by Peter Scherer
Mickleover reserves played their first pre-season match, when they visited Borrowash Victoria last night.
Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Toby Smith 3-Ellis King 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Silas Donker 6-Harry Atwal 7-Josh Carter 8-Hamda Konane 9-Ted Stevenson 10-Josh Powell 11-Luke Thompson. Subs: Harry Banks, Mikey Mandinutsira, Taylor Smith, Sam Johnson.
It was a fairly experienced Vic’s team facing the Mickleover youth and they managed their first shot after just two minutes, but a tame effort failed to trouble Bull in the Mickleover goal.
Shortly afterwards King lost possession on the edge of the box, but after a Vic’s striker picked up the loose ball, he fired well over the bar.
Sports had started to settle and went close four minutes in, when the awkward bounce of the ball beat Carter, who couldn’t quite connect with the keeper already committed.
The hosts were opting to shoot on sight and had another attempt fired high and wide after seven minutes.
Mickleover went close five minutes later when Stevenson battled for the ball on the left and sent Carter on a run, with his final shot only just wide of the right-hand post. Stevenson was struggling though and had to be substituted after 14 minutes, replaced by Mandinutsira.
Thompson then went on the attack with a run down the left, cutting inside with a shot that curled over the bar. Mickleover continued to set the pace, with some strong positive breaks, just lacking the final ball, as Atwal and Powell were trying to orchestrate the midfield.
But after 21 minutes Mandinutsira broke the deadlock with a fine finish, after beating the home keeper in a one on one, 1-0.
As the half hour mark approached Donker made a mistake and set up Borrowash for a chance of the equaliser, but Bull rose to the occasion and made a great save with his legs.
Johnson came on for Smith just after a scramble in the Mickleover box was cleared, but Sports were so close to a second goal when Mandinutsira had his shot saved, only for Carter’s rebound shot to hit the right hand post.
But luck was against Sports youngsters, when Bull saved well again from a Borrowash break, only to be beaten by the rebound, 1-1 after 35 minutes.
Bull saved another distance effort from Vic’s, but with half time a couple of minutes away, Borrowash got a break on the Mickleover left, a shot was attempted and then it broke loose, before ex Sports player Mason Tudgay fired it home to make it 1-2 at half time.
Six minutes into the second half Cholerton headed off the line after Bull had already committed, despite the Vic’s striker being well off side.
Sports defence were taking a battering and even Cholerton’s strength in the middle was being tested. Bull made a point blank save in a crowded box after 52 minutes, but three minutes later Cholerton was up in attack and his cross from the left hit the post, before Mandinutsira hit his second and brought it back to 2-2.
Vic’s earned another corner after going close and Carter had another positive run for Sports too, before his cut in was intercepted.
Mandinutsira was through again too on the hour, but the keeper just got there before him. Both sides continued to have half chances, but just as it looked to be heading for a draw, an 85th minute corner from the Mickleover right was met with a perfect header, which proved decisive going down 2-3 at the final whistle.
