MATCH REPORT | The Mikes 2 Lye Town 1

After being on the back foot for long periods in the first half Boldmere ended up winning by the odd goal in three after a hard-fought match against the Black Country visitors. Following the draw at Stourport in midweek there were a couple of changes: big Joe Lyng replaced Craig Milligan in the back four whilst Jack Skinner replaced youngster Parez Bromfield on the right flank.
Lye started off strongly with left back Lewis Pountney playing a key part down the left flank and former Mikes player Josh McKenzie keeping the home centre backs Lyng and Harry Craven on their toes, whilst former youth teamer Dreniz Bala partnering McKenzie was lively too. It was Bala who incurred the match official’s wrath when following up a fumble by Lewis Fenney he accidentally caught the custodians head in his attempt to force the ball home. It looked accidental but a yellow card was the result. Although Lye were controlling the play Boldmere’s back four remained steadfast. As the half hour mark was approaching both sides had to make enforced substitutions. Mikes Ryan Shaw, who has been in great form of late, limped off to be replaced by Ryan Andrews whilst Lye’s Luke Paskin suffered a similar fate and was replaced by Jack Pearman. It wasn’t long after these changes that Mikes took the lead. Cameron Gayle, whose influence in the middle of the park increased as the game went on, was fouled down the right, Reece Mitchell floated in the resultant free kick. Lyng looked to be tripped for a possible penalty but it mattered little as Craven was following behind to steer the ball past Jack O’Day. It was probably against the run of play but the visitors were back on level terms with minutes to go before the break. Good build up play saw Ben Billingham strike a fierce left foot shot from outside the box and a deflection off Lyng took it past the stranded Fenney into the top corner.
Having not had the best of the opening period it seemed that the half time break gave the staff time to tweak the side a little and within minutes of the second period the Mikes were back in front. A flowing move ended with Andrews, enjoying his stint in midfield, fed Rikardo Reid and the prolific striker turned his defender before firing into the bottom corner of the net. The visitors needed to press on now and despite having plenty of possession and forcing several corners it was the Mikes who came closest to scoring. A run by Gayle led to Reid taking possession down the left and his first-time ball invited Owen Parry to extend the lead, unfortunately the midfielder appeared to run into the ball rather than strike for goal and O’Day easily foiled the effort. Pearman sliced over his own bar and Parry was foiled after being set up by Kieren Westwood as Boldmere looked to extend the lead.
This was a good win against a strong side and extended the Mikes recent successful run.
The Mikes: Lewis Fenney, Conor Wright, Reece Mitchell, Cameron Gayle, Harry Craven, Joe Lyng, Jack Skinner (Alister Brauns 76), Ryan Shaw (Ryan Edwards 29), Rikardo Reid, Owen Parry, Kieren Westwood. Subs not used: J’Cee Abraham, Jason Holmes, Parez Bromfield