by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

From first half dominance to almost second half surrender, Mickleover were lucky to hold onto a point against bottom of the table St.Neots Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Danny Benson 3-Danny Gordon 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Archie White 8-Cieron Keane 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Thabang Dube. Subs: Andy Dales, Louis Bonser, Josh Ashman, Manni Norkett, Josiah Dyer.

The first shock of the game for Mickleover came after just four minutes, when St.Neots defender Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei was given a free run from almost the halfway line, while the home defence played statues. Firing in the opening goal from close range, keeper McDowell had little chance, 0-1.

It proved to be a wake-up call as Webb hit the post four minutes later, before Dube’s follow up from the rebound was well saved by visiting keeper James Goff.

Gordon then went on the overlap down the left, finding Beavon in the middle, whose flicking header was well saved again.

After building pressure the equaliser finally came after 13 minutes, when Webb had a powerful run down the right. As he fired the ball into the box, defender Charlie Bowen was first to connect, turning the ball into his own net, 1-1.

Mickleover had finally settled and took charge, keeping their visitors pinned back in their own half. Keane and Atkinson in particular were controlling midfield, and just two minutes after the equaliser, Sports were ahead when Keane created his own space, picked his spot and shot well out of Goff’s reach into the top left-hand corner, 2-1.

Possession wise it was all Mickleover, apart from a couple of breaks, when St.Neots won a 29th minute corner and MJ Muyembe had a shot, easily taken by McDowell.

With three minutes left on the clock until half time, White sprinted down the right and slipped the ball forward for Webb to run onto, timing his strike to perfection it was 3-1 as he beat the advancing keeper.

White was then fouled on the edge of the box, the free kick was taken short and Dube sent in a curling shot just over the bar.

The should have been settled from thereon, but with the whistle poised, the home defence were caught napping again. Bugyei-Kyei put a shot or cross into the box collected by McDowell and in time added on the St.Neots defender put another cross in, this time finding Harvey Williams who made it 3-2.

There was still a minute left which was mainly spent with St.Neots shots ricocheting off the home defence, in a half that should have seen Mickleover home and dry.

As the second got under way Mickleover continued to push forward for a while, but the visitors seemed more confident and looked to break out themselves.

Gordon put a nice ball through from the left, but it was too long for the chasing Dube and on the hour Dube went down in the box, but penalty appeals were waved away.

Webb then had a chance, but tried to beat an extra man and time ran out before he made a shot, as Mickleover appeared to lose both possession and direction and it was their turn to come under attack.

65 minutes gone and Muyembe hit the bar, his attempt then triggered a double substitution for Sports, with Dyer and Norkett on for Beavon and Dube, soon followed by Ashman on for Keane.

St.Neots went close again after 69 minutes with a shot just past the left-hand post, but more concerning was the lack of response from Mickleover.

Bonser then replaced Gordon, before McDowell had to charge off his line to save from the oncoming Rhys Thorpe, after he charged through the defence again.

There was a brief fightback after 82 minutes when various shots bounced off the visiting defence following a White free kick. It didn’t last long however when sub Harvey Henderson got on the end of a long throw for St.Neots giving them a well-deserved equaliser. 3-3.

The Mickleover changes had made little difference, but Norkett tried his luck with three minutes left after a Webb cross, but his path was blocked.

From a first half that for much of it looked almost a canter, the turnaround to a totally lack lustre second half was hard to take.

“We got lazy and lethargic, a lack of quality and urgency and it’s just no acceptable,” concluded Sports boss Gareth Holmes.

 

by Peter Scherer

This weekend we welcome St. Neots Town to the Don Amott Arena, following the postponement of last week’s game at Carlton.

Our visitors are currently at the foot of the table, after being promoted as United Counties League Premier South Champions, without a win since they beat Bedworth on home on Boxing Day. They have taken two points so far in 2026, and lost last Tuesday to Anstey Nomads.

In the reciprocal fixture back in October, Sports were 2-1 winners, with goals from Josiah Dyer and Archie White.

Mickleover still have a chance of edging into the play-offs, but are now eighth in the table, seven points away, with 11 games left, including four of the seven teams ahead of us.

