by Peter Scherer

Following Tuesday nights disappointing exit from the Derbyshire Senior Cup, Mickleover will hopefully be returning to the form that saw us beat Basford Utd last weekend, as we visit Rugby Borough.

Unfortunately Jake Bennett took another nasty knock at Glossop, which sees him with another spell on the sidelines, but defender Danny Gordon just signed from Anstey Nomads, will be available.

While Mickleover remain just outside the play-off’s in sixth place, our hosts are now 13th following a 2-0 win at Long Eaton on Tuesday night. Now unbeaten in their last four games, since three successive defeats in the New Year, manager Dave Stringer has recently added to is squad.

Stringer has been in charge since May 2024 and when he brought his team to the Don Amott Arena back in October, it was a 2-2 draw, with Josiah Dyer and Paddy Webb scoring.

Rugby’s current first choice keeper is Marcus Bald, signed from rivals Rugby Town earlier this month. A former Northampton Town Junior, he also had spells at Harborough Town and Newport Pagnell before his release.

Prior to Bald’s arrival Ex Barnsley and Aston Villa youngster Sam Lomax had the shirt. He started at Nuneaton and played for Bedworth too, before spending two years at Racing Club Warwick before departing at Christmas.

Right back and captain Ellis Myles was a Leicester City youth player, that joined Brackley on his release. After spells at Rugby Town, Stamford and Corby he returned to Brackley and has also played for Boston Utd, Kettering and Telford Utd and had a month at Bedford at the start of this season, before joining our hosts.

Left back Luke Rowe was signed in pre-season too. Capped by New Zealand at full and under 20 levels, he was a Birmingham City junior, before returning to New Zealand with Wellington and Team Wellington. He came back to the UK with Hinckley Utd in July 2013, moving onto Eastwood, before an 11 year stay at Bedworth.

Amarvir Sandhu is also a left back, who began at Hinckley. Most of his career has been spent in Leicestershire, with Leicester Road, Barwell, Quorn and Shepshed Dynamo, before going to Coleshill in 2018. He then moved on to Harborough Town and Corby, before starting this season back at Barwell. He came to our hosts last September.

Right back Gary Stohrer came from Corby Town last December. His career started at Shaw Lane and Frickley, before spending seven years with Kettering Town, during which time he was loaned to Daventry Town.

Oran Jackson is a centre back that started out at MK Dons. After loans at Hemel and Brackley he went to Iceland and spent four months with IBV Vestmannaeyjar, before returning to the UK with Billericay.
His next stop was St.Ives Town, before seven months in Northern Ireland with Portadown. He’s played for Leighton Town and Daventry Town too and joined our hosts pre-season.

Fellow centre back Lathaniel Turner-Rowe came from Racing Club Warwick at the beginning of this month. He has league one and two experience and started his career at Leicester City. After loans at Cheltenham, Kings Lynn and Redditch, he moved on to Torquay and Luton, before a loan spell preceded a move to Alfreton.

He’s also played for Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Chester, Kettering, Tamworth, Stourbridge and Barwell and moved to RC Warwick last September.

Rich Black came from Dereham Town in pre-season. Another centre back, he has also played for Cambridge City, Grantham and Aylestone Park.

Lindon Meikle is a central midfielder and England C International. He played his youth football at Vernon Colts and Eastwood, before a three year stay at Mansfield Town, making 113 appearances in league two. He’s played for York City, Macclesfield, Alfreton, Barrow, Southport, Kettering, Tamworth, Buxton and Ilkeston and started this season at Barwell, before coming to Rugby Borough last September.

Central midfielder Jake Duffy came from Rushden & Diamonds in August, after a brief stay following his pe-season move from Aylestone Park. He started out with Oadby Town, and has also played for Holbeach, Stamford, Corby Town and Harborough Town.

Will Grocott is another central midfielder. He started off at Rugby Town, before moving to Kettering. Three years at Stratford followed, before a season at Stourbridge preceded his return. He came to Rugby Borough in February after 18 months with Bedworth.

Fellow midfielder Cameron Collins was signed from Sutton Coldfield in pre-season, where he had been a regular starter for the last few seasons.

Ex Bedworth and Coventry Sphinx midfielder Leo Stone arrived in pre-season too.

Antonio Cristofaro also plays in midfield. He started out at Walsall and had played for Market Drayton Town and Coventry Sphinx.

Cyprian Mtenga is on loan from Burton Albion, a midfielder, he’s also had a couple of spells at Shepshed Dynamo.

