By Peter Scherer (Information provided by Mickleover Reserves Twitter)
Although Mickleover Reserves were always on top in their Central Midlands League Premier South match at home to Mansfield Hosiery, the 2-1 final score didn’t really reflect their dominance.
Starting line-up: Bill, Leighton, Ferron, Bonser, Rock, Mills, Parr, Horleston, Brown, Ryder, Elliott.
Three early shots managed to earn an early corner for Mickleover, before the visiting keeper made his first save of the afternoon from a deflected Fin Ryder shot.
Brandon Ferron then found Pablo Mills, to set up Elliott who shot over the bar.
The pressure continued on the visitors defence, when Charlie Rock sent a cross field ball to Ferron, but the final shot was wide.
Jack Leighton had a shot wide too, before Mickleover finally found the net, with Leighton again cutting in from the right to fire past the keeper, 1-0.
With Ferron and Mills combining again, they set up Leighton once more, but the shot was wide, before Elliott had a shot tipped over, after Mills set up the move.
It could have been two just before half-time but Ronnie Bonser’s cross was just too long for Mills to connect properly.
The second half kicked off with more of the same, Mills appeared to pick his spot in the top corner, but it was just wide, but then he found Declan Brown, who fired past the keeper for 2-0.
Mansfield had managed to earn a corner, but the Mickleover pressure recommenced, with Owen Parr firing a shot from long range.
Rock then linked up with Ben Horleston and Leighton, but Mills final shot lacked pace, then a midfield mistake allowed Mansfield through down the right and it was 2-1.
Mickleover came back to earn a free kick, Mills rose above the rest, with Ferron following up. After a Mills shot was deflected, Leighton put the ball back into the box, but Rock misjudged his final header.
Mansfield looked dangerous again on the break and suddenly the one goal lead was under threat. But although the ball was kicked out of Tom Bill’s handed, a corner was still awarded, but Bill had it covered.
Leighton again led an attack, beating the offside trap, before earning a corner when the keeper saved. Then Rock found Mills, who was then flagged offside.
Harry Atwal came on for Ryder, before Leighton made a crossfield run, just failing to connect with Mills. But Brown had a chance for his second with a one on one with the Mansfield keeper. But the keeper stood tall and it was another corner.
Horleston then found Mills who put a late header just wide, but with the final minutes end to end again, Mansfield’s heroic keeper even came up for the final corner, sending a header just over the bar, as it remained a 2-1 victory to Mickleover.
Next Saturday the reserves are in action again, away to Ashland.