Bolehall Swifts 2-1 Boldmere St. Michaels Reserves
Mikes reserves showing six changes from Saturday due to cup ineligibility and injury, were forced into throwing together a scratch side that included veteran centre half Steve Moore and striker Andy Milan for their first games of the season, also Luke Bradley and Sean Mann coming in for there second starts. This game was dominated by Mike’s possession and their football was again a joy to watch for the first seventy minutes of the game and should have been several goals clear and into the next round before the home side had a look at Sean Butler’s goal in the final 15 minutes. Mikes again had Andy Lewis and Kevin Buxton to thank for dominating the midfield with their energy and passing acumen, feeding wide players Mann and Bradley to great effect. Up front Milan showed great physical presence and a deft touch and was a constant menace to the home defence.
The mikes took the lead on sixty five minutes, with an ugly goal from Mann after great work to open up the Bolehall defence again, but this time the ball managed to bobble several times to reach the back of the net. Bolehall threw caution to the wind and switched from 352 to 433 formation and there long ball tactics started to pay dividends, forcing four corners inside the final ten minutes that Mikes failed to cope with and Bolehall managed to convert two of the corners with the Mikes management unhappy with the referee’s contribution to both goals. To be fair to Bolehall, they never stopped working all night and fought a rear guard action admirably and their delivery and movement from set pieces was excellent, but young Mikes will never have an easier opportunity to progress in a cup competition.
FT Bolehall Swifts 2v1 Boldmere Reserves
