Author: Square Peg

Reserves Lose Out In Mickleover Derby

by Peter Scherer

It was the long awaited local Derby game at the Don Amott Arena last night, as Mickleover Reserves took on Mickleover RBL in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Jake Bennett 3-Zac Sandu 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Pablo Mills 6-Charlie Rock 7-George Atwal 8-John McGrath 9-Kai Moore 10-Marcus Marshall 11-Jake Edge-Lucas. Subs: Owen Parr, Fin Ryder, Harry Atwal, Jack Leighton.

Sports were on the attack from the first whistle, with the visiting keeper saving a Mills shot after only two minutes, before the follow up shot went wide.

Two minutes later RBL had their first corner, as they tried to push forward, but in the early minutes the more experienced Sports line-up was proving to strong.

Bennett had made good progress down the right and as the ball came into the middle, Marshall fired home from close range after seven minutes, 1-0.

RBL continued to battle their way out of their own half and a dangerous cross from their left, just failed to connect with awaiting heads in the box a minute later.

The Sports midfield of McGrath, Edge-Lucas and Atwal were controlling much of the play, with Marshall playing off the back of Mills and Moore up front.

RBL broke again after 13 minutes, but couldn’t get a final shot in and a following break for Sports ended when Moore was fouled.

Possession and lots of interpassing continued with a second goal looking a strong possibility. With Moore fouled a couple of times, the final attacks were breaking down.

But after 24 minutes Marshall set up Mills on a positive run. He then found Sandhu on the overlap, but his shot was wide of the left hand post.

McGrath then spotted Mills in space on the right on the half hour, but the crossfield pass was intercepted.

Into the final third of the first half, RBL began to force the Sports defence back. Bonser and Rock had looked strong in the middle, aided by their experienced colleagues and Maher had barely had a touch in the home goal.

But a string of corners for the visitors were followed by a goal mouth scramble, from which Maher punched away the danger.

Bonser saved the day with a last ditch tackle on a breaking striker after 41 minutes, but then with two minutes left to half time there was another chance for Sports.

McGrath was brought down and took the free kick himself. Mills and Marshall linked up on the right before Edge-Lucas ran through to the bye line. But the keeper darted off his line as a cross was imminent.

Another free kick soon followed, with Mills on the end of the McGrath kick, shooting just over the bar again, so it remained 1-0 as the whistle went.

The second half started badly when Sandhu lost possession on the Sports left only two minutes in. The cross came in and was met with precision, giving Maher little chance, 1-1.

Only a minute later McGrath was brought down in the box. A clear penalty and even though the referee and his assistants were wired up for some reason, they failed to communicate and played on.

From there the referee began to react more to pressure from the RBL players than his own observations, similarly his assistants who were both very late flagging some dubious offside decisions.

Moore had been fouled again in the right hand-corner, but the referee gave an obscure decision and Moore appeared to get a yellow card. Minutes later Moore was involved in another skirmish, which virtually the RBL side started demanding his dismissal. Fortunately the ref ignored this growing display of bad sportsmanship.

Sports had another good build up after 52 minutes, but Bennett’s cross was too near the keeper. Three minutes later Edge-Lucas had a run which just failed to connect with Marshall. RBL then got a break and split the home defence to make it 1-2.

There was more officialdom farce when Ryder prepared to replace Moore. The assistant appeared to refuse the substitution until the electronic board was used. After all this is the Central Midlands League, not Premiership!

The mood of the game had continued to deteriorate and rather than stamp down on it, it appeared to be almost encouraged.

RBL fired a dangerous cross from their right on the hour, but the pace made it impossible for his team mates to respond. But Atwal forced the RBL keeper to save with his feet after 66 minutes, following a positive cross field ball from McGrath.

The turning temper of the game seemed to have fired up the Sports team and they started to take control for a period again.

Mills chased down a McGrath ball  but shot wide, then Atwal picked it up just outside the box, sending a lovely lob over the keeper into the roof of the net, 2-2 after 68 minutes.

