by Peter Scherer
Following last weekend’s disappointing defeat to neighbours Mickleover British Legion, Mickleover Reserves hit back in the best possible way, with a 6-1 win over Bakewell Town at the Don Amott Arena.
Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Chris Palmer 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Silas Donkor 6-Harry Atwal 7-Liam Carter 8-Mo Shweikh 9-Mikey Mandimutsira 10-Bernard Nsiah 11-Josh Powell. Subs: Arnold Marimbe, Marats Sudans, Steve Powell.
It was a fairly even opening 10minutes, with Sports defence almost caught out after four minutes, when Cholerton misjudged a long clearance by the visitors, before Donkor came to the rescue.
Mickleover then won the first corner a minute later, but that came to nought, as the Bakewell defence cleared.
Carter had his first run down the right after nine minutes, as Sports started to build on more frequent attacks. On this occasion the keeper intercepted, but five minutes later he picked up on a long ball out of defence, cut inside again to fire home the opening goal 1-0.
From the restart Bakewell broke clear though, and tested Bull in the Mickleover goal for the first time, making a diving save to his right.
But only two minutes after the opening goal, Mickleover hit their second. Mandimutsira started the move on the left, before a crossfield ball to Atwal was struck firmly from outside the box, comfortably beating the keeper to make it 2-0.
The Mickleover defence were looking sold with Cholerton and Donkor in the middle, allowing Hoult and Palmer to use the wings. After 18 minutes a Bakewell corner briefly threatened, before Bull punched clear. The rebound was then cleared and sent Hoult on a break.
A few minutes later Carter beat the defence again on the right, he tried a shot but the keeper snatched it as Nsiah tried to follow up.
Carter had another shot blocked 23 minutes in, but Mickleover continued to dominate possession. Bakewell did get a shot in with seven minutes of the first half left, but after that was blocked, Mandimutsira tried his luck, shooting just wide of the right-hand post.
It was close to a third for Sports as the half time whistle was poised, when Atwal’s shot was blocked, and Carter followed up with a strike just over the bar.
Straight from the kick off of the second half Nsiah just lost out to the Bakewell keeper in a one-on-one chase, but 50 minutes and in and the home defence was breached, when they failed to clear a corner and it was suddenly 2-1.
Carter put a shot straight into the keepers hands a minute later, before some rash tackles started to come from the Bakewell defence. Powell was brought down the edge of the box and Mandimutsira connected after Palmer’s free kick to make it 3-1.
Mickleover were on a charge and just a minute later Nsiah almost broke through after another lengthy run, but just after the hour mark Sports made it count again. Powell’s shot on the left came back off a defender and fell nicely to Palmer, who sent his curling shot into the far corner, 4-1.
After a Bakewell effort went over the bar from the left, Carter left the defence in his wake again on the right wing, he out a perfect ball into the box where Nsiah just got to the ball first, flicking over the advancing keeper and it was 5-1 with 68 minutes gone.
Mickleover continued to press and Nsiah almost made it through again with a long run after 75 minutes, soon followed by another Carter shot, but well over the bar.
Carter was almost through again with 10 minutes left, but he was hacked down and ignored by the referee, who briefly left everyone in doubt over his intentions.
Powell was fouled again on the edge of the box and Palmer’s free kick found Atwal, whose cross was just a whisker from connecting with Nsiah’s head.
Sports made two late substitutions with Shweikh and Carter making way for Dembele and Sudans, but after Bakewell gave Bull a last catch from a tame shot, Hoult charged down the right on the 90 minute mark, crossed to find Nsiah who struck his second goal of the night, to make it a solid 6-1 victory.