Derby born striker Kane Richards is another recent arrival, signed from Barwell two weeks ago, after a year with the Leicestershire club. An ex Derby County graduate, he was loaned to Matlock before a permanent move to Ilkeston. Chester, Gainsborough, Dover Athletic, Kidderminster, Basford, Nuneaton and Kettering followed, before returning to Basford in February ’24.

Striker Tyrell Waite spent part of the 23/24 season with Mickleover. He started out at Notts County and was loaned to Nuneaton and Ilkeston before a move to Lincoln City. He then went to Sweden for a year with Skelleftea FF, before returning to the UK with Nuneaton.

Kidderminster, Boston Utd, Matlock, Tamworth, Coalville were next and he came to Mickleover in February 2024 after six months at Ilkeston. He started last season at Basford and spent a year with Barwell, before joining our hosts a couple of weeks ago.

Johnson Gyamfi is a winger with recent Mickleover connections, having made a few appearances earlier this season on a dual registration with St.Ives Town. A Leicester City Junior from the age of 11, he also played for Peterborough Utd, during which time he was loaned to Boston Utd and Peterborough Sports.
Following his release, he spent a season with Harborough Town, before joining Barwell at the start of last season and had been at St.Ives since September 2024. He joined our hosts in December.
Striker Cyrus Bruce is currently on loan from Stratford Town, having arrived in December. He was previously at Daventry Town and Redditch, as well as a previous spell with our hosts.
Speedy winger Benji Adomako was signed from Coventry Utd in November.
Kick off is 3pm

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s hopes of reaching their first Derbyshire Senior Cup final for seven years were dashed, when a lack lustre performance saw Glossop secure a winning second half goal to finish 1-0 winners.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2- Josh Ashman 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Manni Norkett 10-Paddy Webb 11-Louis Bonser. Subs: Josiah Dyer, Fraser Corden, Stuart Beavon, Brad Gascoigne, Michel Iheidi.

On a fairly cold night Mickleover were first on the attack, winning a corner after two minutes, when a defensive mix up saw Atkinson have the first shot of the night deflected over the bar.

As the corner came in Webb got his headed to it, but keeper Oldham saved low to his right.

A free kick followed with Benson taking it from the half way line, but Igwewanne cleared it for our hosts.

Glossop started grow in confidence as Mickleover’s early attacks began to subside and after seven minutes they had their first chance, with Berry shooting wide from just outside the box after eight minutes.

Two minutes later Glossop earned their first corner, taken short and wasted, but pressure was starting to build on the Mickleover defence.

14 minutes in and McDowell tipped away a shot from Etia by his right post for another corner, but following the clearance our hosts earned another free kick

Gallagher had a shot over the bar two minutes later, but the pressure continued to build and left the Mickleover players starved of service from midfield.

Wood, Norkett and Atkinson started a nice build up after 18 minutes, until the ball was given away, leading to another Glossop break. Munoz, Etia ad Berry combined to earn a corner, with the final header from Hopkins easily held by McDowell.

Wilkinson headed away a dangerous cross, but despite the constant pressure from Glossop, the Mickleover defence was holding out.

Berry had another chance after 27 minutes, he split two defenders on the left, cut inside and then fired his shot into the side netting.

After Bonser was fouled by a combination of two defenders, it gave the Mickleover team a brief chance to regroup. It didn’t last however, as Glossop’s enthusiasm and drive was soon overcoming the undoubted skill advantage.

Just after the half hour mark Etia broke through again, but his shot was weak and easily taken by McDowell. But Mickleover then had to make their first change, with Bennett injured, Corden came on.

In time added on Dube finally outpaced his marker to cross from the right, but there was no one in the box and it ended 0-0, with Sports lucky to be on equal terms.

With no changes for the second half, it was Glossop on the attack again, with Bowker shooting over. But Sports got a rare shot in too after 50 minutes, when a defensive slip fell to Corden. He got his shot in through a crowded box, with little purchase, an easy stop for Oldham.

But 55 minutes it should have been 1-0 to Mickleover, when Dube’s solo run on the right saw him out pace the defence. With no one in the middle he drove on and fired it past Oldham in the Glossop goal. But the assistant reacted to some weak appeals from Glossop and raised his flag very late to deny a perfectly legitimate and well taken goal.

A goal would probably have been the turning point of the game, but it continued to go Glossop’s way with Gallagher’s random shot from distance over the bar on the hour.

