Author: Square Peg

Ryley Joins For A Month

by Peter Scherer (Photos: Richard King)

Teenaged midfielder Kian Ryley has arrived at the Don Amott Arena on a month’s loan from National League North side Solihull Moors.

A graduate of their own Academy, Kian broke into the first team squad towards the end f last season, after spending a month on loan at Hereford Utd.

 

Let’s Get Back To Winning Ways

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday’s game at home to Needham Market is probably the most important league game of the season so far, as top of the table Sports face second placed Needham Market at the Don Amott Arena.

Mickleover have now gone three league games without a win, and suffered their first defeat last Saturday 2-3 at Stratford.

But our visitors also lost last Saturday too, 0-2 at home to Nuneaton, before taking three points on Tuesday evening with a 3-0 win over Berkhamsted.

Last Saturday’s defeat was only Needham’s second of the season, having previously lost to Stratford too, 1-6 on the opening day of the season.

“Apart from Joe Bateman being suspended, I hope to have a full squad to choose from, as Fin Delap is back after his suspension. Either way it should be a good match,” said Mickleover boss John McGrath.

Needham are currently five points behind, but Mickleover have a superior goal difference, having scored 10 more!! They of course only just missed out on promotion last season.

Former Northern Ireland International midfielder Kevin Horlock has been in charge at Needham Market since February 2020, having stepped up from a coaching role. He previously managed Chatham, Colchester Under 21’s and the Northern Ireland Under 21’s, having finished his playing career at Needham too. He also played for West Ham, Swindon, Manchester City, Ipswich, Doncaster, and Scunthorpe.

First choice keeper Marcus Garnham is in his fifth season at Bloomfields, having signed from Leiston, but his whole career has been spent in East Anglia, having played for Leiston, AFC Sudbury, Lowestoft and Bury Town.

Right back Kyle Hammond came from Leiston in July 2020, after starting out as an Ipswich Town Junior, during which time he was loaned to Maldon & Tiptree.

Dan and Keiran Morphew are twins and both play at centre back. Dan was at Haverhill Rovers and Thetford Town, before joining our visitors from Dereham in 2018. Keiran was the first graduate from their own Academy and made the first of his 250 plus appearances in 2013.

Right back Jake Dye has come through the home Academy too. He debuted back in 2015 and made his 200th appearance for the club last season.

Winger Jacob Lay was a summer 2022 from Ipswich Wanderers in the Eastern Counties League, having scored 13 goals for them the previous season as they won the Division One title. He started out at Ipswich Town and has played for Brantham Athletic, Sudbury Town, Braintree, Whitton Utd, Felixstowe & Walton and Dereham, as well as a short spell at Preston North End.

Jamie McGrath was another summer 2022 signing too. He was initially on a dual registration last year with Brantham Athletic and East Bergholt, with a reputation as a prolific scorer, with 56 goals in 34 games in 21/22.

Teenager Hugh Cullum is another defender to come from the clubs Academy, he debuted in the first team during 21/22  and is an England Under 18 Schoolboy International.

Seth Chambers made his first team debut in February 2022 having come through the clubs Academy too. This is his second full season in the squad and he has found the net on a number of occasions.

Luke Ingram is the longest serving player, a midfielder in his 11th season having signed from Bury Town, having previously been at AFC Sudbury.

Midfielder Patrick Brothers came from Leiston in February 2022, after 12 years at their Suffolk neighbours. He was previously at Brantham Athletic.

Tom Fitzgerald is a midfielder too and made his first team debut last season, having worked their way through the Academy and reserve teams.

Left midfielder Dylan Williams arrived from St Ives in January. He was a Cambridge Utd Junior, joining St Neots after his release. He moved on to Biggleswade and Lowestoft, before a two and a half year spell at St Ives.

Reece Harris a midfielder too, he arrived pre-season from Sudbury, having previously been at Welling Utd and East Thurrock.

Attacking midfielder Tevan Allen was signed from Brightlingsea Regent. He started out at Yeovil and has also played for Bury Town, AFC Sudbury and Stowmarket.

Former Ipswich Town junior Tommy Smith was another pre-season arrival. The young full back was at Stowmarket Town last season.

Winger Callum Page came through our visitors Academy, before signing for Ipswich Town. He returned on loan in August 2021 and again last season, before making it permanent during the summer.

Former Ipswich Town midfielder Byron Lawrence has recently returned to action after more than two years out with a broken leg. He came from Leiston in July 2020, having played for Colchester Utd, Billericay, Dulwich Hamlet and Braintree too.

Academy graduates Ollie Fraser, James Letts, Flynn Crossthwaite and Archie Exworth have also been in the squad.

