by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Three second half goals in 10 minutes put pay to Mickleover’s hopes of a fightback, going down 0-4 at Sutton Coldfield Town, the first defeat in five games.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Manni Norkett 10-Andy Dales 11-Fraser Corden. Subs: Danny Benson, Archie White, Paddy Webb, Josiah Dyer, Ross Derham.
In the opening minute Norkett had a break and outran the home defence, before shooting over. But Sutton defender Jack Lynch’s effort to thwart the attack saw him injured after colliding with the fence and had to be substituted.
For the first six minutes Mickleover pounded the home defence, culminating in a break from Corden, before his shot was well saved by keeper Wren’s feet.
Wood went in the book after nine minutes, his second yellow card since returning from suspension, but Sports continued to dominate possession.
Dales almost broke through, but Wren was quick off his line to intercept and then after 12 minutes Dube broke on the right, but his cross was overhit.
Norkett then set up a ball just outside box for Bonser to run on to, but his fizzing shot was tipped over by the keeper for the first corner of the game.
It looked as if Mickleover were set to open the scoring in the 18th minute, when Dales hit the bar. Norkett got his head to the rebound but it was just over. “It was an awkward bounce and I was too far under the ball when I headed it,” Norkett admitted.
But Sutton had their first shot a minute later, just wide of McDowell’s left-hand post, before Sports retaliated with some good work between Norkett, Dales and Wood earned another corner.
22 minutes in and Mickleover were still doing everything but score, with Dales sending Norkett on another run from the left and another corner.
Norkett had another shot blocked in the box after a Dales cross and then Bennett went on the attack with Dube. They set-up Norkett, but the striker was unable to turn in the box with his path blocked.
But totally against the run of play and in only their second real attack of the game, Mickleover failed to clear the ball from their own box, McDowell managed to save the first shot, but couldn’t stop Burke’s reply to make it 0-1 to our hosts after 37 minutes.
With the half time whistle poised a Sutton corner caused a scramble in the Mickleover box, before Wood cleared the danger. So in a half where Mickleover could easily have been 2-0 up, they went into break 0-1 down.
Bennett had taken a knock in the first half and was replaced by Benson for the restart. It started much more even, with hosts confidence increased with their first half goal.
Four minutes into the second half Wren had to parry a shot from Corden and after 53 minutes Dube tried to put Norkett clear, but Wren was swiftly off his line to intercept.
Dales then had positive run in from the left, but went a yard too far and lost out.
Wilkinson was playing on the right of defence, alongside Gascoigne, Benson on Bonser, but in an unfamiliar role he was tending to drift over, leaving Lekuti in acres of space.
Sutton had a chance just after the hour mark but put it wide and Dube followed up with a good ball into the box from the right, with no one to collect.
The hosts continued to threaten on the breaks and after 64 minutes Sports made a double substitution, with Webb and White on for Corden and Dube.
Wood had a good strike from outside the box after a lengthy build-up and Atkinson had been doing his best to push us forward for an equaliser, finding Webb on the left, but Norkett was unable to connect with the final ball.
But the out of shape back line were forced to pay when Lekuti was left with time and space and only McDowell to beat, an easy goal for 0-2 after 70 minutes.
Dyer and Derham then came on for Atkinson and Dales, before Sports had a lucky escape when Lekuti was left unmarked again on the right. It happened again a couple of minutes, but McDowell managed to pull off a great save from Gibson.
Continuing to exploit the gap on the right, Wilkinson attempted a back pass, intercepted by Gibson who gave McDowell no chance, 0-3 after 77 minutes.
Three minutes and it was 0-4, when McGrady curved in a free kick to the far post.
Wren managed to snatch the ball after a goalmouth scramble followed an 80th minute corner and McDowell made another save six minutes later.
Almost on time Dyer shot just wide of the right-hand post and Webb had a close range shot well saved by the keeper.
The scoreline was maybe flattering to our hosts, but for Mickleover it was lesson on missed chances and the missing fluidity of the first half.
“We were just flat, yes we broke through a few times. But in the first half it looked almost inevitable we would win. But there has to be a ruthless edge to score and finish a game off and we didn’t have that today. Then mistakes cost us and they scored from nearly chance they had,” said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.
