by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

There were chances for both sides in a fairly dour encounter, which made sure it remained 0-0 throughout. But a valuable point against a form side.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Ali Mohiuddin 3-Louis Bonser 4-Danny Benson 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Steven Fikula 8-Will Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Archie White 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Paddy Webb, Michael Hollingsworth, Fraser Corden, Toby Smith, Josh Carter.

Both sides had a chance to open the scoring in the opening minutes. Three minutes in and Dales was played through before Josh Mansell came through with a last ditch saving tackle. But then Tom Brown picked out Jude Taylor for the visitors and his effort was cleared off the line.
Beavon’s hard work after 12 minutes created enough space for another shot, but he was just the wrong side of the left-hand post with his final effort.

Two minutes later Dales went down in the box, but penalty appeals were waved away, before the Mickleover skipper put a free kick just wide a minute later. Beavon again was the creator after 17 minutes, with an excellent ball played through for Bonser, but the wing back couldn’t quite get his shot in.

Lichfield were having their attacks too, with Jamie Spiers firing in a tempting cross from the right, before the Sports defence cleared it. Both Brown and Jack Edwards put crosses into the box for the visitors, but the home defence continued to cope comfortably. White had a shot over the bar for Sports after 22 minutes, but Lichfield then got clear until Mohiuddin saved the day with a great recovery tackle.

Mohiuddin was then on the attack and found Fikula, but his shot was just wide too.
But the visitors went close again when Spiers struck the bar after 44 minutes, before Shearsby met a Wilcock cross, shooting just wide of the near post and so it remained 0-0 as the half-time whistle blew.

It was end to end again into the second half, with Sports making their first change as Hollingsworth came on for Fikula after 53 minutes. Hollingsworth had only been on the pitch two minutes when the ball fell to him, but his shot was just over the bar too.

Webb then replaced White after 66 minutes, but Lichfield were still looking dangerous and won a succession of corners, comfortably cleared by Benson, Wilkinson and Offler at the back.
Webb was so close to opening the scoring after 71 minutes, but Mansell was on the line again to clear.

It had been a fairly quiet game for Bosworth in the Mickleover goal, but he proved his worth three minutes later, diving low to make a great save from Dan Lomas, after some good work on the left from Taylor.

Bosworth again had Haines free kick covered, before Mickleover made a double substitution, with Cater and Smith on for Beavon and Atkinson.

Dales had another shot just wide with 10 minutes left, but overall a draw was a fair result, with the defence looking fairly strong, but despite chances that weren’t taken, there was still a lack of creativity to make it decisive.

 

by Peter Scherer

This weekend Mickleover face one of the form teams of the NPL Midlands Division.

Lichfield City are currently sixth in the table having been unbeaten in their last four games, following a home defeat to Anstey Nomads on the first day of the season.

They were 2-1 winners at home to Sutton Coldfield last Monday, despite having played 85 minutes with an outfield player in goal, after keeper Brendon Bunn went off injured.

After two good wins for Mickleover it was back to the classroom last Monday, going down 0-1 to Loughborough Students in a very poor game.

Midfielder Harry Wood should be fit again for this weekend after a foot injury, but Jake Benett’s calf strain still keeps him out.

Ivor Green has been in charge at Lichfield since March 2020, with his assistant Wayne Chapman there for the duration too. Last season they took the team to the Midland League Premiership title and have retained most of their title winning team.

Goalkeeper Brendon Bunn came in at the end of last season from Studley. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Gresley Rovers, Coventry Utd, Halesowen and Worcester City.

After a return trip to Studley, he joined Stratford on a dual registration with Darlaston last season too. He may well be absent on Saturday though, after picking up a groin strain after five minutes in their last match.

Right back James Wilcock started out at Tamworth, but has spent much of his career with Highgate Utd. He has played for Alvechurch and Coton Green too, and came to our visitors in July last year after his second spell at Highgate.

Jordan Clement is a central midfielder who came out of Wolves Academy. He joined Romulus on his release, before moving on to Coleshill. Tamworth was his next stop, but after a loan at Stratford he moved to Alvechurch, before spending the next three years alternating between Redditch and Tamworth. He came to Lichfield in August 2023 from Redditch.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed from Atherstone at the beginning of last season. He started off at Shrewsbury, before joining Alvechurch on his release. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Boldmere, Bedworth and Hednesford too.

Defender Josh Mansell returned to Lichfield for a second spell at the start of last season from Walsall Wood. He’s also played for Alvechurch and Chasetown.

Joe Haines is one of the longest serving members of the squad, having returned to the club in June 2021, making his 250th appearance last season. A left back, he’s had spells with Walsall Wood and Gresley Rovers.

