Author: Square Peg

Reserves Draw Another Blank

by Peter Scherer

Despite winning on the opening day of the season, Mickleover Reserves are still seeking to add to those three points. But three goals in a seven-minute period of the first half at Gresley Rovers made it seven successive defeats.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Efram Rolleston 4-Fin Riggott 5-Joe Moore 6-Michael Laskiewicz 7-Josh Powell 8-Mason Chadwick 9-Shujah Ali 10-George Cunningham 11-Mikey Mandimutsira. Subs: Jaydon Wilkes, Alfie Godfrey, Philip Etinosa, Mason Wright, Dylan Buckley-Moore.

Mickleover won the first corner after two minutes, from which Ali’s shot was blocked. But it was end to end at the start, as four minutes later Gresley tried their first shot, which went wide of the left-hand post.

Gresley started to take charge and only a minute later Hoult managed to make a saving tackle, after the centre of the defence totally capitulated.

But Sports youngsters were quick on the break and Cunningham sent Mandimutsira on a run, but he was intercepted before getting a shot in.

Gresley had a random shot over the bar seven minutes in, but the pressure was beginning to build on the fragile Mickleover defence.

In the 11th minute the ball fell nicely for the hosts central striker just inside the box, he was given time to fire his shot wide of Bull’s diving right hand, with the Sports keeper at full stretch. 0-1.

Mickleover responded with a good run down the right from Hoult, sending Mandimutsira on another run, before being given a very borderline offside.

16 minutes in and it was 0-2 after Laskiewicz was beaten and there was no back up, leaving a clear strike for goal.

Almost from the restart it was 0-3 when the only player in the Mickleover side to react to any threat was keeper Bull. He saved the first shot but with no support the rebound went in and with just 17 minutes gone they were three down.

Bull saved the day from another defensive blunder after 25 minutes, before Gresley finished the second half with another strike well over the bar.

A minute into the second half Powell was fouled on the edge of the box, but his free kick then sailed over the Gresley bar.

Bull had to save another close range effort four minutes later and then after 56 minutes he was forced to tip a free kick over the bar.

Godfrey was the first sub to be used on for Chadwick, but with the hour mark approaching there was another clear strike for our hosts to make it 0-4.

Mickleover managed to pull one back after 62 minutes when Ali was fouled in the box. He stepped up to score the penalty bringing it back to 1-4.

But Gresley were quickly back on the attack forcing another save from Bull, before Mandimutsira almost broke through the home defence, only to have the ball whipped off his toes by the home keeper.

Ali managed to get a shot in which was saved, before he was replaced by Wilkes. But on the 80 minute mark our hosts got their fifth, with Bull given no chance. 1-5.

Wright replaced Powell for the last few minutes, which weren’t able to pass without Bull being forced into more saves, without whom Gresley could easily have doubled their score.

Despite showing glimpses of skill, Mickleover were never really in the game after the first goal, and look to be yearning for an experienced hand to give them guidance on the pitch.

 

Mickleover Juniors v South Hobart FC

by Peter Scherer

Over the next week or so Mickleover play host to 42 players from the South Hobart FC in Tasmania.

There are three squads, under 17, 16 and 14 who will be staying in Derby and sharing the Mickleover training facilities.

Their UK Tour has been arranged by Mark Taylor’s PSC (Pro Soccer Consulting) and takes in a number of games for each squad, plus visits to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. “We normally arrange tours for senior Pro teams, so this is a little different for us too,” said Taylor.

Having arrived in the UK on Wednesday, the Under 17 squad went straight into action with a 5-1 win over a Stoke Development side.

Last night the younger Aussies were in action, playing the Mickleover Under 16 and 14’s teams. The 14’s were in action first, which was a challenging feat for the Mickleover lads, against a team who recently won their league by 20 points.

Their Aussie opponents had the edge from the start, with a clear advantage on size and familiarity, having only recently finished their home league.

Although Mickleover were soundly beaten, they played some nice football particularly in the second half, when Jamie Reekie and Spencer Evereatt-Elton scored consolation goals for Sports.

In the Under 16’s it was the visitors off to a flying start with an unfortunate own goal after two minutes. Mickleover created some chances and kept the visitors keeper on his toes, but it was another comfortable win for the Aussie lads despite some impressive saves from the Mickleover keeper.

