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.

 

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.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

It was a dominant win for Mickleover against a struggling Bourne Town team, with goals from Ali Mohiuddin and Paddy Webb in the first half to set up a 3-1 win.

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

Sports were straight on the attack from the kick off, with Webb earning a corner after four minutes. Six minutes later Beavon played a lovely ball though into the box to find Hollingsworth, but his shot was blocked.

It wasn’t long though before Mickleover opened the scoring when a Webb header fell nicely for Mohiuddin, who found himself with an empty net to tap the ball home after just 11 minutes,1-0.

Webb was proving particularly menacing to the visitors defence and had another half chance just before the half hour mark, but keeper Lakin was quick off his line to collect before Webb could get a shot in.

Lakin was kept busy when just a minute later he intercepted a header from Beavon which was well on target for Webb to connect again.

Bourne had their first real attack when O’Brien crossed into the box, only for Siddons to put it over the bar.

Penalty appeals from Mickleover were waved away when Webb went down in the 33rd minute, but Sports got their second with five minutes of the first half left. Webb was through again and caught the keeper off his line, he dribbled the ball around him and almost walked the ball into the empty net, 2-0.

The second half kicked off in a similar vain and just one minute into the half Lakin had to tip a Dales free kick over the bar.

But we only had to wait 10 minutes for goal number three. Dales split the defence to find Atkinson, he struck a first time shot giving Lakin little chance, 3-0.

Beavon found Webb with a great pass after 57 minutes, but the final effort went wide. It was Beavon parting shot though as he came off for Gyamfi to make his debut 15 minutes later.

Corden and White then came on for Dales and Bonser and in the final minutes Mohiuddin made room for Carter.

But in the final minute Marshall headed home a consolation goal for Bourne from a Allen corner and so it finished 3-1, with a vital three points confirmed.

 

by Peter Scherer

Home again this weekend, Mickleover face newly promoted Bourne Town, currently 18th in the table.

Sports will still be without Jake Bennett recovering from a calf injury, but hopefully Harry Wood’s bruised foot will have recovered, as we seek our third win of the season.

Our visitors were United Counties Division One Champions 23/24 and last year finished second in the Premier Division North, gaining promotion again via the play-offs.

Like Mickleover they went out of the FA Trophy 0-2 to Rushden & Diamonds last weekend and four days earlier lost 1-2 to Shepshed Dynamo in the FA Cup replay. In the league they have beaten Bedworth away 2-1 and took a point off Anstey Nomads at home.

Manager Michael Goode has been in charge since October 2023 and shares responsibilities with player/co manager Dan Flack.

Goode was previously manager at Deeping Rangers, where Flack played over 350 games before moving to Bourne in May 2023, as co-manager to Steve Wilson.

First choice goalkeeper is Will Lakin who arrived pre-season. A former Peterborough Utd youngster, he was loaned to Kettering Town before going to Dulwich Hamlet on his release. He started last season at Stamford, before moving to Wisbech.

Centre back Connor Peters is another pre-season arrival and another former Peterborough junior. After a loan at Yaxley, he went to St.Josephs in Gibraltar, before returning to the UK with Peterborough Sports. He then spent six months at Spalding, before returning to Gibraltar with Lions, where he spent most of last season.

Right back Eunis Lievins is dual registered with Royston Town, but spent last season at Bourne. He has played for Peterborough Sports and Melton Town too.

Richard Jones is another centre back signed in September 2023. After starting out at Peterborough Northern Star, he joined Corby Town, before a three-year spell with Stamford. He came to our visitors after seven years with Peterborough Sports.

Joshua Burrows is another former Peterborough Utd youngster. A defender, he came in pre-season from March Town.

Freddie Allen is a full back, currently on loan from Stamford. He was previously with Doncaster Rovers.

Defender Brad Marshall arrived at the start of last season from Corby Strip Mills. He was previously at Daventry Town.

Midfielder or striker Connor Furey is a pre-season signing from Shepshed Dynamo. He was previously at Loughborough Dynamo, Harborough Town, Corby Town and Stamford.

Henry Dunn is a midfielder in his second spell at the club. Another ex Peterborough Utd junior, he moved on to Peterborough Northern Star, before his first spell at Bourne. He also played for Melton Town and spent four years with manager Mike Goode at Deeping Rangers.

Midfielder Aaron Eyett came from Deeping Rangers last season. He’s also played at Boston Utd, Holbeach and Pinchbeck.

Jack Wilson is a midfielder too, signed from neighbours Blackstones in January 2024.

