by Peter Scherer

Hot on the heels of our 1-1 draw at Hyde last Saturday, Mickleover welcome Ilkeston Town to the Don Amott Arena on Tuesday night.

The Robins suffered a surprise defeat in their final re-season game of the season, losing 1-3 to Harborough Town, before started their NPL campaign with a 2-2 draw at home to Gainsborough Trinity.

Manager Ian Deakin has mainly retained his squad from last season, which finished 11^th in the NPL, having moved from spending 22/23 in the South with Mickleover.

Matt Yates and Mitchell Leivers are both experienced goalkeepers. Yates, currently first choice,  came from Gainsborough at the beginning of last season, after a two year spell in Lincolnshire.

He was a Derby County Junior and was loaned to Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford Utd prior to his release.

Leivers came through Long Eaton Utd’s Academy, making his first team debut in October 2022. After spells at Hucknall and Heanor Town, he joined Ilkeston last November and also had a short loan spell at Kimberley MW last season.

Centre back James Perch is an ex Nottingham Forest Junior, with over 500 league games under his belt, plus appearances in the Europa League. After leaving Forest he had three years with Newcastle Utd, two at Wigan Athletic and three at QPR before moving to Scunthorpe in 2018.

He then spent three years with Mansfield Town, before joining the Robins in September last year and is now club captain.

Fellow centre back Callum Minkley is another former Rams Academy player. He went to Gainsborough too on his release and after two years there made the made to Ilkeston last September.

Former captain Tom Marshall came back to the club last November, having left in October 2020. He started his career at Hednesford, moving onto Eastwood, Chasetown, Tamworth, Kidderminster, Stafford, Altrincham and Kettering. 

Mitchell Robinson is a centre back and came to the club in May from Loughborough Dynamo. He was previously captain at Long Eaton.

Dec Eratt-Thompson is a right back who came from Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy. He had left in 2016 to join Stocksbridge, but returned after a two year absence. He was then released again in August 2022 and came to Ilkeston.

Dec’s brother Koby is a left back and was in Chesterfield’s Academy before coming to Ilkeston and spent part of last year on a dual registration with Maltby Main.

Sam Parker came from Long Eaton last September, where he captained their promotion side. He started at the Derby County Academy.

Midfielder Connor Dixon is another former Rams graduate. He spent a month on loan at Ilkeston early last year and after another loan at Farsley Celtic, he returned to the New Manor Ground permanently at the beginning of last season.

Jamie Walker is another midfielder who came from Alfreton for the start of last season. He had previously spent three years at Long Eaton Utd, after joining them from Basford Utd.

Joining Dixon and Walker in midfield is Jonathan Wafula. After his release from Chesterfield’s Academy, he joined Worksop Town, staying for four years before a move to Shaw Lane. Next stop was Gainsborough, followed by Boston Utd, Guiseley, Matlock Town, Grantham and Basford. He was also loaned back to Grantham, and moved to Ilkeston in February.

Striker L’Varn Brandy arrived from Long Eaton last September, having previously been in Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy. 

Striker Tom Cursons came from Long Eaton in August 202t. He began with the Metropolitan Police and was loaned to Badshot Lea. He moved to Hartley Whitney in December 2021 and to Gainsborough only a month later. A further move to Long Eaton in December 2022 preceded his arrival at Long Eaton.

Fellow striker Alex Marshall came through the Ilkeston Academy, but returned to the club last October from Loughborough Dynamo. He has had a couple of spells at Long Eaton and  he also spent part of last season away with Heanor Town on a dual registration.

Striker Ben Hutchinson is probably one of the clubs most experienced player. His football league career started at Middlesbrough, after he joined them from Arnold Town. He then joined Celtic and was sent out on loan to Swindon Town, Dundee and Lincoln City before a permanent move to Kilmarnock.

He came back to the Midlands in 2012 with Mansfield, moving on to Nuneaton, Basford, Belper Town, Carlton, Newark and Eastwood, before joining our hosts at the start of last season and has played in the English and Scottish Premiership and the Champions League.

Sacha Markelic was Heanor Town’s top scorer last season and moved to Ilkeston in March. He was previously at Loghborough Dynamo and Kimberley MW.

Connor Brown is one of the few new signings. A right back, he has made over 150 EFL appearances since starting out as a Sheffield Utd Junior. 

He was loaned to Hinckley before joining Oldham Athletic on his release. He spent four years at Boundary Park, including a loan at Carlisle Utd, before moving to Guiseley in 2016. After spells at York City and Barrow, je joined Buxton in early 2023, and has come to Ilkeston pre-season.

