by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A MAGNIFICENT all round team performance from Mickleover was rewarded with a 2-1 win at Basford last night, thanks to first half goals from Archie White and Stuart Beavon.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2- Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Archie White. Subs: Michael Hollingsworth, Harry Wood, Paddy Webb, Josiah Dyer, Fraser Corden.

It was a fantastic start for Mickleover when only three minutes into the game an Offler clearance found Dales on the left, he picked up White as he cut inside, but keeper Yates was already committed, so White took it around him and fired into the far corner, 1-0.

Dales again caused havoc on the left seven minutes later, but this time his cross went behind the advancing White.

With Basford looking somewhat shell shocked at the early goal, Mickleover stroked the ball around with growing confidence, with the lead coming from Wilkinson, Gascoigne and Offler at the back, and Bennett and Bonser on the wings.

Although the hosts had started to gain more possession, their attacks were breaking down before becoming a real threat. It was after a few minutes of sustained pressure that Mickleover got another break. White had picked the ball up in midfield and played it across field to Dales on the left. Dales fired the ball goalwards, but a goal line clearance fell straight to Beavon and it was 2-0 after 15 minutes.

Basford continued to have the edge on possession, but Sports defence were unfazed and soaked up the pressure without showing the vulnerability from earlier games.

33 minutes in and another long ball out of defence by Offler. Beavon flicked it on to Dales on the left, but as he cut inside again to shoot, Yates was quick to respond and made the block.

Basford won a rare corner after 39 minutes, which Gascoigne headed away, but as it was fired back in, Bosworth had to make his first real save of the night from a Stewart header. So the half time whistle went with Sports going in with an impressive 2-0 lead.

There were no changes for the second half and Bosworth was soon in action taking a cross from his right two minutes into the half, before setting up another break for Dales. Having totally outstripped the defence, his effort went across the face of the goal and just passed the far post.

A few minutes later Atkinson had a run through the middle, before finding Bonser on the left. He then cut inside to ty his luck and like Dales, his effort was just shy of the far post, having gone across the face of the open goal.

Basford won a free kick on the edge of the box after 54 minutes, but that came to nought and Sports first substitution soon followed with Dyer on for Beavon.

Just after the hour mark our hosts won two consecutive corners, but once again failed to trouble the Mickleover defence. Webb then replaced Bonser, before Mohiuddin broke through the home defence to find Dales, but the skippers effort was blocked and the danger averted.

Hollingsworth replaced Mohiuddin after 77 minutes, but Basford had started to show more urgency, keeping Sports defence on their toes.

Dimaio had a distance shot for our hosts, it was passed the post but close enough for Bosworth to dive to cover it.

Atkinson was replaced by Wood for the final nine minutes, but it was for Mickleover to show their character and resilience for a final onslaught from Basford.

White had been penalised for a foul and Dimaio’s 63rd minute free kick found our hosts skipper Wilder, who slotted it in to make it 2-1.

Dales came off to be replaced by Corden, but the pressure continued as five minutes of added time was announced.

Basford threw everything forward for the final minutes, but the Mickleover defence held tight and made it three successive wins, to climb from 19th in the table just over a week ago, to sixth, as we now look forward to the visit of Rugby Borough to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday afternoon.

 

by Peter Scherer

Fresh from our two successive wins, Mickleover visit seventh in the table Basford Utd on Tuesday night, with revenge in mind after our FA Trophy defeat to them last month.

Since our cup meeting, our hosts have played five league games, winning two and drawing at home to Rugby Town last Saturday 2-2.

Basford had a change of management too last week, with Martin Carruthers in charge assisted by Saul Deeney.

First choice goalkeeper is Matt Yates arrived pre-season from Ilkeston. He spent last season at Ilkeston after joining them from Gainsborough, where he had spent the previous two years. He was a Derby County Junior and was loaned to Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford Utd prior to his release.

In our recent Cup defeat to our hosts, he was the difference between us winning and losing

Yates’ understudy has been the vastly experienced Saul Deeney. He started his career at Notts County, and after loan spells at Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston and Hull City, he made a permanent move to Burton Albion in 2005.

He then returned to Notts County, for a year, before a short stay at Hucknall Town preceded a return to Burton too. 4 ½ years at Derby County followed, before his first spell at Basford in 2015. Moving on to Coalville and Ilkeston, he joined Matlock in January 2023, before returning to Basford at the beginning of last season.

