IAN Long has backed his Tividale players to bounce back from their first defeat of the season.

Tividale's unbeaten start to life in Division One South of the Northern League ended in disappointing fashion at the hands of Mickleover Sports last Saturday.

Andrew Dales hit a well-taken hat-trick gave the visitors a 3-1 victory in a game that saw Tividale rarely threaten the Mickleover goal.

Long said: "The important thing now is how the players react. It is all about bouncing back and I think the players are more than capable of doing that.

"We have had a great start to the season so I can't criticise the players at all. Mickleover were the better team and deserved to win."

Tivi were due to travel to Norton last night before going to Stafford Rangers in the FA Cup this Saturday.

"We have some big games coming up now, especially the FA Cup game with Stafford," added Long. "It is key that we put last weekend well behind us, forget about and move forwards."

Against Mickleover, it took the visitors to The Beeches just two minutes to get in front when Dales took advantage of a poor punch from Tivi keeper Charles Price.

He pounced on the loose ball before lobbing it into the unguarded net from the edge of the box.

Tivi failed to respond and it was Mickleover that enjoyed more possession.

They doubled their lead after 25 minutes when Dales hit a fierce dipping effort over Price from just outside the area.

It took the home side until the 41st minute to create their first real effort as forward Karl Edwards dragged a long range shot wide of the post.

Dales' two moments of quality and the hard-working efforts of Sports' Oshosoke was the only difference as the half drew to a close.

Tividale started brighter in the second half as they looked for a way back into the game.

On 53 minutes, Jazz Luckie beat two men on the corner of the area but then scuffed his rushed effort past the near post.

However, despite a good spell of possession, Tivi failed to create any real openings.

In fact, neither side worked the opposition goalkeeper until Dales completed his hat-trick and put the game beyond Ian Long's men in the 74th minute.

Substitute Walshe collected the ball and fed the Mickleover wideman who made no mistake as he slid the ball post the out-rushing Price.

Tivi did pull one back on the 80th minute mark when substitute Leigh Downing bundled the ball home after good work down the left flank by fellow substitute Nigel Penney.

The assistant referee adjudged the ball had crossed the line despite the defenders' efforts to hack the ball clear.

The goal proved only to be a consolation strike as Tivi's unbeaten start was halted.