Central midfielder Lindon Meikle is a former England C International and another new signing. From starting out at Eastwood Town. He had three years at Mansfield, before moving to York City. Stops at Macclesfield,  Alfreton, Barrow followed, before e three year spell at Kettering followed. 

He then joined Tamworth, before going to Buxton a year later and being loaned back to Tamworth before rejoining them permanently at the beginning of last season. He first came to Ilkeston on loan in January and recently made his stay permanent.

Last week Ilkeston added Harry Kirby-Moore and Colin Daniel to their squad too. Kirby-Moore is a young striker, who had been on trial pre-season, having been released by Shrewsbury Town.

Daniel is an experienced defender, with almost 30 appearances under his belt in Leagues One and Two. Having started at Eastwood he joined Crewe Alexandra and was loaned out to Leek Town, Grays Athletic and Macclesfield, before a permanent move to the latter.

He was then loaned back to Crewe before a move to Mansfield. He has played for Port Vale, Blackpool, Peterborough, Burton Albion, Exeter City and Aldershot too and started 22/23 at Scunthorpe, before starting last season with Worksop.

Kick off as usual is 7.45 at the Don Amott Arena.

by Peter Scherer (Photos: Steve Ingers)

Mickleover came away from Hyde Utd with a hard-fought point on their return to the Northern Premier League.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-George Taft 6-Charlie Hickingbottom 7-Dylan Edwards 8-Will Atkinson 9-Fin Ryder 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Brandon Webster. Subs: Andy Dales, Brandon Ferron, Luke Cox, Callum Moore, Dylan Scott.

Our hosts had finished sixth in the league last season and soon started to put the Mickleover defence under pressure. A long throw from Ditchfield after 10 minutes, was flicked on by Hall, before Redshaw had a header well saved by Mersin in the Mickleover goal.

Only a minute later Mersin was the hero again, with a magnificent save from Quadri’s distance shot, as the pressure continued, with Quadri’s 15^th minute effort just wide.

Beavon was yellow carded for a foul 20 minutes in, but Sports defence was then breached a minute later, when a Redshaw shot was cleared initially, but headed back to him. At the second attempt he buried it in the bottom corner with a precise volley and it was 0-1.

Webster joined Beavon in the book for a late challenge after 25 minutes, but Sports then tested keeper Hiddleston with a Hickingbottom header after a corner.

But the home side continued to have the upperhand with Mersin saving a touch from Redshaw after a Scanlon free kick.

Taft became Mickleover’s third yellow card. But Heath’s following free kick was well off target and it was Sports that ended the opening half with a flurry, ending with an Atkinson shot just wide, so it remained 0-1 as the whistle went.

“We were a bit too open and some communication let us down. But we made a tactical change after 30 minutes, which restricted their passing ability more,” said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

Mickleover made one change for the second half, with Dales on for Ryder, before Cox replaced Taft six minutes into the second half.

Hyde went close again after 52 minutes, when Heath just missed a Quadri cross.

But it was a more positive second half for Mickleover, with Dales making an immediate impact, bursting in from the wing after 52 minutes, his shot just wide.

Hickingbottom had another header just wide from a Wilson corner after 58 minutes, before Bennett went in the ref’s book too for a late tackle.

But another Sports attack finally paid dividends after 68 minutes, when Edwards was brought down in the box. He stepped up to take the penalty, which Hiddleston initially saved, before his quick response hit the rebound home for the equalise, 1-1 with 69 minutes gone.

Wilson went close too, hitting the bar with a free kick, with the keeper caught out, but the final 20 minutes it was Mickleover pressing and Dales tested Hiddleston again after 81 minutes, following a telling one two with Beavon,  forcing a diving save from the home keeper. 

Ferron had come n for Webster too, but Bunn then shot wide for Hyde, before he set up Ditchfield, who also fired over, just before the ref indicated four minutes add on.

As the final whistle approached Mickleover almost snatched all three points, when Beavon managed to round the keeper, only for Hiddleston to make a remarkable recovery and so it stayed 1-1 with a valuable point claimed.

“It was a positive point away from home, against a team that nearly made the play-offs last season. I was really pleased how the players reacted to our half-time talk, after a disappointing first half, so lots of positive’s to take into Tuesday visit from Ilkeston,” Holmes concluded.

by Peter Scherer

After a two year absence, Mickleover head back to the Northern Premier League this weekend, with their opening league match of the season at Hyde Utd.

