Our new 3G Pitch is nearly ready to host Burton Albion on the 29th July! More details on that coming imminently, in the meantime here are some photos of the new pitch…
Author: Square Peg
Reserves Win at Newark
by Peter Scherer
Mickleover Reserves travelled to Newark Town last Saturday for a friendly match, as they prepare for their first game in the Central Midlands League Premier South Division, away to South Normanton on August 7th.
It was 0-0 at half time, but Academy Graduate Fin Barker broke the deadlock, with Mickleover returning home 1-0 victors.
Mickleover And Borrowash Victoria Become Partners
by Peter Scherer
It’s official, local Step 6 side Borrowash Victoria have become partners.
It’s something we have been working on for some time and I am glad to finally get it announced and move forward.
said Mickleover FC Manager John McGrath.
The Vics team currently play in the United Counties League Division 1.
We are delighted to enter into a partnership with Mickleover FC and we view this as a fantastic opportunity for the continuing development of our club, not just on the pitch but off it as well
It will give our players a target to aspire to the Mickleover 1st team in Step 3 of the FA pyramid, but also give Mickleover the option to blood some of their talented young players in our team, in preparation for the progress to the 1st team too.
After we had discussions at Mickleover with John and Chairman Don Amott, it was a no brainer for both clubs. We can’t wait to get to work with our new partners and give a local young footballers more opportunities at a higher level.
added Vics’ Secretary and General Alan Ure.
Playing at Borrowash will allow some of our young players to bridge between our reserves and 1st team and allow much needed game time to challenge our players,
It is also, and just as important serving as a fantastic community initiative bringing both clubs together too.
John McGrath concluded.
Positive Sports Lose Out To Sheffield
by Peter Scherer
Most of the Mickleover first team squad were in action at Sheffield & Hallam University last night, when they faced NPL Division One East side Sheffield FC.
The main absentees were Paddy Webb, Alex Morris, Joe Slinn, Phil Watt, Andrew Wright and Louis Pennington, the last four recovering from injury.
Starting line-up
Fin Bowen 2-Jake Bennett 3-Josh Satchwell 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Charlie Curtis 7-Ben Gowing 8-Mason Warreb 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: George Milner, Bobby Battisson. Fin Barker, Jake Edge-Lucas, George Atwal, Ethan Mann
It was a lively start from Sheffield, who had a shot on target in the opening minute, before the play began to even out.
Mickleover had a strong attack in the 13th minute when Bennett attacked down the right, with Bacon just failing to connect before it was out for a corner, from where Beavon’s header was collected by the Sheffield keeper.
Both sides had their share of positive attacks, but 19 minutes in a Sheffield break forced Bowen to come charging off his line to clear the danger.
The clearance soon became an attack with another strong run from midfield ending when Dales was tackled and then cleared by the Sheffield defence.
It was only a minute later that the solid looking Sheffield defence were split. The ball was loose in space and as the keeper charged out, Beavon picked up the ball and lofted it over the keeper into the empty net 1-0.
With Butler and Curtis looking solid at the back for Mickleover, Bennett and Satchwell were both able to revel in the overlaps, fed by Warren, Agustien and Gowing.
After 22 mins Dales had another telling run to earn a corner, before Butler snuffed out a threatening Sheffield attack with relative ease.
Bacon was then fouled on the edge of the Sheffield box, but Warren’s free kick was dealt with.
Mickleover went close again however after 28 mins. Another Bennett overlap and cross, with Bacon almost on the end of it, before Satchwell’s final shot was saved.
There was another chance for Sheffield when a handball just outside the box earned them a free kick. The initial shot rebounded off the wall, before the follow up disappeared into the surrounding woodlands.
Warren was almost on the end of a weak back pass too, but the Sheffield keeper came to his defences rescue, before the play switched ends again when a Sheffield striker had space on the left, but fired his shot straight at Bowen.
It continued end to end for the rest of the half, 36 mins and a cross/shot from Gowing on the right, forced the keeper to tip it over, but four minutes later it was level.
Zach Walker picked up the ball in a charge forward, came in close and fired his shot low to Bowen’s right 1-1.
Beavon had a shot wide after some positive work from Bacon and Dales, before Bowen had to make a point blank save right on half time.
The first of the substitutions were made as the second half was ready to kick off, with Atwal and Milner on for Gowing and Agustien.
It was a strong start for Mickleover as Bacon’s head was just inches wide of connecting with a Bennett cross from the right, before another attempt from Dales landed on the roof of the net.
Sheffield started to come back into the game and earned 53rd minute corner after a scramble in the goal mouth.
