Mickleover Football Club

Report

by Girvane Bola

Mickleover Sports suffered their third successive league defeat after a 4-1 loss to Witton Albion in the Northern Premier League, making them winless since October 5th.

The away side raced to a three-goal lead at half time thanks to goals from James Short, Billy Smart, and Will Jones. Mason Warren’s penalty reduced the deficit before Danny McKenna sealed the victory for the visitors.

The game started with Witton taking the lead in the fourth minute when Short’s strike was deflected, looping over goalkeeper Nathan Broome on its way to the net.

Mickleover try to respond immediately as the two sides traded chances. The first when Witton’s Michael Monaghan fired his volley over the bar before Lee Hughes did not hit the target from close range in the 35th minute.

Witton doubled their lead from a set piece when McKenna’s cross was met by Smart who guided his header in from inside the box.

Suddenly after kick-off, Will Jones spot Broome off his line and attempted an ambitious lob from 45 yards, lobbing over Broome and gave them a three goal lead at half-time.

The second half saw Mickleover make an encouraged start. A minute into the restart, Jiri Boula was brought down inside the box and a penalty was awarded. Warren converted his penalty, making it seven goals this season.

Things got nervy for Mickleover however on the 49th minute when Jake Scott elbowed Smart in an aerial battle.

The referee determined no wrongdoing thus showed no card to the Mickleover captain. The two sides once again traded chances but neither team could convert. Witton forward Jones came close in the 57th minute but fired over the bar.

Sports made one last push in the last minutes of the game when goalkeeper Chris Renshaw made a fantastic save from inside the box after substitute Karel Tvaroh’s cross from the near side nearly directed into Witton’s goal.

However, Witton Albion sealed the win as McKenna got his goal adding to his assist in the first half after a Broome mistake resulting in the winger firing a shot from inside the box into the far corner ending the game 4-1.

This defeat sees Mickleover now lose three in a row in the league and drop two places from 7th to 9th. John McGrath’s men will want to snap their losing streak in the next league game against Radcliffe FC at home next weekend.

But before that, they host Loughborough Dynamo at home in The Integro Doodson League Cup on Tuesday the 12th of November.

Mickleover Sports 1-4 Witton Albion
Saturday 9th November
Don Amott Arena