by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

In a game that Mickleover should have won hands down, they struggled to come away with a point against bottom of the table Bedworth Utd in 1-1 draw.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Josh Ashman 3-Liam Carter 3-Danny Benson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Michael Hollingsworth 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb.

It was our vistors that took a first punt on goal, with a speculative loft over the bar after five minutes, when Bosworth was spotted off his line. The first 10 minutes were fairly even though with no real chances. Beavon and Webb combined after 12 minutes to creative a half chance, but never really threatened Highland in the Bedworth goal.

Sports won a free kick three minutes later, but Dales kick came to nought, and 19 minutes in, Bedworth’s Connor Mooney’s had acres of space on the left, but failed to get a shot in or make any progress. A cross form the right then followed, seemingly a straight forward catch for Bosworth, until he stepped back over the goal line, to open the scoring for Bedworth, 0-1 after 20 minutes. Although Gascoigne had the defence marshalled and Hollingsworth was trying to take charge as the defensive midfielder, Mickleover were struggling for creativity and relying on Gascoigne to play the ball out from back to try and set up an attack.

36 minutes gone and Bedworth had another shot straight at Bosworth, but a couple of minutes later Carter was fouled as he cut in from the left, Dales’ kick didn’t initially cause any threat, but a corner was earned, Sports first of the match.

Dales took it short and the ball was fired into Webb’s path, who smashed it into the roof of the net at close range, 1-1 after 39 minutes. The visitors had another half chance when Wilkinson lost possession on the left, but Bosworth was quick off his line to foil any strike.

Now on equal terms Mickleover were firing on all cylinders up to the half time whistle, with Dales tripped on a telling run as he cut in from the left. He got to his feet to take the free kick himself, but it was straight into the wall.

Charles Gordon had a late chance too for Bedworth, but Bosworth got a touch and sent it out for a corner, but as the whistle went it remained 1-1.

With no changes at half time it was Bedworth doing the early pressing as the second half got underway. Joe Anthony put in a weak shot wide after 50 minutes, before Samson Hewelt got a break, only for his cross to miss Gordon by inches as the defence failed to challenge.

Dales then got through on the left for Mickleover, it was met by Webb whose effort was over the bar, when it should have been in. Much of the play continued to be in the Mickleover half, but there was a possible hand ball in the box from a Bedworth defender, which the referee failed to respond too, before Webb sent another shot over the bar. With Carter down injured, Wood was the first sub as he went into midfield, with Mohiuddin switching to wing back.

Webb met another corner just passed the hour mark, but it was straight into Highland’s hands, he was then replaced by second sub Dyer.

68 minutes gone and Beavon’s determination saw him battle through the defence, his shot was blocked, but it almost fell to Dyer, who connected and won a corner. As the ball came in from the right, Benson struck from just outside the box, skimming the top of the bar.

Boothe then got on the end of a break for Bedworth, his shot was saved by Bosworth, but it was another corner. Visiting sub Louis Monaghan then fired a distance shot over the bar after 73 minutes, before Dales was felled by Hewelt, as he attempted another break.

A double substitution soon followed with Beavon and Mohiuddin making way for Corden and Dube. It was close again for Sports following an 82nd minute corner, when once again it fell to Benson just outside the box. This time his strike came off the post, with the keeper well beaten.

Time was running out though but there were still a couple of chances. 88 minutes and poor defending saw the ball fall towards Dyer, who just lost out in a one on one with the keeper. Then in time added on Dube had worked his way through into the box only to be obstructed, penalty appeals were waved away but in any other part of the pitch it would have likely been a free kick.

So 1-1 was the final score with more half chances than chances.

 

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday we host Bedworth Utd, currently bottom of the table, with just one point from their previous eight games, until last Saturday’s 3-1 win over Rugby Town.

Mickleover will be hoping to end their run of three successive defeats, after going down 0-4 at Belper Town last weekend, with Will Atkinson, Jake Bennett and Louis Bonser still on the injured list.

Andrew Penny and Jamie Lenton are currently joint managers and they have already used over 30 players in their squad this season.

Goalkeeping duties have been shared between Will Highland and Oliver Sayer. Highland was signed from Hinckley LRFC and has also played for Barwell. Sayer arrived in pre-season after his release from Birmingham City, who also loaned him to Stafford Rangers last season.

