by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Mickleover kept their unbeaten away record intact, but it took two very late goals to peg back two first half goals from hosts Prescot Cables.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Callum Moore 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-Charlie Hickingbottom 7-Gabby Adebambo 8-Jake Bennett 9-Dylan Scott 10-Andy Dales 11-Leojo Davidson, Subs: Luke Cox, Brandon Webster, Brandon Ferron, Stuart Beavon, Dylan Edwards.
Prescot were on the attack from the start earning a corner in the first minute., before Murphy shot just wide of the near post.
It was only some solid defending from Mickleover that kept out an 11th minute free kick too, going over the bar as the hosts had started to dominate the possession.
Sports had a chance 15 minutes when the follow up to a Wilson free kick was headed out for a corner, but it was Prescot that dealt the first blow, when Wara got his head to the ball at the far post, following a corner, 0-1 after 22 minutes.
Mersin had to clear the danger again from a 28th minute corner, but goal number two soon followed when Carberry made it 0-2 after 34 minutes, after being given too much time in the centre to set up his shot.
“We had gone from the fast slick 3G at Leek where we could play and it suited us, to an exceptionally dry grass pitch, which was fairly long. And it made it a slower game. We need to put them under pressure and we didn’t . We were playing too short, not getting hold of it and just not establishing ourselves, while they played well,” said manager Gareth Holmes.
The hosts had a another shot over from a corner three minutes later, before putting a free kick straight into the wall.
Mersin saved again from a 43rd minute header from Wara and Murphy headed over too following a free kick with the half time whistle poised.
But Mickleover had been forced to make a change too, when Beavon replaced Bennett.
“We made a few changes for the second half manpower and tactically, after losing Benno, we wanted to be more direct and create some chances,” said Holmes.
Scott had a 52 minute shot just wide from the edge of the box, but as the hour mark approached Mickleover had taken charge and were pushing forward far more., having brought on Ferron and Edwards for Scott and Davidson.
After Sports had a free kick cleared on the hour, Gilboy hit the bar for Prescot. But home keeper Mendes then made a full stretch save from a Mickleover strike after 62 minutes.
Three minutes later Mendes had to save again, as it was becoming one-way traffic, with another break after 66 minutes, following a Prescot free kick.
73 minutes in and Mendes made another save when a cross from the left was met by Beavon’s head, but time was running out. Cox then came on for Moore with nine minutes left, but was played as a striker.
Finally Sports pulled one back after 81 minutes, when some great work on the left found Edwards in the middle, who managed to get his head to the ball to make it 1-2.
Cox was causing havoc in the home defence and won an 84th minute free kick which was cleared. But three minutes Mersin was in action too after Prescot break.
“We changed formation three times in the second half to keep the pressure on,” Holmes explained.
Mendes had saved another free kick but as we went into time added on, there was another free kick, with Wilson securing the equaliser, with virtually the last kick of the match 2-2.
“We dominated the second half, but need to respond much quicker,” Holmes concluded.
