It was always going to be a tough ask against the 6th placed team in the Evostick division one south and the game set off at a quick pace with the home side in the ascendancy. But, seven minutes in Staveleys Matt Thorpe intercepted a misplaced pass and ran down the right hand side before crossing for Oli Ryan, the ball eluded Ryan however, flashed across the box and away from danger.
A minute later there was a similar chance for Mickleovers Karl Ashton, as the game continued at the frenetic pace in which it had begun, the towering number 9 similarly couldn't get enough of a connection to trouble Steven Hernandez, playing between the sticks for Staveley.
Craig Fisher was doing his level best to help Hernandez and blocked three shots in quick succession and Oli Ryan was being a nuisance up front on his own and performing his task as the “out ball” brilliantly.
The game changed 15 minutes in when first, left back Michael Trench had to be replaced because of injury and then the other full back, Austin McIntosh was sent off for a last ditch challenge when he was the last man, he had to go but the 50 plus fans that had traveled from North Derbyshire felt there had been a foul earlier on in the build up to Austins challenge…it was to be one of those days.
Karl Demidh slotted home the resultant penalty with 21 minutes on the clock.
Mickleover 1 – 0 Staveley
The home side then tried to show they were good value for their league status and created a number of chances and only the inside of the post and good tracking back from Matt Thorpe kept the scoreline recoverable.
Things went from bad to worse when Matt Thorpe had to go off just before halftime and was replaced by Kurtis Morley.
Half time – Mickleover 1-0 Staveley
At one nil you've always got a chance and Staveley gave it as much of a go as 10 men could, at the start of the second half Jack Watts lashed a shot just wide and following a free kick, and Craig Fisher saw his shaped shot from the edge of the box just sail over the top of the Mickleover Sports crossbar.
On 62 minutes Sam Finlaw won the ball in midfield and flicked the ball the defenders finding Jack Watts on the right his cross hit a bobble just as Oli Ryan was about to rip the net open and the ball agonisingly eluded the right boot of the centre forward.
Mickleover then took control of the tie and went two up from the head / shoulder of Karl Ashton who just got to the ball in front of Hernandez and flicked the ball over him and into the net, there was a hint of a foul but same as the day had unfolded previously there was no chance of it being given.
Mickleover 2 – 0 Staveley
Shortly afterwards Jack Watts very nearly gave Staveley some hope, he ran onto a through ball and side stepped the keeper but the ball wouldn't fall correctly and the defence came to the rescue.
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Mickleover 3-0 Staveley
Alex Pugh came on for his debut replacing Oli Ryan and the youngster fresh from the Under21s victory over Ossett Town in the Fa youth Cup wasted no time in introducing himself to the first team winning a crunching tackle in the dying seconds.
So the Fa Cup is over for another year…..A spirited performance in the end but sadly it wasn't to be…..
Full Time – Mickleover Sports 3 – 0 Staveley
Staveley line up – 1.Hernandez 2.Mcintosh 3.Trench (Colliver 15) 4.Finlaw 5.Fisher 6.Hassett 7.Wall.8.Thorpe (Morley 37) 9.Watts 10.Ryan (Pugh 82). 11.Watters
Subs not used GK.Butt 14.Lindley
Man of the Match - Craig Fisher (sponsored by Richard Lane)
Attendance - 138 including 50 odd from Staveley
