by Peter Scherer

Mickleover headed to the North East with high hopes of progression in the FA Trophy against National Legue North Spennymoor Town. Their aspirations proved successful with an Oli Greaves double securing Sports place in the third round draw.

Starting line-up: 1 Oli Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves 15-Fin Ryder. Subs: Will Trueman, Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron, Sam Tomlinson.

It wasn’t the best of starts for Mickleover, when having lost Dan Bradley to a warm-up injury, they went a goal after just three minutes. Sports were beaten down the left and as the ball came to Ramshaw, he fired in from a narrowing angle, beating Bosworth on his far post, 0-1.

It acted as a wake-up call for Mickleover and they were soon pushing forward, with Sault on a good run after five minutes, before any threat fizzled out. But then Dales earned a corner, setting up Ryder, whose effort was just wide.

Two minutes later Dales put a tight cross in from the left, which went desperately close to getting between Roxburgh in the home goal and his cross bar, as the pressure continued.

Bennett then had a run through and forced Roxburgh into another save, tipping his right foot shot just around the post for another corner.

Although Mickleover were ahead possession wise, they had been unable to grab the equaliser, but things soon changed.

23 minutes in and Barnes was making a turn to leave him clear on goal, but Spennymoor skipper James Curtis was shown a straight red card for hauling him back.

Greaves free kick came to nought, but Sports were making every effort to maximise their player advantage, with Barnes forcing his way through after 32 minutes, before Dales tried a shot, which rebounded to Ryder, finding Sault who shot over.

Our hosts made a double substitution, but Sault managed to out run the defence again down the right, before the ball ran away from him.

With Delap player more of a sweeper role, Mann was able to move forward and found Greaves on the edge of the box. There were shouts for a handball, but the referee waved it away and the danger past.

Barnes then had a golden chance of an equaliser after 37 minutes. The keeper was committed but at full stretch his effort was just wide again.

But the equaliser finally came two minutes later, when Dales led another attack and after a one two with Wilson, they found Greaves in the middle, he made no mistake and it was 1-1.

Spennymoor had one more chance before half time when Anderson shot well over the bar from a Fielding cross, but it remained 1-1 as the half time whistle blew.

The first 10 minutes of the second half had been fairly even, with both sides looking to move forward, sticking to their passing style of play, bringing the ball out of defence.

After 55 minutes though Sault went close with another effort, before Atkinson came forward on the hour, setting up another Dales and Wilson move on the left. As Wilson put the ball in, Greaves was on the spot with a well placed header out of Roxburgh’s reach.  2-1.

Greaves had another shot eight minutes later, but it was straight at the keeper, before Sports made their first change with Ferron on for Wilson.

It was almost a hattrick for Greaves after 79 minutes, Dales set him up after beating the defence down the left, but at his second attempt his shot was blocked by Roxburgh.

As the clock ran down Mickleover were totally in control, with Spennymoor hoping for a lucky break.

Trueman came on for Ryder after 86 minutes and was immediately into the action, with a lovely back heeler to Bennett, who shot just wide.

Into the final minute and there was another goal. Greaves effort was blocked again, but Dales was following up and made it 3-1, before he went one on one with the keeper in time added on, with Roxburgh just there first.

Tomlinson made a late appearance as sub for Sault, but it was a good solid performance from Mickleover, against a top four National League North side and we now wait for the third round draw.

by Peter Scherer

It’s off to Spennymoor Town on Saturday for our second round FA Trophy tie.

Our hosts had a fairly good start to their National League North season and currently lie in fourth place. So Sports will need to be in top form, as they look to start another winning streak. 

Tuesday night Spennymoor hosted local rivals South Shields, looking to restore their home form after a defeat to Curzon Ashton and a draw with Boston Utd earlier this month, but finished the night 2-5 down.

They have recently been without manager Lewis Dickman too, who is currently recovering from surgery. Dickman was previously Academy manager at Sunderland and has been at Spennymoor since August last year.  He was initially first team coach, but became assistant manager in August, before taking charge following Jamie Chandler’s departure in September. But during his recent absence, Andy Inness has been in charge.

