by Peter Scherer (Images from LJC photography)
Mickleover made the long trip to Lancaster City on New Years Day, with one real quest, to break the run of defeats.
It proved to be good solid performance with chances to seal a win, but it stayed 0-0 with new optimism for the rest of the season.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Gabby Adebambo 11-Jamie Soule. Subs: Andrew Buah, Cieron Keane.
Heavy overnight rain had caused the going to be heavy, but it was Mickleover that took the kick off, straight out of play for a Lancaster throw.
Light rain had started again but just two minutes in Adebambo was fouled on the halfway line to earn the first free kick of the game.
The hosts then made a break but Mersin collected the cross at the second attempt. But a few minutes later Bailey intercepted a ball from Brown, and Shaw fired a shot from outside the box, well saved by Mersin again.
It was already developing into an end to end game, whenafter six minutes Bennett’s cross found Dales, but his header was an easy catch for keeper Dowling.
Shaw responded again for Lancaster, after another through ball from Bailey, Mersin was forced into another great save, before Benson headed away the following corner.
Dales and Brown were looking dangerous for Mickleover on the left and were able set up Barnes a couple of times. After 12 minutes the striker managed to get a shot in, but was wide of his target.
Lancaster then had a shot blocked, before Atkinson and Brown combined to clear any threat. The clearance found Brown again, but although Dales found Barnes too, the home defence rallied and cleared their lines once more.
After Adebambo was fouled again, Bennett’s free kick was cleared and sent Cusani on a run, earning another corner. Bennett cleared it to Soule, but the ball came straight back.
Bennett cleared another Lancaster corner, but for a couple of minutes the hosts were in the ascendancy. They had another attack after 21 minutes, it broke down and the ball fell to Soule, but his advance was halted when he was hauled back by Beeden, earning a free kick and a yellow card for the defender.
Wilson found Dales from the free kick, but he was offside. But as the action changed ends again, Cusani picked up on a poor clearance from Benson, but Mersin made another good save.
24 minutes gone and Wilson earned a corner, Dales kick was headed away, then Adebambo struck the rebound high and wide.
Dales had another run three minutes later, finding Brownon the left, but Coulton blocked his path and pushed forward again for Lancaster.
There was a hold up in play though on the half hour mark, when the hosts midfielder Sloan went down injured and was subbed.
Sub Evangelinos was soon into the action, putting a header just wide of the near post.
Keeper Dowling’s kicks had become wind assisted and were setting up home attacks and after 37 minutes Evangelinos went close again after collecting a cross fromBailey.
Mickleover had started to have more possession in midfield after Sloan’s departure. With three minutes on the clock a long goal kick from Mersin, went the full length of the pitch, with home keeper Dowling then slicing his clearance straight to Wilson. With the keeper still off his line, Wilson hit it hard on the volley, but it was just over the bar and a lucky escape for Lancaster.
Home skipper Bailey was booked for a foul on Adebambo, then Cusani won a later corner, it was taken short but Mersin punched clear, before a follow up corner came to nought.
Mersin had made another save in time added on, but some casual passing by the hosts allowed Barnes to break free. He was into the box and squared the ball to Soule, but with the goal at his mercy from a few yards out, his shot went over the bar and so it remained 0-0, with Lancaster counting their blessings.
With no half time changes Lancaster pushed hard from the restart, and they had the first chance of the second half, when Evangelinos’ shot was deflected wide after 49minutes, before Mersin palmed away Coulton’s following corner.
The hosts then had a free kick after a Brown foul, but after the ball had bounced around the box it was finally cleared.
Bennett picked up the attack and pushed forward to Wilson, but Adebambo was then intercepted.
Mickleover were looking strong though and Dales had a shot deflected out after 52 minutes. Wilson and Dales then worked a short corner, before Thompson cleared, but it came straight back with Weston, Bennett and Dales linking up, before Barnes shot was just wide.
Seven minutes later and Dowling sliced another clearance, which fell for Soule. He earned a corner but Moonan’s clearing header was almost into his own goal.
The chances continued to come and on the hour Barnesdidn’t quite connect with a Bennett cross enough to challenge Dowling.
Ferron and debutant Buah came on for Brown and Barnes, but it was still anyone’s game. Dales had a low shot on target after 72 minutes, but easily saved by Dowling, but then a breakdown in the Lancaster midfield sent Soule clear. Dales then cut in from the left and hit the bar, after the keeper got a hand to it.
The pressure was coming from Mickleover, but the hosts still looked dangerous on the break. Evangelinos found Mansell after 77 minutes, but his low volley was just past the post.
Hickingbottom came on for Weston and soon had a shot just over the bar too and then Abbott fired over at the other end on the 90 minute mark.
Ferron went in the book too but there were four minutes added on. Soule led another break which came to nought and finally after Dowling punched away a Mickleover corner, Shaw then had to clear off the line, before Bennett and Adebambo combined and Buah tried his luck.
So it remained 0-0, a valuable point, but so close to three again.
I was really proud of the lads today, as they stuck to a difficult task. They played particularly well in the secondhalf, with energy and created chances to go on and win the game. It’s nice to curtail the run we were on and get a point on the table, so now we look forward to Basford on Tuesday night
said Sports boss Gareth Holmes.
