Author: Square Peg

Groves Joins Coaching Staff

by Peter Scherer

The vastly experienced Paul Groves has rejoined the Mickleover coaching line up.

Having played for the likes of Burton Albion, Leicester City, Blackpool Grimsby and West Brom among others, Groves first spell in management was as player coach at Grimsby Town.

He had spells as caretaker/assistant manager at Portsmouth, assistant at West Ham and Birmingham City and managed both the first team and academy at Bournemouth. After spells in India and Israel he managed Gloucestet City, before joining Mickleover in late 2022, joining John McGrath to take us to the edge of the play offs. Latterly he was assistant at Buxton after another spell in India.

It’s great to have Paul on board. He brings a wealth of experience and will really add to our coaching team.

We now want to move forward and build on the positive result from Tuesday night.

said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

Can We Break The Steelmen?

by Peter Scherer

Following our 1-0 victory over Anstey Nomads, it’s back on the road for Mickleover on Saturday, as we visit second in the table Corby Town.

It will be our hosts first home league game since September 10th when they beat Boldmere 1-0. Three days later they suffered the second of their two defeats this season, when they went down 0-3 at Rugby Borough. They have drawn their last two league games 1-1 at Anstey and Wellingborough.

Manager Gary Setchell has been in charge since January 2023, having previously managed Kings Lynn and Wisbech.

Goalkeeper Jake Laban is one of their pre-season signings from Hinckley Leicester Road. He started at Burton Albion and has played for Coalville and Walsall Wood too.

Captain Rory McCauley is in his second season at Corby, since arriving from Peterborough Sports. A centre back, he started out with Cambridge Utd and was loaned to Chelmsford and Dartford, before permanent moves to both clubs. He’s also played for Lowestoft, Kings Lynn and Bedford and is an England C International.

Jack Keeble is another centre back who started out at Grimsby Town. He joined St.Neots following his release, before moving on to Stamford and Wisbech. He came to our hosts in July 2023 from Bedford.

Right back Gary Stohrer was signed in February, after four months at Kettering. He’s also played for Shaw Lane, Frickley and Daventry.

Martin Tsvetkov is a right back or wide midfielder on loan from Harborough Town.

Defender Theo Braham is currently on loan at Deeping Rangers. He’s also played to Wisbech and Histon.

Centre back Spencer Edwards came from Hinckley LRFC at the start of last season. He previously played for Harborough Town and Aylestone and has captained the side recently.

Former Peterborough Utd midfielder Ben Challinor joined Barwell on his release. He then spent six months at Peterborough Sports, before joining our hosts pre-season.

Matty Slinn is a central midfielder and a former Northampton Town youngster. Following his release he spent three years at Rushden & Diamonds, before coming to Corby in July 2022.

Fellow midfielder Hugh Jones has spent most of his career in Spain. Novelda CF, Federacion Benidorm, Lorca, Hercules CFB and CD Llanes are all on his CV, before returning to the UK with Bedford Town in July 2021. He was another pre-season signing having spent 2 ½ years at Peterborough Sports.

James Taylor is a midfielder too, currently dual registered with Harborough Town.

Midfielder Harrison Taylor was signed pre-season after a successful trial. He was previously with Wisbech Town.

Rhys Kelly is another midfielder who spent the latter part of last season on loan from Harborough Town. He made his move permanent in pre-season and has also played for Northampton Sileby Rangers.

Striker Connor Tomlinson was another pre-season signing. His career started with Luton Town and moved to Bedford after a loan spell with Hemel. His next stops were Bedford and Nuneaton, before a four- month loan at Corby in September 1993, which then became permanent. After a return trip to Bedford, he joined Spalding and latterly Berkhamsted.

Fellow striker Tyrone Lewthwaite is a former Northern Ireland Under 19 international. His junior career was spent at Watford and Rotherham, before going to Hampton & Richmond on his release. Chesham, Beaconsfield, Aylesbury Utd, Bedford and Kettering followed, before spending last season at Spalding.

Reuben Marshall is another striker signed at the beginning of last season from Peterborough Utd, after an initial loan. He also had a loan spell at Sudbury.

Pacey winger Aaron Nuttall and left back Louie Gill both came from Hinckley Road in pre-season. Also midfielder Harrison Jones and defenders Jack Noble and Ryan Martindale have been part of the squad too.

Kick off at Steel Park is 3pm.

