by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
A goal in each half made sure that Mickleover retained the Keith Calladine Memorial Trophy, the annual pre-season fixture against Burton Albion.
Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2-George Wilkinson 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Dwayne Wiley 6-Trialist A; 7-Kane Richards 8-Cieron Keane; 9 Manni Norkett; 10-Josh Carter; 11-Theo Rowe. Subs: Tyrell Waite; Stuart Beavon; Liam Carter; Josh Ashman; Trialist B.
Mickleover made their now customary pacey start, which soon led to the opening goal. Rowe outran the visiting defence on the left, fired in a cross which met Richards and goal number one was into the far corner, 1-0 after just four minutes.
From there Burton seemed to settle more and the play and possession were fairly even up to the completion of the first half hour. Norkett then shrugged off a challenge to break down the right wing. He then cut inside and fired in a shot just over the bar.
Mickleover continued to press down the wings and after 39 minutes Richards tried his luck cutting in from the right. The ball went across the face of the goal, but there was no one to tuck it home.
With just one minute on the clock before the half time whistle, Sports went close again, with Norkett getting on the end of another telling cross, to see his header agonisingly hit the post. So it stayed 1-0 as we reached the interval.
There were no half time changes but there was soon another goal for Mickleover. 50 minutes in and a Josh Carter strike brushed a Burton defender and had the keeper beaten 2-0.
Sports made their first change when Waite replaced Norkett after 62 minutes.
But the attacks continued to flow and six minutes later Keane almost crowned a starring role in midfield, sending in a cross that had the defence beaten, only for Waite’s shot to be well saved by the keeper.
Burton pulled one back with a 71st minute penalty, while further changes were made as Liam Carter replaced Rowe, and Wiley and Richards made way for Trialist B and Beavon.
And so the pre-season schedule came to an end with a 2-1 victory making it four wins out of six, as we now look forward to the FA Cup on Saturday, when we visit Winsford Utd.