It’s a 3pm kick off as usual, so be there!

Pollard Moves On

by Peter Scherer

Goalkeeper Jim Pollard has recently moved onto Northern Counties East League side Rossington Main.

A pre-season signing from Matlock Town, Pollard’s appearances have been restricted to FA Cup and FA Trophy games, due to the form of first choice Oli Bosworth.

Everyone at the Don Amott Arena wishes Jim well in his future career.

It’s Seven Up In Reserves Cup Tie

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves faced Newark based RHP Sports in the Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup and came away 7-2 victors after a Sam Tomlinson hattrick.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Silas Donker 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Toby Smith 5-Jared Cholerton 6-Zak Sandhu 7-Mason Tudgay 8-Louis Pennington 9-Fin Ryder 11-Josh Powell 12-Sam Tomlinson, Subs: Will Trueman, Sam Johnson, Hamza Konane, Joe Sellors, Josh Maher.

It was unusual start to the game to say the least, being 1-1 after just three minutes. Firstly the visiting keeper was caught well off his line and left Tomlinson with a chip into the empty net, 1-0. But barely had we kicked off again and Donker lost out down the right and as the ball came in the defence froze and it was 1-1 with Bull rooted for the close range shot.

Mickleover continued to play the short pass and push forward game, which won a fifth minute corner, before Tomlinson had another shot just wide after nine minutes.

A minute later Sports had a free kick, which was put just wide by Pennington, but a nice long ball from Sandhu set Tomlinson on another run 16 minutes in, but it was just a little too long.

But there was another shock in store for the Mickleover youngsters, when another play down the right saw Donker outpaced, and with Cholerton wrong footed too, it was an easy strike to make it 1-2.

Possession wise Mickleover had the edge and as Sandhu continued to play some telling long balls out of defence, Powell and Tudgay worked hard crossfield, with Pennington and Smith supporting.

Ryder was almost through again after 23 minutes but was blocked before he could shoot, but two minutes later we were back on even terms as Powell latched onto a break and chipped the keeper once again, 2-2.

Another four minutes, another goal. Tudgay had worked hard to keep possession on the right and got his cross in to find Ferron totally unmarked, and with time and precision it was 3-2.

Both Ryder and Tomlinson were causing havoc for the visitors defence, who began to argue among themselves, aiding by a voiciferous manager from the touchline.

On the half hour Ryder had jinked his way to within a couple of feet of the goal line before he was blocked and then Tomlinson cut in from the left but shot just over.

Another Ryder run found Pennington in the middle, but his curling shot after 35 minutes had the keeper beaten, before it bounced off the left-hand post.

Smith then tried his luck with a strong run until the ball got away from him, but it was all Mickleover for the final 10 minutes of the first half.

Ryder found Tomlinson in the middle, but a miskick saw the ball run out, but Tomlinson then had more shots, with one straight at the keeper and a second over the bar.

Two minutes left on the clock but there was time for two more goals, A lovely ball from Ryder on the right set up Tomlinson for number four and then Smith charged through the defence to set up a Tomlinson hattrick.

Having already scored three, Tomlinson almost got his fourth, but a late rally from the visiting defence kept it at 5-2 as the half time whistle blew.

As the teams came out for the second half, Trueman was on for Donker, his first game back after his pre-season foot injury.

It wasn’t long before there was another goal though, as Ferron outpaced the defence on the left. His shot was saved, but both Powell and Tudgay were poised to collect the rebound, with Powell hitting his second, 6-2 after 49 minutes.

There were a couple of breaks from RHP but fairly easily coped with by Cholerton and Sandhu, but after 53 minutes Powell was crudely challenged and was replaced by Konane.

Pennington’s following free kick was saved, but Tomlinson went close again two minutes later, running onto a long ball, it was intercepted again at the last minute.

RHP had another chance after 57 minutes, it almost had Bull beaten, but he took control at the second attempt. A minute later they had another shot but well wide of the target.

Ferron’s pace on the left and Tudgay through the middle took advantage of the visitors flagging defence, and Tudgay had another shot on the hour, saved by the keeper.

64 minutes and sub Konane had the ball, saw the keeper off his line yet again and it was 7-2. He was nearly in for his second too only three minutes later, but the outrushing keeper just beat him to the ball.

Just after Bull had made another save from a random shot, the RHP keeper was lucky to stay on the pitch. He raced out of goal to the right wing and flattened the Mickleover striker, he then turned on the same player and became abusive to both player and referee, receiving a yellow card.

There was almost an eighth goal after 80 minutes, but the keeper managed to save it, before Sports made a double substitution, with Sellors and Johnson on for Tomlinson and Tudgay.

