by Peter Scherer
Mickleover’s hopes of reaching their first Derbyshire Senior Cup final for seven years were dashed, when a lack lustre performance saw Glossop secure a winning second half goal to finish 1-0 winners.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2- Josh Ashman 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Manni Norkett 10-Paddy Webb 11-Louis Bonser. Subs: Josiah Dyer, Fraser Corden, Stuart Beavon, Brad Gascoigne, Michel Iheidi.
On a fairly cold night Mickleover were first on the attack, winning a corner after two minutes, when a defensive mix up saw Atkinson have the first shot of the night deflected over the bar.
As the corner came in Webb got his headed to it, but keeper Oldham saved low to his right.
A free kick followed with Benson taking it from the half way line, but Igwewanne cleared it for our hosts.
Glossop started grow in confidence as Mickleover’s early attacks began to subside and after seven minutes they had their first chance, with Berry shooting wide from just outside the box after eight minutes.
Two minutes later Glossop earned their first corner, taken short and wasted, but pressure was starting to build on the Mickleover defence.
14 minutes in and McDowell tipped away a shot from Etia by his right post for another corner, but following the clearance our hosts earned another free kick
Gallagher had a shot over the bar two minutes later, but the pressure continued to build and left the Mickleover players starved of service from midfield.
Wood, Norkett and Atkinson started a nice build up after 18 minutes, until the ball was given away, leading to another Glossop break. Munoz, Etia ad Berry combined to earn a corner, with the final header from Hopkins easily held by McDowell.
Wilkinson headed away a dangerous cross, but despite the constant pressure from Glossop, the Mickleover defence was holding out.
Berry had another chance after 27 minutes, he split two defenders on the left, cut inside and then fired his shot into the side netting.
After Bonser was fouled by a combination of two defenders, it gave the Mickleover team a brief chance to regroup. It didn’t last however, as Glossop’s enthusiasm and drive was soon overcoming the undoubted skill advantage.
Just after the half hour mark Etia broke through again, but his shot was weak and easily taken by McDowell. But Mickleover then had to make their first change, with Bennett injured, Corden came on.
In time added on Dube finally outpaced his marker to cross from the right, but there was no one in the box and it ended 0-0, with Sports lucky to be on equal terms.
With no changes for the second half, it was Glossop on the attack again, with Bowker shooting over. But Sports got a rare shot in too after 50 minutes, when a defensive slip fell to Corden. He got his shot in through a crowded box, with little purchase, an easy stop for Oldham.
But 55 minutes it should have been 1-0 to Mickleover, when Dube’s solo run on the right saw him out pace the defence. With no one in the middle he drove on and fired it past Oldham in the Glossop goal. But the assistant reacted to some weak appeals from Glossop and raised his flag very late to deny a perfectly legitimate and well taken goal.
A goal would probably have been the turning point of the game, but it continued to go Glossop’s way with Gallagher’s random shot from distance over the bar on the hour.
Wood found Dube who then shot over the bar, but neither Norkett nor Webb were receiving any service still, despite Atkinson trying to lead by example.
65 minutes and the deadlock was broken when Schofield and Bardsley managed to run through the defence almost unchallenged, to find Etia who jinked inside to score 0-1.
Beavon then replaced Corden and there was just a glimmer that Mickleover might get back into the game. With 10 minutes on the clock Beavon’s cross on the left found Dube, but the shot lacked pace and was an easy stop.
Dyer and Gascoigne then came on for Dube and Bonser, but it was McDowell making a couple of saves. There were a couple of late corners for Mickleover and an 89th minute shot from Webb forcing the first diving save from the home keeper, but it was game over at 0-1, with the better team on the night heading for the Pride Park final.
