by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
On a night when victory was almost expected against a struggling Lichfield side, Mickleover came away pointless after a goal in each half, gave our hosts their first points since mid-December.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Archie Hall 4-Ross Derham 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Manni Norkett, Josh Ashman, Will Atkinson, Fraser Corden, Louis Bonser.
It was a delayed 8pm start after problems getting out of Derby,
As in our last away defeat, Mickleover had the first chance of the game, but Bunn in the Lichfield goal came out on top in a one on one with Dyer in the opening minutes, resulting in a corner.
A few minutes later our hosts earned a corner too, with centre back McMenemy just failing to connect with a header.
Both keepers were kept busy in the opening 15 minutes, with McDowell saving from Footes, just after McMenemy had volleyed over the bar and then Bunn had to make a save low down at his near post.
Mickleover had a free kick after 19 minutes, but Bunn was able to collect as it came off the wall. Although Sports dominated the possession, it continued to be fairly even on chances.
Bennett, Wilkinson, Benson and White had held firm at the back for Mickleover, but pressure began to mount, with Smith hitting the bar for our hosts after 22 minutes.
A succession of corners followed and 27 minutes in McMenemy’s head connected with as corner to open the scoring for Lichfield 0-1.
Mickleover tried to push forward for the equaliser and had a corner cleared on the half hour, but Edwards had two more attempts on the Mickleover goal before the half time whistle, one shot blocked from the edge of the box, followed by a lob over the bar.
Despite Mickleover’s push forward as the second half got underway, any chance of an equaliser continued to elude them.
Just before the hour mark a free kick just outside the box was cleared and succession of corners followed before the home defence finally cleared the danger.
Norkett had come on for Dyer and his low drive in the 74th minute tested keeper Bunn.
A triple substitution then followed with Corden, Atkinson and Bonser on for Derham, Dube and Wood.
Lichfield continued to have their chances too, with Edwards long shot going wide on the 80th minute mark.
But with two minutes of normal time left Footes made it 0-2 , while the game concluded with White trying his luck with a shot over the bar.