Ferron went close again after 83 minutes and Smith was unlucky when his 85th minute effort was touched onto the bar by the keeper.

There were so many late chances for another late goal, but it remained 7-2 and we now look forward to the next round.

The Record Has Gone, But We Are Still Top!

by Peter Scherer

Thirteen proved to be the unlucky number for Mickleover last Saturday, when aiming to make it fourteen games unbeaten, came the first defeat of the season to Stratford Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Dan Bradley 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Joe Bateman, Sam Tomlinson, Fin Ryder, Brandon Ferron.

Mickleover took the kick off and were looking strong from the start, with a dangerous Greaves free kick being cleared over his own bar by Bards skipper McCone after just four minutes.

But five minutes later McCone tested Bosworth at the other end, after a series of corners had put the Mickleover defence under pressure.

With Fin Delap missing due to suspension, Mann had Bradley alongside in the middle of the defence, and as our hosts settled into the game, the pressure began to build.

14 minutes in and Ebanks picked up a Storer pass for the Bards, shooting just wide of the post. But three minutes later Barnes managed to round home keeper O’Brien, but the final shot went just inches past the post too.

It was Greaves that opened the scoring though after a 22nd break saw Barnes charge towards goal, finding Greaves in space, who buried the ball into the bottom corner, 1-0.

Stratford came back fighting and Bosworth was tested again after 26 minutes, when an Ebanks header from Storer’s cross was cleared off the line.

Mickleover went close again when Dales jinked his way through the defence just before the half hour mark. He found Greaves in space again, but O’Brien kept this effort out.

So at half time Sports had the lead, but the hosts had looked dangerous on a number of occasions and only a minute into the second half they were level, after Ebanks rose above the defence to head home, 1-1.

10 minutes later it was Mickleover seeking an equaliser, after Ison made it 1-2 for Stratford. Sports were pushing forward and Sault set up Barnes for a 63rd minute shot, but it was just wide.

With the push for an equaliser, the defence were caught out again, when Ison scored his second after a 67th minute corner 1-3.

Storer then had another shot just wide, before Ryder came on for Beavon. Barnes was then fouled to earn Mickleover  a late penalty, duly dispatched by Greaves right down the middle, 2-3.

But sub Bateman was a late red card and time ran out, so the unbeaten record has finally gone and we look to next Saturday when we host third in the table Needham Market, who suffered only their second defeat last Saturday to.

Sports’ Lads Exit Youth Cup With Heads Held High

by Peter Scherer

It was the biggest game in our recent Academy history, as Mickleover faced League One Northampton Town’s youngsters, in the first round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Mason Hoult 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Toby Smith 5-Jared Cholerton 6- Zac Sandhu 7-Liam Carter 8-Harry Atwal 9-Sam Tomlinson 10-Fin Ryder 11-Josh Carter. Subs: Luis Mas-Hall, Josh Bull, Josh Powell, Hamza, Mason Tudgay.

The rain was falling but spirits were high for kick-off, but keeper Maher was soon tested, making a diving save to his left from a Reuben Wyatt volley, after just three minutes.

Mickleover earned a free kick after seven minutes, as gradually they began to grow in confidence and began to push forward themselves, with Tomlinson and Ryder combining in the first strong attack 10 minutes in.

Hoult began to find space on the right overlap, which gave  the home defence some respite from the Northampton attack.

But after 15 minutes the visitors went close again, following a header from a short corner, with a combination of Maher and the crossbar keeping it all square.

Only two minutes later the home defence was breached, when Wyatt put Harry Guess through to slot home 0-1.

The pressure had begun to build again, with Mickleover having gone off the boil. There were chances going begging for Northampton, but the shots were failing to reach the target nor test Maher.

Liam Carter had a half chance when the ball fell to him, but his shot was wide of the left-hand post.

34 minutes gone and our visitors doubled their advantage from a break. Wyatt squared the ball for James Owen to run onto, but Maher saved the first effort at close range, only for a lucky hit on his left post to rebound into the goal, 0-2, as it remained as the half time whistle went. 

Only two minutes into the second half Northampton fired another shot well over the bar, before Mickleover skipper Atwal got a shot in too, but t was an easy pick-up for the Marc Bald the visiting keeper.

From the hour mark the Mickleover lads seemed to gain in confidence again and began to move the ball around more effectively. 

Northampton continued to create a few chances without being seriously threatening, as Cholerton and Sandhu looked fairly solid. The defence allowed Ferron to use his pace more on the left and a series of promising attacks followed.

Josh Carter had a good effort over the bar, but despite their hard work, neither Tomlinson nor Ryder were able to break the visitors defence.

