by Peter Scherer

It’s back on home turf for Mickleover this weekend, when they face strugglers Bromsgrove Sporting at the Don Amott Arena.

Fresh from our postponed visit to Coalville on Tuesday night, Sports manager has a number of options in his starting line-up, with both players due back from injury and five new signings over the last two weeks.

Our visitors are currently 17^th in the table with only two wins in their last 12 matches, which led to the dismissal of manager Michael McGrath following last Saturday’s defeat at home to Leamington.

Bromsgrove’s first choice goalkeeper Ollie Taylor was signed from Alvechurch in December 2021 and has also played for Redditch. He is the son of former Birmingham City keeper Maik.

Midfielder Tristan Dunkley started in the Birmingham City Youth team, before joining Loughborough in 2014. He joined Hednesford two years later and then Worcester City, before being loaned to Halesowen, and a permanent move to Solihull Moors.

Stops at Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell and Corby followed, before Bromsgrove signed him from Bedworth Utd towards the end of last season.

Midfielder Conor Tee was signed from Rushden in February 2023. He is an ex Leicester City Junior, who joined Brackley Town following his release. He then spent a year at South Shields before moving to Rushden at the beginning of last season.

Miro Pais is a young winger and has been at Bromsgrove for a couple of years, having come through their own youth scheme, to get his break in the first team squad.

Defender or midfielder Ayo Lekuti came on loan from Northampton in January 2023 and returned to our visitors again in September.

Right back Aksum White was one of the pre-season signings. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior before joining Tamworth in 2021. After a loan to Sporting Khalsa, he moved to Worcester Raiders, and he also played for Coleshill Town, before spending last season at Stratford.

Luke Rowe is a central midfielder and another pre-season acquisition. He started last season at Hednesford, after a move from Redditch, but spent the second half at Telford. He is also the club captain,

Midfielder Jack Newell is a former Northampton Junior, who joined Barwell on his release. He then came to Bromsgrove in July 2021, but was loaned out to Highgate Utd, before becoming a regular first team member.

Midfielder Callum King-Harmes is a former Wales under 15 International, who started his career with Bolton Wanderers. He made five League One starts and was also loaned out to Bamber Bridge, before going to Hednesford on his release. 

He spent most of 20/21 at Sutton Coldfield and came to Bromsgrove at the beginning of last season.

Defender Aaron Roberts returned to Bromsgrove pre-season. The club appearance record holder left in 2019 to join Worcester City, who he captained last season.

Left back Ben O’Hanlon was capped by England at Under 16,17 and 18 levels. A former Wolves Junior, he was loaned to Corby Town, before joining Harrogate. He then joined Darlington who loaned him to Hednesford, before a permanent move to Hednesford preceded a spell at Stourbridge. He spent last season at Ilkeston and came to Bromsgrove pre-season.

Midfielder Billy Shaw arrived at the beginning of this season too from Worcester City and has also played for Halesowen.

Midfielder Keanu Cooper is another pre-season signing and lists Shifnal Town, Westfields and Shawbury among his former clubs.

Striker Keiron Berry came from Gresley Rovers. He started out at West Brom and Walsall and has played for Rushall Olympic, Walsall Wood and Sporting Khalsa too.

Right back Kane Lewis came from Hemel at the start of the season. He started out at Brentford, but moved onto the Liverpool Academy. On his release in 2018 he moved to the Welsh Premier League with The New Saints and Cefn Druids and played in the Europa League. He had five months at St.Ives before starting last year at Hemel.

Kartell Dawkins is a midfielder on loan from Gloucester City. He started out as a Leicester City Junior and was loaned to Rushden & Diamonds, before coming to Bromsgrove on his release in January 2023. He moved to Gloucester at the start of this season, but was loaned back to our visitors in October.

Right sided midfielder Shaquille Leachman-Whittingham is the newest arrival, having signed part way through last month.

He was an ex Walsall Junior who then moved to Tividale. After three years at Market Drayton, he moved on via Corby, Romulus, Redditch, Rushall, Stratford, Tamworth and started last year at Evesham. After a month he moved to Gresley Rovers, where he completed the 22/23 season.

Striker Prince Henry is another new arrival, but a returnee, having only left Bromsgrove to join Redditch last September. He has spent most of his career at Bristol City, but had been loaned out to Hungerford, Yate Town, Tiverton and Bromsgrove, before making his last move permanent at the start of this season.