Elliott Parrott is the longest serving player, an ex Coventry City junior who plays defender or midfield. He is now in his 10th year at the club.

Centre back Ben Blakeley arrived pre-season too, following his release from Coventry City.

Nathaniel Kelly is also a centre back, who started out as a Birmingham City junior. After loan at Kidderminster he joined Solihull Moors, who then loaned him to Leamington and Redditch. His next permanent move was Sutton Coldfield, before moving on to Nuneaton, Hinckley LR, Worcester, Halesowen, Alvechurch and came to Bedworth in January after a return trip to Halesowen. He signed for Stratford in pre-season but has returned to our visitors on a dual registration.

Defender Oscar Barry is the son of former England international Gareth. He joined our hosts last month from Studley, after starting his career at Walsall. He’s played for Solihull Moors and Darlaston too.

Nathan Nyamsi is a left back who has played most of his football in Scotland. After starting out at Sheffield FC he moved to Gretna. He also played for Clyde and East Stirling, before coming back to England with Hinckley AFC pre-season. He then came to Bedworth in late September.

Left back or midfield Charlie Watts came to our visitors in September, dual registered with Solihull Moors.

Calum Flanagan is a centre back dual registered with Stratford Town, who he joined in pre-season. An ex Aston Villa junior, he was loaned to Kettering before joining Hinckley Utd on his release. His next stop was Worcester, followed by Redditch, Hednesford, Solihull Moors, Rushall and Halesowen. He spent the second half of last season at Hinckley AFC.

Midfielder Charlie Gordon and defender Joe Anthony both came from Coventry Copsewood in pre-season.

Ashley Sammons is a central midfielder who started out at Birmingham City He was another pre-season signing from Stratford, but has played for many teams across the region, including Redditch, Hereford, Worcester, Corby, Hednesford and Solihull Moors. He first came to our visitors in July ’23 from Evesham and made the return trip eight months later. He is also part of the coaching staff.

Scotland Under 16 international Mackenzie Lamb is another central midfielder, signed from Evesham in pre-season. A former West Bromwich Albion and Peterborough Utd junior, he was loaned to Alvechurch and Stratford and has also played from Boldmere St.Michaels.

Midfielder Ross Evans arrived in September from Coleshill Town. He has also had spells at Redditch, Solihull Moors, Alvechurch and Walsall Wood.

Max Ngbeken-Itota is a midfielder too and has also played for Alvechurch.

Louis Monaghan is a striker signed from Racing Club Warwick towards the end of last season. He’s also played for Sutton Coldfield, Alvechurch and Redditch.

Striker Tolani Omotola came from Rushden & Diamonds in August. An ex Tranmere Rovers youngster, he is well-travelled, having played for Coalville, Buxton, Barwell, Corby, Hyde, Alvechurch and Carlton among others. He joined Rushden in pre-season, having played for Coventry Sphinx, Long Eaton and Racing Club Warwick last season.

Connor Mooney can play midfielder or striker. A former Aston Villa junior, he was signed pre-season from Racing Club Warwick. He has also played for Stratford, Worcester City and Highgate Utd.

Striker George Dunkley was signed in October ’24 from Arabian Falcons in the UAE.

Fellow striker Ryan Boothe arrived in October ’24 from Halesowen. He has also played for Lye Town, Ansty Nomads, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Chasetown, Walsall Wood, Cheltenham, Sutton Coldfield and Rushall Olympic.

Harvey Westwood is a young striker who started out at Bedworth. He made his first team debut after coming through their youth scheme and was loaned to Lutterworth too. He moved to Banbury in June last year, but returned to his roots in December.

Recently arrived Kidderminster Harriers loanee Samson Hewett plays central midfielder striker too. A product of Harriers youth scheme he has also been out on loan at Bromsgrove, Malvern Town, Sporting Khalsa and SC Inkberrow.

Charlie Footes is on dual registration with Solihull Moors. A striker or winger, he came to the club in September.

Similarly Toby Aromo-Iaran is a striker dual registered with Hashtag Utd. He was signed last month and has played for Tilbury and Coalville too and has appeared on Love Island.

