By Peter Scherer
To say Mickleover were lucky to reach half time at Basford on equal terms would be an under-statement, but continuing missed chances for the hosts and a second half improvement secured all three points in a dramatic finale.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2–Charlie Hickingbottom 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Cieron Keane 5-Will Atkinson 6-George Taft 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Luke Cox, Callum Moore, Marcus Barnes, Leojo Davidson, Fin Ryder.
Basford took the kick off but Mickleover won an early corner, easily cleared by the home defence. But it was Basford on the attack, after Dales lost possession following a Bradley free kick, but Hallam’s shot was blocked by Taft.
Eight minutes in and Sports had their first chance, when Deeney had to tip the ball over the bar for a corner, after Beavon cut in from the left.
There was a lucky escape for Mickleover after 11 minutes, when Hallam struck again. His shot had Mersin beaten, only to hit the right-hand post.
It was still fairly end to end when Davidson-Miller had a shot blocked two minutes later, before the Sports striker was hauled back by a defender, but no free kick given.
There was a troublesome corner from the hosts 16 minutes in, that was eventually cleared. Then Butterfield hit the post again, after a through ball from Mancinelli.
Bradley was directing for Sports in the centre of midfield and was just short of sending Davidson-Miller clear on two consecutive occasions.
Cox had come on as sub after Atkinson took a knock to the head, and he was on hand to block a Richards shot, after the home striker had beaten Taft.
The chances continued to flow for the home side though and Mersin was forced to punch away an effort from Chambers after 29 minutes.
Wilson went close with a free kick on the half hour, landing on the left-hand roof of the net, before James crossed to find Chambers, whose shot was off target again.
Three minutes later James shot over the bar from just outside the box, but Sports then got a break with Bradley finding Davidson-Miller, but his shot was blocked again.
Most of Sports play was down the centre and looking easily repelled by the Basford defence, but when Hickingbottom fed Beavon on the left, his cross was enough to test Deeney again, and earned a corner.
But Basford bounced straight back with Barnes firing a good chance well over the bar, before Wilson responded for Sports, having his effort saved after a good build up.
It was total bombardment on the Mickleover defence for the final minutes of the first half, with Chambers missing an absolute sitter right in front of goal.
Mickleover did briefly respond but Davidson-Miller didn’t turn quite enough and his shot was over the bar. Basford then had a shot blocked to earn another corner, but the whistle went and amazingly it was still 0-0, despite Basford’s chances having almost reached double figures.
No immediate changes for the second half, but Sports kicked off showing more determination and pace, with Keane firing an early effort over the bar.
It was end to end again and Mersin had to cut out a telling cross from the right, before Dales broke on the left, cut inside and sent a curling shot just over the bar.
Chambers then had two chances in as many minutes for the hosts, the first well over, but the second on 50 minutes bounced off the bar.
Hallam then broke through for Basford after 53 minutes, but a last ditch tackle from Taft stopped him and then Beavon put Wilson through, he found Davidson-Miller, but he couldn’t turn to shoot.
Chambers then went close again for Basford, before Mersin tipped away from the right-hand post, but Mancinelli followed up and fired over the bar again.
Taft headed away a James cross following another corner and then the same player was booked for taking out Edwards.
Beavon was replaced by Barnes on the hour and after 62 minutes Davidson-Miller tried a spectacular overhead kick, which was only just over the bar.
Sports were starting to come into the game more, with Basford maybe frustrated at not taking their raft of chances. Keane set up Davidson-Miller, he layed it off to Wilson but his shot was blocked and then Bradley had a try which almost cleared the perimeter net.
Moore then came on for Bradley, just before the game took a dramatic and surprising turn. Dales had won the ball on the right and as the ball came into the box there was scramble, Deeney failed to collect and James got a foot to it as Edwards challenge. The result was an own goal and 1-0 in Mickleover’s favour after 70 minutes.
Basford the made a triple substitution, but Hallam put yet another shot over the bar.
Barnes set up Davidson-Miller again but his 77th minute was wide and the Davidson came on for Edwards for the last 11 minutes.
It was almost a second for Sports after 81 minutes, but Deeney saved well from Davidson-Miller, after a cross from Davidson on the left.
After yet another shot over the bar from Basford, Mersin was yellow carded for time wasting, but with two minutes of normal time left, Davidson-Miller got a break on the left, fed Davidson who sent a fizzing shot into the far corner, 2-0.
Six minutes were added on and Ryder came on for Dales, but the win, if not very surprising, was sealed and it’s now five league games unbeaten and four consecutive clean sheets.