Former Bromsgrove Junior David Solademi returned this season from Tividale. The defender has been at the Future Pro Academy and had trials with Cardiff City and was last at our visitors in 2021.

Kick off as usual is 3pm with the all the usual bar and catering facilities available.

by Peter Scherer

Promotion candidates last season, it’s not been easy for Coalville this term. Adam Stevens had been in charge since May 2018, but with his team in 12^th place this season, with only two wins in the last 12 games, who was dismissed after Saturday’s home defeat

With Mickleover not in the best of form, it should be a close encounter on Tuesday evening. But luck was with us at AFC Sudbury where the valuable three points leaves us just one point behind table topping Redditch.

Let’s take a look at Coalville’s squad. Keeper Paul White came from Peterborough Sports in July 2022, having started out with Cork City in his native Ireland.

His first English club was Forest Green, who also loaned him to Gloucester, before joining Boreham Wood following his release. He has also played for Accrington, Kettering, Hereford and St Ives.

Second choice keeper Jake Laban was a pre-season 22/23 signing too, having arrived from Burton Albion. Laban was in goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat against Leiston.

Former Grimsby junior midfielder Andi Thanoj was also a July ’22 signing, from Boston Utd. He has also played for Alfreton, Harrogate and Redditch.

Striker Ash Chambers was a Leicester City youth player, with over 200 league appearances under his belt, with the likes of Wycombe, Grimsby, York, Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge, before non-league spells at Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Brackley. 

He came to Coalville at the start of 22/23 season too, after a year at Buxton and was on the scoresheet against scored their goal against Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup 1st round defeat last season and is capped by England at Under16,17,18 & 19 levels.

Skipper Joe Doyle-Charles has been Coalville for five years. The midfielder started out as a Burton Albion Youth player and joined Ilkeston on his release in 2015. He has also played for Alfreton and came to Coalville from Matlock Town.

Midfield partner Tom McGlinchey can go one better, as he arrived from Leicester Road over six years ago. He had previously been at Kriby Muxloe.

His nephew Roddy also joined the club in December on loan from Peterborough Utd. A midfielder, he has also been loaned to Rushden & Diamonds and Peterborough Sports. 

Striker Tim Berridge is another longer serving player, since arriving from Dunkirk in 2018 and has scored over 60 goals since his arrival.

Elliott Putman is a left back and came in from Barwell in September 2021.  He started out at Leicester City and has also played for Stamford and Oadby.

Right back Alex Dean is the longest serving of all the squad though, having rejoined our visitors for the second time in 2014. He came back from Solihull Moors, but has also played at Nuneaton Town alongside his twin brother and Bedworth Utd.

Centre back Scott McManus only arrived last month from Nuneaton. He was a Manchester Utd Junior, before going to Curzon Ashton. He then moved to Crewe and made six appearances in league one, before spending a year in Scotland at Stranraer.

He returned to England with FC United and then spent seven years at Halifax, before his first arrival at Coalville in July 2018, staying two years.

Fellow centre back Ash Carter was a pre-season signing from Alvechurch. He started as a junior at Wolves and was loaned to Chesterfield and Tamworth, before joining Kidderminster on his release. 

He made a couple of league appearances and then moved on via Alvechurch, Nuneaton, Stourbridge and Halesowen, before spending the last two seasons back at Alvechurch.

Luke Shaw is another midfielder who favours the wing. He was signed from Grantham in 2018. He had previously played for Ilkeston and Belper Town.

The oldest player in the squad at 38 is central midfielder Steve Towers, now in his eighth year with the club since signing from Brackley. He started at Corby and has played for Rothwell, Stamford and Grantham too. He is also the teams coach.

Former St Etienne Junior centre back Herve pepe-Ngomi returned to the club in November 2022, having left in September 2021 year to join Barwell. He played junior football at Leicester City too and has also played for Nuneaton, Boston Utd and Kettering.

Former England Under 21 striker Leroy Lita has played in every division of the football league, making over 350 appearances and scoring over 100 goals. 

He started at Bristol City and was the sold to Reading. Loans at Charlton and Norwich followed, before he made a permanent move to Middlesbrough. Then a £2 million pound move took him to Swansea in 2011, but was loaned again to Brighton before a move to Barnsley. 

A loan at Notts County came next, before he headed AO Chania in Crete. He returned to the UK with Yeovil Town, before going to Sisaket FC in Thailand.