Sandhu was close after a Marshall cross eight minutes later and then RBL had a free kick which went to waste.

Leighton was the next sub on and had a good run down the left after 81 minutes. He layed it off to Marshall, who then found McGrath whose shot was blocked.

With five minutes of normal time on the clock, RBL fired another cross in from the left, once more with too much pace on it. Bennett then responded for Sports but his cross from the right was too close to the keeper, after a promising build up.

Parr came on for Edge-Lucas on the 90 minute mark, but the ref played an excessive amount of add on. Well into that time Sports had lost out on the left and a cross came into the box.

Bonser was about to clear, when and RBL striker tried an overhead kick. As the Sports centre back pulled out of the challenge rather than being kicked in the face, the offending striker then passed and it led to the disputed winning goal for RBL, 2-3.

Injury Time Winner Seals Another Three Points for Sports

by Peter Scherer

Having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Alvechurch earlier this season, Saturday’s injury time winner from Oli Greaves proved to be adequate revenge.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Rhys Dolan 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Stuart Beavon 10-George Nunn 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Marcus Marshall, Phil Watt, Elliott Reeves, George Atwal, Oli Greaves.

After a delay due to an issue with one of the goals, Mickleover were soon attacking the Alvechurch goal, when Dales shot from the edge of the box kept the keeper on his toes as he pushed it away.

Danny Waldron earned the visitors their first corner a minute later, but it came to nought, before a last ditch tackle from Harry Williams thwarted another Mickleover attack to give a corner.

It was Dales again trying his luck after 14 minutes, cutting in behind the defence before sending his looping shot over the bar from a tight angle, with Jezeph racing out of his goal.

Only a minute later Dales was on another run when he was fouled, but Wilson’s free kick into the box was headed away by the visitors defence.

Beavon had his first crack at goal 19 minutes in, seeing his effort just wide of the post, before a rare header from Dales was only just wide after 23 minutes.

Another Waldron effort from outside the box proved an easy catch for Bosworth, but Nunn’s presence came to the fore just after the half hour mark, when he brought the ball down, finding Trueman with a low cross into the box. His effort was blocked but earned a corner.

As the corner came in, Jezeph, in the visitor’s goal, pulled off a great save from the following header, keeping the scores level.

Wilson had another free kick into the wall, but with five minutes left of the first half, an Alvechurch free kick from Tyrell Hamilton was only just over the bar.

Mickleover kept pushing for the opening goal as half time approached, with a Nunn shot blocked by Alabi after 42 minutes and Dales earning another corner after he slipped having rounded the rear of the Alvechurch defence.

Sports had the best of the first half, with the visitors pinned back into their own half for much of the game.

Dales continued to be the thorn in the side of the Alvechurch defence as the second half got underway, getting around the back of the defence yet again after 47 minutes, before Jezeph saved well again too.

Barely a minute later the keeper saved again from a Beavon shot and then Wilson put a free kick into the side netting. The attacks were gaining in intensity with Beavon looping a 51st minute effort over the bar, before appeals for a penalty after Bateman was fouled, were waved away.

Alvechurch had another chance with a 55th minute free kick. Teixeira played it to Carter who crossed, but Bosworth got a hand to it and pushed it away.

Waldron then had another chance a minute later, but his shot proved to be easy for Bosworth once more.

Trueman then made way for Greaves after 58 minutes, but after a nice one two between Warren and Beavon on the edge of the box , Warren final shot was well saved again after 65 minutes.

Dales had a shot headed over for a corner shortly afterwards and then Reeves came on for Beavon.

Time was beginning to run out, but with seven minutes left Bosworth had to pull off a magnificent save after a one on one with Alvechurch sub Prince Henry.

Marshall then replaced Nunn for the final minutes, but it was into time added on that the deadlock finally broke. Reeves initial shot was saved, but the rebound allowed Greaves to tap home into an empty net to make it four successive wins and five from six games.

