by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Hopes were high of some points on the board for Mickleover, following three successive league defeats. But once again a late goal for Guiseley settled it and the pointless run continues.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-Nathan James 7-Ceiron Keane 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Brandon Ferron, Josh Carter, Bernard Nsiah, Dan Bradley, Curtis Weston.
After both teams stood in silence in Remembrance, the game starting with a fairly even opening 10 minutes.
But Bennett was yellow carded for a trip after 12 minutes, before Guiseley had their first real shot eight minutes later, when the defence failed to clear a Longbottom corner and Moke fired the shot wide.
Bennett proved to be the Mickleover saviour however after 24 minutes, when the visitors broke through again. Mersin saved Emmett’s initial shot, but Longbottom then tried a lob, with Bennett clearing off the line as it headed goalwards.
It was just after the half hour mark when Mickleover went close too. Dales’ 34th minute header was heading for the top corner, but keeper Cracknell just got his fingers to it at full stretch.
Mersin was then back in action in the Mickleover goal. He had taken a Longbottom free kick comfortably after a foul on Lufudu, and comfortably collected a following cross too.
Keane was the second Sports player to go into the referee’s book, but the half time whistle soon followed, with it still level at 0-0.
Although Guiseley had continued to show promise in attack, it was Sports looking more likely to make telling breaks in counter attack.
Keane sent in a curling long distance shot after 57 minutes. Cracknell had to make a low save to palm the ball away, but the following corner was easily cleared.
The visitors followed up just a minute later when Lufudu had a shot straight at Mersin.
Bradley replaced Keane on the hour, but after only three minutes on the pitch he was yellow carded too after a scuffle.
Both sides continued to have chances but it remained goalless. James had a header just wide and then Johnson tried his luck for the visitors. He cut in from the left and despite a deflection, it failed to trouble Mersin.
Bennett was on the attack in the 68th minute with his cross going across the face of the Guiseley goal, with no one there to collect.
Nsiah replaced Beavon after 79 minutes and immediately went close with a header just over the bar. But a couple of minutes later a Longbottom shot had Mersin beaten, but fortunately it struck the post.
Carter then replaced Edwards, but Guiseley went close again when their sub Witham’s shot skimmed the post again.
Mickleover were holding on and desperate for a point to end the run od defeats. Ferron came on for Dales for the final minutes, but in the second minute of added time luck finally ran out. Lufudu charged down the wing and managed to get in a well timed cross, finding Thewis in the middle who finally opened the scoring.
The full time whistle soon followed and with it had gone any hopes of a point, leaving Sports edging ever close to the relegation zone.
I was frustrated at Morpeth that we showed no improvement from the Telford game, but today we showed better shape and deserved something out of the game. The late goal was a bitter pill though.
said Sports gaffer Gareth Homes, as we now look towards Saturday’s visit to Whitby.
