Coleshill Town 2-1 Boldmere St. Michaels
The Mikes made the short journey home from near neighbours Coleshill Town with no points, following a poor game that had a distinct end-of-season feel about it.
Rob Mallaband named an unchanged XI following Tuesday's excellent performance against Oadby Town, but that was where the similarity ended. Where the Mikes flew out of the blocks on Tuesday, they found themselves two goals down within the first quarter of an hour.
A cross from the left was not cleared by the Mikes defence. The loose ball fell to James Dance, whose 20-yard volley curled away past the despairing dive of Jenkins into the top corner.
Minutes later the home side increased their lead in controversial circumstances. Jason Lanns dived bravely to head the ball just outside the edge of the Mikes box. Although the ball was no more than waist high, the referee penalised a Mikes defender who tried to hook the ball clear.
The indirect free kick was tapped to Dance and his low drive was deflected past the stranded Jenkins to double the lead.
The scrappy nature of the goal summed up the rest of an uninspiring half. The home side looked most likely of the two sides to threaten, but in truth there was very little in the way of chances.
The visitors came out with more purpose after the break and gradually put more pressure on the home defence. The home side were making little inroads as an attacking force, but the visitors were also short of cutting edge.
As the game entered its final; quarter, the Mikes finally started to threaten. Stevenson had a header tipped over by former Mikes keeper Chris Butler, who was then almost caught out by the strong breeze when dealing with a long cross from McNaught.
The Mikes were well on top in terms of possession now, and for the second successive Saturday the lifeline came from the spot. With regular penalty taker Stuart McNaught substituted, Lee Osborne stepped up to drive emphatically into the bottom corner.
The Mikes sensed what had looked an unlikely point and looked to exert further pressure. Butler produced a smart tip over from Kirk Smith's 20-yard strike.
The Mikes afternoon was summed up in the dying moments. Baker whipped in a great dead ball from the right. Jason Holmes flicked a header towards goal, but with Butler well beaten, the ball bounced off the bar and over.
For the second time in recent weeks, the Mikes left themselves too much to do after conceding early goals. Rob Mallaband urged his troops to focus their minds on the opportunity that presents itself on Tuesday.
The Mikes entertain Highgate United in the second leg of the Moldwell Products League Cup semi-final at the Trover Brown Memorial Ground (7.30pm).
The Mikes hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg as they look to secure a trip to Bescot stadium, but will be in no doubt of the threat the visitors pose, following their Aspire MFA victory on Mikes soil just a few days after the first leg.
League title favourites Market Drayton Town take a 4-0 lead into the away leg of their semi final against Coventry Sphinx.
Boldmere: Adam Jenkins; Adam Swain; Matt Jackson; Adam Wood; Tom Stevenson; Anthony Juxon; Kirk Smith; Stuart McNaught; Jason Holmes; Lee Osborne; Ricky Baker.
Subs: Aaron Hamilton (Wood); Rob Clarke; Simeon Tulloch (Swain); Danny Dubidat (McNaught), Declan Clarke.
