MILNER GOAL KEEPS SPORTS AT THE TOP

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover extended their unbeaten run to six games with a hard fought win against a robust defending Hyde United.

The starting line-up was the same as last Saturday’s win over Grantham, but it was a welcome back for Mason Warren and Aman Verma on the bench.

The full line-up was 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Benett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Andrew Wright 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon, Subs: Josh Satchwell, Mason Warren, Pablo Mills, Anam Verma, and Joe Slinn.

Mickleover were on the attack from the opening minutes, with Milner the integral part of a build-up including most of the team.

An early Agustien free-kick was cleared and after six minutes a Beavon cross was headed out for the first corner of the game. It came to nothing and after the clearance there was a free-kick to Hyde.

Four minutes later and Agustien was busy with another free kick after Wright was fouled, but the initial clearance ran loose, was picked up by Milner, whose shot was just over.

Beavon was the next to be fouled, so it was another Agustien free kick, before the Curacao midfielder played a nice ball through the middle, for Milner to flick on a header which wasn’t picked up.

Hyde then started to come out more and after a Tom Pratt effort was easily blocked by Watt, Liam Tongue shot straight at Hawkins, with his shot comfortably held. 

Sports then broke out again with a strong running overlap from Morris, but his cross was too near to keeper Joe Green.

Tongue had a good effort again for Hyde on 15 minutes, but Hawkins dived to his left and had it covered. 

Then Watt was first in the book for Sports and yet another free kick and Hyde’s effort was straight into the wall, before Morris went in the book for a late challenge too.

The next free kick was Hyde’s again and nearly got through the Mickleover defence, before being put out for a corner.

The book was out again for Paddy Lane’s late challenge on Morris, only two minutes later Tom Pratt was in there too after a challenge on Butler and Bradley Roscoe followed after taking down Beavon, as the referee’s whistle began to dominate the game.

In between the stoppages Hyde managed a weak shot easily taken by Hawkins, and another effort from Tongue was blocked.

With 10 minutes to go in the first half Beavon almost found space in the box, before a Bacon cross was cleared by the visitors defence.

There was another Mickleover free kick after Milner was taken down just outside the box, Agustien’s shot was then just tipped over by Green.

Hyde then got a break through Chinedu Uche, and although it got very busy in the box, Hawkins ran out and cleared the threat before the referee finally brought a very scrappy first half to a conclusion.

There was an early corner for Hyde as the second half kicked off, but no one connected with Tongue’s effort 

But it was soon evident that Sports were beginning to flow, aided by the fact the referee wasn’t stopping play every five minutes.

Butler put a testing ball over the centre of the Hyde goal, almost connecting with a charging Bennett before it was intercepted.

Webb almost put Wright in the clear but a combination of keeper and defender saved the visitors again. Beavon was next, chasing a long ball that just ran out on him.

Lane had a great chance to give the visitors the lead, but put it wide and was soon to regret his miss. 

Morris to Bacon, a cross to Bennett who had made a long and forceful run towards goal. He could have shot but played it to Milner, who placed it cleanly in the bottom corner. 1-0 after 55 minutes.

“That goal was so important,” said a delighted Milner. “I played my part in that goal, as we just don’t score enough,” Bennett added.

Only a couple of minutes later Webb was almost through again, then Bacon had his cross put out for a corner.

The pressure continued with Bacon fouled on the edge of the box. The initial Beavon free kick was put out for a corner, from where Butler’s header was put out for another corner too.

Beavon was busy again with a 68^th minute cross, Webb was tripped in the area, but Wright sent a cracking shot inches over the bar.

With less stoppages the game had flowed much better in the second half, which suited Sports tactics and another promising run from Webb earned another corner.

72 minutes in and Warren came on for Bacon and Hawkins had a bit of work to do, which was all dealt with routinely.

Sports were still pushing and had most of the play when Webb had a chance of number two from a Morris cross, but he just failed to make proper contact and the chance had gone.

Back from injury Verma was on for Wright, but after 80 minutes Hyde had a great chance for an equaliser, when a telling cross across the goal face, was just missed at the far post.

Hyde pushed everything forward, including keeper Green, who had been putting up with some friendly banter from Sports fans about his shiny boots.

