by Peter Scherer
Mickleover’s visit Alvechurch was looking like going to the final whistle 0-0, until subTyrell Waite found the net with two minutes left. He then got his second in time added on, before the hosts snatched a consolation.
Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Ethan Mann 3-Jake Bennett 4-Dan Bradley 5-Will Tamen 6-Kyle Rowley 7-Ethan Fitzhugh 8-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Will Trueman 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Tyrell Waite, Lewis Ridd, Will Bapaga, Will Atkinson, Marcus Barnes.
Mickleover won their first corner after four minutes, but the early attempt on goal ended up in the side netting by the far post. A minute later Hadley escaped from Sports defence, but his shot was well over the bar.
Hadley had another effort blocked nine minutes in, but Mickleover also went close, when a 15th minute flicked header from Beavon from just inside the box, was gathered by keeper Hollingshead just under his bar.
But it was continuing end to end as a minute later, Gordon collected a long through ball and managed to charge into the box, but his effort was once again wide of the far post.
Mann, Tamen, Rowley and Bennett were looking fairly solid at the back for Mickleover and despite some increased possession from Alvechurch, were able to clear their lines quickly and put the home defence under pressure, setting up breaks.
Greaves delivered a dangerous 20th minute corner into the box which rapped off the far post, before being cleared by the Church defence.
Clayton-Phillips then tried to punish the Mickleover defence with a looping free kick after 28 minutes. Crowther directed the follow up header on target forcing Mersin into a spectacular flying save to his right to turn the ball around the angle of the goal.
The pressure was still on the Mickleover goal though and the following corner from Ofosu connected with Hadley’s head at the back post, looping the ball back on target, and forcing Mersin into another outstanding save, tipping the ball over the bar for another corner.
Bradley, Fitzhugh, Sault, Trueman and Greaves, were all working hard in midfield, but Clayton-Phillips managed to avoid two challengers, before testing Mersin again, forcing a diving save low to his left.
The home side were still pushing forward to try and snatch a half time lead, and with the whistle poised Thorndike collected from Gordon, but firing on goal from just outside the box, his shot was well off target.
The hosts had failed to take their chances in the first half and it was Mickleover starting the second half the livelier. After two shots were blocked in the first eight minutes, Clayton-Phillips was on target again for Alvechurch, but Mersin tipped his effort around the post for another corner.
Trueman picked up a yellow card after 79 minutes and with time running out, Mickleover made their first change, with Waite replacing the hardworking Sault for the final nine minutes.
After 88 minutes Sports won a free kick from wide on the left, which was lofted to the back post and headed back down to the feet of Waite. The striker made no mistake in lashing the ball in from a few yards past the exposed Hollingshead. 1-0
Six minutes were due to be added on which became more. But deep into stoppage time a speculative long ball from deep in the Mickleover half caught out the home defence. They allowed it to bounce unchallenged in the 18 yard box, and Waite grabbed control to fire the ball across the face of Hollingshead’s goal into the far corner for his second of the game, and to settle the game in Mickleover’s favour. 2-0.
Nine minutes into stoppage time Gordon scored a consolation for the hosts, with a close range header from Dugmore’s cross to the far post. But all three points were heading back to Mickleover and the fight to consolidate second in the table continues.