Defenders Charlie Lenton and Callum Morris and strikers Terrel Mringi and Cameron West have all come into the first team squad from our visitors own youth scheme, having played in the Under 18’s & 21’s.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Sloppy defending cost Mickleover dearly as they went down 0-4 at neighbouring Belper Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Danny Benson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-George Wilkinson 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Paddy Webb, Fraser Corden, Thabang Dube, Alio Mohiuddin, Michal Hollingsworth.

It was a fairly lively start on a soft pitch, with Belper’s Jacob Gratton firing the first shot of the game over the bar after two minutes.

A few minutes later it was Mickleover on the attack, but after a number of passes back and forth as they approached the box, they failed to get a shot in and the danger was cleared. Evans then headed wide for our hosts from a fifth minute free kick, but it was real end to end stuff.

White attacked down the left but his cross failed to trouble keeper Preston, before Gascoigne got a header in, again comfortably taken by the Nailers keeper.
Belper then earned a corner after 10 minutes, but as it was cleared, Dales made a break and charged at least three-quarters of the pitch. He then found Dyer who set up Beavon, he shot but hadn’t quite connected 100% and it was blocked by Keenan. From the following corner Beavon managed another shot, but that was deflected too.

The tables soon turned in our hosts favour, when a 12th minute attack saw Bosworth race off his line to try and block striker Moran. The ball slipped passed to the keepers right and despite defenders being back, the ball continued its goalward path, 0-1.

Mickleover continued to be creative and Dyer went close after 14 minutes, with a deflection over the bar.

Bastos wasted a good chance for Belper six minutes later, when after a sustained attack, he sent his shot high and wide.

Dales and Dyer then combined to mount another attack on the home goal after 20 minutes, but again the final effort was blocked. But two minutes later they went even closer, as Wilkinson put the ball in from the right, Dyer slid in and missed connecting by a fraction, with keeper Preston already committed.
Preston saved again just a minute later from a Benson header, with Mickleover unlucky not to be on level terms.

Belper continued to push forward too, earning a corner which came to nought, but both Wood and Beavon were close to latching onto another telling ball from Dales, as the home defence continued to hold firm.

Belper had a break after 32 minutes, but once again Bastos’s shot was well off target and landed somewhere in the High Street.
But having withstood the Mickleover pressure it was now Belper’s turn. A corner from the left curled in and Bosworth had to tip it over the bar, giving another corner to the right. This time Gratton’s corner was flicked in by Fenton at the near post, looking relatively unchallenged. 0-2 after 37 minutes.
With the half time whistle poised Belper made it three, when skipper Broadhead headed home a Gratton corner, with the defence giving him a free header, 0-3.

Dube replaced Offler for the restart, but within seven minutes Belper went four up, another corner, another goal with Broadhead hitting his second from Keenan’s cross, as the defence failed again 0-4.

Dube had a positive run down the right to earn a corner after 53 minutes and Sports second change soon followed with Webb on for Beavon. Webb was fouled at his first touch, but three free kick was wasted.

White had already been booked earlier and was lucky to stay on when he went in heavily after 58 minutes. That free kick was defended successively.
Dube was then fouled on the hour mark, before White’s free kick went close. Corden and Hollingsworth then came on for Wood and Dales, before Dube tried his luck again, shooting just over the bar.

The Mickleover defence had looked a little more organised in the second half and again managed to clear Belper’s 72nd minute corner, going straight into attack with Corden and Webb combining, before Benson failed to get any power into the final shot.

White was then red carded, which looked inevitable, after felling a Belper defender.

Sub Dube was then replaced by Mohiuddin for the last 13 minutes, before Dyer went close again with nine minutes left, after Corden broke through. His effort was blocked again, before Belper went close with a glancing header, which was cleared by Ashman.

86 minutes and Webb was clear but put a good chance wide and then in time added on Dyer had a shot straight at the keeper, but it was game over.
Although Mickleover matched the hosts for much of the game, chaotic defending from dead ball situations, reminiscent of early season and chances going begging at the other end proved decisive.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s another tough game this weekend, when we visit third in the table Belper Town.

Our hosts were without a game last weekend due the neighbouring river bursting its banks, but hopefully the weather will be kind to us this weekend. It was disappointing game at the Don Amott Arena though, where Sports lost out 2-3 to Carlton Town.

