by Peter Scherer
Following their 2-5 defeat last Saturday at South Normanton, Mickleover Reserves were at home to Derby Singh Brothers. But a late first half goal proved to be the winner, with Sports going down 0-1.
Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Brad Brittan 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Ted Stevenson 6-Harry Atwal 7-Josh Carter 8- Hamza Konane 9-Fin Ryder 10-Josh Powell 11-Luke Thompson. Subs: Mikey Mandimitsura, Matt Harding, Brodie Carter, Silas Donker, Lian Carter.
In the opening minutes a long ball found Carter on the right, he was crudely challenged to earn the first free kick of the game. But Atwal’s kick was easily headed away by the visitors defence.
Only two minutes later Singh Brothers had a break, but their main striker put his rushed effort high and wide of Bull’s goal.
The Singh Bros back line were playing well forward to catch Mickleover offside and seven minutes in a lovely ball out of defence by Stevenson, did just that as Carter ran on.
Thompson then sent Ryder on a run a minute later, but the keeper ran off his line to intercept, as Sports youngsters seemed to grow in confidence with continuing strong attacks.
Carter and Ryder broke again and were caught borderline offside, before Hoult went for the overlap on the right.
Cholerton then played a long ball out of defence, but again they were just offside. On the 20 minute mark though they nearly succeeded, when Ryder slotted the ball in from the left and Konane was just beaten to the ball by the keeper.
Both Atwal and Powell put telling ball’s into the box, but both beat the strikers and were cleared by the keeper, before Singh Bros had another tentative attack after 25 minutes, but it was easy for Bull.
It was briefly end to end as Thompson crossed from the left, but despite a scramble in the box, the defence came out on top again.
The visitors were tending to rely on long clearance’s from the keeper, with mixed success. But 29 minutes and Bull had to race out to block one such break, with the defence outpaced.
It was a close call after 35 minutes though after some good work from Konane. He found Ryder, who passed to Carter and his strike was saved by the advancing keeper. But the ball spun back and was heading for goal, when the keeper managed to recover to make a double save.
Powell then hit the bar after a corner, but after a spell of positive pressure from Mickleover, the visitors managed to break again, but Bull was out again with a great save to keep it all square.
After another speculative shot had sailed well over, half time was approaching, with Mickleover unlucky not to be ahead.
But 43 minutes and the tide turned and against the run of play, Singh Bros turned in a well taken chance at close range and it was 0-1.
Powell was then fouled on the half way line, before Brittan had a run down the left to earn a late corner, Ryder then tried a back healer at close range, but time was up for the first period.
There was no immediate change in the line-up for the second half, but after four minutes, Brodie Carter came on for Konane.
Singh Bros received their first yellow car after 50 minutes when Thompson was tripped and another soon followed after Hoult was taken out.
Mandimitsura then replaced Josh Carter just before the hour mark, but it was the visitors gaining the upperhand again, with Bull saving a shot, before the rebound went over the bar.
Sub Carter tried a speculative shot after 70 minutes, before Harding then came on for Thompson. There seemed to be a reluctance to try a shot by Sports and they repeatedly made ground before making it one pass to many, and losing possession.
Carter put Ryder through, but he couldn’t get inside and won a corner and then Brittan tried his luck, but was well off target.
80 minutes and it was almost a second for Singh Bros, when the final ball rolled across the face of the Mickleover goal.
Shortly after a clash on the edge of the box between Ryder and a defender, the visitors keeper was sin binned after an exchange of words.
Sports failed to maximise the sub keeper situation, but after 86 minutes a Hoult cross was intercepted and Brittain shot, The keeper saved but couldn’t hold it, but the scramble was then cleared.
There was another Singh Bros yellow card after a challenge on Bull, but as time was running out Ryder put an effort just wide of the left hand post.
With about eight minutes added on the keeper returned, but Carter’s hopes of a run were dashed when he was tripped. A Singh Bros defender was then sinned bin and a yellow card brandished to a Sports player.
After a strong first half Sports were left wanting in the second and their reluctance to take a chance on goal proved decisive in the end.
