by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Two first half goals from Thabang Dube set Mickleover on the road to victory at Rugby Town, with Louis Bonser consolidating a 3-0 win.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Brad Gascoigne 7-Thabang Dube 8-Ross Derham 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Archie White, Ashton Offler, Fraser Corden, Michael Hollingsworth.
It was a fairly lively start on a bitterly cold day, with both sides trying to push forward. Dales earned a free kick after five minutes, when he was pulled back, but the following effort went wide.
Rugby then tested keeper McDowell twice in two minutes, the first a tip round his right-hand post low down after Mardenborough’s shot 10 minutes in, before a Harris header forced a tip over from the resulting corner.
Four minutes later Bald in the hosts goal was quick off his line to block a Dales effort, after he picked up a Dube cross from the right.
Mickleover had started to gain the upperhand when after 24 minutes Webb put a cross in from the left. Atkinson slid in to try a toe poke, but once again Bald managed to block it.
Rugby earned a corner after a break, but that came to nought, as the pressure continued to build on their defence, with Webb having a shot blocked from the edge of the box on the half hour mark.
Webb put another cross in from the wing, missing Dyer’s headed by a whisker, before another corner soon followed. Dales found Dube, whose cross was headed goalwards by Gascoigne, but lacked the power to test the keeper.
But 35 minutes in and another strong build-up down the left, sent the ball crossfield to Dube, who buried it in the bottom corner, 1-0.
Two minutes Dales was fouled on the edge of the box, he took free kick himself and went for goal, but the keeper collected as it headed for the far top corner.
Rugby managed another attack after 41 minutes, to earn a corne. As the ball seemed to hang in the air, McDowell came out and punched away.
Webb then had another chance after picking up a crossfield ball from Dales, only to push the ball too far ahead with the keeper collecting before a shot taken.
With half time approaching, Dube made it 2-0 after a nice one two with Dales. The Mickleover skipper held it just enough for Dube get into position, giving keeper Bald little chance.
It had been a strong first half for Sports, with Gascoigne and Wilkinson solid at the back and both Bennett and Bonser looking effective on the wings. In midfield too both Atkinson and Derham had plenty of time on the ball to be creative.
For the first 10 minutes of the second half Rugby were allowed back into the game and forced Mickleover to be on the back foot.
52 minutes gone and Dales then sent Dube on another run. He made it into the box but pushed it a little too far ahead and his hopes of a hattrick disappeared.
Rugby had a free kick a few minutes later and then McDowell had to make a double save, parrying Elliott’s initial strike, before Hamilton’s follow up was just passed the post.
But when Bonser made an interception on the left, he was in space and sent Webb clear. Dales picked it up and cut inside before firing his shot just wide of the right-hand post after a deflection.
Wilkinson almost connected with the following corner, but Rugby then got a break on the hour, but Bennett had it covered at the back with a timely interception.
Mickleover had started to take charge again, but Dube’s cross was too close to the keeper with Dales and Webb waiting.
It was almost a third though for Sports though after 63 minutes, when Bonser linked up with Webb again to send Dales one on one with the keeper. Keeper Bald read it well though and came out on top.
Sports made their first change after 65 minutes when White replaced Dube, but two minutes later there was finally the anticipated third goal. It was another timely interception from Bonser, but this time he had acres of space. He cut inside and had his first shot saved, but it came straight back to him and the rebound was in the bottom corner 3-0.
Webb could have made it four a minute later, when Dales crossed from the right, only for the shot to go well over the bar.
Rugby should have pulled one back after 73 minutes when Tye collected a cross from Lundoloki, only for his shot to hit the roof the stand.
Corden and Hollingsworth then replaced Webb and Derham, before Dales continued to take on the home defence. He was intercepted on a 79th minute run and then found Dyer, whose effort was straight at the keeper.
Corden then put Dales through, but that shot was straight at the keeper too, before Offler became the final sub, coming on for Dales.
Dyer had the final chance in time added on, he collected and turned nicely, but his shot was over the bar and it remained a well-deserved and fairly impressive 3-0.
