Boldmere St. Michaels 1-0 Oldbury United
The Mikes kept their grip on the Walsall Senior Cup with a hard fought Quarter Final victory over AMFA rivals Oldbury United.
Rob Mallaband rang the changes following Tuesday's excellent win at Friar Lane & Epworth, as he looks to keep his squad fit and sharp to cope with the glut of fixtures.
The game started with the Mikes on the offensive, but much of the play was breaking down as both sides struggled to come to terms with the lively surface.
The home side were first to threaten, when skipper Tom stevenson wasted a glorious chance. Presented with a free header six yards from goal, he failed to make a clean contact allowing ex-Mikes custodian Paul Fellows to tip over when he should have been given no chance.
The Mikes worked a neat opening down the left which proved to be the end of Jack Brown's evening. As he raced to the by-line and cut the ball back, Brown tumbled awkwardly. After lengthy treatment, he was led away looking very dazed, to be replaced by Tulloch.
The Mikes were dominating possession, but the visitors were looking dangerous on the break. The lively Marquise Bryan might have done better as he drove at the heart of the Mikes defence, but Aaron Hamilton recovered at pace to snuff out the danger.
Boldmere were next to threaten, with Fellows forced into two saves in quick succession. Danny Dubidat cut in from the left flank to drive in a fierce low shot which Fellows blocked with his feet. Jason Holmes then fired goalwards from 25 yards, but Fellows beat away his effort.
Holmes should have done better when the Mikes worked the ball to the byline and Tulloch cut the ball back, only for Holmes to miss his kick when well placed.
The half ended with a rare Oldbury corner which was cleared by Butler.
Holmes' ill fortune contined immediately after the break, denied when Fellows produced an excellent block to deny his well struck shot.
Sean Butler was kept on his toes, scrambling a scuffed shot around the post for a corner, which came to nothing.
The Mikes were largely on top. The overworked Fellows was called into action again, tipping over Andy Lewis' dipping free kick.
The Mikes rearguard were being kept on their toes by Bryan, who tumbled under Jackson's challenge in the Mikes box. Both the referee and his *istant were well placed and were unmoved, much to the frustration of the visiting contingent.
The Mikes threw on McNaught for Mason as they kept driving forward.
As play swung back towards the visitors' goal, Fellows again kept his side in the game, saving with his feet as Tulloch latched onto a defence splitting ball.
First Lewis then Dubidat wasted free kicks from good positions, before McNaught drove well over from 25 yards. The Mikes continued their patient build up as the final stages took place almost exclusively in the Oldbury half. Frustratingly, they were let down by the final ball.
In the final minute of normal time, centre back Hamilton found himself by the corner flag in the left wing position. He set the ball back to the raiding Jackson who crossed into the box. The cross was cleared as far as Andy Lewis, who repeated his scoring feat from the previous round by controlling the bouncing ball with his left foot before firing a great right-footed finish across Fellows into the far corner.
The Mikes comfortably ran down the clock to book a deserved semi-final place.
The timing of the goal was somewhat harsh on returning keeper Fellows, who was by far the visitors' star performer. However, despite grumbles about a penalty appeal turned down, there can be no denying that the Mikes created by far the better chances on the night.
The identity of our semi final opponents is still uncertain, but we have been drawn away. Darlaston are still to entertain Tipton in a much delayed round two tie. The winners will play Heath Hayes in the quarter final. The winners of that tie will host the Mikes in the semi final, on a date to be arranged.
The Mikes make a swift return to home action this Saturday, when they entertain Rocester in the Aspire MFA - kick off 3.00pm
Boldmere: Sean Butler; Adam Swain; Matt Jackson; Aaron Hamilton; Tom Stevenson; Anthony Juxon; Andy Lewis; Jack Brown; Jason Holmes; Mark Mason; Danny Dubidat.
Subs: Simeon Tulloch (Brown); Stuart McNaught (Mason); Ricky Baker; Lyndon Weller; Adam Jenkins.
* The Mikes would like to express their sincere thanks to Oldbury physio Kevin Bissell, for his help when dealing with Jack Brown's injury. Jack was obviously extremely dazed, causing enough concern for both Mikes physios and Kevin to be in attendance.
Jack, although nursing a king-sized headache, was well enough to text in asking for the result!