It was a strong performance from the Mickleover team and without the heroics of visiting keeper Dan Jezeph it would have been sewn up earlier. Not surprisingly he was named Alvechurch man of the match.

Reserves Go Down In Local Derby

by Peter Scherer

It was only a short journey across the city for Mickleover Reserves, as they visited Graham Street Prims last Saturday.

The hosts started strongly and piled on some early pressure, followed by a string of corners.

Mickleover’s first real attack came when Charlie Rock sent a long upfield ball, which set Dean Ironmonger on a run down the right, only to be stopped by two defenders.

Ironmonger and Declan Brown shared a nice exchange, before Brown’s shot was easily taken by the keeper and then Jack Leighton outpaced the defence on the right, but his cross missed the heads in the centre.

Sports were getting into the game more and the home keeper made another save from Brown, after he latched onto a cross from Fin Ryder.

But it was the home side ahead when Brad Daley tapped in at the far post after 24 minutes, following a cross from the Mickleover left 0-1.

Brown had gone off injured  and Ryder had a good chance after being set up by Ironmonger. But it could have been a second for Prims when a rare Maher mistake gave the striker a free shot, which fortunately headed skywards.

Mickleover were straight on the attack as the second half got underway, but Leighton was unable to get his cross in after another charge down the right.

But Prims were soon looking dangerous again and went three on one against Rock, who stayed solid and cleared the danger.

Back on the break Zac Sandhu got a cross in for Sports, but there was no one to receive and then Rock found Ryder on the right, following a corner, only for the ref to blow for a foul.

But just after the hour Daley made it two for Prims after break.

There was one last chance for Mickleover when Jake Edge-Lucas’ free kick earned a corner, but it remained 0-2 with Sports still sixth in the table.

Finally It’s Alvechurch

by Peter Scherer

Although the season is coming to a close, three postponements have meant we are yet to play Alvechurch in a league match.

Having lost out 2-3 in the FA Cup, we have been due to visit ‘church three times in the league, all have been postponed, the last of which was only minutes before kick off!!

With a lot of other postponements our visitors are still playing catch up, and are currently 16th with about five games in hand.

They lost 1-2 at home to Rushall Olympic on Tuesday night, but were 4-1 victors at St Ives last Saturday, with a Danny Waldron hattrick, their first win in six games.

Alvechurch manager Ian Long came back to the club in February 2020, having previously been there for four years, before joining Stourbridge.

First choice goalkeeper Dan Jezeph was a Walsall Junior, who was at Tamworth and Worcester City before joining Alvechurch in July 2021.

Reserve keeper Harvey Randle came from Derby County last July and has been out on loan at Coventry Utd too.

Ashley Carter is a centre back that came from Halesowen in May 2021. He was a Wolves Academy player and was loaned to Chesterfield and Tamworth before joining Kidderminster on his release.

He then came to Alvechurch in July 2017, joining Nuneaton a year later. November 2018 he was back at Alvechurch, before moves to Stourbridge and Halesowen preceded his third and current spell with our visitors. He is the current club captain.

Peter Taylor is a defensive midfielder, who started out at West Bromwich Albion. He was loaned to Stourbridge before coming on loan to our visitors in March 2020. But after four months back with the Baggies, he returned on a permanent basis.

Ex Aston Villa Junior right back Brad Burton has established himself in the starting line-up in the six months, after joining our visitors in October 2021.

Josh Dugmore is a young right back who was with the Walsall and Everton football Academies before joining Birmingham City on a scholarship. Following his release from the Blues he joined Bromsgrove for the start of last season and was a virtual ever present for them throughout the season, making a total of 47 appearances.

He then joined AFC Telford United last July, but moved to Banbury in September and signed for Alvechurch in January on a dual contract.

Jed Abbey can play midfield or right back and started his career with Wolves. He went to Telford after his release and came to Alvechurch pre-season.

