by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
A double strike from the visiting Warrington Rylands in the first half, ended any hopes Mickleover had of extending their unbeaten run. Finally gong down 1-1 after a late penalty from Dylan Edwards.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Curtis Weston 9-Wealth Da Silva 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Brandon Ferron. Subs: Dylan Edwards, Stefan Galinski, Josh Carter, Michael Hollingsworth, Gabby Adebambo.
In a fairly lively start, Rylands were the first to get a shot in, when Ben Hardcastle shot wide from a Jake Daniels cross after five minutes.
Four minutes later Ferron made ground on the wing in Sports first real attack, but as he fired his cross in, Matty Regan intercepted. But Alex Kiwomya then broke for the visitors, but his cross was intercepted too as Weston and Benson combined to halt any threat.
Ferron continued to progress, but as he was poised to shoot 11 minutes in, his path was cut off as he earned a corner.
Mickleover then a few minutes of more positivity in attack. On the 15th minute mark Dales successfully dummied the defence and had a nice one-two with Beavon, before Beavon earned a corner. The it was Beavon again two minutes later, finding Brown on the edge of the box. His first time shot however was just wide of the right-hand post.
The visitors quickly responded again and when Daniels crossed after 20 minutes, but Ferron intercepted. Just a minute Hardcastle’s swinging cross found Regan at the far post and his low header had Mersin beaten, 0-1.
Bennett then went down injured and had to be replaced by Edwards.
There was another chance for the visitors on the half hour, but Brown made sure Kiwomya’s progress was ended as he looked to the far post too.
Mickleover were struggling to be creative, as Rylands continued to hold the upperhand, but after 34 minutes Edwards did manage to get another cross into the box, but there was no one there to receive it.
Edwards had another shot blocked by Smith, before the visitors had the ball in the net again 40 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Mersin.
It wasn’t long before the visitors did get their second in time added on. Mersin had saved well from a Hardcastle fee kick, but Kiwomya was quickest off the mark, picked up the free ball and fired it home as we reached half time 0-2.
“We need to get the basics right and we were nowhere near that, very frustrating,” said Manager Gareth Holmes.
Rylands started the second half the stronger too, when Kiwomya’s pace sent in a dangerous cross after 49 minutes , but Waring fired his shot well over the bar.
Daniels then had another effort just wide for Rylands five minutes later, before Mersin tipped a following effort around the post.
Just before the hour mark Galinski and Adebambo came on for Ferron and Da Silva, before Burton tried his luck for the visitors only to be cut out by Atkinson.
Adebambo had added some pace to midfield and 65 minutes in his powerful shot whistled just wide of the left-hand post, but Mersin then had to be quick off his line too, to save a close range shot from Kiwomya.
Over the final 20 minutes Mickleover began to improve, starting with Dales effort palmed down by visiting keeper Luke Pilling.
Adebambo then squared the ball to Edwards, although the striker was able to turn and shoot, it was still just wide and one the best chances for Mickleover. After Adebambo took a knock, he was then replaced by Hollingsworth with 11 minutes left on the clock.
A long clearance then found Burton the clear, and he forced Mersin into another save. But time was running out when Dales was brought down by Harrison Hopper and a penalty awarded. Edwards stepped up to make it 1-2, but the final whistle soon followed and ended Mickleover’s hopes of climbing the table.
The damage was done in the first half, I wanted a reaction in the second half and the lads gave me that. We had more energy and a more competitive nature, but it was too little too late
Holmes concluded.
