Author: Square Peg

Double Penalty Rejection Costs Sports!!

by Peter Scherer

Not one but two penalty appeal rejection’s cost Mickleover dearly, as they went down 0-1 to Coalville Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5 -Kyle Rowley 6-Ethan Mann 7-Ben Sault 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ethan Fitzhugh 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Marcus Barnes, Stuart Beavon, Will Tamen, Dan Bradley, Will Bapaga.

Mickleover earned a corner in the opening minute and made a lively start as the light rain began to increase. But Coalville were on the attack too, with Mersin the first keeper in action, making an easy stop from Ndukwu.

Coalville Tyrell Pennant’s pace started to cause problems for Mickleover’s defence and he had his first shot after four minutes, with Mersin pushing his effort away from his near post for a corner.

McManus went close from the following header, before Sports broke out and charged up the field again. They earned another corner and there were some good technical build-ups, but the final ball seemed to be lacking.

After 10 minutes a loose ball in midfield was picked up by Coalville, but Pennant’s shot was high and wide of the target.

But four minutes later Mersin made a great save again from Pennant, after he had been set up from a McGlinchey break.

There was another Coalville shot blocked after 16 minutes, before Sault split the defence with a cross field ball from the right. Greaves picked it up and cut inside, but his cross was into the side netting.

The home side were quick to retaliate but blazed another shot well off target from just outside the box. They had started to keep Mickleover pegged back in their own area, with a barrage of shots following.

McGlinchey’s effort was over the bar again and fortunately for Mickleover accuracy was missing from almost every attempt.

Sault’s determination sent him on a long run but was tackled before he could shoot and then Greaves, Wilson and Fitzhugh combined, before the final shot was blocked.

Rowley managed to find Greaves, but his shot was blocked again too, but it was 32 minutes before Sports had a shot on target. Sault had almost broken through again, but his final effort lacked pace and was straight at White in the home goal.

Waite had a shot saved after 35 minutes and was briefly on the deck two minutes later, after colliding with White after a corner.

But 38 minutes in and Sault had out paced his defender on the right, head down and heading for goal, he was pulled back by his shirt and shoulder and fouled. It was a clear-cut penalty as both offences were in the box, but neither the referee nor his assistant seemed to see it.

Coalville were ahead possession wise and had more shots, albeit mostly well off target. But after 41 minutes McGlinchey took a corner on the Mickleover left, McManus met it and headed home to Mersin’s left, 0-1.

A disappointing first half with Mickleover often struggling to break out of defence. The attack looked toothless and midfield crowded and disorganised, but the penalty rejection still weighed heavy as the half time whistle went.

There were no immediate changes as the second half got underway, but the defence were soon being challenged again by our hosts. Pennant ran at them after 50 minutes, set up Hart, who shot straight at Mersin and then McManus collected and his shot blocked.

Almost on the hour Mickleover had fought back and were bombarding the Coalville goal. The ball came out to Atkinson, who shot was clearly patted down by a Coalville defender. It was a clear penalty again with hand to ball, rather than vice versa, but as in the first half neither the ref nor assistant reacted positively, despite vociferous appeals.

But Mickleover continued to just give the ball away repeatedly, but despite their possession and pace, Coalville failed to make it count fortunately.

Fitzhugh had a shot after a gradual build-up and earned a corner, but Coalville were still getting the breaks and still shooting over the bar.

Barnes came on for Fitzhugh after 66 minutes and almost immediately earned a corner. Then Greaves cut in from the left, but the ball was just deflected for another  corner before it reached Barnes.

A minute later the ball landed at Greaves feet, but in the wet mud his effort was blocked by White after 72 minutes, before his next effort was deflected for a corner two minutes later.

Coalville made another break as Mickleover tried to push forward, but McGlinchey’s effort was once again over the bar.

Beavon replaced Atkinson for the final 11 minutes, which turned into one way traffic as Mickleover bombarded the home goal.

Sault shot over after 83 minutes, but two minutes later there was a double corner, going close on both occasions. Rowley had come up and his effort landed on the top of the net, but at the second time of asking White collected.

Time was running out and despite a right hand cut in from Bennett earning a late corner, there was to be no equaliser and Mickleover, despite a great improvement in final 30 minutes, returned home empty handed.