Cameron Mawer has even put himself on the bench recently, a defender, having not played regularly since leaving Biggleswade in 2015. He has been in charge at St.Neots since May 2023 but played as a junior at Watford and Peterborough Utd and also for Grays, Weymouth, Arlesey Town and Boreham Wood. He then became assistant manager at Hendon and Boreham Wood and had run Academies at Kempston Rovers and Wealdstone.

Goalkeeper James Goff started out at Northampton Town. He was loaned to Banbury before joining Wisbech on his release. After a two year stay he moved on to Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd, before joining our visitors in July 2023 from St.Ives Town.

Second choice keeper at the moment is Thomas Sears, a product of the clubs own youth scheme.

Centre back and captain Robbie Parker started out at Bedford Town, before moving onto Biggleswade Town and St.Ives. He came to St.Neots towards the end of last season after a three- year spell back at Biggleswade.

Eniola Agamah-Davies is a right back who started out at Cambridge City. He has since played for Rushden & Diamonds and Wellingborough and started this year at Real Bedford, from where he joined our visitors last September.

Defender Lewis Burgess came from Daventry Town at the end of November after a four-year stay. He had previously played for Rothwell Corinthians and Real Bedford.

Charlie Bowen is another centre back, who has spent the last few seasons with our visitors. He had a long spell at Godmanchester Rovers too, with a 16 month break at Newmarket in between.

Fellow centre back Stacey Freeman was signed from Stamford last December. He started out with Lewes and Whitehawk, before a ninth month spell in the US with Thomas University Nighthawks.

He returned to the UK with Peacehaven & Telscombe and also played for Worthing, Eastbourne, Spalding and Wisbech, before joining Stamford for a second spell in February 2025.

Defender Harvey Henderson was another pre-season signing, having come from March Town.

Riley Baratt is a defender who has played for St.Ives and had a spell in the US with the Univeristy of Tennessee Souht.

Sammy Willis is a midfielder signed from Biggleswade in May 2024. He has also played for Potton Utd.

Fellow midfielder Andrian Ankrah came from Daventry Town in pre-season. he’s played for Long Buckby too.

Kwadwo Bugyei-Kyei is a midfielder too, signed last month from Royston. He started at Stevenage, who loaned him to London Colney and Hertford, before joining Eynesbury on his release. New Salamis, Dunstable and Slough followed, before a short stay at Berkhamsted preceded his arrival at Royston last December.

MJ Muyembe came from Leighton Town in pre-season. A midfielder, he was previously with Cheshunt and Hemel.

Brazilian born midfielder Claudio Dias started out at Northampton Town. After loans at Corby and Banbury he joined Dunstable following his release. His CV also includes Brackley, Braintree, Potton Utd, Stratford Town, Tamworth, Banbury, Nuneaton, Rushden & Diamonds and Alvechurch.

After a loan at Rugby Town he moved to Leighton Town and Walsall Wood, before starting last season at Banbury. He joined Rugby Borough at the start of this term and was new year arrival at St.Neots.

Marcus Goldbourne is a midfielder too, recently arrived from Barton Rovers, where he had started this season. After starting at Stevenage, he went to Sweden with Ytterhogdals IK, returning t the UK after six months to join Hitchin. After spells at Braintree, Brightlingsea and Royston, he was at Biggleswade for three years.

Attacking midfielder Jessi Obeng was previously at Wellingborough.

Striker Rhys Thorpe arrived from Eynesbury Rovers in November 2023 and was last seasons top scorer.

Winger Harvey Williams was a fringe squad player over the last two seasons, but has become a regular starter and scorer this term.

James Stainsby was a prolific scorer in St.Neots Under 18 side and returned to hosts last September from Deeping Rangers.

Neo Richard-Noel is another striker, who joined our visitors on November from Wellingborough. He started his career with Cambridge Utd and has also played for Kettering.

Striker Samuel Okloie is a Seychelles international and currently on loan from Cambridge Utd.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s fight to stay in touch with the NPL Midlands Division play-offs positions takes them to table toppers Carlton Town on Saturday.