Late Goal Secures Hard Fought Victory

By Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It was a much improved performance at the Don Amott Arena last night, that secured a valuable three points for Mickleover, thanks to a late goal from Michael Hollingsworth.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Michael Hollingsworth 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Ali Mohiuddin. Subs: Harry Wood, Fraser Corden, Paddy Webb, Josiah Dyer, Archie White.

Right from the kick off Mickleover went on the attack, with Beavon hitting the bar in the first minute. A corner followed which was cleared by the visitors defence, before Anstey had their first shot after five minutes, failing to trouble Bosworth back in the Mickleover goal.

But Sports continued to the fore with Dales taking on seemingly most of Anstey defence. He was almost through until keeper Nunez came to the rescue.

A couple of minutes later Beavon outpaced the defence again on the left to earn another corner, before an Anstey break was cut out by Atkinson.
Our visitors failed to capitalise on a 12th minute free kick, but Bosworth’s clearance led to another break, ending with a foul on Beavon.

16 minutes in and another Bosworth clearance sent Dales clear, running the right of the visiting defence ragged. His cross found Mohiuddin, who just failed to gain control as he tried to get his shot in.
Changing from the regular play from the back continued to work for Mickleover, as another Bosworth kick a minute later almost put Dales clear, but this time it was too long and Nunez was there first.

The pressure continued mainly from the Mickleover left, with some lovely interplay between Beavon and Dales, once again finding Mohiuddin, who’s shot was just a fraction wide of the right-hand top corner.
The back three of Gascoigne, Wilkinson and Offler had looked solid at the back and comfortably dealt with the Anstey attacks, while the experience of Atkinson and Hollingsworth was telling in the middle.

But Anstey had withstood the early pressure and began to try and push forward into the Mickleover half a little more. It had become fairly end to end until the closing minutes of the first half, but with a minute left Dales leapt to head a Mohiuddin free kick goalwards, forcing Nunez to tip the ball around the post.

Gascoigne got his head to the following corner and just missed the target. “I should have put that one in,” he admitted.

Anstey had another shot wide of the mark in time added on, but it remained goalless as the whistle went.

There were no changes at half time, but there was soon a wake-up call for Mickleover, when Anstey had the ball in the net after 53 minutes but was ruled offside.

Sports then won a corner which Dales curled in tight for Nunez to punch away. Bosworth then had to make his first real save, when a shot was aiming for his top left- hand corner as the pressure was building again on the home defence.
Just before the hour mark Mickleover made a double substitution with Webb and Dyer on for Beavon and Mohiuddin.

Neither Bennett nor Bonser had been evident as much on the overlap, but on the hour Bonser burst through on the left after Webb and Dyer combined, but his shot was blocked.
Our visitors then won a 65th minute free kick, which was cleared twice by Offler, as the defence was being pegged back.
Gascoigne headed away another corner before a rebound shot was blocked, and then Bosworth had to make a diving save in the 75th minute to keep it all square.
But Sports managed to respond with Bennett firing in a cross for Dyer, who just lost out to the advancing keeper.

There was a lot more aggression from the visitors in the second half, with Dyer in particular being pulled, pushed and have having his shirt tugged.
After Bonser had been fouled on the half way line, Atkinson was then fouled. As the free kick came into the box it was a scramble in the goalmouth, but Hollingsworth managed to stab the ball home and at last the deadlock was broken after 80 minutes, 1-0.
“It’s the first goal I’ve nicked in about five years, but I like to help out where I can,” said Hollingsworth.
White then came on for Bennett but Anstey were pushing hard for an equaliser. An 88th minute cross from the left gave them a chance, but a minute later Dyer hit the post at the other end.

Anstey responded by hitting the post too, before Webb and Dyer combined to earn a final corner from a blocked shot in time added on.
The whistle soon followed and our three points were secure, on a night that showed a vast improvement on recent performances.

Sports v Anstey Nomads: Match Preview

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover host Anstey Nomads on Tuesday evening, with Sports looking for revenge after last seasons FA Cup defeat to the Leicestershire side.

Following last Saturday’s defeat at Coleshill, Sports will be hoping to add to their points tally and climb into the top half of the table, having slipped to 18th.

Currently 9th in the table Tony Blanchard is the Nomads manager and they are on top form having beaten Stourbridge 3-2 in the FA Trophy last Saturday.

Up until recently his regular first choice keeper was Conrad Logan who has lots of experience. A former Republic of Ireland Under 17 International, he joined Leicester City from Swilly Rovers and was loaned out to Boston Utd, Stockport, Luton Town, Bristol Rovers, Rotherham and Rochdale before heading to Scotland with Hibernian following his release in 2016.