Midfielder Tom Edge was a pre-season signing too. He played junior football at Telford and Walsall before heading for the US, where he had four years at Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

Jack Concannon was another one of the pre-season signings. An ex Birmingham City Junior, he was loaned to Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth, before going to Tamworth on his release.

Striker Leo Brown arrived in July last year too. He was picked up by Birmingham City from Crusaders FC, before returning to Northern Ireland with Ballymena and Ards after three years. He came back to England with Sutton Coldfield in September 2021.

Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton is a young striker in his third spell at the club. After being at Birmingham City, he had two years with Bournemouth, which included loans at Salisbury and Gosport.

He came to Alvechurch in July 2020 after his Bournemouth release, moving to Telford a year later. He was then loaned back to Alvechurch, before making his stay permanent earlier last year.

Former West Bromwich Albion defender Ben Cassidy holds the record of being the youngest Alvechurch debutant, when he first appeared for the first team in 2018 aged 16.

Striker Danny Waldron arrived from Leamington in July last 2021 and he’s also played for Rushall Olympic. He got a hattrick in their 4-1 win over St Ives last Saturday.

Former Coventry Academy defender or midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed at the end of last summer. He moved to Stratford Town at 14 and was at Shrewsbury Town until the end of last season.

Defender Harry Williams and midfielder Jack Hallahan both hit the headlines after being hospitalised following a clash of heads in the opening game of the season.

Both are former West Bromwich Albion Juniors. Williams then moved to Burnley for a year, before coming to Alvechurch last July.

Hallahan is a former Irish Under 19 midfielder, who who moved on to Hednesford and Bromsgrove, also having had a spell in Cyprus too.

Joining the plethora of ex West Brom Juniors is Angolan born midfielder Aurio Neto Teixeira. He joined our visitors last September, after a summer release from the Baggies.

Striker Manny Olakoko arrived last July from Leamington, but was almost immediately sent out on a three month loan to Heather St John.

Jeremy Abbey had made one appearance since his arrival. He has spent most of his career at Telford, with loans at Markey Drayton, Barwell and Rushall.

Left back Jamie Melbourne was a new year signing, after being released from Stoke City. He spent time at West Bromwich Albion too.

Midfielder Maxwell Ngbeken was a pre-season signing from Darlaston.

Midfielder Remi Walker is currently on loan until the end of March from Birmingham City. Similarly centre back Abel Alabi has been loaned by Coventry City, who signed him from Waterford in January 2022. He had a spell at Tamworth too at the end of last year.

Ben Beresford is another loanee, a striker from Birmingham City.

Finally Jamie Soule was signed only a couple of weeks ago from Dover Athletic. Yet another West Brom junior striker, he had loans at Barrow, Cheltenham and Lincoln before his release. He made his debut in the recent defeat at St Ives and is capped by England at Under 16 and 17 levels.

Kick off at the Don Amott as usual is 3pm.

Goalless Draw For Reserves

by Peter Scherer

Having gone down 0-2 to Wirksworth Ivanhoe earlier this season, Mickleover Reserves were looking for revenge last night at the Don Amott Arena, in their Central Midlands Premier Division South clash.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Jake Bennett 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Daryl Powell 6-Zac Sandhu 7-Jack Leighton 8-Fin Ryder 9-Declan Brown 10-Kai Moore 11-Marcus Marshall. Subs: Dean Ironmonger, Owen Parr.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with both teams seemingly keen to make an opening impression.

Wirksworth had their first corner after two minutes, but  that and other early forays were comfortably dealt with by Bonser and Powell in the middle of the home defence.

Brown had the first shot for Mickleover after three minutes, but it was just wide after a deflection, to earn  a corner.

Although both sides were attacking, Mickleover seemed to have more direction, with Brown and Moore both having early shots blocked, before Bennett fired a rebound, which again was blocked.

Moore then played a lovely cross field ball for Brown to chase, but it just outran him for a goal kick.