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTERS: COALVILLE (A)

Due to the current construction work taking place at the ground, parking is currently severely restricted on the site. There is room for a team coach/cars for travelling players and officials and also match officials but away supporters will need to park in one of the following public car parks which are a five – 10 minute walk from the ground.

James St Car Park LE67 3BW

Market Hall Car Park LE67 3EF

Tuesday Night Action: Coalville Town (A)

By Peter Scherer

Seven games to go and Mickleover sit proudly in second place in the table, heading the quartet of play-off positions.

Hopefully Marcus Barnes will be fit to rejoin the squad after taking a knock last time out, and there are choices to be made for both centre back and goalkeeper, with loanees Will Tamen and Lewis Ridd challenging to rejoin the starting line-up.

Tuesday’s visit to Coalville will be the third attempt to play the game, having been called off firstly because of our hosts Cup run and secondly due to a waterlogged pitch. It is of particular importance as only six days later, the fixture is reversed when they make the trip to the Don Amott Arena on Easter Monday.

They have only played two home games since our visit was postponed on February 6th, beating Hitchin 1-0 and sharing a 1-1 draw with Stratford.

Last Saturday’s defeat when they visited Halesowen, currently leaves them11th in the table.

Promotion candidates last season, it’s not been easy for Coalville this term. Adam Stevens had been in charge since May 2018, but with his team in mid-table this season, he was dismissed in early February.

Ian King is now in charge, who has previously been at Barwell, Stratford, Daventry, Worcester City and Birmingham City Academy, as well as assisting at Bromsgrove and Leamington.

Their league form has suffered due to their run in the FA Trophy, finally going out to Macclesfield Town in the quarter finals earlier this month.

Let’s take a look at Coalville’s squad. Keeper Paul White came from Peterborough Sports in July 2022, having started out with Cork City in his native Ireland.

His first English club was Forest Green, who also loaned him to Gloucester, before joining Boreham Wood following his release. He has also played for Accrington, Kettering, Hereford and St Ives.

Second choice keeper Jake Laban was a pre-season 22/23 signing too, having arrived from Burton Albion. But fellow keeper Callum Underwood has also been on the bench too.

Former Grimsby junior midfielder Andi Thanoj was also a July ’22 signing, from Boston Utd. He has also played for Alfreton, Harrogate and Redditch.

Striker Ash Chambers was a Leicester City youth player, with over 200 league appearances under his belt, with the likes of Wycombe, Grimsby, York, Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge, before non-league spells at Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Brackley.

He came to Coalville at the start of 22/23 season too, after a year at Buxton and was on the scoresheet against scored their goal against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup 1st round defeat last season and is capped by England at Under16,17,18 & 19 levels.

Skipper Joe Doyle-Charles has been Coalville for five years. The midfielder started out as a Burton Albion Youth player and joined Ilkeston on his release in 2015. He has also played for Alfreton and came to Coalville from Matlock Town.

Midfield partner Tom McGlinchey can go one better, as he arrived from Leicester Road over six years ago. He had previously been at Kriby Muxloe.

His nephew Roddy also joined the club in December on loan from Peterborough Utd. A midfielder, he has also been loaned to Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough Sports.

Striker Tim Berridge is another longer serving player, since arriving from Dunkirk in 2018 and has scored over 60 goals since his arrival.

Elliott Putman is a left back and came in from Barwell in September 2021.  He started out at Leicester City and has also played for Stamford and Oadby.

Right back Alex Dean is the longest serving of all the squadthough, having rejoined our visitors for the second time in 2014. He came back from Solihull Moors, but has also played at Nuneaton Town alongside his twin brother and Bedworth Utd.

Centre back Scott McManus only arrived in January from Nuneaton. He was a Manchester Utd Junior, before going to Curzon Ashton. He then moved to Crewe and made six appearances in league one, before spending a year in Scotland at Stranraer.

He returned to England with FC United and then spent seven years at Halifax, before his first arrival at Coalville in July 2018, staying two years.

Fellow centre back Ash Carter was a pre-season signing from Alvechurch. He started as a junior at Wolves and was loaned to Chesterfield and Tamworth, before joining Kidderminster on his release.

