Callum is spot-on but can’t save Mickleover from loss
NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL
ON-LOAN goalkeeper Callum Hawkins saved two penalties for Mickleover in a man-of-the-match display but could not save them from a 2-1 home defeat to Morpeth Town in the Pitching In NPL Premier Division.
Hawkins, with Mickleover from Burton Albion after missing the whole of last season with a cruciate ligament injury, dived to his right to save Liam Henderson’s spot-kick after 53 minutes, then to his right to save one from Liam Noble six minutes later.
Sports had fallen behind to a deflected shot by Noble after 17 minutes but equalised through Stuart Beavon two minutes after half-time, the veteran striker reacting well after his first shot had been saved to tuck in the rebound.
Hawkins made several other big saves as Morpeth largely dominated the game but they were to no avail when the visitors scored the winner, Andrew Johnson bundling the ball in from a 68th-minute corner.
Morpeth’s former Alfreton Town keeper Dan Lowson made two fine saves from George Milner to keep his side ahead.
SECOND-HALF goals from Liam Hughes and substitute Danny Greenfield gave Matlock Town a comfortable victory over Stafford Rangers in their first home Premier Division match of the season.
Kade Coppin had an eventful nine minutes on the pitch from the bench. He collected what appeared to be soft bookings either side of providing Greenfield with the assist for the second goal and was sent off in the 74th minute, but the Gladiators kept their third clean sheet in four competitive matches so far.
THRASHED 7-0 in the FA Cup first qualifying round away to Buxton in midweek – a far cry from last season’s Cup glory – Belper Town endured more pain on Saturday as they went down 1-0 at home to Chasetown, their first Pitching NPL South East Division reverse of the season.
Jack Langston scored the only goal of the game after 73 minutes, while Leigh Overton saved Langston’s late penalty.
There had not been a lot in the game and late headers from Alex Peterson and Danny South were not far from salvaging a point.
A surprise inclusion on the bench was Piteu Crouz, returning to the club from Scarborough Athletic, and he was on the field from the 65th minute.
MIDLAND LEAGUE Premier Division
Barrow Town 0 Heanor Town 1 Graham Street Prims 0 Rainworth MW 4 Radford 1 Belper United 3
West Bridgford 0 Borrowash Victoria 1