Over the last couple of weeks Harvey Woodward has become second choice. A former Ilkeston Town player, who has also played for Gedling, Gresley Rovers and Kimberley MW’s.

Louis Nicholson is a left sided defender signed from Grantham Town last season. He has also played US College football and was previously in Basford’s own academy.

Centre back Ethan Stewart was signed at the beginning of last season from Stafford Rangers. He started his career with Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Billericay and Alfreton, before joining Nuneaton on his release. He then returned to Alfreton, before moving to Stafford Rangers in October 2021.

Left back or centre back captain Henri Wilder has just started his third season with the club, since signing from Ilkeston in November 2023.He played his youth football at Brighton and Mansfield and was loaned out to Lewes. Following his Stags release he went to Tamworth and played for Alfreton too, before a year at Ilkeston.

David Chapman was signed near the end of last season. Another defender he was at Shepshed Dynamo for most of last season and has played at Nottingham University, Kettering, Quorn and Clifton All Whites and is a former Nottingham Forest Junior.

Defender Cormac Maher is currently on loan from Mansfield Town.

Right back Osa Soloman came from Grantham in pre-season. He is an ex Nottingham Forest Junior, who was also loaned to Redditch. He joined Grantham following his release in summer 2023.

Lynden Joyce is another defender who returned to the club after starting off in their youth scheme. He started the season with Shepshed Dynamo and has also played for Sherwood Colliery and Eastwood.

Ryan Ebanks was a pre- season arrival. He plays on the right side of the defence and lists Grantham, Newark Flowserve, Newark & Sherwood Utd and Coalville on his CV after playing junior football at Notts County.

Eli Christie is a former Derby County Academy centre back. He joined Ilkeston following his release and played for Grantham to before joining our hosts from Gresley Rovers in pre-season.

Jordy Hallam is an attacking midfielder, who has spent most his career at Sheffield Utd. With 28 EFL appearances under his belt, he had loans at Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield, before joining Scunthorpe following is release. His next stop was Ilkeston after an initial loan, but after three months he moved to Basford in October 2023.

Lewis Reah spent the latter part of last season on loan from Chesterfield. A midfielder he is now back and dual registered with both clubs.

Fin Armond is another pre-season arrival after spending two years at Matlock. A midfielder, he started out at Boston Utd, before spending a year in the US with Queens College’s Queens Knights

Connor Dimaio is another experienced midfielder. He has League One and Two experience after starting at Sheffield Utd. Chesterfield was his next stop, followed by Stockport, Boston Utd, Curzon Ashton, Matlock and Bradford Park Avenue, from where joined our hosts in pre-season.

Callum Cocks came from Long Eaton in the summer. A right back or midfielder he was previously with Loughborough Dynamo and has played for the Army and Royal Artillery.

Striker Tyler Dacres is a young striker that came through the clubs own Academy and is now a regular in the first team squad.

Fellow striker Jack Goodman has spent most of his career with Doncaster Rovers. He made 14 league two appearances and was loaned to Stamford, Gainsborough, Matlock, Peterborough Sports and Bradford Park Avenue. He spent the latter part of last season on loan at Basford too, before the move became permanent pre-season. He scored the winning goal in our cup defeat, but is now back on loan after moving to Mansfield Town.

Tyreace Palmer is well known to Mickleover fans, as he was a Sports player until returning to Basford last March. A striker or attacking midfielder, he’s an ex Notts County youngster and has played for Melton Town and Loughborough Dynamo too. He currently on the sidelines through injury.

Kieran Cummings is a striker signed pre-season from Newark & Sherwood where he was last seasons top scorer. He was a Notts County junior and has also played for Shepshed, Newark Town and Bourne Town.

Wayde Hines is another product of the Basford Academy. A debutant five years ago, he also spent some time with Nottingham Forest and has played for Clifton All Whites and Grantham too.

Dameer Rose and Taylor Ceviris both made their first team debuts last month in Basford’s FA Cup defeat, having come through the clubs youth scheme.

Both Curtis Durose and Finley Commons are recent signings. midfielder Commons is ex Eastwood and Dunkirk, while striker Durose is an ex Rotherham youngster. He had loans at Gainsborough, Scarborough and Matlock before a permament move to Matlock at the start of last season, following his release. He came to our hosts after 10 months at Gainsborough.

