by Peter Scherer
Mickleover’s hopes of victory on their return to league action, were dashed by a deflected second half goal for the hosts, and chances in front of goal wasted by Sports.
Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman; 2-Darryl Powell; 3-Sam Sanders; 4-Will Atkinson; 5-Hamza Bencherif; 6-George Wilkinson; 7-Theo Rowe; 8-Josh Ashman; 9-Harvey Smith; 10-Jude Taylor; 11-Kane Richards. Subs: Manni Norkett, Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, Andy Dales, Charlie Knowles.
It wasn’t the best of starts for Mickleover when after just four minutes Sutton attacked down the left and Jayden Campbell was able to tap in the rebound, after Chapman had saved the initial shot, 0-1.
Sports response was fairly swift and after Rowe went on a charge down the left, he won a corner two minutes later, from which Ashman hit the rebound, but a strange bounce took the sting out of it and it was an easy catch for keeper Wren.
Taylor then shot just wide from close range, before he combined with Richards and Smith to create a half chance, which was comfortably dealt with by the home defence.
Sutton were quick on the break and Campbell had another telling run after 18 minutes, but Powell chased back to intercept.
Two minutes later Birch had to make a timely interception to stop Smith connecting, with an almost open goal at his mercy and seven minutes later another crossfield ball from Smith was met by Rowe, but his shot was over the bar.
But the equaliser finally came on the half hour. Ashman had been hacked down on the halfway line, but after the initial free kick had broken down, Richards made an interception and timely pass met by Taylor who tapped it home 1-1.
Just minutes later Chapman was forced into a reflex save from a header at close range, but on the whole Powell, Bencherif, Wilkinson and Sanders continued to look strong at the back for Sports.
With five minutes left Campbell tried a random shot from distance on he right, just wide of the left-hand post, but it remained 1-1 as the half time whistle went.
Our hosts made a pacey start to the second half, but once again Sports soon responded, with Smith sending Taylor on a run which earned a corner.
The pressure began to build on the home defence as Mickleover began to push forward more, with Atkinson and Ashman orchestrating midfield.
55 minutes in and Rowe charged down the left, cutting into to shot from the edge of the box, but it was just over the bar again. Three minutes later Smith sent the ball into box but Richards’ final shot was blocked.
Wren had to react quickly too to block Richards on the hour, before a 66th minute break from Sutton saw Chapman’s response.
The first change for Mickleover came after 66 minutes when Onabirekhanlen replaced Smith and within five minutes he had a half chance, which was cleared before he could shoot.
Rowe then made an outstanding run to cut in from the left. His pass landed right at Onabirekhanlen’s feet, but the striker managed to lift his shot over the bar in Sports best chance of the half.
Just a minute later the ball fell to Onabirekhanlen again, but his shot was straight at the keeper.
Another break for Sutton followed and it proved to be the decider. After a tame initial shot came back to McGrady, whose effort was deflected by Wilkinson and out of Chapman’s reach 1-2.
With just over five minutes left, Norkett came on for Rowe and was immediately in the thick of it, almost taking on the home defence single handed on one run.
With Carter on for Taylor and Knowles for Atkinson, Sports continued to push to the final whistle, which included over seven minutes of added time.
Chapman had to make a couple more saves and Richards set up Onabirekhanlen who headed wide, before he hit the bar himself following a corner, before it ended 1-2.