Back in November the equivalent match at the Don Amott Arena ended in a 2-3 defeat for Sports.

Mark Harvey and Andy Clerke have been joint managers since the start of this season, having finished seventh in the NPL East last season.

Having gone a very long unbeaten run, our hosts have now lost two of their last three games, going down 1-2 to strugglers Bedworth Utd at home last Saturday. Due to postponements and re-arranged games, they have played seven of their last 10 games at home and have made only two team changes in the last five.

Goalkeeper Felix Annan joined our hosts in August 2023, after a season in the US with Maryland Bobcats. Ghanaian born, he started his career in his homeland, with Asanate Kotoko SC and spent time at the West African Football Academy.

Dean Freeman is a central defender, who joined Carlton at the start of the 22/23 season after a spell at Newark. He also made over 100 appearances for Coalville and has played for Sherwood Colliery, Belper Town, Loughborough Dynamo and Rainworth MW after starting his youth career at Barnsley.

Left back Lewis Durow is in his fourth season at Carlton. He’s played for Ilkeston Town, Holbrook Sports and Mickleover RBL too. he will probably be absent this weekend, following a red card last Saturday.

Right back Liam Bateman is another defender who started his career at Aston Villa, before three years at Kettering following his release. He’s also played for Basford, St. Ives, Tamworth and Worksop and joined Carlton in 2023.

Defender Shea Thompson-Harris joined our hosts following his release from Notts County in 2023.

Alex Howes is a central midfielder and another former Notts County junior. After a loan spell at Coalville and Tamworth, he joined Basford on his release. He initially came to Carlton on loan, before his move became permanent in February 2022.

Centre back Dan Brown is one of the longest serving players, having made his 20th appearance last season.

Attacking midfielder Jason Law arrived last October from Stamford. A graduate of Carlton’s own Academy after spells with Derby and Burton, Law went to Mansfield Town as a 16 year old. After loans at Sutton Coldfield, Gresley Rovers, Hednesford, Leek Town and Kettering, he moved to Scunthorpe last March after 10 years with the Stags. He was also loaned to Spalding Utd, before starting this season at Stamford.

Niall Davie can play midfield or striker. A home-grown player who came through the clubs own academy.

Niall Hylton is another midfielder, who joined our hosts from local club Gedling MW. He has played for Basford too.

Khyle Sargent is a midfielder who returned to the club in 21/22.

Ewan Robson is another midfielder signed in pre-season from Sherwood Colliery.

Midfielder or striker Lamin Manneh came from Dunkirk in 2022.,

Ollie Clark left Carlton in January 2021 to join Basford, but came back in October 2024 initially on loan from Stamford. He is also a midfielder.

Striker Ash Chambers was a pre-season signing from Barwell. He played over 140 games in League Two, scoring 17 goals, having started out at Leicester City. After loans at Wycombe and Grimsby Town, he joined York City, moving on to Cambridge Utd three years later. He’s also played for Dagenham & Redbridge, Nuneaton, Kidderminster, Brackley, Buxton, Coalville and Basford.

Striker Nat Watson is a long serving player. He returned to the club in 21/22 from Basford and has also played for Coalville,

Midfielder Huw Dawson arrived from Rushden & Diamonds last November. He started out at St.Albans City, before joining Kettering. He’s also played for Shepshed Dynamo and Bedford Town.

Logan Dimmock-Fox is the most recent signing, a young striker from Eastwood, who has also played for Alfreton Town and Radford.

Kick off at the is 3pm and your support would be more than welcome.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

HOPES of returning to winning ways were dashed when former Sports striker Tyrell Waite scored the only goal of the game after 32 minutes, to give Rugby Borough all three points.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Danny Benson 3-Danny Gordon 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Cieron Keane  9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Manni Norkett. Subs:  Paddy Webb, Fraser Corden, Louis Bonser, Josh Ashman, Josiah Dyer.

It was a  fairly lively start with Norkett almost getting on the end of an early half chance after two minutes. Three minutes later Dales and Dube sent Norkett through again, but he lost his footing just inside the box.