Margate, Haverhill, Salisbury and Chelmsford were his next stops, before going to Nuneaton for the first time in July 2020. After two years he left for Stratford and after a move to Hednesford, he finished last season at Ilkeston.

He came to Coalville last month, having started the season with Nuneaton.

Wes York is a right-side midfielder and a pre-season signing from Brackley. He started his career with Nuneaton, before spending two years at Wrexham. He has also played for Gateshead and York City, spending two years at each.

Striker Terrell Pennant is a former England Under 15 and 16 International. He was a Leicester City Junior, where his brother Kian still plays. He joined Coalville pre-season following his release from Leicester.

Fellow striker Kieran Cook was another pre-season signing from Rushall Olympic. He started at Alvechurch and has had spells at Stourbridge and Leamington too.

Ben Hart was a pre-season singing too, but is out of action with a broken ankle. A former Burton Albion Junior, he was loaned to Kidsgrove, Tamworth and Redditch, before going to Tamworth on his release. He was then loaned to Barwell, before finally leaving Tamworth to join our hosts.

Kick off as usual is 7.45 and YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED.

by Peter Scherer

Having beaten AFC Sudbury 5-0 at home earlier this season, hopes of taking three points from the strugglers was fairly high, but right from the kick off it was another story.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhyas Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Fin Ryder 10-Tyrell Waite 11-Ben Sault. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Brendon Daniels, Kyle Rowley, Oli Greaves, Marcus Barnes.

It couldn’t have started much worse for Mickleover, with the hosts awarded a free kick following a Bradley foul. The defence failed to clear the ball and with Ridd routed to his line, Joe Neal fired into the bottom corner, 0-1 with just 40 seconds on the clock.

The goal had given Sudbury extra confidence and they continued to try and push forward, but Sault had a shot blocked after three minutes, after both Ryder and Waite had tried too.

Gradually Mickleover began to fightback, with Sault again leading by example, until his 13^th minute run ended when he was fouled. Bradley’s free kick came to nought but progress was made.

Dales had the first of his runs four minutes later, he cut in from the left and let fly, with home keeper Bradbrook getting a touch on the ball to send it wide of the left-hand post.

Midfield were struggling though and the defence came under more pressure, with Ridd having to save again from a Hunter strike, after possession had been lost in the middle.

Ryder and Bennett combined well but their 26^th minute effort was blocked again, but on the half hour Waite should have scored the equaliser. Bradley was clear in the middle and found Waite in acres of space on the left. The striker cut in and shot, put his effort was wide of the right-hand post, with the keeper beaten.

Dales put in another cross from the left which was headed clear, before Neal had another chance for the hosts after 37 minutes, when he came out on top of a duel with Mann, but despite having a clear run on goal he shot wide.

Despite the growing flow of attacks, Mickleover were failing to create any clear-cut chances, but 39 minutes in and the game took a dramatic turn. Dales was clear on a break and keeper Bradbrook came charging off his line, wiping out Dales with a foot high in the air. It was a straight red card and with no sub keeper on the bench, Romario Dunne went in goal, having already had a yellow card himself a few minutes earlier.

Once play eventually resumed, Bradley’s free kick sailed high over the bar. Four minutes were added to the eight remaining, during which time Sports failed to test the sub keeper, so it remained 0-1 at half time.

Mickleover made two changes for the second half with Barnes and Greaves on for Bradley and Ryder.

It was Sudbury on the attack again however with Napa shooting just wide of the left-hand post, before Greaves hit the bar after 50 minutes, with Dunne beaten.

Barnes then ran clear on the left and fed the ball inside to Bennett, his shot hit the keepers leg bounced off the post and back into his hands.

Far too many yellow cards had been dished out to both sides, but Mickleover still hadn’t managed to really challenge the sub keeper and Sudbury continued to look dangerous on the breaks.

But debutant Tamen was looking more solid in the second half and forming a formidable centre back duo with Mann, while both Bennett and Dolan were trying to push forward.

Another Barnes cross from the right 69 minutes in found Waite in the middle, he placed the ball nicely into the back of the net but it was flagged offside.

Barnes was then tripped on the edge of the box but no foul given.

With 12 minutes on the clock Beavon came on for Sault, but is was proving hard work for Mickleover as their play just wasn’t gelling.

It was close again after 81 minutes, with a scramble in the crowded Sudbury goal mouth. Numerous attempts to shoot followed, before the defence cleared the danger.

