Mickleover threw away a 2-0 half time lead to eventually draw 2-2 with high flying Warrington Town this weekend.
Two first half strikes from Dexter Walters were cancelled out by goals from Luke Duffy and Shaun Williams for the away side.
Mickleover started the game very well and had the first opening in just the 4th minute but Stuart Beavon could not connect cleanly with his volley and it was easily gathered by Daniel Atherton in the Warrington goal.
Sports then came close to opening the scoring after 8 minutes after Dempsey Arlott-John squared the ball into the box and after a bit of pin ball it was cleared off the line from Beavon.
Just a minute later and Mickleover found their goal, Dexter Walters collected the ball out on the left and squared up his man before showing some silky footwork to sit James Baillie down and then curling the ball wonderfully into the top right corner.
It could have been 2-0 after 22 minutes but Phill Watt seemed to stop his centre-back partners goal-bound header from a corner before blazing the ball over the bar from six yards out.
It was then made 2-0 in the 35th minute through another Walters strike. Mitchell Duggan tried clearing the ball but completely missed it allowing Arlott-John to pounce on his mistake and get in behind, he then took it round the onrushing keeper before pulling the ball back to Walters from the byline, Walters showed great composure to sit Mark Roberts down before smashing the ball past two defenders on the line for his second of the match.
Callum Hawkins had a quiet 45 minutes in the Mickleover goal but had to tip a deep cross that was lopping in over the bar just before half time.
It was an excellent first half showing from Sports, every player put in a proper shift. Beavon, Arlott-John and Walters looked threatening throughout and the midfield and defence had stayed very solid to keep Warrington quiet.
Mickleover started off the second half well and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty in the 48th minute when Arlott-John was bundled over in the box.
Unfortunately for Mickleover however, it only took seven second half minutes for Warrington to get a goal back. Matthew Grivosti beat his man on the right side before shooting at goal, Hawkins parried the ball away, but Sean Williams was on hand to cut the ball back across goal for Luke Duffy to divert the ball past the keeper from close range.
The comeback was then completed in the 67th minute from a Sean Williams free kick. It was a soft goal for Mickleover to concede as Williams’ free kick from a tight angle was hit low and hard through a crowd of players into the far bottom corner.
Warrington were then the better team for the rest of the game as they pushed on for a winner and it looked like their hard work would be rewarded with seven minutes to go but Mitchell Duggan’s free header at the far post was hit straight at Hawkins.
The game ended 2-2 and although Mickleover may be disappointed at throwing away the two-goal lead, it is a result they would have taken at the start of the game considering the two sides differing forms this season. It was also a good performance overall, especially the first half.
This match turned out to be Warrington manager Paul Carden’s last match for the Yellows as he has taken over at Telford United.
Mickleover’s next match is away to FC United of Manchester at 3pm on Saturday 27th November.
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