by Peter Scherer

Mickleover skipper Andy Dales has confirmed that he is ready and raring for another campaign in the red and black.

We don’t take Andy signing for granted. He’s an incredible person and as a player provides us with real quality. He leads by example and brings so much t the group through his work rate and drive,

says Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

I’m delighted to find another year, this is my home now after about 10 years, with only a little time away. I’m really looking forward to a real crack for promotion, as last season as we know didn’t go as planned. I enjoyed being captain too, and accept that with other experienced players coming in that may change,

Dales replied.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Having gone 0-2 down at Bedworth Utd, Mickleover made a determined comeback with goals from Manni Norkett and Andy Dales, to secure a point in our final match of the season.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Danny Gordon 4-will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Danny Benson 7-Paddy Webb 8-George Wilkinson 9-Manni Norkett 11-Josh Carter 14-Andy Dales. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Liam Carter, Jayden Samuels, Archie White.

There was an early chance for our hosts when Ben Blakely’s long throw, was headed goalwards by Elliott Parrott, but his effort was safely tipped away by Supporters Play of the Year McDowell.

After the game had settled down a little McDowell was in action again after 25 minutes, when another long throw from Blakely caused problems. Matt Shipman flicked it on and Teddy Rowe’s header was then tipped onto the bar by the Mickleover keeper, before it was cleared.

Sports first real chance soon followed though, when Wilkinson put a header over the bar from a Gordon free kick.

It looked to be heading for 0-0 at half time, with Sports back four of Bennett, Gascoigne, Benson and Gordon holding firm, but little in the way of chances coming our way.

Then with three minutes of the first half left, Shipman beat the defence and found Rowe, who placed it past McDowell from close range to make it 0-1 at the break.

There were no changes for the second half, but only three minutes in Bedworth were awarded a penalty, after Shipman was brought down, chasing a through ball from Rowe. Samson Hewett stepped up to take the kick and it was 0-2.

The response was quick though, with Norkett pulling one back after 50 minutes. Despite being forced out wide by Harry Craven, he still had the pace to outrun his challenger, firing in a shot from an ever tightening angle, to beat keeper William Highland on his far post, 1-2.

Beavon and White replaced Gascoigne and Carter after 56 minutes, but seven minutes later Bedworth could easily have restored their two-goal advantage. Charlie Gordon’s cross was met by Rowe, but his effort missed he target.

Liam Carter the came on for Webb after 76 minutes and two minutes later it was level pegging again, after Dales had successfully shot from the edge of the box through a packed defence to beat Highland 2-2.

Samuels came on for Norkett in the last five minutes, but the game ended at 2-2, securing 15th place for Mickleover in the final table.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s  the last game of a disappointing season, where in the last month or two Mickleover have dropped from the edge of the play-off’s to a focus on survival, with only four wins since Christmas.

Our hosts this weekend have been on the edge of relegation and still lie in 18th place, but a win on Saturday could still take them above Mickleover on goal difference.

Bedworth have only lost twice in their last 10 games and beat Carlton away to in February, after a 1-1 draw on their visit to the Don Amott Arena back in November.

Andy Penny and Jamie Lenton are currently joint managers for our hosts.

Goalkeeper Will Highland was signed from Hinckley LRFC and has also played for Barwell. His deputy Oliver 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.

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

Calum Flanagan is a centre back dual registered with Stratford Town, who he joined in pre-season and is the club captain. 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.

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.

Max Ngbeken-Itota is a midfielder too and has also played for Alvechurch, while another January signing from Rugby Borough was midfielder Harry Craven

Recently signed from Rugby Town, Teddy Rowe is a central midfielder who started his career at Aston Villa. After a loan at Gloucester City, he joined Leamington following his release. He’s also played for Banbury and Worcester City.

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.

