by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
In a game that Mickleover should have won hands down, they struggled to come away with a point against bottom of the table Bedworth Utd in 1-1 draw.
Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Josh Ashman 3-Liam Carter 3-Danny Benson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Michael Hollingsworth 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb.
It was our vistors that took a first punt on goal, with a speculative loft over the bar after five minutes, when Bosworth was spotted off his line. The first 10 minutes were fairly even though with no real chances. Beavon and Webb combined after 12 minutes to creative a half chance, but never really threatened Highland in the Bedworth goal.
Sports won a free kick three minutes later, but Dales kick came to nought, and 19 minutes in, Bedworth’s Connor Mooney’s had acres of space on the left, but failed to get a shot in or make any progress. A cross form the right then followed, seemingly a straight forward catch for Bosworth, until he stepped back over the goal line, to open the scoring for Bedworth, 0-1 after 20 minutes. Although Gascoigne had the defence marshalled and Hollingsworth was trying to take charge as the defensive midfielder, Mickleover were struggling for creativity and relying on Gascoigne to play the ball out from back to try and set up an attack.
36 minutes gone and Bedworth had another shot straight at Bosworth, but a couple of minutes later Carter was fouled as he cut in from the left, Dales’ kick didn’t initially cause any threat, but a corner was earned, Sports first of the match.
Dales took it short and the ball was fired into Webb’s path, who smashed it into the roof of the net at close range, 1-1 after 39 minutes. The visitors had another half chance when Wilkinson lost possession on the left, but Bosworth was quick off his line to foil any strike.
Now on equal terms Mickleover were firing on all cylinders up to the half time whistle, with Dales tripped on a telling run as he cut in from the left. He got to his feet to take the free kick himself, but it was straight into the wall.
Charles Gordon had a late chance too for Bedworth, but Bosworth got a touch and sent it out for a corner, but as the whistle went it remained 1-1.
With no changes at half time it was Bedworth doing the early pressing as the second half got underway. Joe Anthony put in a weak shot wide after 50 minutes, before Samson Hewelt got a break, only for his cross to miss Gordon by inches as the defence failed to challenge.
Dales then got through on the left for Mickleover, it was met by Webb whose effort was over the bar, when it should have been in. Much of the play continued to be in the Mickleover half, but there was a possible hand ball in the box from a Bedworth defender, which the referee failed to respond too, before Webb sent another shot over the bar. With Carter down injured, Wood was the first sub as he went into midfield, with Mohiuddin switching to wing back.
Webb met another corner just passed the hour mark, but it was straight into Highland’s hands, he was then replaced by second sub Dyer.
68 minutes gone and Beavon’s determination saw him battle through the defence, his shot was blocked, but it almost fell to Dyer, who connected and won a corner. As the ball came in from the right, Benson struck from just outside the box, skimming the top of the bar.
Boothe then got on the end of a break for Bedworth, his shot was saved by Bosworth, but it was another corner. Visiting sub Louis Monaghan then fired a distance shot over the bar after 73 minutes, before Dales was felled by Hewelt, as he attempted another break.
A double substitution soon followed with Beavon and Mohiuddin making way for Corden and Dube. It was close again for Sports following an 82nd minute corner, when once again it fell to Benson just outside the box. This time his strike came off the post, with the keeper well beaten.
Time was running out though but there were still a couple of chances. 88 minutes and poor defending saw the ball fall towards Dyer, who just lost out in a one on one with the keeper. Then in time added on Dube had worked his way through into the box only to be obstructed, penalty appeals were waved away but in any other part of the pitch it would have likely been a free kick.
So 1-1 was the final score with more half chances than chances.
