by Peter Scherer
Mickleover travelled to National League North neighbours Alfreton Town for the their final pre-season friendly.
Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Dan Bradley 6-Ryan Wilson 7-Oli Greaves 8-Will Trueman 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andre Wright 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Ben Sault, Fin Ryder, Harry Atwal, Jim Pollard.
In an even first half hour, neither side created many goal scoring opportunities, until Lewis Salmon hit the post and the hosts began to take control.
But the Sports defence of Bennett, Bradley, Wilson and Dolan stayed solid at the back and made sure the sides went in at half-time even at 0-0.
Day put a header just over the bar for Alfreton after 49 minutes, but a minute Jim Oliver gave them the lead, after picking up a loose ball and burying it in the roof of the net. 0-1.
Bosworth was in action again after 55 minutes, saving from one of Alfreton’s subs, before tipping a shot from Dec Howe round the post, only five minutes later.
Just after the hour mark Dwayne Wiley made it two for Alfreton, heading past Bosworth, after collecting from a corner, 0-2.
With the score remaining the same, both sides brought on their sub goalkeppers as outfield players, Jake Askew for the last 19 minutes and Sports Pollard for the final 15.
So it remained 0-2, but gaffer John McGrath said, “it was a good work out for the lads though,” as they prepared for the start of the league season next Saturday.
(Images: Steve Ingers)