He made a couple of league appearances and then moved on via Alvechurch, Nuneaton, Stourbridge and Halesowen, before spending the last two seasons back at Alvechurch.

Luke Shaw is another midfielder who favours the wing. He was signed from Grantham in 2018. He had previously played for Ilkeston and Belper Town.

The oldest player in the squad at 38 is central midfielder Steve Towers, now in his eighth year with the club since signing from Brackley. He started at Corby and has played for Rothwell, Stamford and Grantham too. He is also the teams coach.

Former St Etienne Junior centre back Herve Pepe-Ngomareturned to the club in November 2022, having left in September 2021 year to join Barwell. He played junior football at Leicester City too and has also played for Nuneaton, Boston Utd and Kettering.

Wes York is a right-side midfielder and a pre-season signing from Brackley. He started his career with Nuneaton, before spending two years at Wrexham. He has also played for Gateshead and York City, spending two years at each.

Striker Terrell Pennant is a former England Under 15 and 16 International. He was a Leicester City Junior, where his brother Kian still plays. He joined Coalville pre-season following his release from Leicester.

Fellow striker Kieran Cook was another pre-season signing from Rushall Olympic. He started at Alvechurch and has had spells at Stourbridge and Leamington too.

Ben Hart was a pre-season signing too, but has recently returned from a broken ankle. A former Burton Albion Junior, he was loaned to Kidsgrove, Tamworth and Redditch, before going to Tamworth on his release. He was then loaned to Barwell, before finally leaving Tamworth to join our hosts.

Former England Under 16 and 17 International midfielder Layton Ndukwu was a Leicester City Junior and was loaned out to Southend Utd, before joining Albanian  side FK Kukesi on his release.

After six months he came back to the UK with Barwell, but was soon on the move again to Akademisk Boldklub in Denmark., before arriving at Coalville last month.

Kick off as usual is 7.45 and YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED.

Palmer Free Kick Seals the Deal

By Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves made it three successive wins, when they sealed a 1-0 victory against Mayfield, at the Ashbourne Recreation Ground.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Mason Hoult 3-Zak Sandhu 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Pablo Mills 6-Joe Bateman 7-Bobby Battisson 8-Harry Atwal 9-Marcus Tudgay 10-Chris Palmer 11-Josh Powell. Subs: none.

With no subs on the bench Mickleover were down the bare 11 starters, tackling a muddy, bumpy pitch and strong gusting winds.

The first real attack came after three minutes, when Sports won a corner. But that was soon followed by a great run down the right from Hoult, who’s cross was met by Mills, who shot just inches over the bar.

Mayfield put a header over the bar too, following a corner10 minutes in. Although Mickleover had more skill, their opponents kept them under pressure, giving little roomand causing a number of passes to go astray.

Atwal was fouled but the 15th minute free kick came to nought and then two minutes later there was a half chance for the hosts, when a good cross from their left, was missed a by a striker on the edge of the box.

Mayfield had couple of corners which failed to create anything and then Mickleover earned one after 23 minutes, but Palmers follow up shot was blocked.

Before the half hour was reached, Tudgay had to go offwith his hamstring tightening again. Two games in a week is too much for me, he admitted. So, with no subs we were down to10 men for the rest of the game.

Powell tried a shot with the keeper already committed, but he still managed to block it and then Hoult had another cross from the right blocked to earn a corner.

With the kick headed clear for another corner, Bateman tried his luck, but that was blocked too.

Mayfield had a defender booked for sending a tackle straight through Atwal, who continued after treatment and then after 42 minutes Battisson had the first shot on target from either side, saved by the keeper.

Sandhu started to overlap more on the left too, with Cholerton and Bateman coping comfortably in defence. He earned a corner, but that was cleared too.

There were tentative appeals for a penalty when Palmer was pulled back in the box, but the half time whistle soon followed and it remained 0-0.

Mickleover started the stronger in the second half and after 49 minutes a lovely cross field ball from Atwal found Hoult on the right. He got his cross in, the keeper fumbled it, but Battisson was stuck in the mud and unable to connect.

But Mayfield went close too when a corner on the Mickleover right bounced off the bar after a rebound.