Striker Lewis Darlington is another pre-season arrival who started his career at Nottingham Forest. He moved on to Peterborough Utd, who loaned him to Corby Town, Cambridge City and Banbury, before going to Spalding following his release. He spent most of last season with Grantham Town.

Sidney Pereira is another striker, signed from Peterborough Sports in pre-season. He had previously been loaned to Grantham and St.Ives Town.

Striker Tom Siddons came to our visitors from Stamford at the start of last season. He has also played for Kings Lynn, Grantham and Sleaford Town.

Will Bird is another ex Deeping Rangers player. A striker he came to our visitors in June 2023.

Long serving strikers Robie Ellis and Zac Allen tend to share the captaincy. Ellis made his 100th appearance for the club at the end of last season.

Kick off as usual is 3pm, with full refreshment facilities.

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

A late goal from Basford ended Mickleover’s hopes of progressing in the FA Trophy, after dominating much of the game.

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

Right from the kick off Jordy Hallam tried his luck for the visitors, with a shot straight at Bosworth in the Mickleover goal.

Basford continued to dictate the early after their eighth minute corner was cleared by the home defence, but two minutes on and Kieran Cummings outpaced Bonser on Sports left, his cross seeming to catch the home defence flat footed and Jack Goodman was left unopposed to fire the ball home at close range, 0-1.
Mickleover were forced to try and break out and after 11 minutes Beavon had a shot blocked in the box, after a Bonser attack stemmed from Dales’ progress. Three more minutes and there was a long ball out of defence for Webb to chase, but it a bit too far.

It was back to an end-to-end game, with Cummings hitting the side netting for the visitors after a sustained period of pressure on the defence.
There was a corner for Mickleover after Webb’s 16th minute cross from the left was headed out, but Dales corner then found White, but his chip went out play.

Basford then earned a corner too, before a long shot was fell outside the box failed to test Bosworth.

It was hard work and good progress from Webb on the left again that provided the equaliser, with a neat flick from Beavon in the 22nd minute catching Matt Yates in the Basford goal off balance. 1-1.

Sports earned a free kick Ethan Stewart fouled White and received the first yellow card. But Dales’ free kick went straight into Yates’ waiting arms.
Cummings was then fouled on the edge of the box, but Bosworth was able to punch the free kick away, before the visitors fired another shot straight at the Mickleover keeper, just past the half hour mark.

Benson was then shoved off the pitch by Hynes to earn another free kick, but White’s effort was a comfortable collect for Yates again.

White got on the end of a Beavon cross after 38 minutes, but there was no forced behind the shot and Yates collected with ease again.

But with five minutes left in the first half, a Basford cross went past the face of the home goal, with no one there to connect. Dales earned another corner and in time added on Fin Armond had a shot well over the bar, as it remained 1-1 at half time.

Sports made one change for the restart with Fikula on for Offler, but it was bright start to the second half initially. Both sides had early corners which came to nought, before Dales sent Webb clear. He got his cross in from the left, but there was no one there.

50 minutes and Christie had to clear off the like when Atkinson found Benson. The defender’s flick had Yates beaten, but as on so many occasions for Sports the ball just wouldn’t go in.

Four minutes later Basford broke and earned a corner. Hallam, floated the ball into the middle and Stewart headed home, against the run of play 1-2. Three more minutes and we were level again when Benson sent in a powerful header from a Dales cross, 2-2.

Hollingsworth replaced White on the hour, but Mickleover were starting to dominate. Bonser’s cross from the left was met beautifully with Beavon’s head, but at full stretch Yates just tipped it over. Benson then sent another header just over from the following corner.

Goodman put an effort into the side netting for Basford, before Corden came on for Benson after 70 minutes. But a quick break from Sports almost broke the deadlock again after 73 minutes. It was another cross from Webb on the left that found Beavon and his toe poke once again tested Yates, who just held the shot low down.

Beavon had another shot blocked a couple of minutes later, before Webb, having changed sides, crossed from the right, just missing Beavon’s head.
Yates made yet another diving save to deny Webb with 12 minutes left on the clock. He earned a corner and Wilkinson managed to connect, but again just wide.

But the bitter blow came after 81 minutes, as Dimaio found Hallam on the edge of the box, and his curling shot was out of Bosworth’s reach 2-3.
Bosworth saved another effort a minute later, before Carter replaced Beavon. But with his first touch Carter was n a run until he was hacked down.
Sports were still leading the attacks and with two minutes later Corden carved his way through the visitors defence, with Yates pulling off yet another great save.

Fikula came up for the final corner and rose well to win the ball, but it was over the bar and time was up for Mickleover.