Rugby took a little longer to get up to pace, but 11 minutes in Grocott tried a shot from just outside the box, but it was an easy catch for McDowell in the Mickleover goal.

It was the hosts that earned the first corner, but that came to nought and then a clearance was blocked by Rowe who kept McDowell on his toes with another save after 15 minutes.

Norkett was fouled on another run, but Keane’s free kick failed to connect and went for a goal kick. But Norkett was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 26th minute. Beavon had battled for possession in the middle and found the advancing Norkett on his left. He shrugged off the first challenge but was fouled by keeper Bald. He managed to keep his footing and continued goalwards, with a shot just wide of the right- hand post, which drew no response from the referee to pull play back for the foul or the possible red card.

Five minutes later Wilkinson lost possession to Waite after a push which left the striker with a clear run on goal, firing into the far corner to make it 0-1, with McDowell given little chance.

Norkett then layed the ball off for Beavon to shoot a couple of minutes later, but his effort was just over.

Mickleover were ahead on possession and Dube and Dales both won consecutive corners as they pressed for the equaliser, but neither created any real chance.

Gordon tried a shot on the overlap with two-minute left before half time after Dales broke through, but it was just wide of the right-hand post and then Beavon and Gordon combined, before Dales tried his luck but that went over the bar.

There were  no half time changes, but despite being a goal down Mickleover started the half on the backfoot. Wilkinson managed to test the keeper after 56 minutes following a Keane free kick, just before Beavon and Keane were replaced by Dyer and Ashman.

It was still Rugby forcing the pace however, with Waite taking on Benson on the right. He managed to get a shot in but Benson had done enough and it was into the side netting.

64 minutes in and Bonser and Webb came on for Benson and Dube, but despite some interpassing around the halfway line, Sports were failing to create any real chances and were losing out in the final third.

Waite had another shot into the side netting after breaking through the defence. Grocott then had a shot bounce off the bar after 76 minutes as an equaliser for Mickleover was looking increasingly unlikely.

Webb was fouled as he tried to cut into the box and Gascoigne almost connected with Gordon’s free kick.

Corden was the final sub for Norkett and immediately took on the home defence. Despite two fouls on him being ignored, he found Webb on the left, but his cross was far too close to the keeper.

Collins put another chance over the bar for Rugby after 83 minutes, as Mickleover tried to make a final push. Gordon earned a corner and then Dales broke through, but took one stride too many before trying to shoot and any chance had gone.

So it remained 0-1 and Mickleover can look back at  reasonable first half, but a second that saw so no real fight.

 

by Peter Scherer

Following Tuesday nights disappointing exit from the Derbyshire Senior Cup, Mickleover will hopefully be returning to the form that saw us beat Basford Utd last weekend, as we visit Rugby Borough.

Unfortunately Jake Bennett took another nasty knock at Glossop, which sees him with another spell on the sidelines, but defender Danny Gordon just signed from Anstey Nomads, will be available.

While Mickleover remain just outside the play-off’s in sixth place, our hosts are now 13th following a 2-0 win at Long Eaton on Tuesday night. Now unbeaten in their last four games, since three successive defeats in the New Year, manager Dave Stringer has recently added to is squad.

Stringer has been in charge since May 2024 and when he brought his team to the Don Amott Arena back in October, it was a 2-2 draw, with Josiah Dyer and Paddy Webb scoring.

Rugby’s current first choice keeper is Marcus Bald, signed from rivals Rugby Town earlier this month. A former Northampton Town Junior, he also had spells at Harborough Town and Newport Pagnell before his release.

Prior to Bald’s arrival Ex Barnsley and Aston Villa youngster Sam Lomax had the shirt. He started at Nuneaton and played for Bedworth too, before spending two years at Racing Club Warwick before departing at Christmas.

Right back and captain Ellis Myles was a Leicester City youth player, that joined Brackley on his release. After spells at Rugby Town, Stamford and Corby he returned to Brackley and has also played for Boston Utd, Kettering and Telford Utd and had a month at Bedford at the start of this season, before joining our hosts.