Wood found Dube who then shot over the bar, but neither Norkett nor Webb were receiving any service still, despite Atkinson trying to lead by example.

65 minutes and the deadlock was broken when Schofield and Bardsley managed to run through the defence almost unchallenged, to find Etia who jinked inside to score 0-1.

Beavon then replaced Corden and there was just a glimmer that Mickleover might get back into the game. With 10 minutes on the clock Beavon’s cross on the left found Dube, but the shot lacked pace and was an easy stop.

Dyer and Gascoigne then came on for Dube and Bonser, but it was McDowell making a couple of saves. There were a couple of late corners for Mickleover and an 89th minute shot from Webb forcing the first diving save from the home keeper, but it was game over at 0-1, with the better team on the night heading for the Pride Park final.

 

by Peter Scherer

On Tuesday evening, weather permitting, Mickleover will be striving to reach their second Derbyshire Senior Cup final, when they travel to Glossop North End.

Back in April 2019 Sports went down 1-2 against Alfreton Town at Pride Park, but success on Tuesday would leave them facing the winner of the other semi between Ilkeston Town and Belper Town.

Our hosts were a football league side between 1898 and 1915 and now play their football in the North West Counties League. They reached the semi-final with a penalty shootout victory over New Mills.

Lee Wilshaw has been the manager since November and they currently lie mid table with four wins from their last 10 games. They were without a game last Saturday and drew 2-2 at home to Burscough last Tuesday.

Joey Oldham is their first-choice goalkeeper, signed from Chadderton in December. He’s also played for New Mills.

Harry Allen is the second-choice keeper, signed in pre-season. He previously had a loan spell with the club during his time at Burnley, but started out at Manchester Utd. He’s played for Flint Town, Farsley Celtic, Colne and Prestwich Heys too.

Right back Joel Igwenwanne is dual registered with Avro. A former Sheffield Utd junior, he joined Hyde Utd on his release. He’s played for Abbey Hulton and Mossley too.

Defender Dylan McMahon came from Burscough in July 2024, having previously played for Ramsbottom.

Centre back Jordan Schofield was signed from Chadderton too, where he had spent most of his career, but he was a pre-season arrival.

Captain Olly Parker is in his third season at Glossop. Another centre back and former Chadderton player, he’s also played for Ashton Utd and New Mills.

Central midfielder Abdul Djalo started out at Manchester Utd, before moving to Crewe Alexandra. He joined FC Barnton following his release, before moving on to Warrington Rylands and Skelmersdale. He then spent two years at Macclesfield, including loans at City of Liverpool and Skelmersdale and came to our hosts in November 2023, after four months at St.Helens.

Fellow Midfielder Jack Hopkins arrived at Surrey Street from Clitheroe in July ’22, having previously been at Stockport County.

Aeron Bardsley plays in defence or midfield and came to our hosts in March 2024 from Curzon Ashton.

Full back Leo Cooper has come through the Hillmen’s own youth scheme.

Spanish born Gabby Money-Munoz started his career playing for CD Canillas in Madrid, before coming to the UK with Wythenshawe Town. Before joining our hosts the midfielder also played for Winsford Town, Northwich and Prestwich Heys.

James Purfield came from Chadderton in pre-season, he’s a midfielder.

Midfielder Alex Bowker was signed from Trafford a few months ago, after starting out at Stockport County.

Conal Gallagher is another midfielder who came from Pilkington in February 2024. He played for Ramsbottom and Skelmersdale too, was a junior at both Bolton and Blackburn and had spell in the US too with the University of Illinois. He is also a former England under 19 Futsal international.

Striker Jacques Etia is on loan from Stalybridge Celtic. A former Rotherham junior, he played for Sheffield FC and Ollerton after his release, but was loaned to Glossop in May 2023 after joining Ashton Utd.

Conor Berry returned to the club last month, after a brief appearance before Christmas. He’s another signing from Chadderton, having also been a prolific goal scorer at Moston Brook, Avro and Prestwich Heys.

Fellow striker Ethan Sutcliffe came from Chadderton too in pre-season and previously played for Avro.

Adem Oureghi is another young striker, while fellow striker Martijn “Junior” Smith arrived last month from Chowan University Hawks in the US, he’s an ex Doncaster Rovers junior.

Kick off is 7.45 and remember if you are travelling to the game via Ashbourne, it’s also Shrove Tuesday.