At Mickleover we want to give an opportunity for people and be an important part of the community and give more to our junior teams in the future. We want various clubs to continue to use our facilities, from home and now abroad too, with our Australian visitors. It’s a great experience for all the lads and one we want to continue

said Mickleover manager Gareth Holmes.

 

Dube Joins Mickleover

by Peter Scherer

Former Leicester City Junior Thabang Dube is the latest addition to the Mickleover squad. The central midfielder and attacker has been signed from Rugby Borough and has also played in Spain with San Jorge Spurs, Farsley, Ilkeston, Quorn, Shirebrook and Melton Town too having started last season at Shepshed Dynamo.

Teen Trio Head To Belper

by Peter Scherer

Belper Utd have taken three of the Mickleover first team squad on a dual registration. Teenager’s Toby Smith, Josh and Liam Carter have moved to our step 5 neighbours to gain some match practice.

All three were in the Belper squad for their 4-1 at Sherwood Colliery last week.

Winger Joins Sports

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have signed pacey winger Johnson Gyamfi on a dual registration with St.Ives Town.

A Leicester City Junior from the age of 11, Johnson 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 has been at St.Ives since September last year.

MATCH REPORT: Ethan United Vets 0 – 8 MFC Vets

MATCH REPORT: Ethan United Vets 0 – 8 MFC Vets
East Midlands Veterans League – Season Opener
Man of the Match: Rock

MFC Vets got their 2025/26 campaign off to a flying start with a dominant 8-0 away victory over Ethan United Vets, showing no signs of rust despite playing on a heavy pitch with long grass.

From the first whistle, MFC took control of the game, dominating possession and moving the ball around with confidence. Rock and Palms, playing slightly out of their usual positions, caused havoc down the flanks, constantly testing Ethan’s fullbacks. Up front, Aidan proved a powerful outlet, holding the ball up well and bringing others into play.

The breakthrough came after just five minutes, with Bailey tapping home after great work from Aidan. Five minutes later, Aidan turned provider again, setting up Rock to double the lead.

The pressure didn’t ease, and Aidan then took centre stage with two quickfire goals – one a screamer from 20 yards, the other a well-taken close-range finish some might say took a deflection and og but it was on target so all count making it 4-0.

Ethan United battled on but found no way through a rock-solid MFC defence, marshalled superbly in front of Salter, who had little to do all afternoon.

Aidan was replaced by Danny Palmer, who wasted no time getting on the scoresheet with a bullet header from a corner. Just before the break, C Palmer added a sixth with a calm, well-placed finish that gave the keeper no chance.

Half-Time: 6-0

Several changes were made at the break, with Quig and Yeoman coming on in midfield, and Kris slotting in wide right. The fresh legs made an instant impact: Quig provided composure and excellent distribution, Yeoman battled hard in the middle of the park, and Kris’s pace and directness caused endless problems for the tiring Ethan defence.

It was Yeoman who made it 7-0, reacting quickest to a Palms corner to slot home. The scoring was wrapped up in style by Aidan, who completed his hat-trick after Palms – now in a central role – set him up once more.

Late substitute Weston impressed with some strong runs and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself, denied by a few good saves from the Ethan keeper. Credit also to Diksa, who had put in a tireless shift covering every blade of grass before making way.

A brilliant start to the season and a complete team performance from front to back.

Goals:

Aidan (3) ⚽⚽⚽
Rock (1) ⚽
D Palmer (1) ⚽
C Palmer (1) ⚽
Yeoman (1) ⚽
Bailey (1) ⚽
Man of the Match: Rock – relentless energy, creativity, and a goal to cap a top display.

Sports Left Pointless After Second Half Collapse

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

After a fairly strong first half showing, poor defending saw Wellingborough score twice and leave Sports to return home pointless again.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Ali Mohiuddin 3-Louis Bonser 4-Danny Benson 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Harry Wood 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Stephen Fikula, Archie White, Johnson Gyamfi, Thomas Wood, Thabang Dube.

It couldn’t have started better for Mickleover, when only three minutes in Beavon, Webb and Dales found themselves in acres of space. Dales hit the first shot which came back off keeper Dean Snedker, before Webb hit it home 1-0. But four minutes later it was Sports keeper McDowell called into action, diving to his right to keep a Taylor Franklin shot out.

Beavon and Dales got another break after nine minutes too, with Beavon’s final shot from the left hitting the side netting. Mickleover were well on top possession wise and looked close to getting a second on a few occasions, but after Mohiuddin and Webb had combined to win a corner, Wellingborough got a break and Franklin managed to get around the back of Wilkinson on the right. As he shot McDowell had his near post covered, there was no one on the far post however, and it was 1-1 with 20 minutes gone.

