Mickleover Sports vs Gresley FC
Mickleover Sports 3 - 1 Gresley Youth
Gresley Youth bowed out of this year's FA Youth Cup as defensive errors contributed to a 3-1 away defeat under floodlights against a strong Mickleover Sports outfit, despite looking comfortable as they took an early lead.
Both defences were on top from the start with chances few and far between, the home side winning most of the headers and going close through Ben Rushby who was denied by an excellent tackle.
A throw-in to Gresley deep in their own half on twenty minutes seemed innocuous enough, but as the ball fell to Sam Kirk he produced a superb long ball through to Rikki Birch who beat his marker for pace and slotted confidently past the keeper.
This seemed to galvanise the home team into action and their lively forwards started to find gaps in the Gresley defence, Mark Nelson firing wide after some good approach work and the same player shooting straight at the keeper, Luke Hemingway, who was having an excellent game.
Birch fired over for Gresley and Jake Sharp had an effort blocked, but it was now all Mickleover, Curtis Reid knocking the ball over an open goal and Ben Gowing hitting the bar from 25 yards before the home side were awarded a penalty just after the half-hour mark, Tom Curtis bringing down Rushby as he bore in on the keeper.
The spot kick was expertly tucked away by Louis Mundin to level the scores and resulted in further Mickleover pressure as they began to exploit the gaps in Gresley's defence, Hemingway producing saves from headers and shots before being outsmarted by Nelson who latched on to a through ball and chipped in goal number two.
Just before half-time Gresley hit back via Birch who was through on goal but saw his effort saved by the keeper and the same player fired wide just after the re-start, Hemingway producing a good save at the other end to keep out the opposition.
Thirty minutes to go and Gresley were now exerting real pressure, a free header aimed straight at the keeper by Sharp and a Callum McBride shot going wide, separated by an excellent chance for Birch as he rounded the keeper, but delayed his shot, allowing the defender to make a goal-saving tackle.
Mickleover hit back with successive corners and a header over the bar, followed up by a free kick well saved, while Will Simpson also went close with a Gresley free kick which went just past the post.
A minute to go and the home side clinched victory by a 3-1 margin, Josh Thompson scoring after his team's late pressure forced a costly defensive mistake.
All in all not a bad display by this young Gresley outfit who looked capable of at least a draw at one stage before succumbing to a very solid and talented Mickleover side.
Gresley: Hemingway 8, Curtis 6, Gooding 5, Pearson 7, Guest 6, Kirk 7 (Jones 82) 5), Francis 6 (Metcalfe 70) 5), Simpson 6, McBride 6, Birch 7, Sharp 7. Subs not used: Frewtrell, Hickman, Watts.
