The Mickleover Sports Coach leaves at 10am on Saturday for our fixture against Lancaster.

by Peter Scherer

Weather permitting Mickleover Sports are due to play title contenders Basford United at the Don Amott Arena tomorrow night (Tuesday).

The wind caused problems in the game last Saturday, but we came away with everyone fit and available. We took Kemy Agustien off as a precaution, but he had a good game

Sports boss, John McGrath

Basford could have gone top last weekend but were held to a 1-1 draw of FC United of Manchester, with ex Derby County Junior Kane Richards scoring a second half equaliser, his 11^th of the season.

Among the rest of the Basford line-up are Scottish goalkeeper Kieran Preston, an ex Bristol Rovers player, who was signed from Grantham.

Callum Chettle, son of manager and ex Nottingham Forest favourite Steve, began his career at Forest, but also numbers Peterborough Utd amongst his former clubs.

Midfielder James Reid also started at Forest and since played for NPL side Gainsbrough Trinity, similarly Matt Thornhill, who after leaving Forest played for Hibernian, after loan spells at Brighton and Cheltenham.

Polish born Stefan Galinski came from Grantham, but started his playing career at Derby County and has played for Alfreton Town too.

Sports will be hoping the weather relents as they still have 16 matches to play, including nine at home.

SPORTS HOME RUN ENDS
by Peter Scherer

Although Mickleover Sports started strongly against Whitby Town, their run of home success sadly came to an end with a 3-1 defeat in front of a healthy home crowd.

It was fairly even from the start until Patrick Webb had Whitby keeper Shane Bland at full stretch with a save just under the bar as the 20 minute mark approached. His attempt was then closely followed by a shot just around the left hand post from Stuart Beavon.

Durrell Berry had cleared one Whitby attempt off the line, before Sports pressure then told on 32 minutes when Webb was left with a tap in at the left hand post, after a dangerous cross from the right.

But Whitby were soon back into the game as Callum Patton secured the equaliser, before both Beavon and Webb had further attempts well saved by Bland. 

They went in at 1-1 at half time but within minutes of the restart Webb went close again, then with the Sports defenders looking for offside, Paul Blackett got through and was left to beat Sports Keeper Nathan Broome in a one on one to give Whitby the lead.

It continued as end to end, but the increasing wind started to play a part, particularly affecting Broome’s clearances.

Andrew Wright went desperately close to equalising, as his deflection just missed the top right hand corner, while Sports made a double substitution with Mason Warren replacing Keme Agustien and Reece Thompson on for Ryan Nesbitt.

But Whitby went further ahead when Patton scored his second with seven minutes on the clock, and made sure all three points headed Northwards.

Sports will be hoping to return to winning ways again on Tuesday evening, when they are up against title contenders Basford United.

View Match Photos (by Sarah Middleton)

by Brad Cox (@BradJCox_)

Patrick Webb bagged a brace as Sports squeezed a point from a thrilling 3-3 draw against FC United of Manchester.

Webb gave Sports a surprise lead in the 37^th minute after hitting United on the counter from defending a corner. Webb had a long time to think about his finish as he was charging in on goal, but the new signing for Sports slotted past United goalkeeper, Cameron Belford.

Sports were under immense pressure throughout the first half, United hit the woodwork twice but Sports did well to soak it all up and defended resiliently early on. The story of the match was Sports’ inability to hold onto a lead. Just five minutes later, United were all square – on the brink of half-time.

Two huge saves from Nathan Broome early in the second half saw Sports hit United on the counter yet again. This time it was the youngster, Karel Tvaroh, galloping up-field before cutting it back for the in-form Stuart Beavon. Beavon slotted it home and scored his fourth goal in four games for Sports.

But it was déjà vu for Sports as United came from behind again to bring their side level. United’s top goal-scorer in the league, Tunde Owolabi, let rip from outside the box leaving Broome with no chance. His strike flew into the top-right corner.

Webb gave Sports their third lead of the match in the 71^st minute when Ryan Nesbitt put a low-driven cross into the box. Webb hit it first time, nutmegging Belford.

Sports were just a little over ten minutes away from being the first side in the league to beat United since November, however, substitute Sinclair-Smith had another idea. Two Sports defenders lost their footing in the box at a crucial time which left Sinclair-Smith with an easy finish to make it three apiece.

Sports dropped to tenth in the Northern Premier Division but do have at least a game in a hand on four teams above them.

FC United Starting XI; Belford, Morris, Dodd, Griffiths, Doyle, Elsdon (Hawley), Ennis, Potts (C), Owolabi, Homson-Smith (Sinclair-Smith), Linney

Bench: Lineman, Donohue, Kerr, Sinclair-Smith, Hawley

Mickleover Starting XI; Broome, Tvaroh, Turner, Agustien (Scott), Freeman, Young (C), Verma, Wright (Warren), Webb (Thompson), Beavon, Nesbitt

Bench: Thompson, Scott, Berry, Warren, McGrath

FC United of Manchester 3-3 Mickleover Sports
Saturday February 1^st 2020
Broadhurst Park

by Laurie Newman

Mickleover Sports put Grantham Town to the sword as they put four past the away side which included a spectacular effort from Andrew Wright.

Sports started the better team after having a number of chances to take the lead. The best came after Jon Worsnop made a fantastic save from a few yards out after Paddy Webb fired the ball towards goal at the far post.

Despite having more chances on goal in the game, Grantham took the lead through Craig Westcarr.

Westcarr opened the scoring for the visitors on the 29^th minute after his shot from inside the box found the back of the net. Westcarr picked up the ball and capitalised on Battersby’s mistake after he appeared to lose control of the ball in the box.

The hosts nearly pulled one back before half time when Stuart Beavon hit the underside of the bar from a tight angle. 

Soon after though, the home side would get their deserved equaliser. 

Karel Tvaroh levelled things up just before half time when his first time strike at the far post following a dangerous cross from Ryan Nesbitt found the back of the net.

Beavon was doing all the right things but it just wasn’t coming off for him so far. Beavon’s flick from a low pass nearly looped over Worsnop and into the back of the net. Luckily for Grantham the score line remained level at the break.

Sports turned up the heat in the second half and only ten minutes in the home side took the lead. Andrew Wright caught the ball on the volley from outside the box and the ball elegantly glided into the top left hand corner.

Sports would then add two goals in quick succession around ten minutes after Wright’s stunner.

The first came from Ryan Nesbitt who chipped the keeper from inside the box after being played in on goal. 

Stuart Beavon’s scored the fourth which all but sealed the three points after his deflected shot from inside the box found the back of the net.

Wright continued to run the show as he nearly scored his second of the game after some nice footwork in the box. Unfortunately the finish was just inches wide of the post.

Sports comfortably saw out the rest of the match, secure in the fact that they had a three goal cushion.

The win got the home side back to winning ways as well as moving them up to 8^th place. It also meant that they had won four out of their last five games in the league.

Star man: Andrew Wright
Entertainment Value: 4/5
Goal times: Craig Westcarr (29′), Karel Tvaroh (41′), Andrew Wright (55′), Ryan Nesbitt (67′), Stuart Beavon (69′)

Mickleover Sports 4-1 Grantham Town
Saturday 18th January 2020
Don Amott Arena