Stockton Town’s Play-Off hopes suffered a dent with a disappointing away defeat at strugglers Mickelover.
Owen Gallacher’s first half own goal proved to be the decider.
Michael Dunwell made two changes from the side which lost out to Warrington Rylands. Gallacher was given the start at left-back, while Josh Scott returned up front.
The game started in lively fashion as Andy Dales fired over for Mickleover, at the other end Michael Fowler headed just wide from Lewis King’s cross.
The end-to-end action continued as Gabriel Adebambo had a long range effort tipped over by Harker, while Sweet was denied with a sharp stop by Mersin following a Stockton Town corner.
The breakthrough was made by the hosts on 12 minutes when Marcus Barnes’ low ball from the left was palmed out by Harker straight into the unfortunate Gallacher who saw the ball drift agonisingly into the bottom corner.
Gallacher then proved crucial in preventing Mickleover increasing their lead just after the half hour mark as he made a vital sliding challenge to block a goalbound effort from Samson Hewett.
Stockton’s best chance to level in the first half came when King’s cross was knocked over by Sweet who snatched at his effort.
Half-Time: Mickleover 1-0 Stockton Town
Early in the second half, Thompson had a strike from range which was kept out by Mersin.
O’Grady then squandered an excellent chance to double Mickleover’s lead when he blazed over the bar.
A big chance then went for the Anchors when an unmarked Purewal could only head into the hands of Mersin.
Mickleover had the ball in the net again just before the hour mark through Dales but following a lengthy discussion between the linesman and the referee.
Michael Dunwell rang the changes as Lewis Leech, Kev Hayes and Mikey Roberts came on for Butterworth, Thompson and Painter.
Hayes had an involvement when his cross was headed over by Sweet.
Hayes then had a weak effort which was comfortably held by Mersin.
Another chance went for Stockton when Leech narrowly missed the bottom corner with low effort on the edge of the area.
When Stockton did get an effort on target they were thwarted by Mersin. The former Turkish youth international came up big to deny a low shot by King.
On the only positive of the afternoon, Stockton handed another U18 player their debut in Jaedon Faulkner with minutes to spare.
Full-Time: Mickleover FC 1-0 Stockton Town
Mickleover: Mersin, Wilson, Donkor, Atkinson, Wilkinson, Benson, Barnes (Carter 90’), Adebambo, O’Grady, Dales (Flanagan 84’), Hewett (Edwards 58’)
Unused Subs: Beavon, Ferron
Stockton Town: Harker, King, Gallacher (Faulkner 87’), Painter (Baggs 70’), Purewal, Coulthard, Sweet, Butterworth (Leech 60’), Scott, Thompson (Hayes 60’), Fowler (Roberts 70’)
Unused Subs: N/A
Goals: 1-0, 12 min; Gallacher OG.
Attendance: 373
Photo: Harry Cook
Words: James Cartwright