A second Mayfield defender was yellow carded for flattening Atwal again after 55 minutes and only a few minutes later he was hacked down yet again. With Atwalseeming to be the focus for all the Mayfield aggression, Mills exchanged words with the referee, who had failed to speak to the offender or give a free kick on this occasion.

The referee then decided to show some authority and sin binned Mills, rather than speaking to the guilty party.

So now it was a nineman team for Mickleover and Battisson was next to be fouled, Palmers free kick went straight to the keeper though.

But just after the hour mark Palmer was almost on the end of a nice chip from Battisson, but the keeper just got their first.

There were 20 minutes left on the clock when Mills returned, but soon after Atwal was fouled for the umpteenth time. This time Palmers free kick had the keeper beaten and just in case he was needed, Bateman was on the line to put it in too, 1-0.

There was new energy suddenly in the Mickleover legs and five minutes later Powell held the ball nicely, to lay it off for Mills, who shot just wide.

Mills went close again when casual defending let the ballloose to Atwal. The skipper made a break for goal, setting up Mills, but the keeper had it covered this time.

Six minutes to go and Mills had another shot just wide of the post, but the points were secure, as despite the odds it remained a 1-0 victory.

Tudgay Hat-trick Seals Reserves Win

By Peter Scherer

A hattrick from ex Rams and Forest striker Marcus Tudgay sealed another three points for Mickleover Reserves, when they visited Teversal on Tuesday night.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Mher 2-Toby Smith 3- Zac Sandhu 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Lewis Cunningham 6-Chris Palmer 7-Mason Tudgay 8-Joe Bateman 9-Marcus Tudgay 10-Harry Atwal 11-Josh Powell, Subs: Mason Hoult, Silas Donker, Dean Ironmonger.

It was fairly muddy and bumpy pitch, but the matchstarted fairly evenly. Cunningham led the first Mickleover attack after three minutes, but his cross was headed away for a corner, followed a minute later by a second corner which came to nought.

It was Sports beginning to apply the early pressure and five minutes in Marcus Tudgay tried to lob the keeper. His effort bounced off the top of the bar, with the keeper attempting a recovery punch.

The pressure continued and after nine minutes Atwal picked up a rebound after Mason Tudgays shot, and slotted it past the keeper, who was still committed to his original save. 1-0.

But Sports seemed to back off a little after the goal, and after a 15th minute corner when a shot was blocked, the ball bounced around the box without being cleared, and Teversal struck to make it 1-1.

Bateman was placing some perfect long balls to set up the Mickleover strikers, and with both Smith and Cunningham pushing forward on the wings, it was looking good.

But Teversal were quick on the break and a cross from the right after 18 minutes, was nicely cut out by Sandhu, to set up another Sports attack.

A number of passes from both sides were going awry on the bumpy pitch, but Powell managed to cut in from the left to fire a shot over the bar.

Atwal and Palmer were working hard in midfield and sent Powell on a telling run, but was stopped in his tracks by the first of many dubious offside decisions.

But with the half hour approaching, Marcus Tudgay was pulled down in the box, the penalty was given and he stepped up to make it 2-1after 28 minutes.

Mason almost followed in his Dads footsteps a couple of minutes later, but was denied by an excellent save from the home keeper.

Cunningham then went close with a 37th minute free kick punched away by the keeper, but almost on the half time whistle Maher earned his place with a save from a Teversal break.

Barely had the second half kicked off and the hosts were back on level terms, when the defence seemed to be caught napping from close range, 2-2.

Marcus Tudgay had the ball in the net again after 50 minutes, but was ruled offside and then Maher had to be treated after contact during a challenge.

There were some strange decisions coming from the referee who didnt seem to take much notice of his assistants, but vociferously made it clear that he was in charge on numerous more occasions.

Maher made another good diving save on the hour mark, but five minutes later Teversal again seemed to find Cholerton and Sandhu undecided. The ball wasnt cleared and was 2-3.

Mickleover made their first change when Donker replaced Cunningham. But the referee seemed to be singling out Mason Tudgay and gave final two final warnings and having booked Smith for kicking the ball away, failed to follow his own precedent as two Teversal players followed suit, without repercussions.