Kick off is at 7.45.

by Peter Scherer (Images by Steve Ingers)

Mickleover secured their second away win of the season after a second half goal from sub Josiah Dyer, saw off second in the table Corby Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Michael Hollingsworth 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Ali Mohiuddin. Subs: Harry Wood, Fraser Corden, Paddy Webb, Josiah Dyer, Archie White.

It was a fairly even start, reminiscent to Tuesday nights home win over Anstey Nomads. Beavon tested keeper Laban with an early header and Stohrer hit the post for our hosts.
But it continued end to end for the rest of the first half, as both teams tried to take control. So it remained 0-0 as the half time whistle blew.
Corby started slightly the quicker in the second half, but Sports made two changes just after the hour mark, with Dyer and Wood on for Beavon and Hollingsworth.
But Bosworth had to be at his best when a throw was intercepted, and Lewthwaite fired a shot in. Two minutes later though the deadlock was broken in Mickleover’s favour. A Dales charge down the left took it to the line before his cross found Dyer, who stroked it home 1-0.

Webb then came on for Mohiuddin after 72 minutes and Sports had taken control, with Corby looking to have lost their earlier rhythm.
Webb had at least three one on one challengers with keeper Laban, but lost out on each, but any one could easily have been a second goal.

Wilkinson, Gascoigne and Offler had looked particularly solid across the Mickleover backline ably supported by Bennett and Bonser on the wings and overall it was an impressive 1-0 win.

I was really proud of the players today from start to finish. We picked up where we left off on Tuesday night. They were together with the desire to compete and we went on to win in the same fashion. We had five or six chances near the end, but our defence did well as they had pushed us to try and create space behind.

said Mickleover boss Gareth Holmes.

 

by Peter Scherer

Following our 1-0 victory over Anstey Nomads, it’s back on the road for Mickleover on Saturday, as we visit second in the table Corby Town.

It will be our hosts first home league game since September 10th when they beat Boldmere 1-0. Three days later they suffered the second of their two defeats this season, when they went down 0-3 at Rugby Borough. They have drawn their last two league games 1-1 at Anstey and Wellingborough.

Manager Gary Setchell has been in charge since January 2023, having previously managed Kings Lynn and Wisbech.

Goalkeeper Jake Laban is one of their pre-season signings from Hinckley Leicester Road. He started at Burton Albion and has played for Coalville and Walsall Wood too.

Captain Rory McCauley is in his second season at Corby, since arriving from Peterborough Sports. A centre back, he started out with Cambridge Utd and was loaned to Chelmsford and Dartford, before permanent moves to both clubs. He’s also played for Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Bedford and is an England C International.

Jack Keeble is another centre back who started out at Grimsby Town. He joined St.Neots following his release, before moving on to Stamford and Wisbech. He came to our hosts in July 2023 from Bedford.

Right back Gary Stohrer was signed in February, after four months at Kettering. He’s also played for Shaw Lane, Frickley and Daventry.

Martin Tsvetkov is a right back or wide midfielder on loan from Harborough Town.

Defender Theo Braham is currently on loan at Deeping Rangers. He’s also played to Wisbech and Histon.

Centre back Spencer Edwards came from Hinckley LRFC at the start of last season. He previously played for Harborough Town and Aylestone and has captained the side recently.

Former Peterborough Utd midfielder Ben Challinor joined Barwell on his release. He then spent six months at Peterborough Sports, before joining our hosts pre-season.

Matty Slinn is a central midfielder and a former Northampton Town youngster. Following his release he spent three years at Rushden & Diamonds, before coming to Corby in July 2022.

Fellow midfielder Hugh Jones has spent most of his career in Spain. Novelda CF, Federacion Benidorm, Lorca, Hercules CFB and CD Llanes are all on his CV, before returning to the UK with Bedford Town in July 2021. He was another pre-season signing having spent 2 ½ years at Peterborough Sports.

James Taylor is a midfielder too, currently dual registered with Harborough Town.

Midfielder Harrison Taylor was signed pre-season after a successful trial. He was previously with Wisbech Town.

Rhys Kelly is another midfielder who spent the latter part of last season on loan from Harborough Town. He made his move permanent in pre-season and has also played for Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Striker Connor Tomlinson was another pre-season signing. His career started with Luton Town and moved to Bedford after a loan spell with Hemel. His next stops were Bedford and Nuneaton, before a four- month loan at Corby in September 1993, which then became permanent. After a return trip to Bedford, he joined Spalding and latterly Berkhamsted.

