by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
It was back to winning ways for Mickleover, as they came away from the Don Amott Arena 3-1 winners over second in the table Basford Utd.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Danny Benson 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wlkinson 7-Archie White 8-Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Manni Norkett. Subs: Paddy Webb, Ross Derham, Josiah Dyer, Josh Ashman, Thabang Dube.
From the kick off Mickleover starting to challenge the visitors and after five minutes White cut inside from the right for the first shot of the game, just over the bar.
From there Sports were in the ascendancy and a few minutes later Norkett dispossessed two defenders to pass to Beavon, his shot was saved by keeper Yates, but it fell to White who struck if sweetly into the back of the net, 1-0.
Norkett was causing havoc and after nine minutes his hard work sent Dales on his first run. He created the space but his shot was well off target.
Basford tried to capitalise after a brief moment of uncertainty in the home defence, but the danger was soon cleared.
Keane and Norkett then combined to make good progress, but the Basford defence managed to thwart the advance.
There was more pressure from the visitors after a series of corners 17 minutes in. The ball was heading goalwards, but Wilkinson managed to head it off the line and keep the lead intact.
There was more sustained pressure from Mickleover with Keane, Atkinson, White and Dales blending well in midfield, provided a strong feed to Norkett and Beavon up front.
After 25 minutes Dales outpaced the defence on the left, but keeper Yates just made it to the ball before Norkett.
Three minutes later Basford had their best chance f the game, after Nyle Blake broke through, but McDowell was quickly off his line and blocked the striker with his feet.
Dales had another shot saved after 36 minutes, after Norkett’s resilience had paid dividends and two minutes Beavon almost put White in the clear again.
Mickleover had created more chances and had the greater of the possession in the first half, but with one minute left on the clock, Connor Dimaio picked up a corner on the edge of the box, and struck it into top left hand corner, to end the half on equal terms, 1-1.
Mickleover came out fighting in the second half and just three minutes in Dales was hacked down. Keane stepped up to take the free kick, floated in to find Benson on the right, who headed it home 2-1.
Four minutes later Jordy Hallam tried his luck for the visitors, his effort went across the face of the goal, but fortunately no one was on hand to connect.
Basford continued to look for the equaliser again, but Benson, Gascoigne, Wilkinson and Bennett had grown in confidence at the moment.
But just past the hour Blake broke through again, just about on side, but with just McDowell to beat he shot wide of the left-hand post.
Mickleover’s first change was Dyer for Beavon after 64 minutes, before Basford won a free kick just outside the box on the left, only to go to waste.
Keane dropped another free kick nicely into the box after 68 minutes, winning a corner that was cleared. But Basford then broke and with McDowell charging out his goal, the ball was somehow played past him, but Bennett intercepted.
Bennett had started to push forward more on the left and having got clear after 70 minutes, he cross was a little too close to Yates, who collected with ease.
After Webb had replaced Norkett on the 70 minute mark, McDowell had to make another save low down with his feet, as Basford continued to seek that elusive equaliser.
Dales almost connected with Webb after cross from the left, but the clock was counting down. Ashman replaced White for the final seven minutes, but ten victory was sealed, when Bennett’s hard work found Webb on the left. He cut back inside to find Bennett, who continued his run and fired home to make it 3-1 and secure all three points.
Derham and Dube were late subs to replace Keane and Dales, and McDowell had to make another late save from a long range shot, but it was Mickleover’s day, completing the double over our Nottinghamshire visitors.
