The Mikes 0-1 Harborough Town

Harborough, undefeated on their travels since August, made it eight straight wins in a row. Even so, the final score tells you Boldmere pushed them all the way. Apart from the injured Kai Knight and Callum Gittings Boldmere (unlike some recent jousts) were at strength.

Boldmere began unsteadily as the visitors, sharply intercepting and well organised, looked like a team at the top of the table. Fortunately, our referee wasn’t having any backchat: Connor Kennedy was booked for contesting an obvious foul with only five minutes gone. One or two clumping fouls kept the Bees at bay as the match progressed, and it was pinball time in the Mikes’ box, nineteen minutes in. Even so, the hosts were looking nippy on the break - though one noticed the number of times the ‘borough had two men on hand to close such sorties down. Parity was preserved by the break, neither side managing a serious shot at goal. Half time: 0-0.

The game’s only goal arrived with the hour not long gone. A long free kick found the head of man-mountain Alex Morris. His forward header eventually arrived at the feet of Jordon Crawford, who scrambled the ball home at the far post. Harry Craven bitterly complained to our official about something, as everyone returned to the centre spot: another yellow card administered! All concerned gave it plenty of effort, but neither physio was called on in what was, basically, a clean contest. As the predicted rain arrived ten minutes later, an Amar Sandhu cross found Josh Walsh, whose rocket was tipped over the bar by Tommy Jackson. Soon, Harborough had netted again, from the scrimmage resulting from one of the game’s rare corners; but this time, our referee had spotted something, and the goal was disallowed. Eight minutes from the end of standard time, the Mikes made a double substitution, which increased their tempo. However, a suicidal back pass ended up with Jackson fouling the incoming Ben Williams, and our guests had the chance of putting the game to bed. The resultant penalty was well placed, down by the post’s foot; but a superb Jackson save, and a ground level second bite at the cherry, kept the game alive. This heartened the Mikes, who now played their best football of the game, as they pushed for an equaliser. Two minutes from time, the Bees somehow survived total mayhem in their six-yard box. With rivals Spalding losing at Bedworth, they tightened their grip on top spot. The Mikes, meanwhile, have only taken two points from the last eighteen; but this performance showed that they can live with this Division’s best.

Boldmere St Michaels: Tommy Jackson; Ricardo Dudley; Harry Sweeney; Joe Hull; Harry Craven; Jack Byrne; Ross Evans (Callum Ballinger, 82); O’Shane Stewart (Lewis Allison, 82); Andre Brown (Callum North, 68); Owen Parry; Ben Usher-Shipway.
Sub. not used: Pierre Phillips.
Harborough Town: Elliott Taylor; Dan Cooper; Amar Sandhu; Connor Kennedy; Ben Williams; Alex Morris; Louis Samuels (Johnson Gyamfi, 59); Josh Walsh; Tendai Daire (Dodzi Agbenu, 76); Dan Forbes; Jordon Crawford (Gary Mulligan, 90+1).
Sub. not used: Joel Carta.