The Mikes 1-0 Chasetown

The management made some changes after two opening League defeats, Taz Chibaya making his first start, Lewis Allison moved up to the wing. Three ex-Mikes - Luke McGinnell, Ryan Nesbitt, and Ryan Shaw - featured in the visiting ranks.

The Scholars had the better of the opening quarter, McGinnell heading just wide from a long centre. Lenient refereeing throughout saw plenty of pushing and shirt tugging as the Mikes came into the game, and after some minutes of Boldmere pressure as the half hour approached, James Spiers lost his marker inside the box, and fired home from ten yards. Half time: 1-0.

The diminutive Jayden Campbell’s mazy dribbling was taking some holding, and after some close passing work, it took a timely Harry Craven intervention to deny him, conceding a corner. The proverbial kitchen sink was now being thrown at the Boldmere rearguard, and it needed a last gasp Daniel Moore save to push the ball round the post for a corner, after slick passing had carved the home defence open. The hosts could look dangerous on the break, a long Owen Parry throw seeing visiting keeper Matt Sargeant losing the ball under pressure, the danger relieved by a desperate hack upfield. Chasetown should have equalised when bulky substitute Levi Rowley broke clear with seventeen minutes of normal time left; but, with the goalmouth yawning before him, he somehow shot wide. Three whole minutes of continual Chasetown possession now followed; but the Mikes were covering tenaciously, and eventually emerged to apply their own sustained pressure: it needed a reflex Sargeant save to stop Spiers doubling his tally. Owen Woodhouse injured himself as he cleared Boldmere’s lines; and after prolonged attention from physio Lauren, a moment of comedy followed as our managerial trio, concerned about their man’s health, came onto the pitch; and were imperiously ordered back off again by our Lauren! As added time ticked away, the visitors threw men forward, twenty men occupying the Boldmere penalty area for one free kick; but eventually the final whistle blew, and the Mikes were through to the next round.

Boldmere St Michaels: Daniel Moore; Tazivaishe Chibaya; Owen Woodhouse (Ricardo Dudley 90); Jack Byrne; Harry Craven; James Mace; Lewis Allison; Mitch Botfield; James Spiers; Owen Parry; Khaellem Bryce Bailey-Nichols (Harry Sweeney 66).
Subs. not used: Sam Cooksey; Andre Brown; Matthew Funge; Renelle Davis-Lawrence.
Chasetown: Matt Sargeant; Alex Melbourne; Jordan Evans; Luke McGinnell; Thomas Unwin; Sam Wilding; Tom Turton (Ben Lund 72); Jack Langston; Ryan Nesbitt (Levi Rowley 67); Luke Yates (Ryan Shaw 84); Jayden Campbell.
Subs. not used: Oli Hayward; Kris Taylor; Ryan Inman; Joseph Morley.