Mickleover Sports 2-2 Belper Town

Belper came into this one looking for their first league win of the season while Mickleover were trying to get back to the top of the league.

Mickleover dominated the early proceedings but it was Belper who almost ended up taking the lead as the ball spilled into the Mickleover box into the path of Tunnicliffe only for Morgan Williams to get there first to get the ball away. Belper created another chance minutes later as Kyle Higton’s long searching ball found Holloway who was through but his low effort was well saved down low by Cox. Only a minute later Belper took the lead, Owen Nixon’s low whipped in free kick was flicked into the far corner by Lee Carter.

After the goal, the game went a bit quiet and very few chances were created as Mickleover pressed without much luck to get an equaliser until 5 minutes before the break, the ball was pulled back to Walsh who’s low effort flicked up off the surface and went through [b]Pickering’s hands and Dickinson headed in on the line.

The two teams went into the break level and that was a fair reflection on a first half with very minimal chances.
It was becoming a day to forget for Pickering in the Belper goal and he got his kick all wrong and the ball made its way to Kyle Grant who smashed it in from the edge of the box. Just past the hour mark Pickering was nearly left red faced again as a free kick was whipped in and Williams’ looping header nearly found its way over Pickering into the far corner but the Belper keeper managed to get a touch to put it onto the bar.

Yellow cards started to appear after Kyle Higton saw yellow for a foul and Lee Carter and Jay Smith both got yellows for pushing and shoving, a few minutes later Walsh saw yellow for a cynical challenge in midfield.
Belper nearly got an equaliser as Nixon whipped in a free kick which was met by Holloway but Bennett made a great save down to his left to push it out for a corner. The equaliser did eventually come on the 87th minute, as Nixon drilled in a free kick from the right and the ball was met by Kyle Higton who powered his header home past Bennett.

The late equaliser was the last real action of the game and that point could prove vital for Belper as they try to kick start their league campaign.

Mickleover XI: Cox, Kozluk, Girvan, Walsh, Claxton, Williams (C), Stevens, Jake Smith, Jay Smith, Dickinson, Grant
Subs: Khan, Singh, Proudler, Smedley, Hobday, Bennett, Amir

Belper XI: Pickering, Gregory, Carlin, L.Higton, K.Higton, Boyall, Carter, Nixon, Tunnicliffe, Holloway, Taylor
Subs: Brady, Kidger-Preston, Cain, Gilbert, Daley