by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Any hopes Mickleover had of making it two successive wins, were dashed when Wellingborough Town scored a decisive penalty on the hour to secure a 2-1 victory.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Michael Hollingsworth 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Will Atkinson, Fraser Corden, Jake Bennett, Ashton Offler, Ali Mohiuddin.
Although Mickleover started strongly, it was home keeper McDowell first in action, with a fourth minute save.
But Sports went close just two minutes later when Dube took on the defence with a run down the wing, playing Webb through on the left, before his shot was deflected wide.
Mickleover continued to look pacey and put the visiting defence under pressure, until they gave away a soft goal after 13 minutes. After a long throw, the defence failed to intercept Green’s flick, which continued to bounce into the net, 0-1.
10 minutes later Dube won a free kick on the edge of the box, before White attacked down the left. His cross found Webb, but the final shot was wide.
Wellingborough’s keeper had been the busier of the two, but he was finally beaten in the 42nd minute. Dube again initiated the move, with a powerful strike from outside the box. Snedker made the save, but it went straight to Webb, who tapped it home at the far post, as we went into half time as 1-1.
Wellingborough came out fighting for the second half, but Mickleover soon went close again too. 53 minutes in and a good ball from Webb found Dyer, only for the ball to get away from him.
Five minutes later Jones had just had a shot for the visitors, when Ashman took him down with a clumsy and late tackle. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and Draper stepped up to make it 1-2.
After their first half performance Mickleover had gone off the boil, and opted for a triple substitution after 71 minutes, as Corden, Bennett and Atkinson, replaced Dube, Webb and Wood
But Mickleover continued to struggle to create any serious chances, and a further change was made when Offler replaced Hollingsworth. But it remained 1-2 and Mickleover now slip to ninth in the table.