Mickleover continued to dominate the play and after a 25th minute corner came to nought, Mohiuddin struck a lovely ball in from the right, which Bonser met with a first-time strike, just over the bar. Sports were back ahead though 35 minutes in, when Bonser and Dales worked a move on the left. As the ball came over Dales headed low past Snedker and it was 2-1.

Our lead didn’t last long as just three minutes later Will Jones fired home in a crowded box after a corner on the Mickleover right, reacting way quicker than a static Sports defence, 2-2. Dales found Bonser who had another shot blocked after 21 minutes and with a minute left on the clock in the first half, a Mohiuddin cross was beautifully met by Beavon’s head, forcing a spectacular save from Snedker.

Two defensive errors made it 2-2 at half time in a game that could have seen Mickleover 3-0 up on possession, but at this point hopes were still high. Right from the start of the second half Mickleover were on the back foot. But the defence was holding until McDowell was tested to his left after 57 minutes. Gyamfi came on for Beavon just before the hour mark, but only a couple of minutes later, another corner found the Mickleover defence lacking, with Danny Draper making it 2-3 again virtually unchallenged. It was all Wellingborough at this stage, with Sports barely breaking into their hosts half and allowing them to attack at will. All the promise from the first half had gone and Mickleover looked vulnerable to every attack. 66 minutes and Jones scored his second with a super strike having outpaced the defence with a run through the middle, 2-4.

Dube then came on for White, but it was McDowell in action again, saving another Jones effort with his feet, to deny the home striker a hattrick. White then replaced Offler, but Dube was brought down on the edge of the box. Dales stepped up for the free kick, but it was well over the bar. Dube had an 82nd minute shot saved, probably Sports only shot of the second half. Four minutes later Webb got his head to a Dales cross, which failed to test Snedker. With a minute left Bonser lost possession, but McDowell saved the following shot. Sports keeper saved again a minute later as more lethargic defending let the ball run to the home strikers.

So with the first half promise totally outweighed by some dreadful second half defending, it proved to be a comfortable win for Wellingborough.

 

We’re Back On The Road: Wellingborough Town (A)

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover are away from home this weekend after a succession of home games, as we visit Wellingborough Town.

Our hosts have an identical record to ours in the league so far this season, with three wins and a draw, but are one place behind in 12th on goal difference. They lost at home to Coventry Sphinx on Tuesday night too, which gives Sports a game n hand.

With Oliver Bosworth nursing a broken finger, Jack McDowell is expected to deputise again in goal, while updates are still awaited on Harry Wood and Jake Bennett.

Under Jake Stone’s managership, Wellingborough were promoted to the NPL Division One Midlands at the end of 23/24 and finished eighth in the league last season.

Goalkeeper Dean Snedker was signed a couple of weeks into the season. A former England Under 19 international, he started out at Northampton Town. He joined Brackley after his release , quickly moving on to Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Kettering, Cambridge City, St.Albans, Hemel and Rushden and more recently with Coalville.

Brandon Ganley started the season between the sticks. He is an ex Walsall and Coventry City junior who has played for Shepshed Dynamo, Racing Club Warwick and Khalsa.

Captain and centre back Jack O’Connor is in his sixth season at the club, since signing from Kettering in July 2020.

Glenn Walker is one of the pre-season signings. A left back, he started out at Banbury and has played for Corby Town, Hednesford and Brackley and came to our hosts after a two-year spell with Spalding.

Sam Warburton is a left back too and a former Northampton Town youngster. He joined Rugby Town following his release, before moving to Nuneaton who loaned him to Kings Lynn before a permanent move. Corby, Rushden & Diamonds and Bedford were his next stops, before coming to Wellingborough from Spalding in November 2024.

Centre back Callum Milne is a pre-season signing from Corby Town. He’s also played for Bedford Town, Eynesbury Rovers, Harborough Town, Kettering, St.Ives and Wisbech.

Joe Pursey plays wing back or winger and is another pre-season arrival from Coventry Sphinx, where he has spent the last few seasons.

It was a pre-season return to the Dog & Duck for defender Charlie Green. He left Wellingborough at the start of last season for Rushden & Diamonds.

