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.

 

by Peter Scherer

On Friday evening Mickleover host their fifth and penultimate pre-season match, when a Burton Albion XI visit the Don Amott Arena for the annual KC Trophy Charity game.

In 2023 it was the Brewers that took the Trophy 0-1, so Sports will be looking to return the favour.

It’s been a good pre-season so far having been undefeated so far, after Tuesday nights 5-0 win at Shepshed, with strikers Giles Barnes, Dylan Edwards and Stuart Beavon all finding their goal scoring boots in the games so far.

“The main thing about pre-season is to give all the squad time on the pitch, so we can see where we are. By next week when we play Barnsley in our last pre-season game, we should have a good idea about our starting 11 for the first league match,” said manager Gareth Holmes.

Neither Andy Dales nor Dan Bradley have played yet, so they could be in action against Burton, who are expected to field a side blending youth and some experience.

Kick of is 7.30pm with admission just £5.

by Peter Scherer

The third game in Mickleover’s pre-season build-up took them to NPL Division One Midlands side Shepshed Dynamo.

Manager Gareth Holmes went for a mixture of signed players and trialists again, including Academy Graduates Toby Smith and Brandon Ferron.

Starting line-up: 1-Trialist 2-Trialist 3-Trilaist 16-Trialist 5-George Taft 6-Trialist 7-Leojo Davidson 8-Toby Smith 9-Fin Ryder 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Brandon Ferron. Subs Dylan Edwards + four trialists.

The game had barely got underway when Davidson picked up a loose ball on the right, crossing for Beavon in the box, who made no mistake from close range, 1-0 after three minutes.

Mickleover continued to put early pressure on the home defence and two minutes later Beavon sent Ryder on a run, before his charge down the left was cut off.

Davidson outpaced the defence again down the right, with his cross met by Ferron’s head, sending his effort just over the bar.

10 minutes in and Sports were still pushing for a second, with Davidson, Ryder and Beavon all looking dangerous after a good feed from Ferron on the left.

The Sports defence was Taft and a trio of trialists, who had looked fairly solid in the early minutes. But trialist 6 was lucky not to see yellow card, when he took the legs of his Shepshed counterpart. But the following free kick was easily cleared.

Both trialist wing backs began to push forward more and number two sent a nice cross into the box after 18 minutes, just missing Beavon’s head.

A minute later Davidson had another strong run and this time cut in to shoot himself. His effort was saved and from the following corner, Taft’s header was cleared.

There was some confusion in the Mickleover defence when the trialist keeper failed to respond to a back pass from number two. Fortunately it wasn’t heading goalwards, but did roll out for a corner.

It was 20 minutes before our hosts really broke from their own half, putting a good effort just outside the right-hand post.

Trialist three and Ferron then combined on the left and despite making good progress, the ball ran out before a cross was made.

Shepshed continued to show more confidence on the ball and were pushing forward, with another effort blocked by Trialist two, before a 26^th minute long shot sailed well over the bar.

Mickleover were quick on the break though and after Beavon and Ryder had battled in the box, the ball fell to Smith, who sent a cracking shot just inches over the bar.

Later into the first half it had become more end to end, and after 33 minutes Ferron picked up a loose ball after Beavon was felled, but Ryder’s challenge was intercepted and the ball went out of play.

Sports were so close after 41 minutes though, when Smith sent Ferron on another run down the left. He cut in tight towards the left-hand post and saw his shot parried by the keeper. The youngster then picked up the rebound and shot again, but was robbed by a combination of the keeper and the post.

Beavon kept the keeper busy again with a shot saved after 43 minutes and so it remained 1-0 as the half-time whistle went.

Mickleover brought on a second trialist keeper to start the second half, but otherwise recommenced unchanged, with Davidson having a shot blocked just minutes into the restart.

Mickleover were pressing hard and some mistakes in the home defence were keeping them pegged down. Ryder tried his luck in the 50^th minute, but three mutes later Davidson went clear again on the right, finding Beavon who slotted home his and Mickleover’s second after 53 minutes. 2-0.

Sports made a couple of changes before kicking off again, but we only had to wait six minutes for goal number three.  Trialist 15 and Ferron had worked through and found Beavon almost unmarked, securing his hattrick 3-0.

Shepshed started to have some random shots when able to, but were failing to trouble the keeper. Sports made more changes and after 70 minutes Edwards came on for Ryder.

Neither poacher Beavon nor Mickleover were done yet and after 73 minutes Beavon hit his fourth after another Davidson feed, 4-0.

Shepshed weren’t giving up and went a little closer to reaching the target in the final 15 minutes, but ended the game without troubling the keeper.

It could have been a fifth for Beavon when the home keeper made a risky clearance and the ball was swiftly returned just over the bar.

The fifth goal came with four minutes on the clock though, as Davidson ran through the defence, placing a lovely shot past the home keeper and into the bottom corner, 5-0.

Now we look forward to the visit of Burton Albion on Friday evening.