Mickleover 1
Hyde United 2
Mickleover's four game unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at home to Hyde United this afternoon.
The Sports had gone in at the break a goal behind thanks to a debut goal from Hyde's Ewan Bange, but 20 minutes into the second period they were able to level the scores with Daniel Benson sliding home a Will Atkinson cross.
However, this wasn't to be enough and six minutes from time Drew Baker won the game for the visitors with a well-taken shot on the turn after the hosts failed to deal with a long throw.
Kick-Off
It was a nervy start from Mickleover who almost gifted the visitors an opening goal within the opening two minutes.
Atkinson miscontrolled the ball which was pounced upon by Bange who slid through his strike partner Jack Redshaw, but Hyde's top scorer was denied by the legs of home goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin.
Mickleover replied a few minutes later with a deep Ryan Wilson corner being headed into the sidenetting by Charlie Hickingbottom.
Despite this, on 14 minutes Hyde broke the deadlock.
Harry Ditchfield switched play out to Redshaw on the right hand side and the former Blackpool forward fizzed in a low cross that Radcliffe loanee Bange tapped in from six yards out for a goal on his Tigers debut.
Nick Spooner's side could've doubled their lead within a minute when Matthew Fearnley did brilliantly to scamper away from Hickingbottom and then Curtis Weston, but his eventual shot was comfortably saved by Mersin.
Just prior to the half hour mark the former Turkey youth international was forced into yet another save, tipping behind a Redshaw effort from distance.
Half Time: Mickleover 0-1 Hyde United
Hyde started the second half once again on the front foot and seven minutes after the restart Redshaw broke into the box and got to the by-line before shooting from a narrow angle and forcing Mersin into a smart save at his near post.
Shortly after this the Tigers went even closer to a second goal with the woodwork coming to Mickleover's rescue, with an acrobatic Bange overhead kick crashing back off the crossbar.
As the half went on the hosts grew more and more into the game and with just over 20 minutes remaining their patience was rewarded.
Andy Dales teed up former Southend United midfielder Atkinson who fired the ball across the face of goal where Benson was on hand to slide it in from close range.
This now being the fifth consecutive game in which the Sports have scored.
However, Hyde came close to regaining the lead just two minutes later when a Redshaw cross broke for Shakeel Jones-Griffiths 12 yards out but Mickleover's captain Wilson was well-placed to block the goalbound shot.
This was followed by a quiet spell in the game and it looked as though the two sides would draw 1-1 for the second time this season, however in the final ten minutes the contest sprung back to life.
On 83 minutes a Connor Heath freekick had to be parried onto the crossbar by Mersin, but a minute later there was nothing the 30-year-old could do to prevent Hyde from retaking the lead.
A long throw from Ditchfield wasn't dealt with at all by Mickleover allowing Heath to head the ball to Baker whose swivel and shot nestled into the bottom corner.
The centre back's third goal of the campaign, and a crucial one to win the game, bringing to an end the Tigers' seven game winless run.
Full Time: Mickleover 1-2 Hyde United
A first win over Mickleover since 2019 sees Hyde leapfrog the Sports up to 7th and to within a point of the playoffs.
Despite defeat Mickleover remain in the top half of the table, although they have now lost five of their nine home games this season.
ATT: 508
By Nathan Williams
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