THE EMIRATES FA CUP THIRD ROUND QUALIFYING
League: The Emirates FA Cup
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Mickleover F.C. vs Spalding United
The Emirates FA Cup Second Round Qualifying
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Mickleover F.C. vs Ilkeston Town
First Round Qualifying
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Mickleover F.C. vs Alvechurch
FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND
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Mickleover F.C. vs Basford United
THE EMIRATES FA CUP 21-22 – SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND
Last Minute Goals End Sport FA Cup Run
Two goals in the last eight minutes for Basford ended Mickleover hopes of further progress in this seasons FA Cup.
Starting line-up: 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ben Lewin 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Alex Morris 7-Andy Dales 15-Kemy Agustien 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs: Josh Satchwell, Ethan Mann, Lee Holmes, Andrew Wright, George Atwal, Mason Warren, Roger Lee.
Agustien won a corner for Mickleover in the opening minute, from which Butler headed just wide.
But play quickly turned from defence to attack for Basford with two quick attempts from Kane Richards, forcing Hawkins into his first save of the match.
Declan Dunn then fouled Beavon, but Agustien’s free kick was wide.
Seven minutes in however and it was 1-0, when Lewin was in just the right place to slot home his first senior goal.
Four minutes later Dales had a shot straight at Collin in the Basford goal, before Aaron O’Connor forced Butler to clear defensive lines after a quick break from the visitors.
Dales tried his luck again with a long range shot from a Beavon pass, well wide, before Basford skipper Matt Thornhill fired over the Mickleover bar in another quick response.
Richards tried a shot from a narrow angle, but it was easily dealt with by Hawkins, but after 25 minutes Beavon had a shot saved after picking up a loose back pass from Thornhill.
The end to end action continued however as O’Connor shot wide, followed by a similar attempt from Richards and another shot over the bar from Thornhill.
Mickleover had to call on an early sub though when Bateman was injured on the half hour and was replaced by Warren.
It was Basford on the attack though, with Thornhill and O’Connor combining before shooting wide, followed by a second volley just wide from Thornhill a couple of minutes later.
Bennett then had to make a decisive block, before Basford made it 1-1 after 41 minutes. A long ball from Brad Gascoigne found Rev James, who’s first shot was saved by Hawkins, but the rebound left him with an easy finish.
Just before half time there was another blow for Mickleover when Bennett went off injured to be replaced by Lee. Morris then had to make a goal line clearance in the closing seconds to keep it 1-1 at half time.
As the teams came out for the second half there had been another change, with new signing Holmes on for Battisson.
There was an early free kick for Mickleover when Dunn fouled Beavon, but after 53 minutes a break on the right left Beavon clear for a shot just wide of the post.
But Basford continued to threaten as both sought to take the lead again. Ryan Wilson fed Hawkridge who beat Agustien before Hawkins saved his chip shot.
Beavon received a yellow card for a foul on Richards and on the hour Butler had to make another clearance from an attempt by Betts.
Both sides were lacking that final ball and were being caught in possession, so overall it was till wide open.
But with eight minutes on the clock James and Marshall combined to find Richards, who was left one on one with Hawkins to make it 1-2.
Butler was then in the book too for an unnecessary push, as time was running out for Mickleover.
Into injury time James was on the receiving end of a quick break from Basford as Mickleover tried to push forward. 1-3 and it was game over and the end of the FA Cup hopes for another year.
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Leek Town vs Mickleover F.C.
vs St. Albans City vs Mickleover F.C.
St Albans City win 5 – 4 on penalties.
vs Mickleover FC vs Newark FC
Four Goal Strike Keeps FA Cup Run Going
by Peter Scherer
Mickleover marched into the third qualifying round of the FA Cup with a resounding 4-1 home win over Newark FC.
There were three changes from the team that beat Witton Albion in midweek, with Joe Slinn back in goal for loanee Callum Hawkins and Kemy Agustien was back in midfield for Ben Gowing, having re-signed this week.
Paddy Webb was back to lead the attack to in place of Jordan Walshaw, having come off the bench in the Witton victory.
1-Joe Slinn 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Mason Warren 8-Andrew Wright 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-George Milner. Subs: Declan Bacon, Louis Pennington, Ricky Ravenhill. Pablo Mills, Jordan Walshaw, Josh Satchwell.
Mickleover were straight into attack from the kick-off, with Webb having two chances in the first five minutes. The first didn’t trouble Newark keeper Jason White, with a weakfish header, before following up with a shot into the side netting.
But Butler found himself in the referee’s book after a late tackle, before Warren led the next Sports attack with a shot just wide after eight minutes.
Agustien was next to try his luck, but his long speculative attempt was both high and wide.
Newark nearly caught out the Mickleover defence 13 minutes in when Craig Westcarr got around the defence and had Slinn beaten, only to put his shot wide.
But Mickleover responded quickly with a telling ball from Beavon across the face of the Newark goal, but no one was on hand to put it home.
Newark had another chance of opening the scoring when Watt gave away a penalty in the 17th minute. But just to show that Hawkins isn’t the only Mickleover to save penalties, Slinn kept Ben Hutchinson’s kick out and it remained 0-0.
It was back into attack mode again for Sports when Wright fired a powerful shot straight at keeper White, but four minutes later Newark got another break when Kevin Baspos outpaced the Mickleover defence, before cutting inside and firing into the side netting again.
Just after the half hour the promise that Mickleover’s attacks had been showing finally came to fruition, with Beavon leading by example to make it 1-0.
