After the highs of a second half comeback the week before against Rugby Town, Chasetown stuttered to a disappointing defeat against an impressive Mickleover side.
The Scholars had started brightly and leading scorer Paul Sullivan looked likely to break the deadlock with two quickly hit shots – one which ended up well wide of the target and another that was a whisker wide.
A stop-start first half though saw player upon player conceding free kicks and entering the referee’s notebook. But it was from one of those set plays that the home side eventually forced Mickleover keeper Chris Martin into a save of worth, punching away a Grant Beckett curler.
The visitors’ front two Simeon Oshoboke and Karl Demidh looked lively and the latter should have given Sports a half-time lead when he put a free header from six yards wide of the target. They then went even closer in first half stoppage time when Willie McGhie forced a strong two handed save from Ryan Price.
Mickleover sensed that their hosts were there for the taking and started the second half very much on top. Not long after the restart, McGhie thought he had broken the deadlock with a neat shot beyond Price, but the assistant’s flag was up for offside.
It was a similar move though that eventually saw the visitors break the deadlock just short of the 70 minute mark with Simeon Oshoboke the recipient to finish crisply past Price.
Just as Demidh did in the first half, Chasetown really should have got on level terms with a Nick Wellecomme header that he put wide from close range in a rare second half Scholars attack.
Even the introduction of sub Danny Griffiths failed to alter the pattern of the game and Mickleover finished the stronger and deservedly doubled their lead when Oshoboke netted his sixth goal of the season with a well struck shot that gave Price no chance.
Chasetown turn their attention to three away games now starting with Leek in the Staffordshire Senior Cup tomorrow night (October 15).
Chasetown: Price, Forde, Beckett, Slater, Farmer, Butler, Downing (Keenan, 61 mins), Bragoli (Jephcott, 85 mins), Wellecomme (Griffiths, 73 mins), Sullivan, Theo Robinson. Subs not useD: Askey, Watson.
Mickleover Sports: Martin, Bryant, Pendleton, Walshe, Wiley, Degirolamo, Hatfield, Hall, Oshoboke, Demidh (Davidson, 90+3 mins), McGhie (Smythe, 73 mins). Subs not used: Grocott, Ritchie-Smith.
Click below to see more of Dave Birt’s pictures from the game:
