by Peter Scherer (Images: Paul Lynch Photography)
On paper Blyth Spartans should have been a comfortable win for Mickleover, with only two wins under their belt all season and none at all since we beat them 4-0 at the Don Amott Arena in September, but it proved to be otherwise.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Brandon Ferron 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Stefan Galinski 6-Will Atkinson 7-Dylan Edwards 8-Michael Hollingsworth 9-Stuuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Cieron Keane, Toby Smith, Kieran Cooney, Andrew Buah, Josh Carter.
It was a nothing to lose game for Blyth, but a six-pointer for Mickleover, but it was the hosts that posed a threat straight from the kick off.
Hodgson tested Mersin with a shot from the kick off, before Giraud jinked his way into the box on the Mickleover right, with his effort to the near post saved again by Mersin.
Only five minutes in and Mersin’s brilliance was the only thing between Blyth and an opening goal. Giraud once again had the defence tied in knots, sending a ball down the wing to Myers, he then found Hooper who tested Mersin to the limit.
Two minutes later and Hodgson was heading goalwards again, but Galinski managed to intercept. But then a low free kick from Blyth’s Briggs after 14 minutes was saved once more by Mersin, before Hodgson’s second attempt was intercepted again.
There had been little in the way of attacks or creativity from Mickleover and after 20 minutes there was another blow when Atkinson and Hodgson collided and both had to be substituted, Brown coming on for Atkinson and Richardson for Hodgson.
It was 25 minutes before Mickleover really had a shot, when Dales attempt from outside the box was easily saved by Basey.
Three minutes later Dales was pressing again, but his effort went across the face of the Blyth goal and was deflected out for a corner, with a following header ending the brief attack with a goal kick.
Barnes then tried a run at the defence, earned another corner which was taken short and resulted in a break for Blyth again.
Mickleover had begun to show some urgency that had been completely lacking, and Dales had another effort just wide, which was then followed by another Mickleover corner.
Blyth were still on top possession wise, with Myers shooting well over the bar after another break. But Dales picked up another interception only to find his way blocked by Oliver.
36 minutes in and Dales led another counter attack following a Blyth free kick. He battled through the defence and found Edwards in the middle, who made no mistake in planting the ball firmly passed Basey to make in 1-0.
Following the goal Ferron, Barnes, Dales and Wilson started a nice move, only for the final pass aimed for Edwards to out of play.
Dales and Ferron had started working well together, but Blyth continued to be a threat on the break, with Giraud again the dangerman, heading just wide from a Doherty cross.
Barnes then led another counter after working with Ferron and Beavon, but that ended with a free kick to our hosts.
Dales then collected a nice flick from Barnes, but the defence had it covered and made another break. They earned another corner headed clear by Galinski, before Mersin was forced to punch away the follow up.
Dales had two more shots before the half time whistle, one saved by Basey and one over the bar, but Mickleover could count themselves lucky to going in 1-0 up after the first 45.
Whereas Blyth came out of the blocks fighting in the second half, Mickleover seemed half asleep and it soon cost them dearly again.
Just two minutes into the half Giraud cut in from the right and beat Mersin on his far post 1-1. There was nearly a second for the hosts just two minutes further on, when Giraud cut inside to find sub Aitken, but his final shot was just wide.
Every time Giraud had the ball Sports looked vulnerable, but after 51 minutes it was Briggs testing Mersin again. His distance shot was heading for the top corner, until the Mickleover keeper tipped it over at full stretch.
Aitken was close again after 55 minutes, but he just failed to connect with a Doherty cross as it passed the face of the goal.
With Mickleover still struggling to get in the game it came as no surprise that three minutes later Blyth finally had the lead they had threatened throughout. It was Aitken again charging in from the right, taking his chance well and leaving little chance for Mersin, 1-2.
On the hour mark Edwards and Hollingsworth showed possible signs of a move which came to nought and then Buah and Smith came on for Edwards and Ferron.
Having gone a goal down Mickleover started to wake-up into the final 30 minutes. They won a free kick, worked well initially by Wilson and Dales, finding Weston and Beavon close in, but that soon fizzled out before a shot was made.
But despite looking for only their third win of the season, Blyth continued to seek to increase their lead. Richardson managed to slice through the defence after 68 minutes to find Doherty, but his shot was well over the bar.
Barnes had a shot deflected for a corner after 71 minutes and then three minutes later his shot was saved by Basey off the bar.
The hosts were packing the defence and had all 11 players back for a Mickleover free kick. Wilson’s kick beat the wall, but was wide of the goal too.
Sports made their final substitution after 78 minutes when Carter came on for Beavon, but in the final 15 minutes the home defence, despite looking shaky at times, held on for the win, with Mickleover’s efforts once again proving to be too little too late.