There were few more free kicks for Newark before the half time whistle, but Slinn handled them with relative ease, so it remained 1-0.
The second half sparked into life almost on the hour, after Slinn made a spectacular diving save to his left as Newark pursued the equaliser.
Beavon and Webb then broke clear and after connecting with Beavon’s cross, Webb’s shot was just wide.
Bacon came on for Webb after 63 minutes, but the attacks became more intense, with Milner putting the ball in the area to keep the pressure on the Newark defence.
The reward came after 69 minutes when Wright hit the first time ball and sent it curling into the bottom right hand corner for 2-0.
There was a short delay when Slinn was treated after a knock to the head, then the rainfall got heavier and Beavon had a header cleared off the line, before Warren sent a powerful shot goalwards, initially saved by White before a succession of corners.
79 minutes and Wright was on target again, 3-0 with a fizzing shot deep into the left hand corner, followed by Walshaw and Pennington coming on for Beavon and Warren.
But with three minutes of normal time left, Watt was penalised again, only for Newark to find their second effort saved once again by Slinn from the spot.
Newark were still looking for that elusive goal and on 90 minutes Slinn had to pull off a point blank save following a corner.
Mickleover were quick on the break again though, which gave Bacon the chance to make it 4-0, which he duly accepted.
Newark finally got their goal in injury time, to make it 4-1 to Mickleover and the thoughts of who next in the third qualifying round for Sports.
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Leek Town vs Mickleover F.C.
by Peter Scherer
Last night’s visit to Leek Town in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup, saw Mickleover fight back from an early goal, to return home 2-1 winners.
There were a few changes from the side that visited South Shields last Saturday. But manager John McGrath went for:
1-Joe Slinn 2- Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Mason Warren 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Aman Verma 8-Andrew Wright 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon. Subs: Jordan Walshaw, Ben Gowing, Pablo Mills, George Milner, Josh Satchwell, Louis Pennington, Bobby Battison.
In the opening minute of the game Mickleover had a free kick after Bacon was fouled. Warren’s kick bounced back into Wright’s path, who sent a thundering shot over the bar.
Five minutes in and Leek’s Will Saxon broke through Sports defence, but his shot was straight at keeper Slinn, followed by a Leek corner, again easily taken by Sports keeper.
Morris started to become a key player with his overlapping runs down the left and he was able to put a cross in from a Beavon pass on seven minutes, but too close to Danny Roberts in the Leek goal.
But the combination of Leek’s Matt Bell and Short picked up a midfield interception, leaving Bell with good chance to open the scoring, right in front of the Sports goal, but put it wide.
Five minutes later Webb had a half chance, but his shot didn’t have the power to trouble Roberts. It was soon followed by a flurry of activity, when Bacon put Beavon through on the left, his shot was put out for a corner, which was taken by Wright and headed out again.
Although Mickleover had looked the likeliest to open the scoring, it was Leek’s Short that did. James Kirby had a header, which Slinn seemed to have caught, until he lost balance, dropped the ball and Short was on hand to make it 1-0 to the home side.
Warren drove the midfield forward again, leading by example, and curled a ball just over the bar, before Morris put another cross into the box, with no one there to receive it.
Mickleover were doing most of the attacking, but Leek continued to look dangerous on the break.
After 25 minutes Morris connected with Beavon, but unable to get the power into his shot, it was easily taken by Roberts.
But the equaliser finally came in the 26th minute, when Webb’s corner found Verma, whose blocked shot fell into Beavon’s path, burying it in the bottom right hand corner 1-1.
Only a couple of minutes later Beavon put Bacon through, but his shot was just over the bar.
But Leek were still dangerous on the break after Warren was dispossessed and Short got a shot in on target, well saved by Slinn. Two minutes later Short broke through again, with a shot just wide from outside the area.
Mickleover continued to favour the interpassing and slow build up, which resulted in another hard shot just wide from Wright.
Short had another shot saved for Leek, before Saxon connected with the rebound, with his effort palmed out for a corner by Slinn.
Mickleover had one more chance before the half time whistle, when Beavon turned in the area, pushed the ball back to Verma, whose shot was saved.
The second half had barely started when Webb went to collect a Morris cross and was brought down in the area, but the referee waved away any penalty appeals.
It was wasn’t long though before Mickleover found the back of the net, with what proved to be the decisive goal.
A piercing ball from midfield split the Leek defence wide open, and Bacon was on the receiving end to make it 2-1.
Leek’s immediate response was thwarted when Wright was fouled on the half way line. There was no free kick but Beavon went clear, with a following cross from Bennett into an empty area.
Webb had a couple of penalty area duels with the Leek defence, before Beavon linked up with Wright on 55 minutes, who’s pass found Verma. The resultant overhead kick, cleared the bar and the stand.
On the hour Walshaw came on for Webb, before another break from Morris found no one to receive it.
As Sports began to dominate, Slinn tried more long clearance’s, finding Beavon, who passed to Wright with the shot going for another corner.
Wright had another attempt blocked after giving Leek’s Olly Harrison a hard time, but shortly afterwards Walshaw became the second Mickleover sub for Beavon, soon followed by Gowing for Wright.
In the final 15 minutes Leek had a header just over the bar from a free kick, but Butler and Watt had looked solid all night and Watt almost added to the scoreline, with a header tipped over from a Warren corner.
A solid defence, with both Bennett and Morris effective on the overlap, added to a strong and motivational midfield, giving the strikers good service and a successful all round team victory.
Now we look forward to the draw for the next round.
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