by Peter Scherer
Sports first home game in pre-season pitched us against our ground sharing tenants Belper Utd. Belper were in their fourth pre-season game and took charge late into the first half to take a 2-1 victory.
Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2- Josh Ashman 3-Sam Sanders 4-Cieron Keane 5-Hamza Bencherif 6-George Wilkinson 7-Kane Richards 8-Andy Dales 9- Trialist A 10-Jude Taylor 11-Rheo Rowe, Subs: Jack McDowell; Trialist B; Callum Minkley; Archie White; Trialist C; Josh Carter; Manni Norkett; Liam Carter; Tyrell Waite.
It was a fairly lively start with Mickleover pushing forward at every opportunity. Dales cut in from the left after eight minutes, taking the ball almost to the line before keeper Fryatt intercepted.
Two minutes later Rowe cut in from the same side but his final shot was blocked. Belper then had a break but a rushed shot was well wide of Chapman’s goal.
Rowe continued to taunt the visitors defence and went close after 15 minutes, cutting in again from a tight angle, the keeper was forced into his first real save low to his right.
Trialist A then had a shot just wide, before he was replaced by Norkett, who became Mickleover’s target man.
After August had another shot wide for Belper, the game began to settle with possession more even between the two sides, after Mickleover’s hectic start.
After a 25th minute corner had come to nought Dales and Norkett combined after latching onto a Sanders clearance, but the Belper defence rallied and were able to stifle any chance of shooting.
A few minutes later Bencherif cut out a dangerous run from August, but the Mickleover defence were starting to be tested.
Just after the half hour Richards put a lovely cross into the box but Norkett couldn’t connect.It but what was now end went in Belper’s favour after 40 minutes. Chapman had already made a close range reflex save from August, but had no chance when Bruce fired in the opening goal 0-1.
Barely two minutes later Bruce nearly made it two for Belper, but his shot was blocked before Mickleover responded with another threatening cross from Richards. Norkett managed to collect, but was unable to get pace or direction on his shot.
With half time approaching Rowe went on another solo run until his path was blocked on the edge of the box, and with the whistle poised Dales fired in a low drive comfortably collected by Fryatt.
There was one change for the second half with Minkley on for Rowe, taking over at right back as Ashman moved into midfield.
After Belper had wasted a 48th minute free kick, Dales got a break and crossed into the box but found no one to receive. A corner soon followed, Ashman got his head to it but it was out for a goal kick.
The change in formation had been looking more solid, but after 50 minutes the defence were caught out again, when a cross from the Belper right found Nassor almost unmarked. He slotted it past Chapman and it 0-2.
Trialist C then came on for Keane as Mickleover continued to push forward. Dales picked up a loose ball from the Belper defence, got his cross in to find Norkett, but again the defence blocked his turn and the chance was gone.
A succession of corner’s followed but after 58 minutes a ball. through the middle found Norkett. This time he got the shot in but it was agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.
A flurry of activity on the subs bench around the hour mark saw White on for Taylor and the Carter twins for Richards and Dales, which saw a sudden upsurge of pace from Mickleover.
Sanders had a header just wide after 65 minutes and then Trialist B replaced Bencherif and Waite came on for Sanders. Waite had become the new target man for Norkett to run on to, but he had barely been on the field more than a few minutes, when the referee gave him a yellow card for a tackle which to onlookers seemed OK. But as Waite questioned the decision he was shown a red, with the over officious referee refusing to restart play until the player was back in the changing room.
Mickleover had been down to 10 men for just four minutes when Josh Carter pulled a goal back with a fine solo run 1-2. Two minutes later he had outpaced the defence again, crossed and almost connected with brother Liam.
Josh’s pace on the left wing saw him whip in more crosses as an equaliser almost seemed imminent, chances continued to come and go, but Chapman was called into action again after 80 minutes, when Goddard got on the end of a Belper break, forcing a fine save.
Time was running out though, but with just two minutes left a long ball from Minkley found Josh Carter, he found Norkett who set up Liam, but his effort was just off target.
So 19 players got valuable game time, different strategies and game plans were tried, some worked, some didn’t. But that’s what pre-season is about as we now look to our visit to Retford on Saturday.
