Lye Town 3-2 The Mikes

The Mikes returned empty handed from the Black Country but only have themselves to blame after failing to hang on for a valuable point having equalised lased in the game. With cricket taking priority at Lye Town’s Stourbridge Road Ground the game was played at Tividale FC which has never been one of the Mikes happy hunting grounds. Lewis Allison was unavailable, as indeed was the Manager Neil Kitching (way with work commitments). It meant a debut for recent recruit from Chelmsley Town Tazivaishe Chibaya. Lye included former Mikes players Oliver West and Lewis Archer in their starting line-up.

The pitch was well grassed but it was a difficult surface with players seemingly tripping throughout the game. Nevertheless, Boldmere got away to a great start with Owen Parry firing a cross shot in the far top corner past Ben Newey as early as the fourth minute. An evenly matched first half followed this early goal until a penalty was awarded against Harry Sweeney in the closing stages. To your reporter it looked a case of lively winger Isaac Adegoke being ‘tripped’ by the pitch after regaining possession from the Mikes player but referee Price was adamant and Joe Palmer fired home from the spot to restore parity.

The same player put the home side ahead from a similar angle as Parry’s effort on 62 minutes and Lye held sway as the minutes ticked away. In one of the better moves of the game a neat run by substitute Jamie Spiers put Mitch Botfield through to score in style. Celebrations quickly stifled by an offside flag. Despite now looking as though the game was beyond them a penalty as stoppage time approached threw the Mikes a lifeline. Parry was bundled over when retrieving a half-cleared Spiers shot and substitute Shaquille Whittingham duly equalised from the spot. Stoppage time was surely up when sloppy defending following a throw in midway down the left flank saw Sam Tye crossing the ball and Ben Bellingham sneaking in at the far post to beat Dan Moore. No sooner had the Mikes kicked off the final whistle went and it was a second 2-3 defeat in four days.

As all the new faces settle in patience is a must but more should be expected from the senior players at critical times in these games. A lesson earnt quickly I trust.

Lye Town: Ben Newey, Dan Brookes, Ryan Bridgewater, Sam Tye, Adam Meacham, Maxwell Ngbeken (Dennis Digie 83), Isaac Adegoke, Oliver West, Joe Palmer (Kieron Northwood 86), Ben Billingham, Lewis Archer (Jack Downing 76).
Subs not used: Jack Bostock, Finlay Barker
Boldmere St Michaels: Dan Moore, Ricardo Dudley, Tazivaishe Chibaya, Jack Byrne, Harry Craven, James Mace, Harry Sweeney (Renelle Davis-Lawrence 73, Mitch Botfield, Andre Brown (James Spiers 72), Matthew Funge (Shaquille Whittingham 82), Owen Parry.
Subs not used: Owen Woodhouse, Callum North