He then rejoined Rochdale, before a move to Mansfield Town and was loaned to Forest Green Rovers before being released again. His first spell at Anstey followed, before moving to Stamford, but after six months away, he returned to our visitors In July 2021. He has over 300 league appearances under his belt, and was a Scottish FA Cup winner with Hibs. He is also the clubs vice chairman.

Logan has been on the bench for the last three matches though, as Mansfield loanee and Dominican Republic International Anthony Nunez has been preferred. He was at Basford and Notts County before joining the Stags and has been out on loan at Shepshed Dynamo too.

Centre back Lewis Gibbens started out at Mansfield too. He moved onto Boston Utd after an initial loan, but came to Anstey from Worksop Town after one season, in July 2022.

Kyle Tomlin is another centre back and another former Mansfield Junior, after joining them from Burton Albion. He joined Coalville Town following his release, and played for Carlton Town and Eastwood before joining Anstey in February 2024.

Left back Oscar Tonge was signed from Coleshill in August 2024, where he had spent the previous season after being released by Peterborough Utd.

Tristan Thomas is a left back too. A pre-season arrival following his release by Leicester City.

Ben Humphrey’s is a defender signed in pre-season from Hinckley Leicester Road.

Centre back Jordan Annable came from AFC Mansfield in August 2021, after spending seven seasons with the Nottinghamshire club. He is the club captain.

Luke Redfern is a centre back, a pre-season arrival from Stamford. He started at Burton Albion and was loaned to Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield before joining Stoke City. He had another loan spell at Hednesford before going to Halesowen on his release. He spent the whole of last season at Stamford.

Defender Danny Gordon came from Corby Town in pre season, where he had played for the last three seasons. He has also played for Belper Town and Loughborough Dynamo

Henry Bestwick is a midfielder and a home grown talent, having joined Anstey as a 16 year old. He had a few seasons away at Long Eaton Utd before returning to our visitors.

Former Leicester City junior Rubyn Gill is a defensive midfielder who went to the US after a spell at Solihull Moors. Starting with UCAS Bears, he played for Belmont Bruins and Brown Ballers before returning to the UK.

Central midfielder Tobias Liversidge arrived earlier this month from Stamford. He started out at Lincoln City and has also played for Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd.

Attacking midfielder Josh Burniston came from Stamford in pre-season. He had been on a dual registration with Lincoln Utd, but started off at Nottingham Forest. He’s had spells at Cambridge Utd and Gresley Rovers too.

Cosmos Matwasa started his career at Anstey before moving onto Stamford, Brackley and Hereford. A winger, he has recently returned to our visitors from Kirby Muxloe.

Jacob Fenton is a striker signed from Spalding in December 2023.

Fellow striker Nyle Blake spent much of last season out injured. He started out at Mansfield Town and had a spell at Alfreton before going to Frickley after an initial loan. He moved on to Belper Town, Carlton, Hyde Utd and Gainsborough before returning to Frickley in November 2021. Further moves to Stamford, Newark & Sherwood preceded his move to our visitors in 2023.

Tendai Chitiza is a striker that started off at Leicester Nirvana. He then had a short spell with Gresley Rovers before going to Serbia with CSK Celarevo and TSC Backa Topola. On his return to the UK he joined Stamford, but after three years he moved on to Coalville. Returning to Stamford again in August 2023 he was there until joining Anstey at the start of this season.

Striker Liam Murphy was another pre-season signing, having played at Bedworth and Boldmere St.Michael’s last season.

Another pre-signing is Freddie Robinson, a striker from Harborough Town.

Courey Grantham is a striker too, signed from Quorn in pre-season. He spent four years with Basford and as played for Heanor Town and Hednesford too.

Kick off is 7.45.

It’s Another Defeat On The Road

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

TWO GOALS in two minutes early in the second half killed off any hopes Mickleover had of making a comeback at Coleshill, going down eventually 1-3.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Ali Mohiuddin 3-Louis Bonser 4-Brad Gascoigne 5-George Wilkinson 6-Will Atkinson 7-Archie White 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Fraser Corden, Oliver Bosworth, Michael Hollingsworth, Stuart Beavon, Ashton Offler.

It was a fairly even but scrappy start to the game at a breezy Coleshill, and it took 11 minutes before either side had a shot. A Coleshill strike from just outside the box tested McDowell, making the save low to his right.

Mickleover were struggling to make progress and only had a couple of attacks in the first15 minutes, both blocked before any shot was attempted.

