It Could So Easily Have Been A Point

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover manager John McGrath had the rare privilege of being able to field an unchanged team for our visit to table toppers Tamworth.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 15-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Pablo Mills, Rhys Dolan, Marcus Marshall.

In the opening few minutes the referee seemed to give a free kick for almost every Mickleover challenge. The first was when Watt was alleged to have fouled top scorer Dan Creaney, but Milnes shot was wide. Only two minutes later Watt was yellow carded for a challenge on Finn and Milnes kick from Sports right, found debutant Willetts head on the far post and it was 0-1.

Mickleover began to push forward and play their normal passing game and Trueman managed to work his way through the defence after being set up by Beavon, but his final shot failed to trouble the keeper.

12 minutes in and Dales had a positive run cutting in from the left after a good build up. He made it just inside the box before his path was blocked.

Reeves got his first shot in after 16 minutes, with a nice turn just inside the box, but his effort was blocked too. Dales then earned a corner, which Butler connected with after Beavon and Reeves combined, leaving Warren with the final shot comfortably taken by the keeper.

Finn then got on the end of a Tamworth break but his shot was well off target, but although Mickleover were getting plenty of possession, there were no chances forthcoming.

25 minutes gone and Milnes and Finn combined for another shot from the hosts, but the final effort was straight at Hedge, before Dales put a lovely centre field ball through for Reeves to chase, but the ball was cleared.

Butler was then penalised for a challenge on Mussa, but the free kick was well over the bar. But then Milnes had a perfect chance for Tamworth’s second, when the space just opened up for him in in front of goal, only to put his shot over the stand.

The pressure was back on Mickleover as they were pegged back into the first third. The defence managed to block Finn and Creaney, before a long throw found McKeown, who earned another corner.

Creaney then got his head to yet another corner on the half hour, but without positive direction, then Finn had his follow up effort blocked.

Bateman was penalised for high boot on Creaney after 37 minutes, but Finn’s free kick was wasted.

Sports came back with a flourish to complete the first half though and earned a free kick when Trueman was tripped by Mussa after a positive run. Willetts headed Warren’s free kick away, before Reeves hit the follow up wide.

Tamworth started strongly again in the second half, not the most skilful and technical of sides, but robust and uncompromising in their approach.

The back four of Mann, Butler, Watt and Wilson had coped well with the Tamworth attacks

Tamworth put a cross over the face of the Mickleover goal after 47 minutes, fortunately there was no one to receive. But Mickleover were still fighting and Trueman shot over after some groundwork from Reeves in the 49th minute.

54 minutes and Tamworth were awarded a penalty for handball by Wilson. Creaney stepped up but his casual approach failed to beat Hedge, whose left knee saved the day as it remained 0-1.

Only two minutes later Watt had remained upfield after a corner and as he attempted to put the ball back into the box, Fairlamb handled and it was a Mickleover penalty.

Warren stepped up and his no nonsense approach brought it back to 1-1, with keeper Singh choosing the wrong way.

Mussa was yellow carded on the hour after going in hard on Beavon with his studs up, he carried on after treatment, but Sports decided to bring Dolan on for Wilson.

Creaney and Bradley combined to earn a 63rd minute corner for the hosts, before Mickleover made a break and Beavon earned a corner too.

Marshall came on for Trueman for the last 20 minutes and immediately set up Reeves , whose effort was blocked again. Warren then charged through to cross from the left, but it was just short of connecting with Beavon.

Mickleover were still well in the game, but Hedge had to make a good save from another Creaney effort after 74 minutes, before Dales responded at the other end with a chip straight into Sigh’s hands.

Nunn was on for Reeves after 75 minutes, but two minutes later Sports defence was in turmoil after Hedge had initially caught Deacon’s shot, but it fell at the feet of Creaney, who made no mistake from close range 1-2.

Only a couple of minutes later Creaney went straight through the defence and although his shot was straight at Hedge and looked to be saved again initially. He had failed to hold it and it rolled home for 1-3 after 80 minutes.

Willetts had a far post header into the side netting from a Finn corner, but Beavon then had a shot blocked. Dolan then had a run down the left, but his cross failed to connect with Nunn by inches.

Tamworth keeper Singh then sat down and feigned injury as Mickleover had gained late momentum. He performed the same feat in the home game earlier in the year, but was allowed to get away with it again.

But Sports went close at the death when Warren hit a belting shot which the keeper managed to hold onto, after a nice build up between Nunn and Dales.

On the second half performance Mickleover should have come away with a point, but slips at the back proved costly again.

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