For Sports manager Gareth Holmes it’s a first league game in charge and debuts for a number of our pre-season signings.

I am planning to have two more players signed before the end of the week, who should be available for the game. We have had a positive pre-season and really looking forward to the start of the season, but it’s still work in progress

he said.

“I will only be really happy with a win, but we need to continue to be a better version of ourselves. There will be ups and downs as we know, but it’s exciting and positive from what we have seen so far,” he added.

Our hosts were sixth last season, just missing out on the play-off’s. Manager Nicky Spooner has been charge since February 2022, having previously coached at Halifax and Bolton Wanderers. 

Unbeaten in their six pre-season games, their last 1-1 with Marine last Saturday, former Sheffield Utd junior Callum Hiddleston is first choice goalkeeper. He finished last season at Ossett Utd.

Centre back Harry Ditchfield s about to start his fourth season at the club, since his release from Salford City. 

He will be joined in the centre by new signing Drew Baker. A former Manchester City, Crewe and Oldham youngster, Baker joined FC United on his release, but soon moved onto Fleetwood Town and has been loaned to Bohemians and Waterford in the Republic of Ireland. 

He has played in League One and the League of Ireland, and following his release from Fleetwood, he finished last season at Macclesfield.

Will Hall is another centre back and another new arrival. He started out at Salford too, then joined Altrincham on his release. Loans at Whitchurch, Ramsbottom and Ashton Utd followed, before joining Ramsbottom permanently at the start of 22/23. He moved on again to start last season at Trafford, before finishing off at Clitheroe.

Right back Ethan Vaughan is another new arrival. He started at Norwich City before moving to Burnley, who then loaned him to Farsley Celtic, before a permanent move to Guiseley.

He was soon on the move again to Marske Utd, before joining Bootle. Loans at Bradford Park Avenue and Stalybridge followed, before joining Hyde a few weeks ago.

Midfielder Jordan Scanlon recently arrived from Atherton Collieries. He started at Rochdale, but after loans at Ashton Utd and Ramsbottom, he started last season at Atherton following his release.

English born midfielder Matt Fearnley has spent most of his recent past in the USA, where he played for Flint City Bucks and Georgia State Panthers. He joined our hosts in January last year on his return to the UK.

Sonny Whittingham is a midfielder and a product of the Huddersfield Town Academy, after they picked him up from Bradford City. He had already been loaned to Bury, when he first came to Hyde as a loanee in October 2022. He returned permanently at the start of last season.

Former Bolton Wanderers junior midfielder Ryan White is one of the few retained players from last season. He came to Hyde in August 2022 after four years at Bamber Bridge.

Winger, striker or midfielder Harry Bunn is vastly experienced with over 200 league games under his belt, through the Championship, leagues one and two and the Scottish Premiership.

He started off with Manchester City and was loaned out to Rochdale, Preston, Oldham, Crewe, Sheffield Utd and Huddersfield, before being sold to Bury in 2017. After a loan at Southend he was released and headed  to Scotland with Kilmarnock, before moving on via York City, Scunthorpe, Buxton and Ashton Utd, moving to Hyde at the start of last season. 

Striker Jack Redshaw is another long server, having come from Ashton Utd in July 2022. He is another ex Manchester City youngster, who made a successful career through leagues one and two. His first move was Rochdale, followed by stays at Salford, Altrincham and Morecambe, and then Blackpool, who loaned him back to Rochdale.

Salford, Halifax and Tork City followed, before he arrived at Ashton Utd. He was then loaned to Chester before joining our hosts.

Akeel Francis is a new arrival, a striker who played his junior football at Rotherham. He was loaned to North Ferriby before going to Accrington on his release. He was soon on the move again to Wrexham, Rochdale, Guiseley, Farsley and Grantham, before heading to Scotland with Falkirk. After a year he returned to England, firstly with Braford Park Avenue, and then Warrington Rylands, before heading north again with Stirling Albion.

He had a number of further spells at Grantham and a loan at Sleaford, before joining Hyde last month.

Fellow striker Connor Heath has recently arrived from Southport. After starting at Crewe, he had loans at Witton Albion and Colwyn Bay, before joining Nantwich on his release. After a  loan at Farsley he joined Southport in October 2022 and was loaned back to Nantwich and Stafford Rangers too, where he ended last season.

Joe Amado is a defender who came from Atherton at the start of last season. He played for Warrington, Trafford and Irlam too.