Mickleover were without Will Atkinson, Louis Bonser and Jake Bennett last week too, but hopefully all three are on the mend.

Lee Attenborough has been in charge at our hosts since January 2023 and lost out on promotion in the play-off’s last year.

Goalkeeper Kieran Preston is a former Scotland Under 19 international, having started his career at Bristol Rovers. He joined Grantham Town following his release and then spent six years at Basford before joining Belper in September last year. He has also played cricket for Mickleover.

Ben Rhodes is an attacking right wing back, who came from Worksop in the summer of 2020. He played for Stocksbridge Steels too and was dual registered with Penistone Church.

Left back Louis Keenan came back to Belper in November last year from Hanley Town, having spent the previous five years with Leek Town. He started his youth career with our hosts, graduating into the first team and has played for Hednesford and Loughborough Dynamo too.

Henry Frost is a wing back and locally produced talent from Belper’s own youth scheme. He joined the first team squad at the start of this season.

Skipper Jack Broadhead can play centre back or defensive midfield. His career started at Chesterfield, but after loans at Buxton, Matlock and Frickley he came to Mickleover in July 2015 following his release. After two seasons at the Don Amott Arena he joined Boston Utd and has played for AFC Mansfield, Grantham and Pontefract, before a four year stay at Worksop preceded his arrival at Belper in July 2024.

Fellow centre back Ioan Evans is capped by Wales at Under 17 and 19. He played his early football at Sheffield Utd, who loaned him out to Boston Utd, before joining Gainsborough on his release. He played for Tadcaster and Stalybridge too, before joining Matlock in July 2024, and came to our hosts in pre-season.

Centre back Phil Watt needs no introduction to Mickleover fans, having captained the side a couple of years ago. An ex Rotherham and Lincoln City youngster, he played for Corby, Grantham, Boston Utd and Coalville before joining Belper in October 2013.

He stayed with our hosts for five years before a move to Frickley preceded his three years at Mickleover. He then returned to Belper but spent last season at Eastwood, but is now back for his third spell.

Jonathan Wafula is a midfielder signed from Ilkeston last February. His career started with Chesterfield, before two years each at Worksop and Shaw Lane. Gainsborough, Boston Utd, Guiseley and Matlock followed, before moving to Grantham. Basford was next before a year at Ilkeston.

Midfielder Lewis Austin is a product of the Nailers own youth scheme and made his NPL first team debut in March 2024.

Curtis Burrows is another midfielder and former Burton Albion junior. He then joined Ilkeston and broke through into their first team, before a loan spell at Grantham preceded a permanent move to Coalville. Further spells at Loughborough Dynamo and Corby Town followed, before joining Belper in February 2023.

Fellow midfielder Andrew Tsolakis was previously at Dunkirk and Newark Town, before joining the Nailers in the summer of ’24.

Central midfielder Brad Munns joined our hosts at the end of last season. Ex Grantham and Stamford, he is yet to make a start this season.

Jordan Fankwe was a junior at Nottingham Forest. The midfielder came to Mickleover after his release, and then had a short spell at Watford. His next move was Salford, but quickly moved on to Basford, Anstey Nomads, Barwell and Shepshed Dynamo and joined our hosts in pre-season.

Former Derby County and Mansfield midfielder James Tague joined Matlock when his academy career ended. He’s also played for Gainsborough, Basford, Corby, Loughborough Dynamo and Sutton Coldfield, before spending last season with Anstey Nomads. He joined the Nailers in pre-season.

Right winger Jacob Gratton came from Cleethorpes in August. He started out at Rotherham and was loaned to Guiseley before a permanent move to Farsley. He first came to Belper in October 2022, stayed nine months and then had a year at Worksop before returning. Worksop and Basford were his next stops again, before starting this season with a short stay at Basford.

Kevin Bastos is a left winger and ex Nottingham Forest youngster. He has had a number of clubs in his career, including Grantham, Staveley MW, Ilkeston, Spalding, Loughborough, Tamworth and Basford, before first coming to Belper in July 2023. After a year he went to Kosovo with KF Istogu, before joining Basford on his UK return. He came back to Belper for a second spell in January.