Ironmonger was on for Mason T and after 80 minutes and there was another penalty when he was fouled. Marcus T stepped up again and made no mistake, making it 3-3.

Teversal went close with a minute of normal play left and Marcus T followed with a shot over the bar a minute later.

Smith then beat a defender on the right but his cross was blocked, as the game looked to heading for a draw.

But the referee then appeared to sin bin a Teversal defender, who didnt seem to return, but by now his decisions were causing much hilarity among the crowd, and arguments among the players.

But in time added on a Mickleover free kick proved decisive, when Marcus T latched on to complete his hattrick and secure another three points.

Mann Power!!

by Peter Scherer

It was single goal from Ethan Mann in the 66th minute that secured another three points for Mickleover, their fourth successive victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Kyle Rowley 6-Ethan Mann 7- Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Ethan Fitzhugh, Stuart Beavon,Dan Bradley, Will Tamen, Will Bapaga.

It was all out attack from Mickleover from the first whistle, with a Dales cross from the left, beating everyone waiting in the middle.

Reece Michell and Ryan Wynter both had to make clearances from in the middle too, before Halesowen had their first strike on goal after eight minutes, when JakHickman crossed from the right before Kieren Donnelly headed wide.

The visitors were playing the ball well out of their own half, and proving a match for Mickleover. Mitchell managed another cross from the left, before Miracle Okafor headed just wide after 12 minutes.

Wilson then tried a distance shot which was just over the visitors bar, before a Dales run after 13 minutes, earned a corner, but sent him into the perimeter fence, damaging his right hand.

As the corner came in Rowley headed over, but three minutes later Okafor had a great chance, in the clear only to shoot into the side netting, with Mersin unchallenged.

It was proving to very tight in midfield, with little give or take from either side.

Dales earned another corner after 34 minutes, but that came to nought and then Halesowen earned a free kick for a foul on keeper Platt.

Despite his hand injury, Dales was still getting stuck in and outran Luke Redfern after 26 minutes, before his cross cleared everyone in the box.

Bennett headed away a dangerous cross from the left, before Donnelly picked up the ball from a Mitchell throw, shooting just wide of the left hand post as the half hour mark approached.

Greaves then forced Platt into a save 31 minutes in, creating his own space he cut in from the right and fired the shot in, saved by the keeper with Dales just inches away from connecting for a rebound effort.

Mersin had little to do but had to earn his keep, saving a shot from Caine Elliot, which had taken a slight deflection.

Trueman had been busy both attacking and defending and after 35 minutes, his long run, just failed to reach Waite.

With 20 minutes on the clock until half time, a cross from the right wing by Bennett fell nicely in the centre of the box. But Greaves was already on his knees and couldnt respond to the pass, as the ball rolled away.

For a while it looked as if Halesowen had broken the deadlock, when after 41 minutes a free kick was met by Okafor and had Mersin beaten on his left side. But the referee ruled it was offside and play continued.

The disallowed goal seemed to spur the visitors on and after 42 minutes Elliott shot wide again after Mitchell and Ryan Boothe had set him up.

But the pressure was building again on the Halesowen goaland with a minute left before half time, Wilson sprinted down the left and put in a cross for Greaves, meeting it first time to force Platt into another great save.

The half time whistle was primed, when Sault charged forward, was had his heel clipped by a defender, but thereferee failed to respond to penalty appeals.

With Sports kicking off the second half in attack mode again, Dales made space on the left, cutting inside to have a shot saved after 55 minutes.

Only a minute later Dales tried again, picking the ball up from a Waite lay off, only for his strike to rebound off a defenders leg.

Hickman then got a cross into the Mickleover box, which caused some unease, before a break by Sault almost broke the deadlock. As he charged down the field, he had outpaced the defence and managed to chip the advancing keeper, only to see his shot bounce off the bar on the hour.

It had built up to be Sports most intense spell of pressure, with the visiting defence pegged back in their own half.Dales and Wilson combined before Wilsons cross from the left just missed Greaves head. But Halesowen had packed their defence and were holding out.

Dales was clearly in discomfort and was replaced by Fitzhugh after 64 minutes, but shortly afterwards the deadlock was finally broken. Greaves floated a corner in from the left and Mann charged in to fire the ball homeinside the lefthand post, 1-0 after 66 minutes.