Fellow striker Tyrone Lewthwaite is a former Northern Ireland Under 19 international. His junior career was spent at Watford and Rotherham, before going to Hampton & Richmond on his release. Chesham, Beaconsfield, Aylesbury Utd, Bedford and Kettering followed, before spending last season at Spalding.

Reuben Marshall is another striker signed at the beginning of last season from Peterborough Utd, after an initial loan. He also had a loan spell at Sudbury.

Pacey winger Aaron Nuttall and left back Louie Gill both came from Hinckley Road in pre-season. Also midfielder Harrison Jones and defenders Jack Noble and Ryan Martindale have been part of the squad too.

Kick off at Steel Park is 3pm.

By Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It was a much improved performance at the Don Amott Arena last night, that secured a valuable three points for Mickleover, thanks to a late goal from Michael Hollingsworth.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Michael Hollingsworth 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Ali Mohiuddin. Subs: Harry Wood, Fraser Corden, Paddy Webb, Josiah Dyer, Archie White.

Right from the kick off Mickleover went on the attack, with Beavon hitting the bar in the first minute. A corner followed which was cleared by the visitors defence, before Anstey had their first shot after five minutes, failing to trouble Bosworth back in the Mickleover goal.

But Sports continued to the fore with Dales taking on seemingly most of Anstey defence. He was almost through until keeper Nunez came to the rescue.

A couple of minutes later Beavon outpaced the defence again on the left to earn another corner, before an Anstey break was cut out by Atkinson.
Our visitors failed to capitalise on a 12th minute free kick, but Bosworth’s clearance led to another break, ending with a foul on Beavon.

16 minutes in and another Bosworth clearance sent Dales clear, running the right of the visiting defence ragged. His cross found Mohiuddin, who just failed to gain control as he tried to get his shot in.
Changing from the regular play from the back continued to work for Mickleover, as another Bosworth kick a minute later almost put Dales clear, but this time it was too long and Nunez was there first.

The pressure continued mainly from the Mickleover left, with some lovely interplay between Beavon and Dales, once again finding Mohiuddin, who’s shot was just a fraction wide of the right-hand top corner.
The back three of Gascoigne, Wilkinson and Offler had looked solid at the back and comfortably dealt with the Anstey attacks, while the experience of Atkinson and Hollingsworth was telling in the middle.

But Anstey had withstood the early pressure and began to try and push forward into the Mickleover half a little more. It had become fairly end to end until the closing minutes of the first half, but with a minute left Dales leapt to head a Mohiuddin free kick goalwards, forcing Nunez to tip the ball around the post.

Gascoigne got his head to the following corner and just missed the target. “I should have put that one in,” he admitted.

Anstey had another shot wide of the mark in time added on, but it remained goalless as the whistle went.

There were no changes at half time, but there was soon a wake-up call for Mickleover, when Anstey had the ball in the net after 53 minutes but was ruled offside.

Sports then won a corner which Dales curled in tight for Nunez to punch away. Bosworth then had to make his first real save, when a shot was aiming for his top left- hand corner as the pressure was building again on the home defence.
Just before the hour mark Mickleover made a double substitution with Webb and Dyer on for Beavon and Mohiuddin.

Neither Bennett nor Bonser had been evident as much on the overlap, but on the hour Bonser burst through on the left after Webb and Dyer combined, but his shot was blocked.
Our visitors then won a 65th minute free kick, which was cleared twice by Offler, as the defence was being pegged back.
Gascoigne headed away another corner before a rebound shot was blocked, and then Bosworth had to make a diving save in the 75th minute to keep it all square.
But Sports managed to respond with Bennett firing in a cross for Dyer, who just lost out to the advancing keeper.

There was a lot more aggression from the visitors in the second half, with Dyer in particular being pulled, pushed and have having his shirt tugged.
After Bonser had been fouled on the half way line, Atkinson was then fouled. As the free kick came into the box it was a scramble in the goalmouth, but Hollingsworth managed to stab the ball home and at last the deadlock was broken after 80 minutes, 1-0.
“It’s the first goal I’ve nicked in about five years, but I like to help out where I can,” said Hollingsworth.
White then came on for Bennett but Anstey were pushing hard for an equaliser. An 88th minute cross from the left gave them a chance, but a minute later Dyer hit the post at the other end.

Anstey responded by hitting the post too, before Webb and Dyer combined to earn a final corner from a blocked shot in time added on.
The whistle soon followed and our three points were secure, on a night that showed a vast improvement on recent performances.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover host Anstey Nomads on Tuesday evening, with Sports looking for revenge after last seasons FA Cup defeat to the Leicestershire side.

