by Peter Scherer
Mickleover made the long journey to Morpeth to face one of the current form teams in the league, as they hoped to return to winning ways and climb the NPL table.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Brandon Ferron 3-Jake Bennett 4-Curtis Weston 5-Nathan James 6-Danny Benson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Ceiron Keane, Jamie Soule, Dan Bradley, Dylan Edwards, Bernard Nsiah.
It had been a fairly even first half, with the Mickleover holding their own against occasional attacking flurries from the hosts.
Morpeth had a couple of attempts on goal blocked in the first 15 minutes, before Hickingbottom was booked for a trip on Barlow.
The hosts had a shot from Gibson-Booth blocked again after 18 minutes, after Bollado’s initial attempt went across the goal face.
Bollado had another shot on goal on the half hour, but failed to test Mersin in the Sports goal. James found Marshall too, and although the final shot was blocked again, they earned a corner which came to nought.
The Mickleover back four of Ferron, James, Benson and Bennett and another excellent performance from Mersin, had managed to fend off the pressure from Morpeth and with half time approaching had their own best chance of the game, when Hickingbottom hit a distance shot and with the home keeper Langley beaten, it struck the post but set up a breakaway for the hosts.
James managed to meet the cross as it came into the centre, but Mersin was on top form with a terrific save to keep it level pegging.
But in the second minute of time added on, Morpeth got the break they had been seeking, with a precise cross from King, as Marshall made it 0-1, shortly followed by the half time whistle.
The hosts were on the attack again as the second half got underway, but fortunately their moves tended to lack finishing.
Edwards and Soule came on for Beavon and Bennett just before the hour mark and Mersin made another great save to keep out an effort from James.
But two goals in five minutes ended any hopes Mickleover had of a comeback, with Barlow netting after 72 minutes and Dowling in the 77th, both long range, while Foalle had gone close too, seeing his shot whistle past the post.
Nsiah came on for Barnes, who had also been yellow carded and with five minutes on the clock Bradley replaced Weston. Soale became the third yellow card for Mickleover too.
So it ended with a disappointing 0-3 defeat and a long trip home, with Sports still seeking their first win since the Blyth Spartans victory in late September and their first league point in four games.