by Peter Scherer
Mickleover travelled to Whitby Town last Saturday looking for a first win in eight league games. It started so well, but three goals in 14 minutes ended hopes of any reward.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Ceiron Keane 5-Nathan James 6-Danny Benson 7- Will Atkinson 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Dylan Edwards 10-Andy Dales 11-Jamie Soule. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron, Dan Bradley, Toby Smith, Edimond Oppong.
It was positive start for Mickleover on a bright but breezy East coast day, with Edwards going close after three minutes, following a strong attack from Dales.
But the momentum continued with Soule working his way through on the right wing, to find the overlapping Bennett. A beautifully placed shot had keeper Bland beaten on his far post and it was a well-deserved lead for Sports after just four minutes, 1-0.
It could easily have been a second for Mickleover two minutes later, when Keane crossed from the left. Edwards managed to connect, but didn’t quite get enough direction to challenge the keeper again, as his effort went just wide.
It was 14 minutes in before the hosts made a telling break. Nathan Thomas charged down the left but as he cut inside his cross or shot was blazed well over the bar.
It had been a great start for Mickleover, precise passing moving forward and a relative confidence that seemed to have spread throughout the team, as they dominated the first 15 minutes.
Just after Sports had another corner, with Keane’s final lob straight into Bland’s hands, Sam Collins got clear on the right and almost had Mersin beaten, as it whistled just wide.
Keane then tried his luck from long range after 20 minutes, but it was wide of the right -hand post. But Mickleover still had the upperhand, with some good work from Dales on the right. He found Soule but he couldn’t quite get space to get his shot in.
A few minutes later Edwards held the ball in the middle before laying off to Dales, but his shot was saved. Keane was down injured though after taking a knock and had to be replaced by Bradley.
As the half hour mark approached Dales and Edwards worked hard again to set up a Hickingbottom strike. His shot had the power, but unfortunately it was blocked by a defender.
But suddenly the tide turned and in the 31st minute Stephen Walker’s shot was initially saved by the Mickleover keeper, but the defence were beaten to the rebound and Aaron Haswell scored the equaliser, 1-1.
The pressure began to build as the early confidence had waned and Whitby were on the ascendance. Another ball through the middle wasn’t picked up and Connor Simpson got on the end of it. Mersin made a great save again, but Walker’s follow up made it 1-2 in the hosts favour.
Edwards had the ball in the net in time added on but was ruled offside, and then in the fifth minute of injury time, Whitby were awarded a penalty after a handball and Thomas stepped forward to make it 1-3 as the half time whistle followed.
Ferron had replaced Wilson as the second half kicked off, with an early corner for Whitby, which failed to trouble the defence.
Mickleover had tightened up at the back with James, Benson and Atkinson, which was allowing Bennett and Ferron to use their wings more.
Ferron had a useful cross cut out after a 52mnd minute run and on the hour mark Bennett was Sports most dangerous attacker. In the 62nd minute a cross from the left found Bennett, whose header was just over the bar. Ferron then had another run, he got his cross in but it was out of play.
Debutant Oppong came on for Edwards a couple of minutes later and soon started to show his pace, with a strong run on the right, finishing with a tame effort straight at keeper Bland.
Ferron tried his luck after a strong run down the left after 70 minutes, but his effort was well over the bar and then Hickingbottom got the ball into the Whitby box, there was a scramble and Benson was so close to pulling a goal back, as the ball bounced on the line before being cleared.
Atkinson managed to stop Whitby sub Steel in a one on one break and then Hickingbottom was hacked down, with the ref waving playing on as Whitby took possession. A hard defensive tackle followed and a slight scuffle broke out, with Dales joining the already yellow carded Atkinson in the book.
Haswell hit the post for Whitby in the 77th minute, after a half save from Mersin gave them a corner, but luck was with the hosts again when Frankie Whelan got his head to the ball and made it a flattering 1-4 to the hosts.
Smith came on for Hickingbottom for the final six minutes and Dales had another run down the right before his path was blocked. Benson got his head to the following corner, it was on target but Bland saved low to his right to bring to end a disappointing game, that started with such promise and ended pointless again for the fifth successive game.
We were on top after a great start and all we would have wanted. Some excellent performances and we had a deserved lead.
But after the equaliser for about 20 minutes we were all over the shop and have got to be better. We went from being in the ascendancy to under the cosh. We just weren’t tight enough in the middle and the gaps got too big. Players need to step up and take that responsibility.
We did better in the second half, but I felt frustrated. It was good for 65 minutes of the game, and we had seven or eight strong performances, but a couple of weak ones and it’s my job to change it.
said Sports boss Gareth Holmes.
