Stourport Swifts 0-0 The Mikes

The Mikes will be disappointed to have to replay this cup tie having had the better of the exchanges over ninety minutes and missing a second half penalty. It means the players of both sides will familiarise themselves with each a further twice in three days and possibly three times in five if next Saturday’s FA Vase tie ends in a draw. Manager Stuart Grosvenor made three changes from the side defeated by Heather St Johns five days earlier. Kieren Westwood had been recalled by Bromsgrove Sporting so Barry Healey came in for his debut at left back, Cameron Gayle replaced Tom Massey on the other flank whilst new signing and returning for his second stint at the Mikes, Stephen Palmer, slotted into the centre of midfield.

Healey’s debut was almost short lived if the calls from the home players and spectators had been met by referee Darren Laska. The newcomer hauled down Chris Conway following a Mikes corner when the striker turned for goal. A yellow card resulted, this after just two minutes as the official decided with half a pitch to run it did not constitute ‘denying a clear goalscoring opportunity’. The Swifts had more of the play in the opening fifteen minutes but with the Mikes rearguard looking a much more solid unit than of late Lewis Fenney was untroubled. Newcomer Palmer was prompting well in midfield and wingers Ty Knight and Charlie Morris received plenty of service. However, the final ball by both flankers left a lot to be desired and home keeper Dominic Richards was also largely untested. A Rikardo Reid free-kick just over the bar being the nearest either side came to breaking the deadlock before the interval.

Stourport, as in the first half opened the second period in the ascendancy. Drew Canavan tested Fenney and Joe Hanson crosses saw both Jamie and Lewis Clarke have efforts on goal. Not to be denied however Boldmere stepped on the gas with Owen Parry threatening with several efforts on goal causing Richards some concern. Brad Lindsey also had a pile driver blocked which looked to threaten netting beyond the custodian. In the 61st minute following a corner the Mikes were awarded a penalty when Morris turned Dean Waldron and was tripped in the box. Delight turned to agony as skipper Reid pulled his shot wide of the left-hand post, his second miss from the spot-on successive Saturdays. It looked ominous as Stourport immediately attacked and Chris Cowley was about to pull the trigger from ten yards when a superb Joe Lyng tackle denied the striker. The extreme temperature was not conducive to fast flowing football but as Boldmere’s three substitutes Kyle Byrne, Jack Burgess and latest signing Taimoor Hussain were introduced it was indeed the Mikes that looked the most likely winners but it was not to be.

A first clean sheet of the season was a big plus but worryingly goals look hard to come by and is an area that must be improved if advancement in the FA competitions and movement away from the lower reaches of the league are to be achieved.

The Mikes: Lewis Fenney, Cameron Gayle, Barry Healey, Brad Lindsey (Jack Burgess 79), Harry Craven, Joe Lyng, Ty Knight (Taimoor Hussain 75), Stephen Palmer, Rikardo Reid, Owen Parry, Charlie Morris (Kyle Byrne 75). Subs not used: Alister Brauns, Steven Simpson
Stourport: Dominic Richards, Jim Hanson, Lewis Platt, Dean Waldron, Matt Hanson, Matt Fulloway, Lewis Clarke, Chris Conway, Jamie Clarke, Drew Canavan, Joe Billingham. Subs: Mark Danks, Joe Hanson, Elliott Lees. Subs not used: Ethan Hanson, Ryan Jarvis, Matthew Smith, Dan Tustin.