Former Southampton junior Joe Curtis is a central midfielder. He moved to Brackley after being released, before his first spell with Spalding. He’s played for Rushden & Diamonds, Stratford, St.Ives, Corby and Bromsgrove, before returning to Spalding for the start of 23/24. He then came to Wellingborough for the start of last season.

Right sided midfielder Joe Draper came from Spalding too, arriving at the Dog & Duck Stadium last September.

Lloyd Buckby is the clubs longest serving player. A central midfielder, he joined the club in 2016 and has made over 200 appearances as he is now in his ninth season.

Midfielder Jordon Crawford started off at Corby Town. He has played for Kettering, Boston Utd, Peterborough Sports, Brackley and Harborough, from who he has been signed on a dual registration. He missed the whole of last season with an ACL injury.

Fellow midfielder Chris Clements has made over 200 league two appearances during his time at Mansfield Town, Grimsby and Forest Green. He started out at Crewe Alexandra and was loaned to Nantwich, Leigh Genesis, Stafford Rangers and IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland, before joining Hednesford on his release.

He then spent almost five yeas at Mansfield, before moving on to Grimsby, Barrow, Forest Green, Cheltenham and Nuneaton. After a number of non league moves he has spent the last two yeas at Rugby Town, from where he joined our hosts pre-season.

Midfielder Elliot Simmons is on a dual registration with Bedford Town. An under 20 international for Canada, his junior career was spent at MK Dons, Dalkurd in Sweden, Mikkelin in Finland and Malaga in Spain.

He returned to Canada with HFX Wanderers, Cavalry FC and Vancouver, before coming to the UK with Wealdstone, moving to Bedford last January.

Romeo Ingman is an attacking midfielder who started the season with a brief stay at Rushden & Diamonds. He was previously at Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Tre Charles is an experienced well-travelled striker who started his career with St.Albans City. Wellingborough are his 16th club, having arrived from Rugby Town pre-season. He has had two spells at Bedford Town and lists Cambridge City, Hendon and Barwell among his former clubs.

Fellow striker Will Jones first came to our hosts at the end of the 23/24 season dual registered with Cambridge City. He was previously at Sporting Khalsa.

Kobi Bivens is another striker recently signed locally from Northampton Silbey Rangers, while Taylor Franklin and George Barnell both came through the ranks with our hosts.

Kick off is 3pm as usual.

Match Report: Derby County Community Trust (Mickleover) 5–1 West Bromwich Albion Foundation

by Gareth Holmes, Mickleover FC First Team Manager

Derby County Community Trust (Mickleover) began their season in emphatic fashion with a dominant 5–1 victory over WBA at The Don Amott Arena, showcasing a blend of resilience, pace, and attacking flair.

It was WBA who started the brighter of the two sides, pressing high and causing Derby real problems early on. The visitors looked sharp in the opening stages, pinning Derby back and threatening around the edge of the box.
However, Derby’s defensive line stood strong, producing a series of vital blocks and challenges to keep WBA at bay.

The turning point came midway through the first half when Derby began to exploit their pace on the counterattack. The front three, brimming with speed and intent, started to stretch WBA’s back line. The breakthrough arrived through Stevenson, who unleashed a superb strike into the bottom left corner to give Derby a 1–0 lead at the break.

At halftime, the message from the Derby bench was clear: maintain the intensity off the ball, but aim for more composure in possession. The players responded perfectly.
Within minutes of the restart, Stevenson doubled the lead with another sensational long-range effort that flew past the goalkeeper. From there, Derby began to assert full control. Confidence grew, and the wide players became more involved—particularly after the introduction of Malpass, who made an immediate impact.

On the hour mark, Malpass raced past the WBA defence down the right and calmly lifted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper to make it 3–0. The midfield trio of Adcock, Williamson, and Berry continued to dominate, breaking up play and launching quick transitions. Their influence told again when they released Malpass down the wing, and he made no mistake with his second goal, slotting home Derby’s fourth.

WBA managed a late consolation with 10 minutes remaining, scoring from a well-taken free kick. But Derby were not finished. In the closing moments, some excellent work down the right-hand side led to a perfectly placed cross that found Garrett, who coolly slotted home the fifth and final goal of the game.

Final Score: Derby (Mickleover) 5–1 WBA
Scorers:
• Stevenson (2)
• Malpass (2)
• Garrett (1)
A superb all-round performance from a new-look Derby (Mickleover) side, who laid down a marker for the season ahead. The balance between defensive grit and attacking creativity bodes well for what’s to come.

GARETH HOLMES