Only a couple of minutes later Greaves tested the keeper again, when his cross from the left had to be punched clear by Platt from just under his bar.

There was a series of corners for Mickleover too, with Mitchell heading the first one clear, before Rowley tried a toe poke just wide of the lefthand post.

But 78 minutes in and there was another scramble in the Mickleover box, but the combined forces of Rowley and Mann in the middle held firm and cleared the danger.

Beavon became the second sub when he came on for Waite with seven minutes to go, just before another corner earned by Wilson, saw Mann head just wide.

There were a couple of late breaks which could have given Mickleover a second, but some over zealous flagging by the assistant seemed to anticipate off side, before it actually happened.

Bradley replaced Sault for the final four minutes, after an excellent performance linking with Atkinson, Trueman and Greaves in the main.

Donnelly had a late shot just wide for Halesowen and they had a corner just wide.

Another dubious offside decision saw Beavon in the book, after the referee took offence to him shooting after thewhistle.

So three points and a fourth successive win consolidates second place and a play-off place. Job done, it was like eight cup finals in a row for us and after today now its seven, A great cross for the goal and a great strike from Manny, brilliant, said gaffer John McGrath.

Disappointed, but I think we were outstanding in the first half and had more chances. We knew we were up against the best footballing team in the league and respected that. Mickleover defended very well too, but I was disappointedto concede a goal from a corner, Halesowen manager Russ Penn replied.

Theres another break now, before facing Coalville away on the 26th before we face them again at home only six days later, with a visit to Alvechurch in between.

 

Sports Sign New Keeper

by Peter Scherer

With regular keeper Oliver Bosworth still on the road to recovery, and loanee Lewis Ridd picking up an injury in the game at Redditch, Mickleover have signed former Turkish 6ft 5 ins Youth International goalkeeper Yusuf Mersin.

Greenwich born, Liverpool paid Millwall £1m to sign him as a 16 year old, but despite making the first team squad he never got the break.

After 3 ½ years he was released and joined Kasimpasa in Turkey, before playing in league two with Crawley Town.

National League Dover Athletic was his next move, and he spent last season with Maidstone Utd, before being released after a loan spell at Welling Utd.

He has been playing in Northern Ireland this season with Harland & Wolf Welders, but after playing for Sports Reserves a few days ago, he has now signed permanently.

Can We Make It Four In A Row In Promotion Push?

by Peter Scherer

It’s back on home turf for Mickleover on Saturday, when they welcome Halesowen Town to the Don Amott Arena.

Sports beat the Yeltz 2-1 back in December and they currently lie eighth in the table.

Mickleover will hopefully have a full squad to choose from having not played last weekend, but manager John McGrath may have to choose between a returning Will Tamen and the impressive Kyle Rowley to partner Ethan Mann in the middle of the defence.

Joe Bateman and Lewis Cunningham both came through their return games in the reserves 13-4 victory on Tuesday, where Stuart Beavon and Ethan Fitzhugh both hit hattricks.

Our visitors have recently replaced manager Paul Smith, who gained them promotion last season, with former Kidderminster Harriers boss Russ Penn. A former England C International, Penn played league football with Scunthorpe, Burton Albion, Cheltenham, York City and Carlisle Utd.

They have won their last two away games at Royston and Alvechurch without conceding a goal, after a run of six game without victory.

Dan Platt is their current goalkeeper, now in his third season with the club, after signing from Bromsgrove. He started out at Crewe Alexandra, before moving on to Telford, Nantwich, Stourport and Evesham. He then had three years with Oxford City, before making his first stop at Halesowen in 2015.

Four years later he had a brief spell at Hednesford, before two seasons at Bromsgrove preceded his current stay. He recently made his 100th consecutive appearance for the club, having made well over 250 in total, and is also the club captain.

Right back Jak Hickman was a Coventry City Junior. He was loaned out to Ashton Utd, Hereford and Bromsgrove, before joining Bolton Wanderers on his release. 

After a further loan at Kings Lynn he went to Ireland with St.Patrick’s Athletic, before returning to England with Stourbridge at the beginning of last year. He then returned to Lynn, before a move to Banbury at the beginning of last season. He came to Halesowen on loan in March, making his stay permanent pre-season.