But the hosts showed more promise when a nice build up on the left saw the cross deflected wide. Both sides then earned corners in the 17th and 18th minutes, but after Coleshill’s the ball bounced around the box before it landed nicely for Alex McKeane directly in front of goal, with a firm accurate strike he made it 0-1, giving McDowell little chance.

Two corners for Mickleover followed in close succession, both cleared but it was Sports defence that continued to look vulnerable.

33 minutes in and another Mickleover corner went straight to keeper Cameron Belford, but Wood and White then battled through into box, but White was blocked again before he could shoot.

For the last five minutes of the half Mickleover began to pile pressure on the home defence, but were still unable to create any chances.

Ben Usher-Shipway had a random shot wide for Coleshill in the final minute of normal time, just before White almost broke through again, only to be blocked at the last minute, so it remained 0-1.

Beavon and Hollingsworth replaced Dyer and Wood for the second half, with Mickleover immediately showing the determination that had lacked in the first half.

Just three minutes into the half a glancing Beavon header looked to be heading goalwards, until Belford finger tipped the ball way at full stretch to his left.

The fight was soon over however and virtual capitulation by the Mickleover defence saw two goals in close succession for the hosts. In the 54th minute Theo Rowe took his chance well, before Bassit Mandey split the defence right down the middle to fire home number three, 0-3.

Approaching the hour mark Corden replaced Webb and two minutes later a cross from Atkinson found Corden, before Dales placed a curling shot wide of the right hand post.

Corden pulled one back with a good strike in off the post after 72 minutes, 1-2, before Coleshill tried their luck from outside the box and were well wide.

Bonser had been working hard to try and make the left wing overlap work and after 78 minutes he carried on and cut inside, firing a curling shot just beyond the right hand post.

Beavon was close to his second when he picked up a long clearance from McDowell, but his shot struck the post.

Time was running out for Mickleover and despite two corners they were no nearer to scoring, both cleared with a hefty boot from the defence.

Dales earned a 90th minute corner which came to nought and in time added on McDowell had to save with his feet to deny Coleshill a fourth.

Unlike the Wellingborough game where the first half was promising, Mickleover never really looked like getting anything from a team struggling near the foot of the table and fell to a fifth defeat in nine games.

 

Mickleover Reserves V Bakewell Town: Report

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves were at home for the first time in over six weeks, as they welcomed fellow strugglers Bakewell Town to the Don Amott Arena.

The visitors were soon testing the home defence and with just eight minutes gone, opened their account 0-1.

Further goals followed after 19 and 26 minutes to send the visitors in at half time three goals up.

Sports defence managed to hold tight for a while as the second half was underway, on the hour it was 0-4 and with 12 minutes left they made it 0-5, as the Mickleover youngsters suffered their ninth successive defeat, to leave them firmly rooted to the bottom of the Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division South.

MFC Vets: Sunday Showdown – Top of the Table Clash

Match Preview: Castle Donington vs Mickleover Vets

Big game this Sunday as our Mickleover Vets side hit the road to take on league leaders Castle Donington. It’s shaping up to be one of the standout fixtures of the season.

Castle Donington have started the campaign in blistering form, winning both of their opening games – a solid 3-0 win followed by an eye-catching 7-3 victory over Coalville Town. They’re full of confidence and finding the net with ease, so we know we’ll have to be at our very best.

We come into this one off the back of a strong performance and win against Ethan United, but there will be a few changes to the squad this weekend with a couple of lads carrying knocks and others unavailable.

That said, the spirit in the camp is high, and everyone’s up for the challenge. We know what we’re capable of when we turn up and play to our strengths. It’s a massive opportunity to close the gap at the top and bring home three vital points.

Should be a cracking game – let’s make sure we’re switched on from the first whistle and give it everything.

Come on Mickleover!

Coleshill Town v Mickleover: Match Preview

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover return to action this weekend for the first time in two weeks, when we visit Coleshill Town.

We played our hosts last season in the FA Cup and ran out 5-0 winners and it’s been a difficult start to this season too, recording just two wins so far and sitting in 20th place, three points behind our 14th place position.

Oliver Bosworth will be back in goal and Jake Bennett could be back in the Mickleover squad too, along with new signings centre back Brad Gascoigne and loanee striker Josiah Dyer from Peterborough Sports.

Manager Harry Harris took over at Coleshill at the start of this season, having previously been in charge at Walsall Wood and briefly at Hednesford.