Centre back Leighton McMeneny is another long server, having just started his fifth season with the club, after signing in June 2021.

Luke Childs and Dan Lomas are both long servers too. Childs made his 200th appearance last season and played in gOal for 85 minutes last Monday, rather than his usual striker role. Lomas is club captain and a holding midfielder, he made his 150th start for the club last season.

Midfielder John Mills was signed in January this year, while striker Jack Edwards is another long server, having arrived in July 2021. He is he club top scorer too.

Jude Taylor is one of the younger members of the squad, a talented striker who has come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Sonny Sheasby is another young striker, signed from Ellistown last season.

Tom Brown Harry Eden, Kev Hemajou and Jack Bostock have also made starts this season.

Kick off usual is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Our hosts were awarded a penalty and Mickleover weren’t, and that decided an otherwise fairly poor encounter at Loughborough University Stadium.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Ali Mohiuddin 3-Louis Bonser 4-Danny Benson 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Steven Fikula 8-Will Atkinson 9-Paddy Webb 10-Archie White 11-Andy Dales, Subs: Liam Carter, Toby Smith, Pedro Nzau, Josh Carter, Stuart Beavon.

Just five minutes into the game and Offler was penalised for a foul in the box, despite having clearly played the ball in the tackle for a corner. But the referee pointed to the spot with no input from his assistant, and Shortland stepped up to give our hosts a 0-1 lead.

Four minutes later Gilpin had a positive run for Loughborough too, but his tame shot failed to challenge Bosworth who collected his effort easily.

Atkinson took an 11th minute free kick which was headed clear, but while Mickleover were trying to play a more precise passing game, Loughborough seemed to be relying on the break.

Fielding managed to create space for himself and then shot wide for our hosts, but most of the play was around the middle of the field, with Loughborough hustling Sports in midfield and leaving them little time to settle on the ball.

Issa was next to go on a run for Loughborough, but his tame shot was straight at Bosworth.

23 minutes in and White put Webb through, only for a late interception from the home defence to deny him before he could make contact.

It was just after the hour mark that Sports had their first real shot, with White firing over the bar after a long build up down the right.

Mickleover had the ball in the net after 35 minutes, when White put Webb though again and he slotted home. But a late offside flag was up and it remained unchanged.

Bonser stated to become more effective on the left wing, matching Mohiuddin’s efforts on the right. But with five minutes left in the first half, a long clearance from Bosworth found Webb’s head, but he had no one in support and the ball ran loose.

After a rare 40th minute corner for Loughborough, Webb was on the move again, but intercepted by the defence to earn another corner, which was headed just wide by Offler.

Shortland then got clear and around the back of Sports defence, before the ball broke for Gilpin, bringing an excellent close range save from Bosworth, and so it remained 0-1.

Beavon replaced Fikula for the start of the second half and immediately made a difference, but Loughborough continued to look strong on the break

49 minutes gone and Dales put Beavon through from the left, cutting inside and forcing Webster in the home goal to parry the ball away for a corner.

Dales overhit the corner and it missed everyone, but four minutes later he took on the defence again on the left, cut back inside to find Webb but his shot was wide of the right- hand post.

Loughborough managed to get a final shot at Bosworth after a 55th minute corner, but it was another easy stop, and then White won a corner for Sports which came to nought.

Dales was through again just over the hour mark , but a poor shot followed, and then Webb picked it up and shot wide again.

Benson, Offler and Wilkinson had looked fairly second in the second half, but 65 minutes and Offler had to make a critical bloc., as Gilpin was on the attack.

Josh Carter and Smith came on for Webb and Offler and injected some more pace. But despite more possession and more attempts on goal, Mickleover were still no closer to the equaliser.

White continued to try the long run, but was tending to hold on to it too long and was losing possession. Carter was tripped on a run just outside the box after 72 minutes, just before being joined by brother Liam who came on for White.

Dales was then put through by Beavon, he managed to shoot at close range, but keeper Webster made a good reflex save to deny the Mickleover skipper.

A couple of minutes later Dales had another shot well saved after Beavon had crossed from the right, but in the 76th minute appeals for a Sports penalty were waved away. Loughborough defender Salsby clearly handled the ball in the box after an attack from Carter down the right. The referee had the chance to put right the dubious sixth minute award that provided the only goal, and with no input again from his assistant, he ignored the appeals.

Loughborough put a random shot well wide after 83 minutes, but Mickleover were still trying for that elusive equaliser.

