Mickleover Sports 2-1 Marine

Marine slipped to defeat in Derbyshire on Saturday, as they lost 2-1 at Mickleover Sports.

The hosts won the game with two first half goals, the Mariners not really doing enough to take anything from the match although Obi Anoruo’s 65th minute goal gave them a chance of taking a point late on when a Liam Willis effort hit the post.

Sean Hessey’s men generally had the better of the opening exchanges but it was the homesters who had the first effort on goal, Andy Dales’ chipped shot clearing the crossbar.

Marine forced a save from home custodian Jake Eastwood through Billy Smart’s rasping volley from the edge of the box, the salmon shirted shotstopper springing to his left to turn the ball away as it arrowed towards the top corner.

It was Mickleover who took the lead with 13 minutes on the watch, Zeph Thomas going clear to tuck the ball past Calvin Hare in the Marine goal.

The hosts double their lead five minutes later, the Mariners having several chances to clear their lines as the ball came in to the box, with Thomas eventually on hand to bundle to ball home from close range.

Player manager John McGrath almost made it three just before half time, his free kick clearing the wall but being fingertipped on to the bar by Hare’s acrobatic leap to his left.

The Derbyshire club had several chances to wrap up the points early in the second half, Thomas missing a couple of straightforward chances to claim the match ball and Danny Schofield also bringing a good stop from Hare from a tight angle.

Marine needed a response and started to press, Lewis Field firing in a shot from distance which flew a foot wide of Eastwood’s near post before Anoruo reduced the arrears, racing on to a defensive mistake to sidefoot high in to the net as the ‘keeper advanced.

The expected cavalry charge didn’t really materialise but the visitors came within a whisker of grabbing an equaliser at the death, a corner eluding Eastwood at the far post with Willis unable to make the Mariners’ day as his shot came back off the outside of the post.

Mickleover Sports: Jake Eastwood, Jake Bennett, Elliot Ptak, John McGrath, Pablo Mills, Jack Broadhead (Cap), Andy Dales, Clinton Morrison, Zeph Thomas (Lewis Belgrave 70), Danny Schofield, Jake Scott.

Unused subs: Adam Baskerville, Albert Lansdown, Brodie Lichfield, Tom Burgin. Cautions: Dales, Scott.

Marine: Calvin Hare, Lewis Field, James Short, Robbie Threlfall (Cap), James Foley, Adam Hughes (Liam Willis 82), MJ Monaghan, Billy Smart, Obi Anoruo, Craig Lindfield, Warren Bellew.

Unused subs: Sean Hessey, Sean Myler, Ryan O’Hare, Tom Moore. Cautions: Hughes, Smart.

Referee: Mr. M. Smith; Assistants Mr. R. Whittaker, Mr. S. Bickley.

Attendance: 205.