by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
From 0-1 down at half time, Mickleover secured a second half equaliser through Kane Richards to make it 1-1 at full time. But with no extra time in the FA Trophy it was straight to penalties and with Aaron Chapman making two saves and one shot wide, Hamza Bencherif stepped up to make it 4-3 and guarantee Mickleover a place in the first round proper.
Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2-George Wilkinson 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Hamza Bencherif 6-Josh Ashman 7-Andy Dales 8-Charlie Knowles 9-Harvey Smith 10-Jude Taylor 11-Josh Carter. Subs: Kane Richards, Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, Manni Norkett, Darryl Powell.
There was a corner for Mickleover in the opening minute, but that came to nought as it was turned into a break in Malvern’s favour. Fortunately keeper Chapman was quick off his line to allay any danger.
Two minutes later the action was in the Malvern box. Following a scramble in defence, the ball was half cleared but only as far as Ashman. But he couldn’t quite get a full connection with the ball and his shot failed to trouble Kilroy in the visitors goal.
It was end to end and after nine minutes and after a Johnson throw, a Malvern striker tried his luck through a crowded box, shooting just wide of the left-hand post.
A minute later Dales cut in from the left and his cross was met by Taylor, whose header was just wide of the left-hand post too.
Chong then got another break for our visitors, he got through the defence, but once again Chapman was quick to react and blocked with his feet.
Taylor was then on the end of another Dales cross after 13 minutes, but his header was just over, before Malshankyj and Chong combined again for Malvern, with the final shot just wide.
Smith almost sent Carter on a clear run after 22 minutes and a few minutes later Carter managed to hold the ball to set up Dales, but his shot continued to rise as it headed goalwards and was well over the bar.
Debutant Knowles was next to have a crack on goal, with a powerful shot from outside the box tipped over for a corner by Kilroy on the half hour.
It continued to be fairly even until Malvern broke the deadlock after 36 mins. Malshankyj’s initial shot was blocked, but Tumelty was on hand to pick up the rebound, beating Chapman at close range 0-1.
Mickleover continued to push hard for an equaliser and after a good build up between Dales and Taylor, it became one pass too many and any chance was lost, after Bencherif had set the move in motion.
Carter had looked particular dangerous on the break for Mickleover and with three minutes left on the clock, he let loose with a tremendous shot from distance, beat the keeper and rattled the woodwork, with Kilroy just reacting to snatch the ball as Dales ran in to try and intercept.
Despite being a goal down at half time there were no immediate changes, but Dales almost grabbed the equaliser jus five minutes into the second half, only to watch his effort roll agonisingly wide of the right-hand post.
Malshankskyj had another shot just wide for our visitors after 53 minutes, before a charging run from Taylor saw him break into the box before being intercepted for a corner.
Around the hour mark Mickleover began to make changes, with Keane on for Knowles, Richards for Dales and Onabirekhanlen for Carter.
Chapman had to react quickly to a short back pass as Samuels closed in though, just before Smith made way for Norkett.
79 minutes and we were finally level again when Richards picked up the ball in another goalmouth melee and scored from close range 1-1.
Suddenly it was all Mickleover and 83 minutes in Norkett was chasing a long ball. He had outrun the defence but Kilroy raced well outside his box to foul the Mickleover striker. The visiting keeper was lucky to escape a yellow card or worse.
Powell came on for Taylor for the last few minutes, but with just two minutes left Onabirekhanlen had a double effort saved by Kilroy, finally tipping the rebound over the bar.
Right on the 90 minute mark Sanders headed against the post from a Keane corner and then Onabirekhanlen and Norkett forced Kilroy into another double save.
At 1-1 it was into the penalty shootout, with Chapman saving Malvern’s first effort, only for Kilroy to save Norkett’s shot too.
Both Malvern and Mickleover scored their second and third, with Keane and Richards success, but Malvern’s fourth was wide and then Onabirekhanlen’s effort was saved.
Penalty five was successful for both, Atkinson obliging for Mickleover and so it was sudden death. Chapman again pulled off a great save and so Bencherif stepped to score the clincher, so Mickleover go through 4-3. That was a cup tie!!
