by Peter Scherer
On form Mickleover put bottom of the table Rushden & Diamonds through a punishing second half, hitting three goals after going into half time all square.
Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Rhys Dolan 3-Ryan Wilson 4-James Butler 15-Joe Bateman 6 Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Stuart Beavon 10-George Nunn 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Pablo Mills, Marcus Marshall, Elliott Reeves, George Atwal, Oli Greaves.
It was only a great save from home keeper Dean Snedker that stopped Mickleover from opening the scoring in the first minute, tipping over Dales’ effort.
But we didn’t have to wait long as Dales picked up a rebound from Beavon’s blocked shot, firing from 12 yards through a crowded box to make it 1-0 after only five minutes.
Rushden came back with a positive response though, but Corden had a half chance which he put just wide.
As the hosts began to gain in confidence, they started to make more progress towards the Mickleover goal. Marian put a cross in after 15 minutes, but it was whipped off Burnside’s toe before he could shoot.
Two minutes later a good run from White was intercepted by the Mickleover defence, giving our hosts corner.
The defence of Dolan, Butler, Mann and Wilson was holding firm however, but there was a blow for Sports after 20 minutes , when Bateman went off injured and was replaced by Mills.
But Snedker’s goal was under pressure again as the half hour mark approached, saving again low to his near post.
Rushden had their chances too, with Joyces’s 33rd minute free kick placed into the box. Marian took a swing at it, but his left foot shot was well wide of the target.
Joyce was in action at the other end some six minutes later, after cutting out a first time ball from defence to send Dales on a run.
Almost on half time Snedker kept the hosts in the game again, pushing another effort away low to his near side post, as Mickleover pounded the defence at every opportunity.
Into injury time Anker found Burnside, but his shot was cleared, only to fall to Marian who hit the rebound beyond Bosworth’s reach. 1-1.
It was good to see Mickleover come out fighting for the second half, and only two minutes into the second period Beavon jinked through the home defence, only to be intercepted by the advancing Snedker.
But there was soon another goal for Mickleover, when a penalty was awarded, Warren duly stepped up and it was 2-1 after 52 minutes.
Six minutes later Dales punished a defensive error to make it 3-1, before Joyce finished off a good Rushden build up, firing his final shot just over the bar.
Our hosts were punished further, when after 64 minutes Mills made it 4-1. The ball had bounced around the area, before finding Mills, who smashed home from short range, in a still crowded box.
Once the hour mark was passed, gaffer John McGrath made two changes, as Greaves came on for Dales and Reeves for Nunn.
Mickleover were pressing hard still for a fifth goal, but with 10 minutes on the clock, Snedker made another reaction save from a close header.
Reeves then sent in a curling effort just wide after a long run into the box, before Snedker denied Sports yet again, with his umpteenth great save.
There’s a well-deserved break now until we face Stourbridge away on March 13th.