Following last Saturday’s defeat at Coleshill, Sports will be hoping to add to their points tally and climb into the top half of the table, having slipped to 18th.

Currently 9th in the table Tony Blanchard is the Nomads manager and they are on top form having beaten Stourbridge 3-2 in the FA Trophy last Saturday.

Up until recently his regular first choice keeper was Conrad Logan who has lots of experience. A former Republic of Ireland Under 17 International, he joined Leicester City from Swilly Rovers and was loaned out to Boston Utd, Stockport, Luton Town, Bristol Rovers, Rotherham and Rochdale before heading to Scotland with Hibernian following his release in 2016.

He then rejoined Rochdale, before a move to Mansfield Town and was loaned to Forest Green Rovers before being released again. His first spell at Anstey followed, before moving to Stamford, but after six months away, he returned to our visitors In July 2021. He has over 300 league appearances under his belt, and was a Scottish FA Cup winner with Hibs. He is also the clubs vice chairman.

Logan has been on the bench for the last three matches though, as Mansfield loanee and Dominican Republic International Anthony Nunez has been preferred. He was at Basford and Notts County before joining the Stags and has been out on loan at Shepshed Dynamo too.

Centre back Lewis Gibbens started out at Mansfield too. He moved onto Boston Utd after an initial loan, but came to Anstey from Worksop Town after one season, in July 2022.

Kyle Tomlin is another centre back and another former Mansfield Junior, after joining them from Burton Albion. He joined Coalville Town following his release, and played for Carlton Town and Eastwood before joining Anstey in February 2024.

Left back Oscar Tonge was signed from Coleshill in August 2024, where he had spent the previous season after being released by Peterborough Utd.

Tristan Thomas is a left back too. A pre-season arrival following his release by Leicester City.

Ben Humphrey’s is a defender signed in pre-season from Hinckley Leicester Road.

Centre back Jordan Annable came from AFC Mansfield in August 2021, after spending seven seasons with the Nottinghamshire club. He is the club captain.

Luke Redfern is a centre back, a pre-season arrival from Stamford. He started at Burton Albion and was loaned to Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield before joining Stoke City. He had another loan spell at Hednesford before going to Halesowen on his release. He spent the whole of last season at Stamford.

Defender Danny Gordon came from Corby Town in pre season, where he had played for the last three seasons. He has also played for Belper Town and Loughborough Dynamo

Henry Bestwick is a midfielder and a home grown talent, having joined Anstey as a 16 year old. He had a few seasons away at Long Eaton Utd before returning to our visitors.

Former Leicester City junior Rubyn Gill is a defensive midfielder who went to the US after a spell at Solihull Moors. Starting with UCAS Bears, he played for Belmont Bruins and Brown Ballers before returning to the UK.

Central midfielder Tobias Liversidge arrived earlier this month from Stamford. He started out at Lincoln City and has also played for Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd.

Attacking midfielder Josh Burniston came from Stamford in pre-season. He had been on a dual registration with Lincoln Utd, but started off at Nottingham Forest. He’s had spells at Cambridge Utd and Gresley Rovers too.

Cosmos Matwasa started his career at Anstey before moving onto Stamford, Brackley and Hereford. A winger, he has recently returned to our visitors from Kirby Muxloe.

Jacob Fenton is a striker signed from Spalding in December 2023.

Fellow striker Nyle Blake spent much of last season out injured. He started out at Mansfield Town and had a spell at Alfreton before going to Frickley after an initial loan. He moved on to Belper Town, Carlton, Hyde Utd and Gainsborough before returning to Frickley in November 2021. Further moves to Stamford, Newark & Sherwood preceded his move to our visitors in 2023.

Tendai Chitiza is a striker that started off at Leicester Nirvana. He then had a short spell with Gresley Rovers before going to Serbia with CSK Celarevo and TSC Backa Topola. On his return to the UK he joined Stamford, but after three years he moved on to Coalville. Returning to Stamford again in August 2023 he was there until joining Anstey at the start of this season.

Striker Liam Murphy was another pre-season signing, having played at Bedworth and Boldmere St.Michael’s last season.

Another pre-signing is Freddie Robinson, a striker from Harborough Town.

Courey Grantham is a striker too, signed from Quorn in pre-season. He spent four years with Basford and as played for Heanor Town and Hednesford too.

Kick off is 7.45.