Battisson had just come on for Dales, when Milner came charging through, only to be thwarted as he prepared to shoot. It fell to Battisson, who found Beavon, with the final shot blocked.
On the hour Bennett’s run almost took him right through the defence, before he was finally blocked.
Two minutes later and Mickleover were awarded a penalty after Bacon was tripped. Warren stepped up, but the Sheffield keeper did well to dive to his right and make a save.
More subs followed with Barker, Edge-Lucas and Mann on for Butler, Bennett and Bacon, but shortly afterwards Sheffield made it 1-2 with another close range shot low in the corner, giving Bowen no chance.
A strong run from Barker five minutes later could have been the equaliser, but after finding Atwal in front of goal, the young midfielder completely miskicked and the chance had gone.
Beavon shot just over from well out in the 64th minute and Barker went close to earn a corner, Beavon then got a dangerous cross in, just short of Gowing’s head.
Edge-Lucas put a couple of good runs in on the overlap, but found no one running in and Atwal had a another shot but straight at the keeper.
It ended in a 1-2 defeat but everyone got a good amount of pitch time, and even during the substitutions the pattern of play remained mainly unaffected, which bodes well for the forthcoming season.
The next game is next week, away to Belper Utd on July 22nd.
First Pre Season Win For Mickleover
by Peter Scherer
Images by Your Best Shot Photography/Clipstone FC
With the planned game against Stapenhill postponed last week, Mickleover had their first pre-season game away to East Midlands Counties League side Clipstone FC,
Clipstone took a surprise lead after 11 minutes, when the Mickleover defence failed to clear a corner and Will Heather made it 1-0 to the hosts.
It only took two minutes before it was level however with Andy Dales scoring his first of two.
A Mason Warren free kick after 34 minutes, made sure that Mickleover went in for the half time break with a 2-1 lead.
Although Clipstone continued try and push forward, Dales netted his second after 53 minutes, before Larrel King made it 4-1 in the 90th minute.
Sports are back in action again playing Sheffield FC tomorrow night.
Pre-Season Training Steps Up A Pace
by Peter Scherer
With five weeks to go before the Northern Premier League kicks off its 2021/22 season, Mickleover boss John McGrath and his coaching staff have been putting the first team squad through their paces, prior to their first friendly on Saturday at Clipstone.
Keeper Joe Slinn and midfield sharp shooter Andrew Wright are both recovering from operations, Slinn on a wrist injury and Wright with a cartilage repair.
Slinn hopes to be fit for the start of the season, with Wright setting a target of September for his comeback.
Atwal Latest To Go On Trial
by Peter Scherer
Mickleover’s successful National Championship winning Academy team continues to draw attention from football league sides.
A few weeks ago it was Josh Satchwell and Louis Pennington going on trial to Fleetwood Town and now 17 year old George Atwal has been invited to Stoke City.
Atwal recently made his first team debut in the Don Amott Spring Cup. A skilful midfielder, as well as being a regular goal scorer, George has also become a free kick expert with the successful Academy squad.
Statement on behalf of Mickleover F.C.
On the 22nd June at 11.00pm thieves have taken 11 rolls of pitch carpet from the ground at Station Road. We are working alongside our wonderful contractor Tim Pugh Lewis to get replacement carpet. This will delay the opening of the new pitch.
Don Amott the chairman of the football club issued the following statement:-
The news overnight of this theft is a devastating blow to the football club. All of the people who work around the club are volunteers who give up their personal time to help a local community club. We will come back from this stronger and look forward to celebrating with the local community once the project is completed.
If anyone has any information about the theft please contact Derbyshire Constabulary.
ACADEMY REDS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
by Peter Scherer
With 16 goals scored and only one conceded during the ESPFA National Academy play-offs, Mickleover Reds Academy can rightfully be proud to call themselves NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
Having beaten Runcorn Linnets 8-0 at Rushall two weeks ago, only a point was needed against Chesham Utd to add the National title to their Midlands crown.
The kick off was delayed as Chesham were stuck on the motorway, but once the game kicked off there was more one-way traffic.
Jake Edge-Lucas had a shot in the second minute, saved by the Chesham keeper Hosier, but earned the first corner.
A few minutes later Josh Satchwell found Brodie Carter in the box, but his path was blocked.
Chesham still hadn’t made it into the Mickleover half when the first goal came. Bobby Battisson had found Carter on the left, who calmly fired the ball into the top left hand corner after eight minutes, 1-0.
Only two minutes later Battisson tried his luck, firing over the bar from outside the box as the Mickleover pressure continued,
It was 12 minutes in before Chesham had an attack, but their hopes were soon foiled as Tom Smith came off his line to kick clear.