*** MONDAY’S WEATHER UPDATE FROM GLOSSOP, “light overnight snow soon cleared and not too bad overall.”

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It was back to winning ways for Mickleover, as they came away from the Don Amott Arena 3-1 winners over second in the table Basford Utd.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Danny Benson 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wlkinson 7-Archie White 8-Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Manni Norkett. Subs: Paddy Webb, Ross Derham, Josiah Dyer, Josh Ashman, Thabang Dube.

From the kick off Mickleover starting to challenge the visitors and after five minutes White cut inside from the right for the first shot of the game, just over the bar.

From there Sports were in the ascendancy and a few minutes later Norkett dispossessed two defenders to pass to Beavon, his shot was saved by keeper Yates, but it fell to White who struck if sweetly into the back of the net, 1-0.

Norkett was causing havoc and after nine minutes his hard work sent Dales on his first run. He created the space but his shot was well off target.

Basford tried to capitalise after a brief moment of uncertainty in the home defence, but the danger was soon cleared.

Keane and Norkett then combined to make good progress, but the Basford defence managed to thwart the advance.

There was more pressure from the visitors after a series of corners 17 minutes in. The ball was heading goalwards, but Wilkinson managed to head it off the line and keep the lead intact.

There was more sustained pressure from Mickleover with Keane, Atkinson, White and Dales blending well in midfield, provided a strong feed to Norkett and Beavon up front.

After 25 minutes Dales outpaced the defence on the left, but keeper Yates just made it to the ball before Norkett.

Three minutes later Basford had their best chance f the game, after Nyle Blake broke through, but McDowell was quickly off his line and blocked the striker with his feet.

Dales had another shot saved after 36 minutes, after Norkett’s resilience had paid dividends and two minutes Beavon almost put White in the clear again.

Mickleover had created more chances and had the greater of the possession in the first half, but with one minute left on the clock, Connor Dimaio picked up a corner on the edge of the box, and struck it into top left hand corner, to end the half on equal terms, 1-1.

Mickleover came out fighting in the second half and just three minutes in Dales was hacked down. Keane stepped up to take the free kick, floated in to find Benson on the right, who headed it home 2-1.

Four minutes later Jordy Hallam tried his luck for the visitors, his effort went across the face of the goal, but fortunately no one was on hand to connect.

Basford continued to look for the equaliser again, but Benson, Gascoigne, Wilkinson and Bennett had grown in confidence at the moment.

But just past the hour Blake broke through again, just about on side, but with just McDowell to beat he shot wide of the left-hand post.

Mickleover’s first change was Dyer for Beavon after 64 minutes, before Basford won a free kick just outside the box on the left, only to go to waste.

Keane dropped another free kick nicely into the box after 68 minutes, winning a corner that was cleared. But Basford then broke and with McDowell charging out his goal, the ball was somehow played past him, but Bennett intercepted.

Bennett had started to push forward more on the left and having got clear after 70 minutes, he cross was a little too close to Yates, who collected with ease.

After Webb had replaced Norkett on the 70 minute mark, McDowell had to make another save low down with his feet, as Basford continued to seek that elusive equaliser.

Dales almost connected with Webb after cross from the left, but the clock was counting down. Ashman replaced White for the final seven minutes, but ten victory was sealed, when Bennett’s hard work found Webb on the left. He cut back inside to find Bennett, who continued his run and fired home to make it 3-1 and secure all three points.

Derham and Dube were late subs to replace Keane and Dales, and McDowell had to make another late save from a long range shot, but it was Mickleover’s day, completing the double over our Nottinghamshire visitors.

 

By Peter Scherer

Having gone 10 days without a match following the postponement of our visit to Anstey Nomads, Mickleover are back in action on Saturday, as we welcome second placed Basford Utd to the Don Amott Arena.

Back in October we were 2-1 winners in the corresponding away game, with goals from Archie White and Stuart Beavon.
Since then our visitors have gone from strength to strength under Martin Carruthers’ leadership, only ending a fourteen game unbeaten run last Saturday, with a 0-1 defeat at home to Bedworth.