Two minutes later Dolan was on a run from the left and brought down in the area. The penalty appeals weren’t that vociferous, but the referee pointed to the spot and Greaves duly converted, 1-1.

Barnes fired another attempt over the bar, before another Sudbury attack came close when Ridd missed a punch as he came off his line.

Into time added on Dales hit the far upright from a free kick after Dunne got a hand to it, but then in the 97^th minute Dales crossed from the left and Beavon poached the winner from close range 2-1.

It was a poor all round performance from Mickleover, but so many times look has turned against us, but this time it certainly didn’t. 

We are now just one point off top spot again in third, with Tuesday’s visit to Coalville on the horizon.

 

by Peter Scherer

After two consecutive league games of mixed fortunes, it’s back on the road when we visit AFC Sudbury on Saturday. Back in September we were 5-0 victors in the parallel fixture, thanks to an Andree Wright hattrick.

Marc Abott’s side and currently 19^th in the table, with three wins in the last 10 games, the last being a 1-0 victory over Needham Market.

Despite our own form problems, we are still in the play-off positions and with a number of players almost fit from injury, the future will be interesting.

Goalkeeper James Bradbrook was the clubs first summer signing from Stowmarket Town. He started out at Needham Market, before joining Brightlingsea Regent. After a loan spell at Stowmarket his stay became permanent.

Right back Joe Tarpey was another new pre-season signing. A former Cambridge Utd Junior, he spent last season on loan with St.Neots Town.

Daniel Cousens is a right back too, and is a former Ipswich Junior, who arrived last following his release.

Striker Joe Neal is one of the clubs main goal scorers. Another former Cambridge Utd Junior, he was loaned to Needham Market and St.Neots, before joining Biggleswade after a further loan spell. He moved to St.Albans in February last year, and was another pre-season arrival at Sudbury.

Former Manchester City Academy striker Romario Dunne returned at the start of the season from a cruciate ligament injury after an 18 month absence. He was signed from Cheshunt in June 2021 and had a spell on loan at Braintree too, as well as playing for Brightlingsea Regent and Hadleigh Utd.

Centre back Tom Dickens continued the pre-season signing trend. Another ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he had loans at St.Neots and Chelmsford City before joining Welling Utd on his release. He quickly moved on to Cheshunt, who loaned him back to St.Neots, where he completed last season.

Midfielder Ben Hunter came through Sudbury’s own Academy, before moving to Leiston in June 2021. He came back to the club last season, but had a loan spell at Stowmarket too. He is one of the few Sudbury players remaining from last season.

Centre back Josh Okpolokpo played his early football with Ipswich and Huddersfield, including a loan at Pontefract Collieries, before joining Leiston in September last year. He spent most of last season on loan at Gorleston on a dual registration.

Olumide Oluwatimilehin is a midfielder known as Olu, a summer signing from Haywards Heath. He started at Hoddesdon and has played for Whitehawk, Hornchurch, Wingate & Finchley, Braintree, Kingstonian and Lewes.

Right back Ollie Brown is one of last years team survivors. He came from Stowmarket in June last year.

Defender Reiss Oteng arrived in the summer from Biggleswade, he has played at Haverhill Rovers and West Wratting too.

George Whitehall is the second choice keeper. An ex Cambridge Utd Junior, he was signed from St.Neots, but has played for Whitton Utd and Godmanchester Rovers too, before joining Sudbury’s influx of summer signings.

Central midfielder Reuben Swann is one of the recent Sudbury Academy players to break into the first team., scoring his first senior goal in the FA Cup tie at Mildenhall.

Midfielder or defender Charlie Lewis arrived pre-season from St.Neots, having previously spent a couple of seasons at Histon. 

Malachi Napa has experience in both League One and Two. He is an attacking midfielder who started at Reading, before moving to Oxford Utd. he was loaned to North Leigh, Hampton & Richmond and Macclesfield, before joining Woking on his release.

Stops at Maldon & Tiptree, Wealdstone and Dartford following, before joining Billericay in July, from where he is currently on loan.

Central midfielder Jake Turner is in his third season with our hosts, since coming from Coggeshall. He started out at Braintree and has also played for Brightlingsea. It’s his second spell at Sudbury, having played for them for three months back in 2017.

Midfielder Philip Bampoe was signed in September from Canvey Island. He has played for Romford, Tilbury, Maldon & Tiptree, Barking, Bognor Regis and East Thurrock.

