by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Mickleover suffered their second away defeat of the week, falling to 0-1 defeat at Shepshed Dynamo after a set piece goal.
Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Danny Gordon 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-Brad Gascoigne 7-Will Smith 8-Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Josiah Dyer, Manni Norkett, George Wilkinson, Archie White, Louis Bonser.
It was a fairly even start on a bumpy pitch, with Collins sending in the first dangerous cross from the right after eight minutes, safely headed away by Gascoigne.
Five minutes later Shepshed had two consecutive corners, Collins again the provider, with centre back Peart putting a header off the bar.
Sports had their first real attack when Webb almost got on the end of a chip from Dales, before it was intercepted for a corner. Keane then put in curling cross after Dales had intercepted, but keeper Wallis was out to collect.
The home defence were almost caught out after 22 minutes though, when a long throw from Gordon saw Webb head fractionally wide of the right-hand post.
It had continued end to end, with high balls being chased, but no clearcut chances being created by either side. But 31 minutes in and Ashman slipped allowing Korpal to get away on the left wing, his cross found Collins but his effort was blocked.
Once again the Mickleover defence had been resolute, but were caught out following a Collins corner from the left. Friend put the ball back in and Korpal headed in at close range to open the scoring for Shepshed, 0-1 after 34 minutes.
Friend headed wide from another Collins cross a few minutes later, before Keane was given a yellow card for pointing out to the referee that Collins was less than 10 yards away.
So Mickleover went in at half time 0-1 down, in game totally absent of any shots on target, along with some poor refereeing highlighted by both sides.
Sports were forced to make an early change after Gordon had sustained ligament damage and was replaced by Wilkinson. As the second half got underway it was more of the same, but ex Sports striker Ryder tried a low drive easily held by McDowell. Shepshed were then handed a free shot after 52 minutes, but Friend’s effort was well wide of the left-hand post.
Four minutes later there was a chance of an equaliser, when Dales chased a long ball, with keeper Wallis racing off his line. Dales attempt came off the keeper falling to Webb, whose strike sailed over the bar.
As the hour mark approached Atkinson made good progress to break forward, sending a Crossfield ball for Dales to cut in from the left. But his shot was just wide of the right-hand post again.
Two substitutions followed with Norkett on for Keane and Bonser for Benson.
There was a free kick for Mickleover after 68 minutes when Beavon was brought down on the edge of the box, but Smith’s kick went straight out of play.
White replaced Webb for the final 20 minutes, but pressure had built again from Shepshed, with another series of corners. Although Mickleover were trying to throw everything forward, progress was slight. They earned an 84th minute corner, which bounced around in the area before being cleared, and then Dyer came on for Beavon.
Dales tried one last shot in time added on, but it was well off target and it remained 0-1, with both keepers virtually redundant throughout.