Former Middlesbrough junior James Montgomery is their first choice keeper, he returned on Tuesday night after injury. A former England C International and following his ‘Boro release he went to Guiseley, before a spell at the Nike Academy.

Telford, Gateshead, Forest Green, Fylde, Southend Utd and Chesterfield followed, before returning to Gateshead for a third time in March last year. He came to Brewery Field pre-season.

Michael Roxburgh is his deputy, having returned from a loan spell at Liversedge. He spent time at Sunderland and Hartlepool before joining Huddersfield Town. He was released by the Terriers at the end of last season and signed for our hosts in July.

Centre back Reece Staunton was a Republic of Ireland Under 18 International. He started out at Bradford City and was loaned to Ossett Utd and Bradford Park Avenue, before joining the latter on his release.

He spent last season with Park Avenue before coming to ‘Moors pre-season.

Lebrun Mbeka is another centre back that arrived pre-season from Boston Utd. He started at Tadcaster, before joining Guiseley, moving to Boston in September last year. He was then loaned back to Guiseley for one month.

Their third centre back is Tranmere Rovers loanee Ben Hockenhull, while right back Keenan Ferguson is another pre-season signing from Boston Utd. He was at Tottenham and Sheffield Utd Academies, before joining Boston in 2021.

Josh Doherty is a left back and former Northern Ireland Under 18 International. He started his career with Ards, before joining Watford in 2012. He’s played for Leyton Orient, Crawley Town, Colchester and Barnet too, before returning to Ireland with Portadown. He spent last season at South Shields, before coming to Brewery Field pre-season.

James Curtis is the senior player and club cpatian, another centre back who came to Spennymoor in July 2016, after 13 years at Gateshead. He previously played for Washington. 

Michael Ledger is primarily a centre back too. Another former Sunderland Junior, he went on loan to Viking Stavanger and Hartlepool. On his release he returned to Norway with Notodden for two years, before playing in Scotland with Queen of the South and Morton. He’s been at Spennymoor since August last year.

Ben Pollock is yet another centre back or defensive midfielder, whose father Jamie is a former Spennymoor manager. He was a junior at Middlesbrough, Leeds Utd and Newcastle, before joining Hartlepool on his release. He then joined Dunston UTS and Billingham Synthonia, before moving onto Hereford and spent last season at Boston Utd before coming to our hosts pre-season.

Although born in the North East, midfielder Mark Anderson spent most of his early career in the United States. He played his youth football with Sunderland, but joined Barry Bucs in 2010. Three years at Fort Lauderdale Strikers and another year at RailHawks preceded his UK return with Spennymoor in January 2016.

Midfielder Rob Ramshaw is another long serving player, having signed from Gateshead in July 2016. He also played for Darlington.

Danny Greenfield is a central midfielder, who had a spell at Manchester Utd before joining Barnsley in his junior days. He joined Gateshead on his release and had a loan spell at Matlock too. He joined Spennymoor in July last year, but spent part of last season on loan at Scarborough.

Left sided midfielder Corey McKeown arrived from Blyth Spartans in November 2022, after a four-year spell.

Central midfielder Callum Ross is another player to have sampled US soccer. Cramlington Juniors and Sunderland provided his early experience, before three years at Monkseaton preceded his move to Wingate Bulldog.

His US career was to last seven years, with Charlotte Independence and Oklahoma City, before joining South Shields on his UK return in January 2020. He has been at Brewery Field since January.

Connor Shanks moved between Huddersfield and Bradford City in his early career, before settling at Huddersfield. The midfielder was loaned to Nuneaton and Boston Utd before his release in January, from when he came straight to Spennymoor.

Central midfielder Sam Fielding started off at York City, before moving to Barnsley for three years. His next stop was Salford City, before returning to York. He joined our hosts in January from Bradford Park Avenue.