Jame Bennett is a striker that came from Brightlingsea Regent and was previously at Walthamstow. Ben Bradley was previously at St.Neots, while midfielders Alfie Lambert, Liam Pearce, Billy Walsh and Kaya Donohoe all came through the clubs own Academy.

Striker Reuben Marshall is currently on loan from Peterborough Utd.

Former Needham Market Academy and Ipswich Town striker Callum Page is the newest signing, he arrived just after Christmas.

Kick off is 3pm, and as usual, YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED!

by Peter Scherer

It was a second time lucky for the Derbyshire Senior Cup tie at Matlock Town, following the postponement at the first attempt.

It was virtually a full strength side from the Gladiators, whereas as Mickleover gave some of the youngsters a start.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Mayy Bowman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Dan Bradley 5-Blaine Rowe 6-Ethan Mann 7-Sam Tomlinson 8-Will Trueman 9-Fin Ryder 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Toby Smith, Harry Atwal, Andy Dales, Oli Greaves.

From the kick off it was Matlock that began to dominate possession and after just four minutes they went close, with a Nathan Whitehead header just over the bar from a John Johnston cross, earning the first corner.

Two minutes later Barnes then tried a long shot, which failed to test keeper Saul Deeney as it rose over the bar.

But after eight minutes it was a lucky escape for Mickleover, when Joe West hit the far post with a shot from the right, after he was almost unchallenged as he collected an Alex Duhameau lay-off, after Sports defence lost possession in their own box.

For the first 15 minutes it was all Matlock and against the run of play Mickleover went ahead with a Beavon goal after 21 minutes, after Deeney had palmed away Ryder’s initial effort, 1-0.

It wasn’t long before it was 2-0, when Tomlinson led a break, outpaced the defence to find Beavon on the left. His cross found Bowman in acres of space on the right, running in to pick his spot in the far corner of the net.

Despite the lead it was still Matlock winning most of the possession, but Barnes had a header just wide 27 minutes in, after Beavon fired in a cross from the right after another break.

Ridd had to pull off a save from Harry Wood a couple of minutes later and although the hosts kept Mickleover pegged back in their own half, the defence of Bowman, Mann, Rowe and Dolan was holding out.

The defence was finally breached though after 34 minutes. There was a cross from the right and a scramble with both Ridd and Bowman appearing to have it covered. But West managed to make contact and Finley Almond pushed it past the keeper to make it 2-1.

Wood had a chance for the visitors to equalise four minutes later, when after a poor clearance from Rowe, he fired both wide and high of the target.

Some clumsy defending from Matlock continued to give Mickleover chances on the break and after 39 minutes Barnes, Ryder and Beavon combined, but the final cross was blocked again.

With two minutes left in the first half there was another chance, when Barnes charged down the field following an interception. His crossfield ball found Bradley on the right, but the cross just missed Ryder’s head and Barnes, who had followed up.

The action then moved to the other end when Bowman headed a Whitehead header off the line, before another Mickleover break saw Tomlinson take a knock and was replaced by Dales.

Mickleover made one more change at half time when Smith came on at right back for Bowman.

As the second half got underway Dolan was quick on the attack, and after a long run he was almost poised to shoot when he was fouled. But Dales’ following free kick sailed over the bar.

Mickleover had a corner on the left, but Dales’ ball into the box just missed Ryder.

It was another poor clearance that finally gave Matlock the equaliser, with quick retaliation from the hosts, West got a shot in, which again seemed to be covered initially by Ridd. But the ball bounced off him and just inside his right hand post 2-2.

There was a brief shout for a penalty when a lovely cross from Smith on the right was met by Ryder. There was contact and he did go down, but the referee waved play on.

Mickleover were trying hard to push for a third and began to have more possession, with by Smith and Dolan effective on the wings, but a barrage of shots were fired in and blocked, before the pressure on the home defence eased.

Deeney made another save, before Barnes fired the rebound over the bar, and then as the hour mark approached Ridd palmed away a low shot from Duhameau, with Mann then heading clear any chance of a rebound shot.

But 62 minutes gone and Wood fired in the winner from long range, leaving Ridd with little chance as it hit the top corner, 2-3.

Greaves came on for Barnes, but despite Mickleover trying to push forward, the following efforts were all blocked.

Ridd had to make another save with three minutes left, as Clark tried a header, but on the night it was better side that move into the semi finals.