Despite Sports lack of consistency their ninth place is only eight behinds behind Basford and still well in touch with the play-off positions, such is the closeness in the table.
Mickleover should be at full strength with strikers Manni Norkett and Josiah Dyer’s loans now confirmed to the end of the season.
For our visitors first choice goalkeeper is Matt Yates who arrived pre-season from Ilkeston. He spent last season at Ilkeston after joining them from Gainsborough, where he had spent the previous two years. He was a Derby County Junior and was loaned to Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford Utd prior to his release.
In our FA Trophy defeat back In September, he was the difference between us winning and losing and now also captains the side.
Yates’ understudy has been the vastly experienced Saul Deeney. He started his career at Notts County, and after loan spells at Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston and Hull City, he made a permanent move to Burton Albion in 2005.
He then returned to Notts County, for a year, before a short stay at Hucknall Town preceded a return to Burton too. 4 ½ years at Derby County followed, before his first spell at Basford in 2015. Moving on to Coalville and Ilkeston, he joined Matlock in January 2023, before returning to Basford at the beginning of last season.
Harvey Woodward has also been on the bench as sub keeper, a former Ilkeston Town player, who has also played for Gedling, Gresley Rovers and Kimberley MW’s.
Centre back Ethan Stewart was signed at the beginning of last season from Stafford Rangers. He started his career with Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Billericay and Alfreton, before joining Nuneaton on his release. He then returned to Alfreton, before moving to Stafford Rangers in October 2021.
Left back or centre back captain Henri Wilder has just started his third season with the club, since signing from Ilkeston in November 2023.He played his youth football at Brighton and Mansfield and was loaned out to Lewes. Following his Stags release he went to Tamworth and played for Alfreton too, before a year at Ilkeston.
Right back Osa Soloman came from Grantham in pre-season. He is an ex Nottingham Forest Junior, who was also loaned to Redditch. He joined Grantham following his release in summer 2023.
Lynden Joyce is another defender who returned to the club after starting off in their youth scheme. He started the season with Shepshed Dynamo and has also played for Sherwood Colliery and Eastwood.
Ryan Ebanks was a pre- season arrival. He plays on the right side of the defence and lists Grantham, Newark Flowserve, Newark & Sherwood Utd and Coalville on his CV after playing junior football at Notts County.
Eli Christie is a former Derby County Academy centre back. He joined Ilkeston following his release and played for Grantham to before joining our visitors from Gresley Rovers in pre-season.
Jordy Hallam is an attacking midfielder, who has spent most his career at Sheffield Utd. With 28 EFL appearances under his belt, he had loans at Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield, before joining Scunthorpe following is release. His next stop was Ilkeston after an initial loan, but after three months he moved to Basford in October 2023.
Connor Dimaio is another experienced midfielder. He has League One and Two experience after starting at Sheffield Utd. Chesterfield was his next stop, followed by Stockport, Boston Utd, Curzon Ashton, Matlock and Bradford Park Avenue, from where joined our hosts in pre-season.
Callum Cocks came from Long Eaton in the summer. A right back or midfielder he was previously with Loughborough Dynamo and has played for the Army and Royal Artillery.
Right sided midfielder Nyle Blake arrived from Eastwood a couple of weeks ago. He is a former Mansfield Town junior, who joined Alfreton following his release. Frickley, Belper Town, Carlton, Hyde, Gainsborough, Stamford, Newark & Sherwood and Anstey are all on his cv before joining Eastwood last November.
Nat Peters is a midfielder that came through Basford’s own scheme, before moving onto Kimberley MW. He returned to our visitors in November.
Fellow midfielder Rev James in his fourth spell with our visitors. He started out at Rotherham and Oxford Utd, before a loan spell at Basford in 2018. After a spell at Tamworth he made his second visit in November 2019, moving on to Nuneaton who laned him back again, before that became permanent. He finally came back in December 2023, after four months oat Belper Town.
Jack Thomas arrived last month. He’s an ex Notts County and Mansfield youngster, who was loaned to Hednesford, Barrow, Boston Utd and Tamworth, before joining Basford at the start of 2018/19. After further spells at Ilkeston and Tamworth he returned to our visitors again in May ’23, moving onto Anstey, Rushall and Tamworth before his latest move.
Strikers Tyler Dacres, Luca Burton and Covarne Leon are three young strikers that have come through the clubs own Academy and is now a regular in the first team squad.
Curtis Durose was signed early into the season, a striker he is an ex Rotherham youngster and he had loans at Gainsborough, Scarborough and Matlock before a permanent move to Matlock at the start of last season, following his release. He came to our hosts after 10 months at Gainsborough.
Oli Wilson is another striker who came from Hednesford in November. He played his junior football at Mansfield Town and has also played for Carlton and Boston Utd.
Dameer Rose and Taylon Cevirir both made their first team debuts earlier this season, having come through the clubs youth scheme.
Kick off is at 3pm, with usual bar and refreshment facilities.