Midfielder Jake Maltby is a new arrival too, having spent last season at Silsden. He was previously at Bradford Park Avenue.

Ben Kershaw is a midfielder too and former Stoke City Junior, who started out in Rochdale’s Academy.

Midfielder Ayo Quadri was at Hyde on a dual registration with Halifax at the end of last season and has now made the move permanent.

Fellow midfielder Shakeel Jones-Griffiths was on a dual registration too last season with Prestwich Heys. An ex Bolton Junior, he has played for Glossop North, Congleton and Bury.

Reece Mellor has broken into the first team squad in the last season or two, a midfielder out of our hosts own Academy.

Finally defender Joe Hillary is currently on loan from Stockport County.

Kick off at Walker Lane is 3pm

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover faced a strong Barnsley youth team in their final pre-season game of the season and came away with a 1-1 draw, to finish the campaign unbeaten.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Charlie Hickingbottom 6-George Taft 7-Dylan Edwards 8-Will Atkinson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Brandon Ferron, Subs: Brandon Webster, Fin Ryder, Trialists.

It was a fairly lively start from both sides, with Barnes firing in a dangerous cross from the left, just missing Edwards’ head after two minutes.  Then just two minutes later a cross field ball from the left had Edwards running onto it, firing his first time shot high and wide.

But there was an early drama for Mickleover, when Taft came off to be replaced by Webster. “I felt a slight twinge in my knee so came of rather than risk it,” he said.

Sports had the ball in the net after seven minutes, a header following a corner, but was narrowly given offside.

The strike force of Edwards, Barnes and Beavon were keen to push forward at every opportunity, and it was Edwards again setting up a move down the right, but Barnes had already moved forward and the ball fell loose.

Barnsley took a little while to settle, but after 15 minutes they were starting to push forward more and were on the end of a number of free kicks, some questionable.

17 minutes and the visitors had their first real shot, going just over Mersin’s bar, but two minutes later they were on target, forcing MersIn to make a save diving low to his left. Ferron then outpaced the defence on the left, earning a corner after a good build up.

Following Taft’s departure, Hickingbottom was playing solo in the middle of defence, with Bennett and Webster as wing backs. Wilson had moved into more of a roving role, while both Atkinson and Weston alternated between defensive midfield and defence itself.

Barnes was fouled after 25 minutes, but Wilson’s free kick came to nought, then the Mickleover skipper was wrestled to the ground in a challenge, but again the free kick failed to threaten the Barnsley goal.

Having dealt with the pressure, Mickleover began to push forward again in the latter part of the half. Bennett’s cross from the right after 38minutes, was headed on by Edwards, but just too high for Ferron to get his head to it too.

Then Wilson dropped a dangerous ball into the Barnsley box, with Ferron just being beaten to the ball by the advancing keeper.

Barnsley finished the half with a shot straight at Mersin, but it remained 0-0.

There were no immediate changes for the second half, and five minutes in the Barnsley keeper was in action, saving a Beavon effort following a Barnes and Edwards interchange.

But Barnsley were quick to make a break and forced Mersin to race off his line, but the final shot went wide of his right hand post.

Beavon had a shot palmed away by the keeper as the hour mark approached, before Barnes and Edwards came off to make way for Dales and Ryder.

Mickleover were beginning to take charge and forcing more errors from the visitors. 65 minutes and Ferron crossed to find Hickingbottom’s head, whose effort was just wide, while just a minute later there was an effort cleared off the line.

The goal finally came after 70 minutes following another Ferron attack. The ball fell nicely to Weston, who hit the ball home from just outside the box, 1-0.

It should have been number two for Mickleover four minutes later, following some Dales trickery on the left. The ball came across the goal face, the defence beaten and Ryder appeared set to tap it home, but just failed to make the connection.

Dales continued to cause havoc  and set up Wilson a couple of minutes, but that shot was just wide . But it was looking comfortable for Sports and after a Webster run on the left, Beavon sent a curling effort just beyond the left hand upright after 80 minutes, with the keeper rooted to his spot.

Ferron made way for a trialist in the closing minutes, but up front Dales and Beavon had a quick one two, but the keeper saved the danger and Sports continued to take command.

Suddenly though there was a split in the home defence though, totally against the run of play, but it handed Barnsley an 82^nd minute equaliser 1-1.

But a rocket shot from defence almost gave Mickleover the lead again, as it bounced off the bar and with five minutes left Dales forced a finger tip save from the keeper again.