It was a defeat, but a good strong team effort, which bodes well for the future for all concerned.

 

We’re Off To Shakespeare Country

by Peter Scherer

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.” – Henry V, Act III, Scene I

Mickleover will be keen to return to winning ways on Saturday, when we visit Stratford Town, to resume our Southern Premier League Central Division campaign.

Our hosts are currently 14th in the table, but went down 0-1 to Hitchin Town at home on Tuesday evening. They have had five wins out of 14 games so far, the last at home to St.Ives on October 21st.

Ex Forest Junior midfielder and Bromsgrove manager Gavin Hurren has been in charge since September 2022 and took them to 14th place last season too.

Liam O’Brien became first choice keeper during last season and is a former England Under 19 International. He made 62 League Two appearances, but started his career when QPR signed him as junior from Ruislip, before he moved on to Portsmouth. After a loan at Eastbourne, he joined Barnet on his release, and after another loan at Eastbourne signed for Brentford.

He moved on to Dagenham & Redbridge, before going back to Portsmouth. Stays at Coventry City and Yeovil followed, before coming to Stratford in November 2020.

His deputy is Louis Beresford, has come through the Bards own youth scheme.

Signed in August 2021, midfielder Dan Lafferty is a former Northern Ireland Under 17 International, who came through the ranks at Coventry City.

Centre back and current captain Paul McCone was a summer 2022 arrival from Halesowen. He started at Wolves and has also played for Stourbridge, Leamington, Hednesford, Telford and back to Stourbridge.

Experienced defender Lee Vaughan joined the squad towards the end of last season. An ex Birmingham City and Portsmouth Junior, he was at Chelmsley before Walsall signed him. Then a loan at Willenhall preceded a move to Telford, moving onto Kidderminster, Cheltenham, Tranmere, Solihull and Barnet.  He came to Stratford after 18 months at Stourbridge, but received a red card in last weeks defeat at Nantwich in the FA Trophy.

Lewis Ison is a defender signed from Hednesford last February. He was picked up by Bristol Rovers from Coventry Utd, but then moved to Nuneaton before returning to Coventry.

Dan Vann is a centre back, having been at the club since July 2019 since arriving from Walsall. He was also loaned to Stafford, Matlock and Chasetown during his time with the Saddlers.

Striker Callum Ebanks ended last season on loan from Cheltenham and over the last two years he has also been loaned to Evesham, Bromsgrove, Eastleigh and Bath City. He returned to Stratford for the start of this season on a permanent basis.

Midfielder Charlie Williams was signed last March after being released by Burton Albion. He was previously loaned to Leamington, Banbury and Redditch.

Alex Worley is a centre back that started out at Walsall. He was sent out on loan to Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest, before joining Stourbridge on his release, where he spent last season. He came to Stratford at the start of this term.

Left back Chris Hussey has league two experience, but started out at Woking. AFC Wimbledon was his next stop, with a loan at Windsor & Eton, before joining Coventry City.

After another loan at Crewe Alexandra, he returned to AFC Wimbledon, but after six months came to Burton Albion. Bury, Sheffield Utd, Swindon, Cheltenham, Port Vale and Stockport all followed, before arriving at Walsall at the beginning of this season. He then came to Stratford in September.

Defensive midfielder Dylan Barkers arrived from Hereford a month ago. After starting out at Solihull Moors, he moved on to Guiseley, Alvechurch and Cheltenham. He was then loaned back to Alvechurch, along with spells at Leamington, Gloucester and Maidstone. He started this season at Hereford before his recent move to our hosts.

Tom Solanke was a West Bromwich Albion Junior. A midfielder, capped by England at Under 15 and 16 levels, he joined Stourbridge on his release in December 2021.

He then moved on to Weymouth, Alvechurch and Boston Utd, before being loaned to Ilkeston. He came to our hosts pre-season from Boston.

Jack Storer is an experienced striker or midfielder. He played his junior football with Birmingham City, Shirley Town, Wolves, Paget Rangers and Stevenage, before a full time spell at Birmingham.

Loans at Yeovil, Gloucester City and Solihull Moors followed, before a permanent move to Patrick Thistle. After a spell at Redditch he came to Mickleover for a year, before moving onto Leamington.

Telford, Redditch, Gresley Rovers, Highgate and Stourport followed, before arriving at Stratford in November 2021. After eight months he returned to Highgate, but spent the early part of this year with Bruno’s Magpies in Gibraltar. He came back to Stratford pre-season.

Teenaged striker Jaylan Wildbore was signed in January, following his release from Fulham in summer 2022. He played junior football for Leicester City and Burton Albion too, before joining Fulham.