Whereas Mickleover’s gameplan seemed more gradual and constructive, Wirksworth were happier with the long ball and more random shooting, but 11 minutes in and a long run from Marshall, just failed to connect with Brown again.

Marshall then fired a free kick over the bar a minute later, but seemed to be relishing showing his experience and trickery in midfield. But after 26 minutes he lost possession and sent Wirksworth on a break, they earned a corner, which was easily dealt with.

Just after a couple more corners for our visitors, Moore went close on the half hour, with the keeper tipping his shot around the right hand post for a corner, with the following shot then wide.

Marshall continued to put some telling long balls through the defence, but they continued to be too long for Brown to connect. But Marshall had the ball in the net after 32 minutes,  but was ruled offside.

Ferron had been fairly quiet on the left wing, but easily outpaced the defence 34 minutes in. His cross was then just a whisker from finding Moore.

Ryder had his first shot of the game two minutes later, but was wide, and then 38 minutes in the Wirksworth keeper had to make the first real save of the game, when he saved a Marshall effort with his legs, following a corner,

Maher had to make his first save a minute later too, when a deflected shot was pushed away.

Wirksworth tried another random longshot after 40 minutes, which Maher caught easily and then Bennett and a positive break down the right, timing his cross to perfection. Brown miskicked, but the ball fell to Moore, but his shot was wide of the left hand post.

Moore went close again with two minutes of the first half left. His close range effort was well saved by the Wirksworth keeper though.

There was an early scare for Mickleover when only a minute into the second half Powell lost possession and left a striker one on one with Sports keeper. But Maher dashed out of his goal and bravely blocked at the strikers feet.

But the visitors were pushing forward and for a while Mickleover were pegged back in their own half. Although Wirksworth got a few shots in, they were way off target.

Mickleover finally came forward again as the hour mark approached, as Ryder and Moore combined before Brown picked up the cross. His shot was deflected for a corner and Sandhu then shot over.

Wirksworth then had a shot just wide of the left hand post, before Moore beat a number of defenders to cut in from the left. His final ball went across the goal face, but no one connected.

Parr came on for Leighton after 67 minutes and was soon involved in the play, but six minutes later a Brown chase saw him collide with the keeper and a defender, but all three continued after treatment.

Into the final 15 minutes and it was still stalemate, but having had fairly good game so far, the referee started dishing out free kicks that no else saw.

Marshall was jinking through and was well tackled, but the ref gave a free kick. Moore followed up with a shot, but had no power and failed to trouble the keeper.

Another high and wide effort from Wirksworth came after 80 minutes, but then a corner for Sports ended with another imaginary foul against Sports.

Then a another free kick after 84 minutes for a non foul, before Maher had to dive at a strikers feet again, following  long throw,

Ryder had found Brown as time ran out, but the young striker failed to get a shot in. Dean Ironmonger was then on for Brown, before the strangest decision of the night. Moore was almost wrestled to the ground by the Wirksworth right back, but the ref gave a free kick to the visitors and booked Moore for querying the decision,

In time added on Moore had a final shot blocked, before the game concluded for Mickleover’s first 0-0 of the season.

They have two local Derbies over the next week too, visiting Graham Street Prims next Saturday, before hosting Mickleover RBL on Tuesday night.

Late Rally Earns Reserves At Point

by Peter Scherer

When all look lost for Mickleover Reserves at Linby MW in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South match, two late goals salvaged a point.

An early free kick for the hosts was headed away by Charlie Rock, and there was a good cross shortly afterwards from Owen Parr. Declan Brown managed to connect but there was no power behind his header.

Two successive corners for Linby caused some concern in the Mickleover defence, after bobbling on the grass pitch, but both were headed over.

Josh Maher then punched away another corner, before Harry Atwal cleared the danger, from the wind assisted kick.

Ronnie Bonser was then yellow carded but Maher coped comfortably with the following free kick.

Brown had another shot over the bar but two goals followed for Linby before half time, the second from a long ball over the defence. 2-0.

