by Peter Scherer
Hopes of a second consecutive home win were looking promising when Mickleover took the lead early into the second half. But a late equaliser and an injury time winner for Gainsborough Trinity left Sports without any points again.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Callum Moore 4-Curtis Weston 5-Dany Benson 6-Will Atkinson 7-Andy Dales 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Tyreace Palmer 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Josh Carter, Toby Smith, Dylan Edwards, Edimondo Oppong, Justin Iwobi.
Mickleover were straight into attack from the start, with Barnes putting his first attempt just wide of the left- hand post after five minutes, as the visitors defence hesitated.
Four minutes later Bennett found Beavon on the right and his cross was headed wide by Palmer. Dales then got a header in too, which was an easy catch for keeper Wharton.
Gainsborough had their first shot after 10 minutes too, but Stacey’s effort was straight into Mersin hands. Although the visitors had a free kick five minutes later, that came to nought, as the Mickleover defence kept it tight and gave Gainsborough little time on the ball.
Barnes put another header just wide after 15 minutes, after more hesitation in the Gainsborough defence, soon followed by a nice move between Bennett and Hickingbottom, but Palmer couldn’t quite connect enough to direct his shot, seeing his attempt blocked.
17 minutes in and Mersin had to race off his line to intercept a Gainsborough break, before Dales and Barnes combined to set up Beavon, but his shot was just over.
Beavon went down in the box after collecting an Atkinson cross in the 22nd minute, but never really looked like a penalty. But Gainsborough had started to break more as the half hour mark approached. Conway’s distance shot was comfortably saved by Mersin after 26 minutes and a minute later Weston cut out a cross from Stacey.
It was becoming more end to end, but the home defence was keeping its shape and repelling the visitors attacks.
There was a 32nd minute shot over the bar for Gainsborough following a corner and then Dales had a run down the left, but found his path blocked as he cut inside.
Barnes was then wrestled to the ground in his own half to win a free kick, before Dales went close in the 38th minute. As he cut in from the left again, keeper Wharton was quickly down to his left to smother the shot.
With half time approaching Preston led a charge for Gainsborough, but his shot was deflected into the side netting for a corner.
Hickingbottom then went into the book for his first foul, rather harsh as a couple of Gainsborough defenders had committed two or more without a word and so it remained 0-0.
The second half couldn’t have started better for Mickleover, Dales had beaten the defence on the left in the first minute of the restart, Barnes just missed the cross but was then declared offside. But just a minute later Dales’ charge down the left again proved positive. As he cut inside Wharton stayed tight to his near post, allowing Dales to curl the ball into the far corner, 1-0.
Gainsborough were still relying on breaks and earned a corner after 52 minutes, which Bennett headed clear. Preston then followed up with a curling shot just over the bar.
Bennett was then harshly penalised when the ball hit his hand, but overall Benson and Atkinson had things covered in defence, allowing Bennett and Moore to push forward on the wings, while Atkinson and Weston interchanged at times
Mersin made another save after 56 minutes, but just before the hour mark Mickleover had to make their first change, with Benson down injured.
Smith came on in midfield, with Hickingbottom going into the back four with Smith immediately involved in a nice move with Beavon and Barnes, before Palmer skied the final shot.
Bennett went on a long run after 66 minutes, although Beavon latched on his shot was easy for the keeper. Beavon then made way for Oppong, but Gainsborough were still looking threatening on the break.
After 70 minutes the visitors fired another chance over the bar, before Weston went in the book, after he tripped with a Gainsborough striker as they pursued each other. Not even a foul but some naïve refereeing left the visitors caution free still.
Although tight it was looking promising for three points for Mickleover until the 79th minute. A possible hand ball by Gainsborough was ignored, the defence failed to clear and the ball fell to Lancaster on the edge of the box. He was almost unchallenged and smashed home the equaliser 1-1.
With the visitors scenting victory, Simpson tried a long shot after 81 minutes, straight into Mersin’s hands. Oppong then had a try for Mickleover and earned a corner, before Edwards came on for Barnes.
1-1 was looking like a fair score but with five minutes added on, a long throw was headed into the box, it fell to leading scorer Howe who had hardly been in the game, he poked it past Mersin just inside the left-hand post and it was 1-2.
Iwobi replaced Weston for the final minutes, but from likely winners to another defeat, Sports slip further into danger.