Centre back Liam Daly arrived from Rushall Olympic in July, but most of his experience has been at National League level. Starting out at Evesham, he played for Corby, Redditch, Solihull, Halesowen, Leamington and Barwell, before returning to Solihull for a five-year spell.

Gloucester, Barnet, Stourbridge, Nuneaton, Kettering and Ilkeston followed, before his recent nine month stay at Rushall.

16 year old midfielder Devonn O’Sullivan is part of the clubs academy but recently joined the first team squad too, as has fellow midfielder Finn Harvey.

Kick off as usual is 3pm.

Come & Support Our Future This Thursday

By Peter Scherer

This Thursday at 7.45 Mickleover’s Youth team host League One’s Northampton Town in the first-round proper of the FA Youth Cup.

It will be the Cobblers first game in this years tournament, but for Mickleover it’s their fifth, having already knocked out Leicester Nirvana. Alfreton Town, Stamford and Bedworth, scoring 23 goals and conceding just two.

The success of the team has already seen Fin Ryder, Brandon Ferron and Sam Tomlinson step up to the first team squad too.

Northampton’s best year in the Youth Cup was in 2028/19 when they reached the third round before being knocked out by Arsenal. But over the years their youth scheme had produced the likes of Brentford’s England striker Ivan Toney, Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemkea, defender Max Dyche, son of Everton manager Sean, Dundee Utd winger Glenn Middleton, striker Fraser Hornby, who plays for Darmstadt in the Bundesliga and current first team midfielder Shaun McWilliams.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 7.45 and it’s just £5 on the gate, not to be missed!!

Sports March On With 5-0 Win!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover bounced back from two draws in the league, with a resounding win over Northern Premier League promotion hopefuls Worksop Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Joe Bateman 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Callum Chettle 11-Oliver Greaves. Subs: Sam Tomlinson, Fin Ryder, Will Atkinson, Stuart Beavon, Dan Bradley, Brandon Ferron.

Worksop made a pacey start to the game and after just three minutes Bosworth was called into action in the Mickleover goal to cut out a cross from Hall.

Hall managed to get the first shot in five minutes later, as he cut inside he left fly with a right volley. But it was high and wide.

Redford got another shot in for our hosts a minute later, it bounced off the bar onto the goal line and was eventually cleared.

Although Worksop were keen and eager to mount their attacks, Sports patience began to show. Barnes was almost through after 10 minutes, but lost out in a one on one with keeper Cooper.

But after another Mickleover attack was repelled, the home defence made a swift break, although Rollins got on the end of it, his shot was wide.

It was 18 minutes in when the deadlock was broken, after Wilson placed a perfect cross to find Greaves’ head. Cooper almost kept it out, but it was 1-0.

Four minutes later Barnes had broken clear after collecting a low cross, but Broadhead managed to intercept and clear the danger.

The pressure was on for a second goal, and Cooper had to make a diving save from Chettle, then another save from Greaves after the following corner.

Worksop still had their breaks too and Wilde put in a great cross after 26 minutes, but Daniel failed to maximise his opportunity. It was end to end as Dales then had a shot a minute later, held by Cooper.

Greaves had another chance after 35 minutes. He picked a ball inside from Bennett, but slightly miscued his shot and sent it wide.

Wilde then had shot over, Hall put a free kick just wide and Delap cleared a cross from Hutchinson, as time was running out for Worksop to bag a first half equaliser and it remained 1-0 at the whistle.

Three minutes into the second half and there was another chance for Worksop, when Hutchinson picked up a clearance, but once again he failed to hit the target.

Sports made there first change when Atkinson came on for Chettle after 52 minutes, but it was Greaves having a crack on goal again, seeing his shot blocked by Broadhead.

As Mickleover began to dominate, Delap found Barnes after a corner, but his shot hit the side netting, before Rollins broke again for Worksop but shot wide.

On the hour mark Dales made it 2-0 after firing through a crowded box, but two minutes later Daniel missed a great chance for our hosts at close range.

Just after Ryder had come on for Sault, Barnes beat a defender on the right, cut inside and let fly from a tight angle to beat Cooper and it was 3-0 after 64 minutes.

Sports hadn’t done yet and after 80 minutes teenaged striker Tomlinson came on for Barnes.

The Sports back four had again looked solid, heading for another clean sheet. Bosworth made sure of that with an 82nd minute save after Hall had jinked into the area.

But just to make sure Dales made it 4-0 after 84 minutes and with one minute left Greaves got his second too, to make it 5-0 after a quick counter attack.

So it’s into the hat for FA Trophy Round Two, so watch this space!