by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)
Mickleover extended their unbeaten run to five games, with an injury time free kick from Archie White making it decisive.
Starting line up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Archie White 3-Louis Bonser 4-Jake Bennett 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Ali Mohiuddin 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Thabang Dube. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Paddy Webb. Danny Benson, Stanley Holder, Liam Carter.
It was a fairly lively start from both sides trying to gain the upperhand. Mickleover had their first real chance when Dales cut in from the left after 10 minutes, sending a curling ball towards the far post. Keeper Goff made a save, before White followed up with a rebound shot just wide.
But four minutes later Bosworth made a low save as our hosts had their first shot on target.
Sports had penalty appeals waved away in the 24th minute, when Dube went down in the box after cutting in from the right.
As Mickleover continued to push forward with plenty of creativity from the midfield, Dyer fired in the opening goal on the half hour, a powerful strike in the bottom corner, with keeper Goff well beaten. 1-0.
The rest of the half was fairly even until half time approached. White had created enough space to fire the ball into the middle, where Dyer went so close to hitting his and Mickleover’s second.
There were no immediate changes for the second half, but after Dube had outpaced the defence on the right five minutes into the restart, his following shot went just wide of the near post.
Stainsby levelled for St. Neots three minutes later, but on the hour Mickleover made their first change, with Benson back from injury replacing Dube, followed by Webb on for Dyer seven minutes later.
Our hosts had a few opportunities, but Sports defence held tight, as chances went begging.
Dales led a 77th minute break to go close himself, firing his shot in from a tight angle, before debutant loanee Holder came on for Mohiuddin.
Dales glanced the bar with an 86th minute free kick, before the referee indicated five minutes of added time. The time proved decisive for Mickleover, when White scored from a free kick as the final whistle was poised. 2-1.