Left back Reece Mitchell was a pre-season signing from Rushall Olympic, where he had spent four years since arriving from Boldmere. He started at Leamington and has also played for Barwell, Highgate Utd and Sutton Coldfield.

Todd Parker is a young midfielder who came out of the Wolves Academy. He had two years at Hednesford following his release and came to our visitors pre-season.

Centre or right back Luke Redfern came straight from Stoke City’s Under 21’s in pre-season. He had previously been with Burton Albion, who had loaned him to Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield. During his time with the Potters he also went out on loan to Hednesford.

Experienced centre back Tom Taylor came from Bromsgrove in January, where he had captained the side. A former striker who became a defender, Taylor is an ex Shrewsbury junior, but has played much of his football in Wales, with Porthmadog, Caernarfon Town, Pentraeth, Glantraeth, Holyhead Hotspur and Llangefni Town. He left Bromsgrove in April 2021 after his first spell to join Stourbridge, but returned in the December.

Fellow centre back Victor Nirennold only signed for Halesowen at the end of January from Nuneaton. French born, he started his career at Stade Rennais, before going to the US with Miami City.

His first English Club was Fleetwood back in 2015, who also loaned him to Guiseley, before a permanent move to FK Senica in Slovakia.

He then had a year in Vietnam with Da Nang FC, before a two year spell in Malaysia with Uitm FC. After short stop at Motherwell he played for Gloucester City too, before starting this season with Nuneaton. 

Caine Elliott was out on loan at Rugby Town earlier this season, from where he was signed in July.  A young central midfielder. He had previously spent two years at Stratford.

Midfielder Nathan Hayward is in his second season as a Yeltz player, having arrived from Bromsgrove. He started at Kidderminster, before moving on to Malvern and Worcester City. He first joined Bromsgrove in July 2018, but started the following season at Stourbridge. Two years later he returned to Bromsgrove and came to Halesowen in July last year.

Miracle Okafor was another pre-season signing, a striker who came from Scunthorpe’s youth team. He was loaned to Frickley Athletic, before joining Alvechurch on his release. Guiseley and Stourbridge were his next stops, with sixth months at Sporting Khalsa preceding his move to our visitors.

Right back Josh Ezewele is a former West Bromwich Albion Junior. He went to Yeovil Town following his release and was initially loaned to Kidderminster, before making it permanent. He was at Fylde, Alvechurch, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, before returning to Alvechurch in July 2021 and has been at Halesowen since February 2022.

Ryan Wynter came from Chasetown pre-season, after a three year stay, having made over 250 appearances. Now a centre back he started off as a striker with Stafford Rangers.

Striker Richard Gregory is one of the longer serving players, having come from Bromsgrove in July 2020. He started at Boldmere and has also played for Rugby Town, Stratford, Leamington and Stafford Rangers.

Defender Kieren Donnelly was signed from Redditch in October last 2022. A former Aston Villa Academy player, he has also played for Nuneaton Borough.

Midfielder Jack Holmes started at Burton Albion, before coming to Halesowen. He joined Hereford in September last year on a dual registration, but returned to our visitors last April.

Ryan Boothe was another pre-season signing too, a striker from Anstey Nomads. He has played for Rushall Olympic, Sutton Coldfield and Lye Town and had been at Anstey since September 2020.

Macauley Manning is an attacking midfielder who firstly came from Coventry Utd in November 2019. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Redditch and Alvechurch and returned to Halesowen in March last year, after a spell in New Zealand.

Midfielder Rhys Hilton came from Sutton Coldfield Town in January. An ex Birmingham City youngster, he was loaned to Redditch, before going to Sutton Coldfield on his release in October 2020. He moved on after a year to Bedworth Utd and Coleshill Town, before returning to Sutton Coldfield ’22.

Striker Luke Postle has also been in the squad recently after coming through the clubs own Academy.

Kick off at usual is 3pm, with all catering and bar facilities available.