Jac Redhead came from Coventry Sphinx in January. Another midfielder, he’s also played for Halesowen, Coventry Copeswood, Rugby Borough, Hinckley AFC and Barwell

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., while Bryan Kohrelon came from Rugby Borough December. He’s also played for Aylestone Park.

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.

Matthew Shipman is a striker and came from Coventry Sphinx in January and finally midfielder Charlie Lenton and striker Terrel Mringi are both products of our hosts own youth scheme.

Kick off at the oval is 3pm.

 

by Peter Scherer 

Mickleover’s home season came to an end with a 1-2 defeat against local play-off rivals Belper Town, despite a determined fightback in the second half.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Danny Gordon 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Danny Benson 7-Paddy Webb 8-George Wilkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 11-Manni Norkett 14-Andy Dales. Subs: Josh Carter, Liam Carter, Jayden Samuels, Luke McCormick.

It wasn’t the best of starts when the home defence were beaten on the right. The cross then found Kevin Bastos who had a clear shot from just inside the box, giving McDowell no chance at all to make it 0-1 after just five minutes.

A minute later Webb was fouled on the edge of the Belper box, but Dales’ free kick went straight out of play.

Bastos continued to cause trouble for Mickleover, with a cross from the left, but the ball came across the face of the goal, with no one there to collect.

Gascoigne then set up a move with Norkett and Bennett on the right, the cross was precise but the defence had it covered.

As the game started to settle down it became fairly even, with neither really creating many opportunities.

16 minutes in and the ball fell to Beavon, but before he could get his shot way he was blocked and then Webb combined with Atkinson, who layed it off to Beavon again. His attempt was blocked, with a deflection taking the sting out of his shot.

The Mickleover strikers were struggling for service, but when Norkett started a 24th minute run, he was fouled, with Gordon’s following free kick wide of the left-hand post.

Dales shot wide three minutes later after a long build up through the middle and then Belper’s counter attack ended when Jacob Gratton’s cross from the left went well wide of his target.

Luke Shaw had a chance for the visitors after 34 minutes, he got through the defence but then fortunately shot wide.

But two minutes later Gratton took on Benson down the Mickleover left. He didn’t beat his rival, but pulled back to make a cross which was met by Diego De Girolamo, whose first time shot from the edge of the box almost burst the net as it hit the top corner, 0-2.

Mickleover were struggling to respond and with four minutes left of the first half, Jonathan Wafula had a double shot blocked to earn a corner, which was easily cleared and so it remained 0-2 at the break.

There were two changes for Sports and they came out for the second half, with McCormick and Josh Carter on for Beavon and Webb.

After a fairly quiet start to the half, Mickleover started to show more confidence, more determination and kept Belper pegged back, using more width with the changes made.

Benson just missed connecting with a header, after a free kick to the left of the box after 57 minutes. But the momentum continued when McCormick made a telling run before his path was blocked.

But on the hour mark a glancing header by Gordon from a Dales free kick pulled one back, so it was game on for the final 30 minutes. 1-2.

Five minutes later Dales shot from distance but was just off target and then a McCormick free kick was tipped away onto the bar by keeper Kieran Preston at full stretch.

Belper remained dangerous on the break and Bastos had another chance, but wanted too much time and the chance was gone.

Preston then made a poor clearance that fell to Josh Carter, a first time shot may have paid dividends, but the time taken allowed the defence to block.

Belper sub Liam Moran had a chance too, but he also took too long and allowed Bennett to clear for a corner. It was still Mickleover pressing though and an equaliser looked a strong possibility, when McCormick outpaced the defence again after 74 minutes, crossed for a Carter strike, which Preston saved with his feet.

Lewis Austin put another shot for Belper over the bar after a left wing cross, but time was running out for Sports with just two minutes of normal time left. McCormick took another free kick, collected by Gascoigne but his shot was blocked, followed by another shot just over the bar.

There were five minutes of added time during which time Samuels replaced Gascoigne, but the elusive equaliser failed to materialise and all three points headed back to Belper.