The Mikes 1-2 Nuneaton Borough

Boldmere used this break from League action as an opportunity to blood some youngsters, and see how they would fare against adult opposition. Accordingly, Pierre Phillips featured in the defence, and Callum North came off the bench for the first time, towards the end of proceedings. Kadeem Wisdom and Harvey Pritchard (who’s been recovering from injury all season) were in the dugout. I am pleased to report that Phillips looked solid at the back and, though North didn’t have time to make an impact on the game, he showed intelligent positioning. Nuneaton’s line up had more of a “regular first team” appearance about it.

On a cold night, a sparse crowd were treated to an open, end-to-end contest. The Borough started passing the ball round crisply, and it needed a good block by Callum Smith to prevent Bilal Yafai bursting through and scoring with only two minutes gone. Soon, after our referee hadn’t given the visitors a foul just outside their box, Harry Sweeney (who didn’t have his best game, but whose determination and work rate were impressive) had a great chance to score, but screwed his shot wide. Nine minutes in, our official had words with our bench - not for the first time in recorded history. It needed excellent saves to deny a Yafai far post header, and a low Johnny Johnston twenty-five yarder at the other end. With the half hour on the horizon, though, the Mikes took the lead. Close passing round the visitors’ goal area, following a corner, allowed Jack Byrne, who’d been acting as midfield prompter, to fire home from close in. A curver from Prince Mancinelli, which disobligingly went the wrong side of the post, brought us to half time, at which point consternation reigned among the Boldmere elite. As they rattled round an empty Function Room - where were our visitors? Clive had spotted their Secretary, and about thirty Nuneaton supporters were to be found on the ground’s stand side; but of their officials, there were none. Mark you, with the financial woes the Borough are going through, they may have enough on their plate without having to watch any football. So, the hosts had to munch their way through some tasty refreshments. I recommend the potato croquettes - they’re delicious. Half time: 1-0.

An entertaining second period saw Sweeney holding his own against his mountainous marker, Victor Nirennold. The Mikes’ off side trap was working effectively, and they chased and harried relentlessly, trying to prevent their guests from developing a scoring rhythm. Could they hold on to their slender lead until the final whistle? As the hour loomed, Nuneaton were mounting pressure ominously. Smith held on to a Mancinelli fizzer at the bottom of his right post; but, with nine minutes of ordinary time left, a free kick was conceded just outside the Mikes’ penalty area. Kyle Storer made the dummy run, and Jaden Charles fired over the three-man wall. An unsighted Smith got his hands to it, but couldn’t prevent it entering the net. Boldmere had had ten men in the box: a recipe for a keeper not seeing the ball until it’s too late. An excellent Phillips interception foiled Leroy Lita at the left post; were we heading for a penalty shoot-out? Four minutes after the equaliser, Lita made his reply. A long, swerving Jaden Charles centre flew into the Boldmere box; and a bullet of a header put the Step Three men ahead. Five minutes of added time were announced. Three of them had elapsed when…. the stand side lights failed! I can’t recall this happening before; but after nine minutes, normal illumination was restored, and time was played out, the only event being Ryan Ambroise being crowded out when well placed to score Nuneaton’s third. Defeat, but promising displays from the hosts.

Boldmere St Michaels: Callum Smith; Tazivaishe Chibaya; Kai Knight; Pierre Phillips; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne (Callum Gittings 60); Callum Ballinger; Lewis Allison; Andre Brown; Johnny Johnston (Callum North 74); Harry Sweeney.
Subs. not used: Joe Hull; Kadeem Wisdom; Harvey Pritchard.

Nuneaton Borough: Dan Jezeph; Jaden Charles; Kyle Storer; Victor Nirennold; Scott McManus; Kane Richards (Camron McWilliams 63); Leroy Lita; Bilal Yafai (Ryan Monga Ambroise 89); Prince Mancinelli (Luke Curtin 90); Prince Mancinelli; Kacy Milan Butterfield; Lathaniel Rowe-Turner.
Subs. not used: Callum Chettle, Isaiah Osbourne.