Boldmere St. Michaels 1 - 3 Chasetown
The Mikes Reserves slipped to their first home defeat of the season when they lost out to reigning champions Chasetown in a game they were desperately unlucky to lose.
A territorially even first half ended goalless as the Mikes superbly defended a number of testing balls into their box and created the clearer chances. The Mikes ultimately paid the price for the missed chances as the visitors took the lead with a clinical finish following a fortunate ricochet in the box.
A hugely controversial penalty a couple of minutes later increased their lead, but the Mikes poured forward and reduced the arrears with an Adam Morton goal that his performance deserved.
The Mikes continued to press but were undone in the last few minutes by a fine strike from another contentious free kick. They continued to battle gamely and carved out another couple of chances and had strong penalty appeal of their own turned down in injury time
Joint Manager Rob Clarke commented: “I felt gutted for the lads today, as I didn’t feel they deserved that. I credit Chasetown with executing their chances clinically when they came - that was the difference and the lesson we have to learn. However, I would question how much they earned those opportunities. I didn’t speak to anyone in the ground from either side who thought it was a penalty. The ball travelled 15 yards in the opposite direction for a corner and that doesn’t happen if you don’t play it cleanly. Coming straight after the opener it was a real body blow. I told the lads how proud I was of them for the way they picked themselves up after such a kick in the guts and went for it. It 2-1 we were in it, but the third goal killed it, despite us having another couple of chances and a Jack Brown getting flattened in the box. Andy Cox [Chasetown Manager] said to me afterwards that he thought it was never a penalty and there was very little to choose between the teams, but on the day it went for them. I can’t add much to that”.
The Mikes are in cup action on Wednesday night, when they travel to the Tipton Sports Academy to take on Bustleholme FC of the West Midlands Premier Division in the BCFA Midweek Floodlit Cup. A full match preview will follow.
The Mikes:
1. Lewis Fenney; 2. Andy Lewis; 3. Jack Brown; 4. Darrell Francis; 5. Jack Stone; 6. Ceiran McLean; 7. Lyndon Weller; 8. Anthony Juxon; 9. Tom Law; 10 Adam Morton; 11. Andre Gonzales.
Subs:
12. Tom Clews (for Morton); 14. Will Hutt (for McLean); 15. Sam Woodall (for Francis); 16. Rob Clarke; 17 Aaron Gayle (not used).
Scorer: Adam Morton.