Chesham had a free kick after Will Robinson pulled striker Wilkins shirt to hold him back. The free kick was wasted however, bouncing off the wall.
Mickleover were straight back into attack mode and a charge down the right wing from Edge-Lucas, fired in a low cross to find Fin Barker, 2-0 after 16 minutes.
Chesham started to push forward, but their attacks came to nought, with Cameron Anthony and Robinson solid in the middle of the defence, ably supported by wing backs Edge-Lucas and Ben Lewin.
Barker was through again after 20 minutes, but was blocked just before he was able to shoot. Then Carter was blocked similarly after a good build up with Barker and Ted Stevenson again.
Five minutes later and it was 3-0, when Carter picked the ball up on the edge of the area, saw Hosier only slightly off his line, but chipped a curling ball into his far right hand top corner.
They had barely kicked off again when the menacing Battisson’s trickery once again left the Chesham defence flat footed. He got his shot in but over the bar again.
Shots were reigning in on the Chesham goal from all angles and Battisson had another shot cleared off the line in the 27th minute.
Both wing backs were on the attacks regularly, and Edge-Lucas was able to do his own bit of showboating, with a double spin to baffle the Chesham defence, before firing a shot as he cut in from the right.
Goal number four began to look imminent, but Battisson’s 34th minute effort lacked any power to challenge Hosier.
Robinson then charged half of the length of the field to get a telling cross in from the left, but after a rebound found Carter, his shot was just over.
Hosier had to charge off his line again in the 43rd minute, narrowing the angle as Satchwell attacked, finding Barker whose shot was just over.
But Barker concluded the first half in fine style, with a great jinking solo run. Hosier again came out to try and intercept, but Barker put his shot wide, glancing the post initially, before turning back into the net, 4-0.
The second half had barely kicked off and it was goal number five, with Carter on the end of a great build up between Satchwell, Battisson and Barker, for his hattrick, 5-0.
Three minutes later it was 6-0 after Barker was tripped in the box. He stepped up to fire it home for his hattrick too, after Hosier managed to get a hand to it.
Two more minutes and another good build-up saw Satchwell’s shot just over, before Wilkins was on the attack for Chesham, forcing Smith to make his first save of the game after 54 minutes.
George Atwal had a quiet first half, but was finding more space for himself in the second. He had two shots within a couple of minutes, the second forcing Hosier to tip it over for a corner.
As the corner came in Satchwell collected and his header was cleared off the line, before Edge-Lucas followed up with a fierce effort just over.
Chesham had never lowered their heads despite the mauling they were receiving, but after 58 minutes they had their chance, after Robinson pushed the striker from behind, Wilkins hit the penalty home for 6-1.
Shortly afterwards Barker put a cross into the box, just behind Battisson, Edge-Lucas picked it up and his shot was blocked, before Barker put the rebound over the bar.
In the 68th minute Battisson cut in from the left after a ball from Stevenson, before Barker’s shot was palmed away by Hosier.
From the resulting corner Carter’s attempt was cleared off the line.
Three minutes later it was finally Battisson’s turn to have the ball in the net, only to have it disallowed for allegedly being offside.
They only had to wait another minute though and it was 7-1. Barker jinked his way through the Chesham defence with perfection and picked his spot for his fourth of the match.
Chesham then had an attack and called Smith into action.
But it was back on attack and Mickleover had another free kick when Battisson was tripped just outside the box. Atwal and Lewin deliberated over the free kick which was fired over the bar.
With 10 minutes left Carter was unlucky not to connect after a cross from Lewin on the left, just before Barker was left in the clear and shot just wide of the post.
Kai Moore was the first sub for Carter and shortly after it was goal number eight. Edge-Lucas and Battisson worked together to create the gap and Atwal made no mistake to make it 8-1.
Barker and Edge-Lucas then made way for Kyran Ward and Jovis Tsoumou, but their was little respite for the Chesham defence.
Reluctantly Hosier was replaced in the Chesham goal after his saves had kept the score down, but Chesham were still pushing hard and earned an 84th minute corner.
The clearance however found Moore, who had his shot cleared off the line, before Chesham had a late chance which was wasted by poor finishing.
With two minutes to go Ward was within inches of making it nine, when he slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, only to be six inches wide of the far post.
Ward combined again with Moore as the whistle was poised, firing just over, before the celebrations started and Mickleover were crowned NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.
It was tremendous, they have been a fantastic group to work with, hardworking and humble, they listened and learned. This was the final product and I am proud of them.
concluded coach Pablo Mills.