By Peter Scherer
Two late strikes from Mickleover made sure we returned from Leek Town 3-1 winners, securing the first victory of this NPL season.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Callum More 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Charlie Hickingbottom 6-Will Atkinson 7-Gabiel Adebambo 8-Jake Bennett 9-Tin Ryder 10-Andy Dales 11-Dylan Scott. Subs: Luke Cox, Brandon Webster, Toby Smith, Stuart Beavon, Dylan Edwards,
Mickleover took the kick off on a sunny evening and made a promising start, but within five minutes rain started to fall, fortunately briefly.
It had been fairly even but just eight minutes in, Leek had possession on the Mickleover right and the ball fell to former Sports loanee Brandon Daniels, who fired it home from close range, just inside Mersin’s left-hand post, 0-1.
Five minutes later Leek captain Curl beat Wilson on the left, but Mersin comfortably held his cross. But for a while Mickleover were losing out in 50/50 challenges, until Weston set up Dales, whose run and following shot were blocked.
Confidence began to grow and with it possession too. Adebambo set up Scott after 20 minutes and the young strikers effort was only just wide, with Mickleover’s first real shot.
The hosts then retaliated and had a header just wide after 27 minutes, before Sports earned a free kick when Ryder was fouled. Wilson’s kick found Moore in the box, but his header was just wide.
Bennett was relishing his right-hand midfield role and his run on the half hour earned a corner. As the ball came in Dales snatched the equaliser with a rare header and it was all square again 1-1-.
Only a minute later Dales and Adebambo combined, beat the home defence, but there was no one in the box to receive.
With Mickleover continuing to push forward, Dales had another run, but as he reached the edge of the box, centre back Harrison blatantly pushed him over.
Wilson kick again found Moore, who was beaten by the bounce, but still managed to get a shot in.
Atkinson and Hickingbottom were playing well in the centre of Sports defence, forcing Leek to try random distance efforts. They made two attempts as the first half drew to a close, both well over the bar, before Moore tried to feed Dales as he ran through the middle, but the final pass was just short.
So as the whistle went it remained 1-1, but with plenty of promise for the second half.
Mickleover were unchanged as the second half kicked off and within a minute of the restart there was another close call for our hosts, when Ryder burst through to find Scott, whose deflected shot was only just off target.
Five minutes later Dales found Scott again, his path was blocked this time, but Sports were on top possession wise.
53 minutes and it was close again. From Bennett’s original pass, Ryder pulled it back from the line to cross into the box, but the ball was just fractionally behind Adebambo and Scott.
Ryder then set up another strike for Scott, keeper Visser pushed the initial shot away, before Dales fired over the bar.
Leek continued to play football and tested Mersin after 59 minutes, before hitting the back of the net two minutes later with a rebound after Mersin’s save, but it was ruled offside.
Bennett then hit the side netting and after 65 minutes and Dales had a distance shot saved, after a Ryder and Adebambo build up.
Weston was looking both calm and controlling in the centre of midfield and the confidence had spread throughout the team, but Leek remained dangerous on the break.
70 minutes in and Mersin had to punch away another effort, before Mickleover made their first change, with Beavon replacing Ryder. But Leek were on the attack and a 74th minute cross from the right was headed just over after a deflection for a corner, followed by another corner.
Sports had briefly been pinned back in their own half, but came back strongly over the final 10 minutes, after Dales cut inside from the left to earn another corner.
Dales was fouled again on the halfway line before he had got into full flight, but the halt prompted another substitution as Edwards came on for Scott.
With two minutes of normal time left Beavon was on the end of a break, he held on for Dales to charge in, but he was then fouled in the box and Edwards stepped up to convert the penalty, 2-1.
There was time added on and it proved to be a positive addition for Mickleover. A sensational run down the wing from Dales saw in him continue to cut in, finding Beavon in the box who struck it first time and it was 3-1.
It could have been four in the final minute too, when another Beavon break saw Edwards hit the post.
It’s now off to Prescot Cables on Saturday, with the future starting to look brighter.