Striker Liam Moran is a recent signing from Carlton Town. He’s played for Gedling MW, Boston Utd, Newark & Sherwood and Southwell City too.

Fellow striker Diego Edwards is a St.Kitts and Nevis international. He has spent most of his career at Notts County, but left for a spell at Mansfield Town after being loaned to Basford. He returned to Meadow Lane three years later and had further loans at Ossett, Nuneaton, Leek Town and Carlton, before joining our hosts pre-season, following his release.

Jacob Fenton is a striker too, signed from Anstey Nomads at the start of this season, He started his career at Lincoln City and has played for Bourne Town, Spalding, Bottesford and Sleaford too.

Kick off at the Raygar Stadium is 3pm, there is no parking at the ground.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Hopes of returning to winning ways were dashed for Mickleover, as they went down 2-3 to Carlton Town in an ill-tempered affair.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Stanley Holder 3-Archie White 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Dan Benson 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Thabang Dube. Subs: Fraser Corden, Stuart Beavon, Paddy Webb, Dorian Sulkowski, Liam Carter.

Table topping Carlton started the opening minutes looking fairly sharp and slick, which led to the opening goal after just three minutes. In a goal very reminiscent to the one in the Racing Club Warwick defeat, the home defence were beaten on the right, finding Ash Chambers who made no mistake in firing in the opener just inside the far post 0-1.
Mickleover soon got over the early blow and when Dales broke through the middle seven minutes later, he found Benson following up, firmly striking the equaliser passed the advancing Annan in the Carlton goal.

From thereon it became more even, and Carlton had another chance when Offler headed away a Thompson-Harrison free kick after 12 minutes.
A few minutes later Dyer got on the end of a break, winning a corner after his shot was blocked, from which Wilkinson went close too.
Dube almost put Dyer through after 18 minutes, just before visiting skipper Davie had a shot well wide, as both sides were started to look for breaks.
After Carlton’s 25th minute corner was cleared, Dales got a break and managed to charge into box, before losing his footing as the danger was cleared.
There was already the murmurings of verbal aggression from the visitors, both on an off the pitch. Carlton were awarded another free kick after 35 minutes, initially cleared, before falling to Manneh who struck his shot well over the bar.

Manneh had another shot wide five minutes later after being closed down by Offler, but it was Dean Freeman’s scything thigh high challenge on Dales that brought the verbal and physical aggression to its peak. It could easily have merited a red card, but the referee awarded yellow, with both Freeman and Nat Watson continuing to argue his innocence.
The situation worsened when Chambers and Carlton scored their second goal. Chambers was already stationery ahead of the defence, when the ball was chipped over the Mickleover backline. It appeared to be clear offside, even to Carlton fans behind the goal surprised that the goal stood, with the assistant failing raise his flag.
The whistle soon followed to end a less than memorable first half, when having expected a skilful game of football from our table topping visitors, we had been treated to much the opposite.
Hopes of improvement in the second half were soon dashed after Dyer had chased a long ball in the 55th minute. Annan charged out of his goal, there was slight contact, but the keeper went down as if he had been tasered.

Mickleover continued to try and play football and were quite creative in midfield, but continued to be met with excessive aggression on and off the ball, with Freeman and Watson the main perpetrators again.

Just before the hour mark Holder fired in a cross from the right, Dyer met it with a header that struck the post and then back to the keeper, before Dales had another run blocked.
Carter came on for Holder after 62 minutes, but two minutes later a ball in from the right found Dyer, but he couldn’t get the ball under sufficient control to hit the target. Carter then tried his luck and earned another corner.

Beavon then replaced Dyer and having only been on the pitch a couple of minutes, Beavon sent a curling shot just beyond the left hand upright, from Dube’s cross.
Corden then replaced Dube and concentrated on pushing for an equaliser, only for Carlton to get a break against the run of play, for Jason Law to make it 1-3.
Sulkowski was the next Mickleover sub on for his debut as Wood made way, followed by Webb for the last eight minutes, replacing Benson.
With one minute of normal time left Webb had a shot, but failed to test the keeper, before his second attempt struck home in time added on, after a perfect through ball from Beavon. 2-3.
Four players from each side were shown yellow cards, but an offside goal and the lack of censorship on the excessive aggression were the lasting memories of a disappointing game.