Left back Luke Rowe was signed in pre-season too. Capped by New Zealand at full and under 20 levels, he was a Birmingham City junior, before returning to New Zealand with Wellington and Team Wellington. He came back to the UK with Hinckley Utd in July 2013, moving onto Eastwood, before an 11 year stay at Bedworth.

Amarvir Sandhu is also a left back, who began at Hinckley. Most of his career has been spent in Leicestershire, with Leicester Road, Barwell, Quorn and Shepshed Dynamo, before going to Coleshill in 2018. He then moved on to Harborough Town and Corby, before starting this season back at Barwell. He came to our hosts last September.

Right back Gary Stohrer came from Corby Town last December. His career started at Shaw Lane and Frickley, before spending seven years with Kettering Town, during which time he was loaned to Daventry Town.

Oran Jackson is a centre back that started out at MK Dons. After loans at Hemel and Brackley he went to Iceland and spent four months with IBV Vestmannaeyjar, before returning to the UK with Billericay.
His next stop was St.Ives Town, before seven months in Northern Ireland with Portadown. He’s played for Leighton Town and Daventry Town too and joined our hosts pre-season.

Fellow centre back Lathaniel Turner-Rowe came from Racing Club Warwick at the beginning of this month. He has league one and two experience and started his career at Leicester City. After loans at Cheltenham, Kings Lynn and Redditch, he moved on to Torquay and Luton, before a loan spell preceded a move to Alfreton.

He’s also played for Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Chester, Kettering, Tamworth, Stourbridge and Barwell and moved to RC Warwick last September.

Rich Black came from Dereham Town in pre-season. Another centre back, he has also played for Cambridge City, Grantham and Aylestone Park.

Lindon Meikle is a central midfielder and England C International. He played his youth football at Vernon Colts and Eastwood, before a three year stay at Mansfield Town, making 113 appearances in league two. He’s played for York City, Macclesfield, Alfreton, Barrow, Southport, Kettering, Tamworth, Buxton and Ilkeston and started this season at Barwell, before coming to Rugby Borough last September.

Central midfielder Jake Duffy came from Rushden & Diamonds in August, after a brief stay following his pe-season move from Aylestone Park. He started out with Oadby Town, and has also played for Holbeach, Stamford, Corby Town and Harborough Town.

Will Grocott is another central midfielder. He started off at Rugby Town, before moving to Kettering. Three years at Stratford followed, before a season at Stourbridge preceded his return. He came to Rugby Borough in February after 18 months with Bedworth.

Fellow midfielder Cameron Collins was signed from Sutton Coldfield in pre-season, where he had been a regular starter for the last few seasons.

Ex Bedworth and Coventry Sphinx midfielder Leo Stone arrived in pre-season too.

Antonio Cristofaro also plays in midfield. He started out at Walsall and had played for Market Drayton Town and Coventry Sphinx.

Cyprian Mtenga is on loan from Burton Albion, a midfielder, he’s also had a couple of spells at Shepshed Dynamo.

Derby born striker Kane Richards is another recent arrival, signed from Barwell two weeks ago, after a year with the Leicestershire club. An ex Derby County graduate, he was loaned to Matlock before a permanent move to Ilkeston. Chester, Gainsborough, Dover Athletic, Kidderminster, Basford, Nuneaton and Kettering followed, before returning to Basford in February ’24.

Striker Tyrell Waite spent part of the 23/24 season with Mickleover. He started out at Notts County and was loaned to Nuneaton and Ilkeston before a move to Lincoln City. He then went to Sweden for a year with Skelleftea FF, before returning to the UK with Nuneaton.

Kidderminster, Boston Utd, Matlock, Tamworth, Coalville were next and he came to Mickleover in February 2024 after six months at Ilkeston. He started last season at Basford and spent a year with Barwell, before joining our hosts a couple of weeks ago.

