by Dave Mackenzie
Just over 16 hours after putting up a terrific performance against Derby County’s Youth (mainly U21 and some 18’s), the reserves took to the field against a Derby Singh team that had made some excellent additions during the close season.
Old MFC players like Yakeef Murphy, Muzari and Tyler Yohal all played a prominent part whilst Alex Steadman turned up with his right ankle in a cast!
Sports starting 11 was Josh Maher, Mason Hoult, Silas Donker, Jared Cholerton and Zak Sandhu – defending. Toby Smith, Harry Atwal and Fin Ryder occupied the midfield and up front with Hamza was Dean Ironmonger and Josh Powell.
The game started at a good pace and Mickleover were showing little fatigue by controlling the midfield and defence.
Powell was looking lively and it was from his cross from a deep position that had the defender in two minds running back towards his goal. We didn’t care as he chose the wrong mind, steering a header over the advancing goalkeeper to give Mickleover a well deserved lead. 1-0.
Singh Bros had some talented and experienced players in their ranks and began to take the upper hand with some good quality passing and the right winger proving a handful for Zak.
They scored with a well worked goal which should have been prevented, but the previous nights endeavours started to take their toll, not just physically but mentally. 1-1.
The lads did well to get to the turn with no more damage as the half finished bang on 45 minutes.
The second half started just like the first with Mickleover in ascendency but Singh Bros held firm. After 60 minutes the legs of some players were going and Will Coffen and Sam Johnson came on for Harry A and Josh P.
Another foul stopped the play wide on our right and Ryder put in a great delivery between the players and the goal which was met by the rising Ironmonger who powered a great header into the net.
Could the lads hold out? Other fresh legs were needed and Dean(the leap) Ironmonger and Hamza made way for Ellis King and Hayden Simpson. The lads that came on were being asked to play out of position but were asked to give us some much needed energy.
With about five minutes left a Singh cross from the right bounced up near the back post and as the trajectory was upwards, the header from the Singh player went even higher over the bar. Amazingly the linesman who was at the far side gave a penalty, whilst the ref who was about 12 yards away pointed for a goal kick before changing his decision. The spot kick was well struck, skelping the outside of the post and away to safety. Could the lads hold out?
Sadly from a free kick on the left a Singh player snuck in at the back and scored. The scorer definitely evaded a defender as he was on his own but surely he couldn’t have been offside. 2-2
That was not a good goal to lose and on reflection a draw would have been a fair result.
When we had played about three minutes over, the ref. claimed that there was still seven minutes to play. On hearing this you could see the players react in disbelief. Our final change saw Josh Bull (keeper) replacing Mason H.
Singh continued to press and Josh Maher saved well from a header pushing the ball around the post to safety but from the corner the taker was able to drive into the box and finished well to give his team the three points. 2-3’
Congratulations to DSB for another excellent game, however where the time extension came from nobody bar one person knew.