The Mikes 1-1 Bedworth United

Continuing to ring the changes as they strive to climb away from the depths of the table, Johnny Johnston and Ross Evans were added to the new faces in the Mikes’ line up. The visitors, as we’ve come to expect of them, were big and physical, especially custodian Sam Lomax, who must measure nearer seven feet than six.
After an opening period of tight hand to hand (foot to foot?) combat, a penetrative Luke Carsley through ball set up Ben Usher-Shipway, who neatly tucked the ball inside the foot of the post with eighteen minutes gone. Visibly encouraged, Boldmere pressed forward, and maybe felt they should have had a penalty three minutes later, when Carsley, dribbling into the box, looked to have been bowled over from behind. Our referee waved play on, but the Mikes kept going close to doubling their lead. Joe Daley’s glancing header from a corner wasn’t far away; Owen Parry blasted over from twenty yards; and Ross Evans skimmed the far stick with a curler. Usher-Shipway, meanwhile, had had to limp out of proceedings once again: one hopes he’s fully match fit, having been thrown into the Mikes’ struggles after little playing time at his previous Club.
The Greenbacks, despite a couple of recent reverses, aren’t in fourth place for nothing. After the break, putting organisation ahead of an approach which could be described as “pushy”, they slowly came into the game, Leo Stone rasping one over the bar with the hour just gone - their first shot on goal. From then on, they built up the pressure, Callum Smith having to palm away a Jamie Molyneux steamer. With eight minutes of standard time left, it came as no surprise when half time entrant Liam Murphy, who’d featured in most of Bedworth’s approach play, took full advantage of an excellent assist to squeeze the ball home from an acute angle, holding off three defenders in the process. Now on the back foot, could Boldmere hold out for their first League point in six contests? Youngster Johnny Johnston, who’d impressed with his dribbling since coming on to replace Usher-Shipway, boiled over under the muscular attentions of his markers. The management wisely pulled him off with a quarter of an hour left. A forest of legs, an increasing number of fouls, and some random clearances in the general direction of lone striker Ryan Booth, saw out time. Indeed, they could have snatched the points right on the final whistle, had someone been able to connect with a late cross; but a draw was a fair result, in a game where each side had dominated a half’s play.

Boldmere St Michaels: Callum Smith; Luke Carsley; Harry Sweeney; Joe Hull; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne; Ben Usher-Shipway (Johnny Johnston 27 Lewis Allison 74); Joe Daley (Bekir Halil 73); Ryan Booth; Owen Parry; Ross Evans.
Subs. not used: Tazivaishe Chibaya; Andre Brown.
Bedworth United: Sam Lomax; Ryan Moore; Luke Rowe; Richard Blythe; Joseph Mugunda; Joshua Endall; Jamie Molyneux; Reece Blackmore; Kory Burke (Liam Murphy 45); William Grocott; Leo Stone (Jamie Spiers 71).
Subs. not used: Charlie Donaldson; Christopher Cox.