STALEMATE FOR MICKLEOVER IN LAST PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY
by Peter Scherer
Peterborough Sports were the visitors at the Don Amott Arena, for the final pre-season friendly of the year.
There was a welcome back from injury for both Phil Watt and Paddy Webb, as manager John McGrath starts to show a hint of his line-up for the first Northern Premier league match at South Shields next week.
1-Joe Slinn 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Mason Warren 5- James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Ben Gowing 8-Andrew Wright 9- Declan Bacon 10-Stuart Bevan 11-George Milner.
Subs- Jacob Edge-Lucas, Paddy Webb, Pablo Mills, Darius Smith, Josh Satchwell, Ricky Ravenhill. Jackson Smith.
Goalkeeper Slinn was soon in action when he had to push out Peterborough’s first attempt for a corner only two minutes in, before the tables were turned and Beavon had a shot over the bar from Sports first corner five minutes later.
It was the home side having more of the attacking and after Gowing had a shot blocked, an attempt from Butler was punched over the bar after 15 minutes.
The interplay and short passing was again Sports strong point, but as in other games the final ball just failed to get through.
Mickleover skipper Warren was yellow carded and as they went in for half time it was still 0-0.
10 minutes into the second half Beavon tried a shot from just outside the area and went close, but as the hour approached there was a change around in the Mickleover line-up. Ravenhill was on for Warren, Webb for Milner and Jackson Smith for Slinn.
But assistant manager Ravenhill had only been on the pitch nine minutes when he followed Warren into the ref’s book with a yellow card too.
Edge-Lucas then came on for Gowing, before Webb got a break and put a ball into the visitors area, but there was no one on the receiving end,
Satchwell replaced Wright for the last 13 minutes, but with less chances developing, an 82nd minute free kick was Sports last oportunity, but Beavon’s shot hit the wall and it ended 0-0.
Mickleover FC 0 – 0 Peterborough Sports