by Peter Scherer
Mickleover faced their toughest pre-season try out so far, when they faced former Northern Premier League Champions Buxton, now firmly established in the National League North.
Starting line-up: 1-Jim Pollard 2-jake Benett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ethan Mann 6-Ryan Wilson 7-Will Trueman 8-George Atwal 9-Andre Wright 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Oli Greaves, Zak Sandhu, Fin Ryder.
Buxton started the game with confidence and after only five minutes keeper Pollard was forced into a diving save from an Elliott strike, destined for the bottom corner.
As Buxton continued to push forward Jordan Burrow opened the scoring after 10 minutes, getting on the end of a Connor Kirby cross. 0-1.
As Mickleover started to get into the game more Kirby made it 0-2 for the hosts after 14 minutes, before Trueman went close, with his effort blocked by Josh Granite a couple of minutes later.
But Sports got their reward when Wilson pulled a goal a back in the 18th minute, with a superb long shot from at least 20 yards out, 1-2.
It continued to be a testing time for Mickleover against their stronger opposition, but hopes of an equaliser were dashed when Buxton were awarded a 24th minute penalty, which was converted by McCourt, 1-3.
Pollard had to make another diving save after 34 minutes from a Burrow header, but it remained 1-3 as the half time whistle blew.
It was nine minutes into the second half when Buxton added their fourth and Kirby’s second. He had picked up a loose ball, but Pollard managed to save the first attempt, only to be beaten from the rebound, 1-4.
Burrow made it 1-5 two minutes later with his second, after a number of substitutions had been made. But Barnes was close to Mickleover’s second after 74 minutes, after he tested home keeper Dearnley.
Di Girolamo tried a curling shot two minutes later, but Pollard had it covered, before Max Hunt made it six for Buxton, heading in from a corner after 77 minutes, 1-6.
“A great work out for us against an excellent side, who play in the division above us and have some excellent individual players. We were missing five key players, but it was a great opportunity for the lads to get more minutes in their legs as we prepare for our season start on August 5th,” said Sports gaffer John McGrath.
It’s now off to Ilkeston on tomorrow evening for our fourth pre-season game 7.30pm kick off.