The Mikes 1-2 Heather St. John's

Having shipped nine goals in three League games, the Mikes shuffled the pack at the back, bringing in new signings Tom Massey and the diminutive Jamie Mastropierro, with ex-Mike Kieren Westwood making his second appearance on loan from Bromsgrove Sporting. Jack Skinner and Jack Coates were out following their clash of heads the previous Saturday.
A good-sized crowd, with plenty of visitors from Heather, looked on as battle commenced. Intense and physical throughout, only three minutes had gone when Mastropierro went down in a three man pile up. He struggled on manfully, but after ten minutes had to be replaced by Alister Brauns. Both teams were serving up some commendably imaginative football, despite the blistering pace being set, as play swung from end to end. With Sufyan Ali a commanding presence at the back, Heather were showing lots of enterprise down their right, and with thirteen minutes gone nearly took their hosts by surprise, as a long free kick from the right cleared the bar with one bounce. Brad Lindsey was giving it plenty, physically and verbally, and after being spoken to at length with nineteen minutes gone, was the first name in the book four minutes later, despite lengthy protestations as to his innocence! Boldmere pundits have long said we need a boss in the middle; and Brad at least shows an aptitude in that direction.
Two minutes later our old friend Kieron Clarke was just wide with a header, after being gifted a poor goal kick; but the homesters took the lead with 34 minutes gone. “Keep it away from the keeper “, shouted Albert, as Lindsey shaped up to take a corner. The sage of Mile Oak’s advice was heeded, and a curving cross gave Massey a simple chance at the far post. Boldmere now went for a second, and sustained attacking saw panic clearances from the visitors. A somewhat rattled Stuart Parsons needed three bites at the cherry to field a corner; but as half time approached, a fine save turned a Steve Simpson steamer over the bar. The Mikes, however, had shaded the first half, and deserved their lead.
The Mikes started the second half positively, Parsons having to pull out a good save seven minutes in and went close on another two occasions in the next three minutes. Tom Massey was soon the second man in the book, after administering a general assault on an opponent from behind. With 57 minutes gone, however, Boldmere were brought up short by an equaliser of embarrassing simplicity. Parsons cleared upfield: a pass later, the ball arrived at Clarke. He sped between two markers, and slotted home from fifteen yards and restored parity. This visibly rattled the Mikes, who conceded a series of fouls as the visitors, much encouraged, racked up the pressure. Kyle Byrne came on in place of Steve Simpson, as Boldmere tried to pose new problems up front. As three-quarter time approached, detailed explanations from Harry Craven managed to prevent him becoming the third yellow-carded Boldmerian, after Clarke had been comprehensively sandwiched; but minutes later, Owen Parry achieved this distinction, after a pair of visitors were left rolling over the grass following a multiple collision. Events were unfolding at frantic emotional pace, and the tension was transferring to both technical areas. The referee went to have a word with the home bench after he’d adjudged that linesman Josh Sudbury had been shouted at quite enough; while along the bye line, Manager Jason Lanns (sometimes known to get excited on these occasions) was also operating at high volume. The coup de grace arrived on 78 minutes. Clarke dribbled mazily down the left wing. “Get into the box “, shouted his friends. Those of us with long experience of Kizza knew what was coming. Alister Brauns, mesmerised by the dribbling former Mike, made a desperate lunge as Clarke sparkled along the goal line. Kizza made the most of it - and our official pointed to the spot. Brauns had injured himself as he tried to tackle, and a protracted attempt by Boldmere to bring on Barry Healey in his place meant it was fully two minutes before the kick was taken: Clarke duly doubled his tally. From now on, it was kitchen sink time, as the Mikes threw everything at Heather, as they searched for an equaliser. Joe Lyng spent more time up front than he did in his usual defensive berth, while as the minutes ticked by, the visitors had all hands on the defensive deck. Fraser Doyle was so knocked about that he had to be carried off with seven minutes of regular time to go: one of his colleagues succumbed to continual cramp. A tremendous scrum in the Heather box saw the ball bouncing about like a pin ball; but suddenly, the final whistle sounded, and second placed Heather kept their impressive early run going. All that Boldmere could console themselves with was that they deserved a share of the points.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney; Tom Massey; Kieren Westwood; Jamie Mastropierro (Alister Brauns 10, Barry Healey 80); Harry Craven; Joe Lyng; Steve Simpson (Kyle Byrne 69); Brad Lindsey; Rikardo Reid; Owen Parry; Charlie Morris. Subs not used: Harry Buttery, Jack Burgess.
Heather St Johns: Stuart Parsons, Dean Morris, Brett Lloyd, Kyle Burke, Sufyam Zia, Taylor Byrne, Fraser Doyle, Umar Zaman, Malachi Farquharson, Kieron Clarke, Kory Burke. Subs used: Nathan Corry, Brett Fellows, Craig Evans. Subs not used: Khalil Harrison, Pradeep Bahrey.