Goal-Fest As It’s Lucky 13 For Reserves!

by Peter Scherer

With a number of first teamers having a run out, it was a very experienced Mickleover Reserve side that welcomed Linby Colliery Welfareto the Don Amott Arena for their Central Midlands Alliance League match.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusif Mersin 2-Tony Smith 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Dan Bradley 5-Pablo Mills 6-Lewis Cunningham 7-Ethan Fitzhugh 8-Joe Bateman 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Chris Palmer 11-Sam Tomlinson. Subs: Josh Bull, Harry Atwal, Mason Tudgay, Josh Powell.

It was a lively but even start with Mills having the first crack at goal after five minutes. Seven minutes later Tomlinson went close with a header aimed at the top right -hand corner, but the visitors keeper just had it covered.

A fairly young Linby side held their own for the first 15 minutes, but the pressure then began to build. Ferron had a shot just over after a nice build up between Mills and Beavon after 17 minutes, but Mills opened the scoring a minute later. A lovely ball in from the right found Mills in space and with time, he was able to side foot in the open goal with keeper already committed, 1-0.

It took only two minutes for Linby to equalise though, when a cross from the Mickleover left was followed by a perfect first- time volley into the Mersin’s far corner, 1-1.

Beavon then had a 23rd minute curling shot tipped away by the keeper, before Tomlinson hit Sports second with a long-range shot going in off the underside of the bar 2-1.

One minute later it was 3-1 with Tomlinson’s second, with a chip from the left over the advancing keeper.

Linby were still sticking to their guns and after the keeper failed to hold another Mills shot on the half hour, a Palmer corner was headed off the line.

As Cunningham went to make a clearance, he appeared to slip and left a Linby striker clear, before his unchallenged run made it 3-2 after 34 minutes.

Palmer then lost possession in midfield, which left a striker clear again, and with 36 minutes on the clock it was back to 3-3.

But we only had to wait five minutes for another goal. Beavon sent Tomlinson clear, but the keeper was quick to respond and conceded a corner as he raced off his line. As the ball came in from the left, Mills headed home for 4-3.

Mersin had to make a point blank save from a header after 40 minutes, but a weak follow up shot failed to challenge Sports’ debutant keeper.

With a minute left on the clock the visitors keeper messed up his clearance and handed Fitzhugh a golden opportunity. The midfielder duly jinked to his left and placed the ball past the keeper to make it 5-3 at half-time.

Only two minutes into the second half Mills completed his hattrick to make it 6-3, as it started to become one-way traffic, with the home defence looking much tighter and keeping Linby in their own half.

Tomlinson struck the bar after 50 minutes after a perfect ball in from Fitzhugh, and three minutes Fitzhugh shot just over the bar.

55 minutes and it was 7-3 with Fitzhugh getting in on the end of a corner, before Atwal came on to replace returnee Cunningham.

Mills then had a shot saved by the keepers legs and Tomlinson put another attempt just wide from a Fitzhugh cross as the hour mark approached.

Both Smith and Ferron were pushing forward more on the wings to great effect, with Bradley and Bateman coping with defensive duties in the middle.

Beavon had a shot deflected for a corner after 62 minutes and then two minutes later Smith made it seven, cutting in from the right, he made space and fired into the far corner, 8-3.

Tomlinson was still pushing for his hattrick but had his next effort saved by the keepers legs. But a minute later Fitzhugh struck again for his third, with a shot deflected off a defender, 9-3.

Beavon made it 10-3 just a minute later and five minutes on performed a lovely turn in the box, to beat the keeper again and make it 11-3.

Tomlinson was unlucky when he hit the post after 73 minutes and shot wide again two minutes later after being set up by Beavon.

Into the final 10 minutes Fitzhugh tried his luck from distance, but it was just over, then Beavon sent Mills on a run, he tried to chip the keeper but it was tipped away, before Beavon’s rebound shot was blocked.

Ferron had a run down the left and after cutting inside his shot was saved, before Fitzhugh came off to make way for Powell as we went into the final five minutes.

Beavon once again set Tomlinson up, but the ball didn’t bounce kindly for the teenaged striker.

But with four minutes on the clock there was still time for three more goals. Linby pulled one back after 86 minutes, 11-4 and after 88 minutes Tomlinson put Mills through for his fourth, 12-4.

With the whistle poised Beavon made his final strike with a neat solo effort, completing his hattrick too as it finished 13-4!