Hawkins had a couple of late saves to make and Warren created his own space and shot just wide. Mills subbed for Webb in the final minutes, but the whistle blew after five minutes added time, and it was another well-deserved win for Mickleover.

Sports Take The Biscuit From Gingerbreads

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover increased their unbeaten run to five games in the NPL with a solid 3-0 home victory against a struggling Grantham Town side.

There was one change to the team that came home from Buxton with a point last Tuesday, as Andrew Wright was back in for Josh Satchwell.

The full line-up was 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Andrew Wright 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon. Subs: Josh Satchwell, Joe Slinn, Bobby Battison, Pablo Mills, Ricky Ravenhill.

Grantham had a clear chance in the early minutes of the game when Hawkins had to make a point blank save from Ashley Worsfold, but overall the first 10 minutes remained fairly even.

Sports first real attack came when a good build up found Bacon, who’s long shot was deflected out for a corner.

But Grantham responded calling on Morris to head clear on 13 minutes, quickly followed by a last ditch tackle from Ryan Holland, stopping a clear run on goal from Webb.

Butler took a free kick from inside Sports half that went out for a goal kick, but Grantham were still dangerous on the break and Morris had a to clear another positive attack after 19 minutes.

It continued to and fro as Bennett played through to Wright whose cracking shot went just wide of the post, before Grantham’s response was a long lofted ball into the area easily dealt with by Butler.

On 28 minutes Mickleover had another free kick in a better position. Agustien placed the kick into the box, where Butler’s glancing header was just wide of the mark.

Agustien was quickly on the attack again, but this time his cross was easily taken by Grantham keeper Jan Budtz.

The pressure was beginning to build on the visitors and when Bacon was fouled on the half hour, Wright and Agustien plotted the free kick.

Three minutes later Milner put Bacon through in space inside the box. Budtz stayed on his line, but Bacon’s shot was just wide of the post.

Bacon was foiled again with 10 minutes left in the first half, but another Agustien/Wright combination proved to be too far out to cause a problem for the Grantham defence.

It was nearly all Mickleover as half time approached, with Webb firing across the goal face with the block coming just before Milner collected.

After Grantham’s Ben Middleton was booked for dangerous play, Beavon finally opened the scoring on 40 minutes, wrong footing Budtz before slotting home in the bottom left hand corner 1-0, with the half time whistle soon following.

Beavon was on the attack again immediately from the restart, forcing Budtz to clear hurriedly for a throw.

The visitors earned themselves a free kick which Holland sent high and wide, and Butler had to make a clearance for a corner.

After 53 minutes Mickleover made it 2-0, when a quick counter brought a classy one two between Agustien and Beavon, before a long ball was chested down by Bacon, who then cut inside and fired it in to the visitors net.

Bacon found himself in space again only three minutes later, his pass was timed to perfection again, with Webb missing contact at the far post by inches.

Webb was still chasing his first goal of the season, but after collecting a 59^th minute chip, his first time volley was easily taken by the Grantham keeper.

After a tame effort from Grantham was safely taken by Hawkins, Wright was the next to try his luck, with a shot from the edge of the box collected by Budtz.

Milner then took possession in the middle, found Webb, who played Wright through, but his first time shot cannoned off a defender for a corner.

Satchwell was the first change when he came on for Wright in the 65^th minute, before Beavon got another break and his shot deflected over for another corner.

After Agustien was yellow carded, Butler gave away a free kick just outside the box, but Watt cleared any threat, then Brad Abbott tried his luck from well out, but was wide of the mark again.

Mills came on for Bacon, but Sports continued to create chances. Butler got to a header in the 79^th minute, well held by Budtz, but after 82 minutes Satchwell was pulled back in the area and Webb buried the following penalty for 3-0.

Battison was the next sub on for Agustien and with three minutes left Butler and Milner combined giving the latter a run on goal with his shot blocked.

There was another penalty appeal too, but a free kick was awarded which Mills took just before the final whistle.

Another good all round solid performance from all quarters, which moves Mickleover back into sixth place in the NPL, with Hyde Utd the next visitors to the Don Amott Arena on Tuesday evening.