Sutton Coldfield were looking particularly threatening down the wing as Luca Taylor, brother of Jude, looked to be causing some issues.
Down the other end of the pitch, Mickleover were struggling to remain on the ball for a prolonged period of time, not allowing them to create anything of genuine threat. The closest the hosts came in the opening 15 minutes was through a first-time effort from Cieron Keane that was struck with some force, but rose too quickly.
The Sports’ first effort on target came from Hamza Bencherif, heading the ball towards goal and forcing Brandon Ganley into action. Kane Richards picked up the rebound and rifled an effort that was deflected behind for a corner.
Whilst the backline was generally dealing with the Sutton Coldfield attacks well, the visitors were passing the ball around well; the opening goal did feel like it was on its way for the visitors.
The breakthrough was inches away from being made by Sutton Coldfield in the 24th minute as the bar was struck before Aaron Chapman was called into action, denying a long-range effort from James McGrady.
McGrady would have his say on proceedings in the 32nd minute, driving through the centre of the pitch before playing a beautifully weighted pass through to Kory Burke, who slotted calmly past Chapman to give the visitors the lead.
It was deserved for Sutton Coldfield, who had enjoyed the large majority of attacks in this first-half. However, this lead turned out to be an extremely short-lived one.
A venture forward from Mickleover led to Andy Dales being fouled in the box, as the referee pointed to the spot. It was Cieron Keane who stepped up to take the spot kick, making no mistake in his finish with a thunderbolt of an effort into the right side of goal.
The teams would enter the break deadlocked. Sutton Coldfield had enjoyed the better share of play, but ultimately Mickleover had held out and got their equaliser as the momentum may well have taken a turn at the Vibrant Doors Arena.
The Sports came out with much more attacking intent in the second half, looking to get forward from the first whistle. The first real chance for the hosts to take the lead came as Dales drove forward before laying the ball off to Theo Rowe. The effort looked destined for the far corner, but Ganley got low to tip the ball beyond the far post and out for a corner kick.
Mickleover were looking the more threatening of the two sides now and made good with this statement on the hour mark as they gained the ascendancy in this tie.
It was a brilliantly worked goal from the home side, with the ball eventually ending up at the feet of Rowe on the wing, who fizzed a wonderful pass across goal towards an onrushing Kane Richards.
Mickleover’s number ten on the day fired the ball into the back of the net, making it two goals in two games for himself and completing the turnaround for his side.
The home side were the team firmly in control now as the central areas were being covered well by the likes of Cieron Keane and Josh Ashman, who was enjoying a brilliant performance in this one following his return to midfield against Stamford last week.
There was another return for Sports fans to be happy about in the 70th minute as Charlie Hickingbottom entered the field to help Mickleover see out what was left of the game.
As the game progressed, more players were introduced off the bench, including Will Atkinson and Jude Taylor, ready to face his brother.
Both teams had chances in the latter stages; Chapman was on form in this one, ensuring the result was not going to fall out of the Sports’ favour. The hosts even had the chance to wrap it up late on, but the effort was fired over the bar by Norkett.
But Richards’ goal was once again enough to ensure the victory for Mickleover as the Sports will now enter the hat for the third qualifying round of the competition. But now it is all eyes on Tuesday when they play host to Coleshill Town in the NPL Midlands Division.