Sheffield Wednesday loanee Jay Glover is another midfielder, who had also been loaned out to Belper Town and Gainsborough Trinity.

With over 150 goals to his name since arriving from Ashington in 2015, Glen Taylor has become a Spennymoor legend. He had spells at Whitley Bay, Blyth Spartans and Ashington too, before arriving at Brewery Field. He scored 20 goals last season too.

Fellow striker Will Harris was on Burnley’s books after they signed him from Colne. He was then loaned back to his former club, as well as Warrington, before joining Sunderland on his release. He was then loaned to Barrow, before a permanent move to Gateshead, where he spent last season before his summer arrival at Spennymoor.

Owen Gallacher spent time with Newcastle City Juniors, Swallwell Swifts, Sunderland Academy, Ryton Blacks before joining Newcastle Utd. He moved on to Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Harrogate, before joining Burton Albion on his release. 

Next stop was Crawley Town, who loaned him to Gateshead, before a five-month spell with Grimsby Town preceded his arrival at Brewery Field in July.

Riley Mouat is a young striker that has come through ‘Moors own youth scheme and recently made his first team debut. Similarly midfielder Dan Atkinson has recently joined the first team squad too.

Kick off at Brewery Field ais 3pm, it’s a long way but your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer (Images by Steve Ingers)

It was a cruel blow, when having led from the ninth minute, Mickleover succumbed to a late penalty and had to share the points with rivals Needham Market.

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

With Delap back in defence after a one match suspension, Bradley moved into the defensive midfield position, as Mickleover faced Needham Market.

It was a positive start for both sides, as Needham’s Jacob Lay’s layed off a nice through ball, intercepted by the Mickleover defence, just before it reached Jamie McGrath.

Only nine minutes in and Bradley then  managed to get a clear run and set up Dales for the opener as Sports began to take charge, 1-0.

Visiting striker Dylan Williams tried his luck after 16 minutes when he thought he had caught keeper Bosworth off his line, but his lob was still comfortably collected by the Mickleover man.

The possession was going in Sports favour, but before the half hour mark there had been numerous chances. They hit the post after 23 minutes, had another shot blocked and then Barnes was just inches from planting the ball in the top corner.

Sault was brought down just outside the box, which earned the Needham defender a yellow card, but Greaves free kick then curled just wide.

Despite Mickleover’s dominance, they had been unable to add to the goal tally and it was Needham’s McGrath that had the final shot of the first half, again just wide.

It was the visitors that started the stronger in the second half, but after 51 minutes Greaves tried a long range effort, heading for the top left hand corner until Garnham saved at full stretch.

Only four minutes later a defensive error handed Mickleover another chance, forcing Garnham to tip the final shot over. The pressure was on again and when Barnes broke through the defence on the hour, Garnham raced off his line to narrow the angle sufficiently for the shot to go wide of his near post.

But the visitors were looking for the break and the equaliser, but Kieran Morphew’s shot was just wide of Bosworth’s left corner after 62 minutes, before McGrath put a ball inside with no one following.

Greaves then tried a long range shot after 70 minutes, but was just wide before Lay went close for the visitors, with a shot just wide of the right hand corner.

Mickleover had just bought on Ryley for his league debut in place of Sault, when Needham were awarded a penalty after McGrath was brought down. Luke Ingram stepped up and scored, but Bosworth was unlucky having got a hand to the shot, 1-1.

Ingram went close again two minutes later firing over the bar, but now it was Needham Market looking for a winner.

Beavon was a late sub for Barnes and in time added on Garnham still managed to beat out a Sports effort heading for his bottom left corner, before Morphew went close to for the visitors almost on time.

So it remained 1-1, the chances were there to take all three points, but we are still top of the league table by five points and have a game in hand over most other teams.

Next week it’s FA Trophy action again at Spennymoor, before we return to league action at Kettering on Tuesday 21^st.

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 200^th 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 11t^h 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!

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 22^nd 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 63^rd 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 67^th 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.