Mickeover Reserves 4-4 Melbourne Dynamo

Two weeks after comfortably dispatching the same opponents in the Derbyshire Cup quarter-final, we travelled to Mickleover Reserves in Premier Division South action, looking to get back to winning ways in the league. Several changes to the side were needed; Gorman came in for his debut at left-back. Withers, Gosling and Archie Moore were all absent, so Baines and Riley Moore joined Nkrumah on the bench.

Dynamo started the game well and were unlucky not to be in front after 5 minutes; Muir worked the space well inside the box but his curling shot struck the upright. Mickleover, whose side were 4/5 players to the better this time around, were looking sharp in the attack and their transition was really quick. Add to that the pace of the 4G surface and Dynamos back line knew they were in a game.

The home side took the lead when the right-winger drove inside and fed a ball through to the opposite winger who got the better of Cox in a challenge and poked the ball home. We hit back almost straight away, as a corner was only half-cleared and Jones drilled a low shot past the home keeper for 1-1.

Right on half-time we were forced into a change as Hughes came off with an ankle problem after a hefty challenge. Nkrumah came on to replace him and just as it looked like all square at the break from our corner the home side broke at pace again and made it 2-1.

Just as the week before at Staveley, we needed to turn around a half-time deficit. This looked unlikely as 10 minutes into the second-half the lively left-winger completed his hat tick for 3-1. Our “never say die” attitude kicked in and we made it 3-2 two minutes later. Muir did well centrally to release Nkrumah, who squared for Goodband to finish into an empty net.

The next 10 minutes was all Dynamo, and it looked as though the equaliser was coming but Cox on his way out to clear the ball pulled his hamstring and Goodband donned the gloves for the remaining 20 minutes. Riley Moore came on and Baines too in the last two changes. Mickleover had rode the storm and, with 2 minutes to go, grabbed a 4th to what seemed like securing the 3 points.

We weren’t done yet though, for the third time in the match we answered a Mickleover goal with one of our own, as Peverley looped a header over the keeper for 4-3. Baines then made a crucial interception as it looked like Mickleover would get a 5th.

In the 8th minute of time added on Griffiths was sent through and brought down by the home defender in the inside right channel. As everyone piled into the box expecting a cross, Griffiths went for goal and curled an unstoppable shot into the net which the keeper didn’t move for.

A mad game which ended 4-4 and with the injuries to key players during the game and absentees it was definitely a point gained against a good Mickleover side on their home pitch.

Special mention to the reserve lads who stepped up and especially Niall Gorman who had his hands full all afternoon against the very good Liam Carter for Mickleover.