by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
90 minutes of grit and determination were rewarded for Mickleover with a well-deserved away point at Gainsborough Trinity.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kwaku Donkor 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Marcus Barnes 8-Gabby Adebambo 9-Chris O’Grady 10-Andy Dales 11-Dylan Edwards, Subs: Samson Hewett, Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron, Finn Flanagan, Cieron Keane.
Although Mickleover took the kick off, there was an immediate free-kick against them. But Edwards, Barnes and Wilson all tried to create early moves for Sports, with no serious threat to the home defence.
Barnes had another run after seven minutes, but was intercepted early-on, before Benson cut off the first threat from Howe fairly easily.
The pitch had been heavily sanded and after the first 10 minutes it was clear that Gainsborough were trying to adjust their style to suit the pitch.
Adebambo tried to pressurise Lancaster in the home defence, but lost out as the ball was cleared again, but Sports were limitingthe home attacks and kept them pegged back in their own half.
Wilkinson and Wilson both made clearances again for Sports, before O’Grady tried an opportunistic strike, well over the Gainsborough bar, but the first real shot of the game 14 minutes in.
But just a minute late it was the hosts that almost opened the scoring. Lancaster and Jackson had sent the ball up the middle for Butroid to earn the first corner. Preston then found Butroid on the edge of the box, and his effort came off Mersin’s post.
Mickleover came straight back, but Wilson’s 18th minute free kick was dealt with by Coghill. Donkor was working well on the right- wing overlap, before O’Grady tried another speculative shot four minutes later.
Dales was trying to drive Sports forward and clearly doing his best to seek out O’Grady, but overall the play had become fairly even again.
28 minutes and Gainsborough were appealing for penalty after Helliwell went down, but the referee gave a free kick against the striker and gave a yellow card!
Trinity had started to look more dangerous, but Conway managed to get a dangerous cross into Sports’ box, but fortunately found no one waiting.
Wilkinson was yellow carded after fouling Helliwell and just before half-time Dales beat two defenders before being grounded and so it remained 0-0.
Gainsborough started the second half with a long ball easily cut out by Donkor, but Wilson then put Barnes through, to find Donkor again, but his final ball was out of O’Grady’s reach.
Lancaster had intercepted a long ball, before Adebambo, Atkinson, Barnes and Edwards all had spells, seeking out moves spread the home defence.
It was now Mickleover looking the more dangerous, pegging the home defence back again until a Coghill clearance gave them some respite.
Loanee Flanagan was the first change, coming on for Edwards, but three minutes later O’Grady tried his luck again, twisting before firing over again.
Howe and Preston then led a chase, but Donker got back to allay any danger. Two minutes later Howe earned Gainsborough’s second corner, when Donker intercepted again.
64 minutes in and skipper Coghill challenged Mersin with a weak header, before Howe tried cut inside before his run was stopped.
Home keeper Wharton made his feel real save after 71 minutes from Flanagan, but then a rare miskick from Mersin found striker Preston, who had been successfully challenged before he could do anything.
With 15 minutes to go there was a feeling that either side could still snatch three points, it had been fairly dour throughout but points are critical.
Wilson and Adebambo made some nice moves before the ball was cleared. Johnson was yellow carded for fouling Dales after 84 minutes, but Wilson’s free kick was wasted, only for Dales to be clattered to the ground again on the 90 minutes mark.
Beavon and Ferron were late subs, for Barnes and O’Grady, but with five minutes add on Donkor and Ferron were encouraged to use their pace on the wings.
Gainsborough had a couple of late chances over the bar, but it remained 0-0.