Johnson Gyamfi is a winger with recent Mickleover connections, having made a few appearances earlier this season on a dual registration with St.Ives Town. A Leicester City Junior from the age of 11, he also played for Peterborough Utd, during which time he was loaned to Boston Utd and Peterborough Sports.
Following his release, he spent a season with Harborough Town, before joining Barwell at the start of last season and had been at St.Ives since September 2024. He joined our hosts in December.
Striker Cyrus Bruce is currently on loan from Stratford Town, having arrived in December. He was previously at Daventry Town and Redditch, as well as a previous spell with our hosts.
Speedy winger Benji Adomako was signed from Coventry Utd in November.
Kick off is 3pm

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s hopes of reaching their first Derbyshire Senior Cup final for seven years were dashed, when a lack lustre performance saw Glossop secure a winning second half goal to finish 1-0 winners.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2- Josh Ashman 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Manni Norkett 10-Paddy Webb 11-Louis Bonser. Subs: Josiah Dyer, Fraser Corden, Stuart Beavon, Brad Gascoigne, Michel Iheidi.

On a fairly cold night Mickleover were first on the attack, winning a corner after two minutes, when a defensive mix up saw Atkinson have the first shot of the night deflected over the bar.

As the corner came in Webb got his headed to it, but keeper Oldham saved low to his right.

A free kick followed with Benson taking it from the half way line, but Igwewanne cleared it for our hosts.

Glossop started grow in confidence as Mickleover’s early attacks began to subside and after seven minutes they had their first chance, with Berry shooting wide from just outside the box after eight minutes.

Two minutes later Glossop earned their first corner, taken short and wasted, but pressure was starting to build on the Mickleover defence.

14 minutes in and McDowell tipped away a shot from Etia by his right post for another corner, but following the clearance our hosts earned another free kick

Gallagher had a shot over the bar two minutes later, but the pressure continued to build and left the Mickleover players starved of service from midfield.

Wood, Norkett and Atkinson started a nice build up after 18 minutes, until the ball was given away, leading to another Glossop break. Munoz, Etia ad Berry combined to earn a corner, with the final header from Hopkins easily held by McDowell.

Wilkinson headed away a dangerous cross, but despite the constant pressure from Glossop, the Mickleover defence was holding out.

Berry had another chance after 27 minutes, he split two defenders on the left, cut inside and then fired his shot into the side netting.

After Bonser was fouled by a combination of two defenders, it gave the Mickleover team a brief chance to regroup. It didn’t last however, as Glossop’s enthusiasm and drive was soon overcoming the undoubted skill advantage.

Just after the half hour mark Etia broke through again, but his shot was weak and easily taken by McDowell. But Mickleover then had to make their first change, with Bennett injured, Corden came on.

In time added on Dube finally outpaced his marker to cross from the right, but there was no one in the box and it ended 0-0, with Sports lucky to be on equal terms.

With no changes for the second half, it was Glossop on the attack again, with Bowker shooting over. But Sports got a rare shot in too after 50 minutes, when a defensive slip fell to Corden. He got his shot in through a crowded box, with little purchase, an easy stop for Oldham.

But 55 minutes it should have been 1-0 to Mickleover, when Dube’s solo run on the right saw him out pace the defence. With no one in the middle he drove on and fired it past Oldham in the Glossop goal. But the assistant reacted to some weak appeals from Glossop and raised his flag very late to deny a perfectly legitimate and well taken goal.

A goal would probably have been the turning point of the game, but it continued to go Glossop’s way with Gallagher’s random shot from distance over the bar on the hour.

Wood found Dube who then shot over the bar, but neither Norkett nor Webb were receiving any service still, despite Atkinson trying to lead by example.

65 minutes and the deadlock was broken when Schofield and Bardsley managed to run through the defence almost unchallenged, to find Etia who jinked inside to score 0-1.

Beavon then replaced Corden and there was just a glimmer that Mickleover might get back into the game. With 10 minutes on the clock Beavon’s cross on the left found Dube, but the shot lacked pace and was an easy stop.

Dyer and Gascoigne then came on for Dube and Bonser, but it was McDowell making a couple of saves. There were a couple of late corners for Mickleover and an 89th minute shot from Webb forcing the first diving save from the home keeper, but it was game over at 0-1, with the better team on the night heading for the Pride Park final.