They were away to Rugby Borough last Saturday and went down 1-2, as they attempted to recover to a 0-7 FA Cup defeat at home to Hednesford, and played gain last Tuesday night losing 1-2 at Anstey Nomads.

Goalkeeper Cameron Belford is vastly experienced, having played over 200 Leagues One and Two in England and Scotland. He started at Coventry City and was loaned to Tamworth before moving to Bury. He was then loaned to Worcester City, Southend Utd and Accrington, before returning to Tamworth in July 2013.

Mansfield, Swindon, Stranraer and Forest Green are among his later stays and three years at Stafford Rangers before joining our hosts in pre-season.

Jack Higgs is the number two keeper, an ex Wolverhampton Sporting and Romulus stopper.

Right back Ben Usher-Shipway arrived from Boldmere St.Michael’s at the start of last season. He started at Boldmere before a spell at Solihull Moors, who then loaned him to Alvechurch, Sutton Coldfield and Stourbridge. He returned to Boldmere September 2023 after a year at Leamington.

Defender Taylor Carter-Byrne is the club captain in his second spell with the club. He left to join Hednesford in June 2022, but returned after a few months.

Fellow defender Harry Craven arrived from Boldmere in September last year. He previously had a loan spell at Rushall Olympic.

Defender Dan Brookes arrived at the beginning of last season from Lye Town and he took the Players Player of the Year, supporters and managers player of the season awards last season.

Pre-season signing Tyreace Brown started as defender in the Northampton Academy. He moved on to play for Rushden & Diamonds, Alvechurch, Barwell, Highgate Utd, Lye Town, Romulus, Atherstone, Walsall Wood and Worcester City.

Harry Sweeney is a defender that became part of our hosts squad last season.

Jack Hallahan is a central midfielder, signed from Walsall Wood last October. He’s previously played for Alvechurch and Evesham.

Lukmar Darbue is a central midfielder too, signed in pre-season from Welsh Club Llansantffraid. Having started in a West Bromwich College, he has played for Bilston Town and AD Torpedo in Spain too.

Theo Rowe is a right sided midfielder and former Stoke City junior, who arrived pre-season. After his Potters release he joined Banbury and first arrived at Coleshill in July 2023 from Redditch. After three months he moved to Alvechurch, followed by Boldmere and Anstey Nomads.

Cody Mullan is another midfielder, signed in pre-season after a successful 24/25 at Nuneaton Town. He’s played for Wolverhampton Sporting, Coton Green, Chelmsley Town, Knowle and Tividale too.

Midfielder Gio Dainty is a Coleshill stalwart. He started at Coventry Sphinx and played for Alvis, Atherstone and Bedworth before joining our visitors. He made his debut for the club back in August 2015.

Joe Fitzpatrick is a midfielder, pre-season arrival and ex Wolves youngster. He joined Mansfield Town on his release, where he made three first team appearances and was loaned to Sutton Coldfield. He then moved on to Worcester City, Telford, Boston Utd, Hednesford, Halesowen and Walsall Wood and spent last season at Cradley Town.

Striker Michael Tait is an ex Aston Villa junior. He joined Tamworth following his release and after a loan spell at Stafford Rangers, joined Boldmere St.Michael’s. He joined our hosts pre-season after a spell at Walsall Wood.

Fellow striker Adam McGurk is a former Northern Ireland Under 21 international, with over 200 League One and Two appearances under his belt. Another ex Aston Villa youngster, he went to Hednesford after his release, but quickly moved on to Tranmere Rovers.

After two years at Burton Albion he joined Portsmouth, moving on to Cambridge Utd and Morecambe, before returning to non-league with Nuneaton, Chorley, Coalville, Stratford and Walsall Wood. He joined our hosts in pre-season too.

Alex McSkeane is a striker signed from Sutton Coldfield last September. He started out at Walsall and has also played for Boldmere.

Joe Morley is a pre-season signing from Stafford Rangers and another striker or midfielder. He’s played for Hednesford and Chasetown too.

Daniel Gyasi is a former Stourbridge and Redditch striker in his second season at Coleshill. He has also played for Boldmere and Sutton Coldfield.

Kick off us usual is 3pm.

Gascoigne Signs Up

Experienced centre back or midfielder Brad Gascoigne has joined Mickleover and will be in the squad for Saturday’s visit to Coleshill Town, subject to league approval.

A former Birmingham City youngster, Gascoigne started last season at Sherwood before seeing it out at Basford.

He’s also played for Alfreton, Buxton, Ilkeston, Matlock Town and a number of other clubs.