Beavon sent Dales through yet again for a late attempt just wide, but it ended all square and now we look forward to the league action, starting next weekend.

 

by Peter Scherer

Undefeated in our pre-season so far, Mickleover face a Barnsley Youth team at the Don Amott Arena tonight, our final game before the NPL season kicks off at Hyde Utd on August 10^th.

Manager Gareth Holmes hopes to have Andy Dales in the squad, having not played a part so far. 

Other new signings should be on view to the home crowd for the first time, while the only concern at the moment is Leojo Davidson, who took a knock in last weeks KC Trophy win over Burton Alion.

Kick off again is 7.30pm and admission is just £5.

by Peter Scherer

For the second successive home pre-season friendly, a double strike from Dylan Edwards secured the KC Trophy for Mickleover, over a Burton Albion XI.

There was a one minute silence before the game in memory of ex Mickleover joint manager and Burton Albion player Glen Kirkwood.

Starting line-up Yusuf Mersin; Jake Bennett; Trialist A; Curtis Weston; Trialist B; Trialist C; Leojo Davidson; Ryan Wilson; Stuart Beavon; Fin Ryder; Dylan Edwards; Subs: Trlalist D; Brandon Ferron; Marcus Barnes; Toby Smith.

Burton went straight on the attack from the kick off, with Mtenga sending a weak shot wide of Mersin’s right hand post.

After Mersin easily saved a Burton free kick after four minutes, Mickleover began to settle and push forward more.  Beavon had the first shot for Sports two minutes later, after Wilson had layed off a Davidson free kick. 

Mickleover earned another free kick nine minutes after Beavon was fouled on the edge of the box, but Wilson’s kick curled just over the bar.

Edwards, Ryder and Beavon were starting to trouble the Brewers defence and Edwards got through on the right, but his cross beat everyone, but for a while it continued end to end.

After a sequence of corners for Mickleover, Davidson fired in a low cross to the near post, which was held well by Burton keeper Dudek. But after 20 minutes Davidson took a knock after losing possession in the middle. He received treatment but was unable to carry on and was replaced by Ferron.

Sports had the ball in the Burton net after 27 minutes but was ruled offside, after Trialist B’s shot hit Edwards on the line and Ryder hit the rebound.

But it was all Mickleover for a while, with Edwards pace winning another corner and Ryder just missing a connection with a telling ball from Wilson.

It was Ferron’s pace that broke the deadlock, having outrun Hyde on the Burton right, his cross found Edwards in the middle who gave Dudek no chance, 1-0 after 33 minutes.

Ferron went on another charge three minutes later, leaving Hyde in his wake, but the cross came to nought as the visiting defence cleared the danger. 

Bennett had remained fairly deep at the back, but he carved his way through to set up Ryder again, but the final shot was straight at the keeper.

But with three minutes of the first half left, Burton made it 1-1 when Hyde headed home on the far post, from a right hand corner. 

Mickleover had one more chance before the whistle when Edwards had another curling shot tipped away by Dudek, after a Wilson pass.

As the second half got under way it was immediately obvious that Wilson had gone back to left back, with Trialist A now in midfield.

For a while Burton went on the attack, with a random shot well wide minutes into the half, but Ferron once again sprinted clear of the defence on the left only for his cross to be cleared.

Ex Rams striker Mason Bennett got on the end of a Burton break after 49 minutes, but his shot was blocked and only six minutes later the game swung back in Mickleover’s favour. Trialist A and Bennett combined to set up Edwards and his accuracy from close range made it 2-1.

Barnes then came on for Beavon, but the Mickleover attacks continued, with Trialist A having a long run into the box before he was intercepted.

Trialist A was revelling in midfield and his long ball to Ferron after 61 minutes set up goal number three, with a precision pass setting up Barnes strike, 3-1.

Barnes went close again a few minutes later after combining with Edwards again, but after Mason Bennett had another shot just wide for the Brewers, Sports broke again and Dudek had to make a finger tip save from Ryder, after a great ball from Trialist B.

Burton had made a number of substitutions which never really threatened Mersin’s goal. Weston had been effective in the central midfield role, but Sports went close again after 74 minutes, when Bennett and Ferron combined, before the cross was headed out.

Smith came on for Trialist B for the final 15 minutes, and Wilson almost set up a late chance for Ryder, but he was beaten to the ball by the keeper.

Burton had a late break too forcing Mersin to charge of his line, as the final effort went wide.

3-1 was a fair score on the night, but there were some encouraging performances from a number of Sports players, as the season edges ever closer.