by Peter Scherer
Mickleover’s first home pre-season friendly ended in a 0-1 defeat against a strong Burton line-up.
Starters: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Ben Sault 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ethan Mann 6-Dan Bradley 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Andre Wright 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Jim Pollard, Stuart Beavon, Louis Pennington, Fin Ryder, George Atwal, Zac Sandhu, Oli Greaves.
It was a fairly even opening five minutes, before Dales made his first long run of the night, beating four Brewers defenders, before being intercepted.
The visitors were soon beginning to push forward, with Mann and Bradley shepherding the home defence, until Bradley lost possession on the edge of the box. Charlie Lakin fired home with Bosworth given little chance, diving at full stretch to his right. 0-1.
Over the next 10 minutes it continued to be even, with the majority of the play around centre field.
Trueman got on the end of a nice one two after 20 minutes, before the defence blocked his path and only two minutes later Sault went close on the right to earn a corner.
Burton had shot well off target from outside the box 24 minutes in, before Dales charged through the middle three minutes later, but Wright’s final shot low to the left-hand post was saved by keeper Crocombe.
Crocombe was soon in action again, with Dales cutting in from the left again, palming away the shot to safety.
It was Bosworth’s turn to save after 33 minutes though, when Burton wasted time in creating the final shot, only for Wakelin’s effort to be easily dealt with by the Mickleover keeper.
Mickleover had their best chance of an equaliser just before half-time, when Dales had collected the ball from a free-kick after he had been fouled, setting up Trueman with time on his side, but the shot was wide of the left-hand post.
There was a slight hold-up too when Wakelin had to come off after hurting a previously damaged ankle, but as the half-time whistle finally went it remained 0-1.
Mickleover made their first change when Pollard came out in goal for the second half, having replaced Bosworth.
Trueman had a 49th minute shot well saved after a positive build up down the left, then Sault appeared to have been brought down by the keeper in the box a minute later, but there was no penalty.
Atwal and Beavon came on for Sault and Barnes, and Beavon was straight into action, slotting the ball through to Dales, whose 54th minute shot was just wide again.
Pollard was almost caught out by an awkward bounce, following a cross from the right, but it was Sports looking the hungrier of the two sides in attack.
Just before the hour mark Dales made an interception, but was almost beaten by his own pace as he lost control, but then Burton responded with a powerful shot just wide of the post.
A short-free kick in the home defence almost gave the ball away to Burton, but Pollard reacted the quicker and charged off his line to intercept.
Atkinson and Wilson had looked strong and reliable in midfield and in the 65th minute Atkinson almost got Beavon on a run. Wilson was then on the end of a Dales and Beavon build-up, with his shot earning a 69th minute corner.
Wilson then put a dangerous cross into the Burton box, but it proved to be too high. Dolan and Trueman were subbed after 73 minutes, with Greaves and Sandhu on, soon followed by Ryder on for Wright,
With eight minutes on the clock Beavon sent through a long ball for Ryder to chase, but no sooner had the ball been grounded, the increased pace left it well out of reach.
Pennington was the final sub to come on for Atkinson, while six minutes before the whistle Dales had his final shot of the night saved, so victory and the annual Keith Calladine Trophy headed back down the A38 to Burton.
