The Mikes 2-3 Anstey Nomads

Two goals at the death gave a more accurate reflection of the game than the half time score, where the visitors led by three clear goals. With Ben Usher-Shipway absent, newcomer Callum Ballinger made his first start, while fresh face O’Shane Stewart came on with half an hour left.

A strong wind dominated proceedings throughout, and the Nomads chose to start with it behind them. The Mikes exerted the early pressure, three free kicks awarded in the first three minutes (and an early yellow card) showing their territorial advantage. Anstey gained their first corner as the quarter hour loomed - and took the lead. A congested six-yard box with over a dozen players congregating saw a corner by Corey Armeni float over the pack in the high wind and nestle in the far corner. Twenty minutes later, history repeated itself, this time Lewis Gibbens converting the flag kick bundling a header in at the near post. Boldmere were floating long, high balls for their forwards to run on to, but Anstey were proving proficient in the air - and looking the more imaginative when the ball was on the ground. Half time was nearly with us when Luis Rose latched on to a long header, and ran through for a route one third. Home supporters felt the Mikes had been the wrong side of key decisions: the corner before the second goal was blatantly a goal kick, while observers on the standing side were convinced Rose had handled the ball before going onto to net the third. Referee Tom Wall deemed otherwise.

Could the Mikes, now with the gale behind them, pull things back? As before the break, they had territorial superiority overall; though the Nomads were by no means sitting back on their advantage. The game’s turning point came with an hour left. From one of a succession of long Owen Parry throws, Joe Hull (coming forward regularly nowadays for such occasions) hit the bar. Yellow cards came regularly as anyone spelling danger was ruthlessly axed…and the minutes were ticking away without Boldmere getting that vital first goal. Our guests were keeping a high defensive line while the Mikes, looking for that breakaway netting, were keeping three men up while defending set pieces. A period of cornerflagitis afflicted Anstey as they used up the time; and when you thought it was all over, the wind had the last laugh. Visiting custodian Conrad Logan reckoned he had a long, speculative Andre Brown effort covered. A late aerial swirl saw him spill the ball; and there was the ever persistent Parry to poach a Mikes goal. Within a minute, a chance to reduce the deficit further had an element of the comical about it. A long kick forward entered the visitors’ penalty area…and Freddie Robinson obviously handled the ball when it would have been easier to contact it with any other part of his physiognomy. Parry hammered the penalty down the middle. Just as we were discussing the possibility of an unlikely draw…. what’s this? Ricardo Dudley (previously booked for dissent) was trudging off the park. He kicked something, very hard, as he left. It just hadn’t been Boldmere’s day.

Boldmere St Michaels: Callum Smith; Ricardo Dudley; Kai Knight; Joe Hull; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne; Callum Ballinger (Andre Brown 56); Callum Gittings (O’Shane Stewart 65); Owen Parry; Daniel Gyasi; Ross Evans.
Subs. not used: Harry Sweeney; Tazivaishe Chibaya; Lewis Allison.

Anstey Nomads: Conrad Logan; Joel Wolfe; Darien Wauchope; Jordan Annable; Lewis Gibbens; Zak Harris (Freddie Robinson 45); Corey Armeni; Henry Bestwick; Ant Lynn (Tayo Tucker 90); Luis Rose; Nyle Blake.
Subs. not used: Brad Wilson.