Nzau came on for Dales to see out the game and it was close again for Sports after an 89th minute scramble in the box after a corner. Despite eight minutes being added on, it was defeat number three rather than win number three, 0-1.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s a trip to Loughborough University Students for Mickleover on Bank Holiday Monday. But with two successive wins over the last week, confidence has grown rapidly as we face the bottom of the table team.

Our hosts started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Wellingborough, but have lost all three matches since.

Had coach Jamie Clapham was previously assistant manager at Leeds Utd, Barnsley, Coventry and Middlesbrough after a long and successful playing career started at Tottenham.

Goalkeeper Leo Webster was previously at Winchester City and had time in Spain with the Malaga Sporting Academy, while captain and defender back Jonty Bouch stated out in Mansfield Town’s Academy.

Centre back Harry Twite has previously played for Kings Lynn and Wisbech and is capped as a full international and under 20 by Bermuda.

Ben Royall is another defender who has played for Worthing, while left back Oliver Downs started at AFC Wimbledon, before moving on to Bognor and Fleet.

Winger Alex Spiteri is a Malta under 18 and 19 international and started his career with Sliema Wanderers, before a spell at Reading preceded his arrival at Loughborough.

Josh Roddy previously played for Corsham Town and Welton Rovers, while fellow midfielder Marcus Gilpin started his career with Bradfield College.

Striker Connor Keene, was previously at the Crystal Palace Academy, while his fellow forwards Gafar Abari and Max Prickett-Reed were at Sunnybank FC in Scotland, Northampton ON Chenecks and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Other players who have so far been in the squad this season are Matt Rennie, Will Dean, Hussein Issa, Sam Fielding, Sid Hollywood-Martin, Ashden Shortland and Henry Russ.

Kick off at the Loughborough University Stadium is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Following their first win of the season at Boldmere last Tuesday, Mickleover made it two in a row with a dominant 4-1 win over Rushden & Diamond’s at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Steven Fikula 3-Gerge Wilkinson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ashton Offler 6-Danny Benson 7-Archie White 8-Louis Bonser 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Ali Mohiuddin. Subs: Michael Hollingsworth, Paddy Webb, Toby Smith, Pedro Mzau, Fraser Corden.

Mickleover had to make a late change when Harry Wood was a casualty of the warm-up, which promoted Bonser to the starting 11 and Corden to the bench.

Sports started strongly testing keeper Lewis Elsom twice in the fourth minute, White had his shot saved, while Dales followed up for the rebound, shooting just wide.

Three minutes later Mohiuddin’s cross found Dales, but his path was impeded but failed to draw a foul from the referee.

But a short back pass from Wilkinson almost cost Mickleover dearly after 10 minutes, but Bosworth had it covered, forcing Bruno Andrade wide, saving the shot from a tight angle.

Two minutes later David Adegbola was penalised for a handball in the box, and White stepped up to bury the ball in the bottom left-hand corner, 1-0.

Rushden had a chance too after 15 minutes, but Tyler Winters was forced wide, allowing Bosworth to save the shot again.

White then picked up the ball and made a break, but his shot drifted just wide of the left-hand post.

Andrade had looked the more dangerous of the Rushden strike force, but Sports went close again with a spectacular overhead kick from Beavon 23 minutes in, unfortunately just over the bar.

Four more minutes and White had another strike form the edge of the box, Elsom saved it, but the rebound was heading for Dales until Huw Dawson intercepted.

Rushden had been pegged back in their own half for a while, as Mickleover sought another goal. White won a 35th minute free kick but that came to nought, with striker Winters back in defence to make the block.

With three minutes of the first half left, Sports finally got number two. The cross was floated in from the left wing and met by Dales, who volleyed it into he bottom left-hand corner 2-0.

The visitors made a couple of half-time changes to try to quell Sports’ domination. But only a minute into the second half it was 3-0, when White scored his second from a Dales’ cross, with a lucky hint of deflection.

Benson then got his head to a free kick a minute later, but this effort was just over. As the hour mark approached Elsom had to make a double save to deny Mickleover again.

Rushden pulled one back after 61 minutes, when Andrade went clear, placing his shot under the advancing Bosworth, 3-1.

Webb came on for Beavon and 10 minutes later Rushden were awarded a penalty when Jordan Graham was brought down. Graham then took the penalty, but hit the bar, so it remained 3-1.

Hollingsworth replaced Fikula after 73 minutes, but there was soon a fourth goal for Mickleover. White played Webb straight through the defence, and he made mistake in front of goal, 4-1.

Debutant Nzau replaced White for the last nine minutes but Rushden had one more chance, a free header which Ryan Hughes put well wide of the target.

So a first home league win of the season, and a second successive victory, our season has STARTED!!