The second half started with a couple of goal mouth scrambles, but Sports defence cleared it and shortly afterwards Dean Ironmonger was the first of the subs to be used.

Ironmonger got Mickleover back into the game when he got through to find Zac Sandhu, but the home keeper just managed to intercept.

But Ironmonger pulled one goal back when he wrong footed the keeper with a shot outside the box, 1-2.

Leading scorer Brown then got on the scoresheet too, when total confusion in the home defence, saw the ball dropped at his feet, readily accepting his chance, ending the match 2-2.

(Notes and image supplied by Mickleover Reserves twitter).

Three In A Row For Sports

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover made it two wins in a week and three in succession with victory at Basford Utd on Saturday.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 4 Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-George Nunn 11- Mason Warren, Subs: Marcus Marshall, Will Trueman, Elliott Reeves, George Atwal, Oli Greaves.

Mickleover were straight into the attack from the start and after some tidy work on the left from Dales, the ball came to Beavon in the middle, who turned and fired home after three minutes, 1-0.

Nunn almost broke through a few minutes later, but his final pass went awry. But Mickleover had early control of midfield, through Warren, Wilson and Bateman.

It was so nearly a second for Mickleover after 12 minutes, when Warren worked through on the right , crossing to find Beavon. His strike hit the left-hand post, before Wilson’s rebound shot went wide.

Basford won a free kick though on the Mickleover right after Gregg Smith hit the deck, and Matt Thornhill’s free kick found Courey Graham, who set up a Brad McGowan header for a 16th minute equaliser. 1-1.

The goal began to turn the game, with Basford starting to take the upperhand. Bosworth palmed away another Thornhill free kick after 17 minutes and only a few later yet another Thornhill free kick came close. It had fallen for Courey Grantham, whose pass just missed connecting with Smith.

Josh Barnes had a cross or shot the roll wide, but the hosts were continuing to keep Mickleover pinned in their own half.

Dales managed to get clear, earning a corner, after Owen Betts had cleared his attempt on goal. Watt then tried his luck, but saw his effort just over.

Dolan had to cut out the threat from a following Basford break, and shortly afterwards Watt lost possession on the left, but Kameron Campbell couldn’t maximise his chance on goal.

As Warren broke out, he was fouled on the half way line, but shortly afterwards he was having a shot at goal too. There had been a good build up on the right, but no clear shooting opportunity. Dales tried and was blocked, then Warren fired his follow up just over the bar.

As half time approached Mickleover had begun to break out again, with Dales getting into box, before being called for a foul when his challenging defender just fell over.

Nunn was then pushed down for another free kick, as the half came to a scrappy end, with far too many whistles, and although a Basford header went just over with the whistle poised, it remained 1-1.

Watt had taken a knock in the first half and failed to reappear, so Mann moved into the middle of defence with Dolan swapping to the right and Wilson on the left, as Trueman came on in midfield.

It was a strong start to the half by Mickleover though, with Trueman shooting just wide at the second attempt. But only five minutes into the half Dales limped off and was replaced by Greaves.

Smith then won a free kick for Basford after backing into Mann and Basford soon had another free kick after Dolan was booked for a trip on Da Silva Bastos just outside the area.

Bosworth made a fantastic save as Thornhill’s kick glanced the bar and then penalty appeals were waved away, when Bastos went down, shortly after his effort hit the post.

Mickleover came out with avengeance though and a good cross from Trueman just missed connecting with Beavon, and earned a corner,

But just before the hour mark Dolan had come screaming through the middle, evading challenge to find Nunn, who made no mistake in making it 2-1.

As the hosts made changes to try and equalise again, Mickleover began to push forward, but Barnes almost broke through the defence after 73 minutes, before Butler cleared the lines.

Smith had a good chance for Basford a minute later, but put his header wide to the left and then Butler was almost caught out, before Bosworth charged out to clear.

Reeves came on for Nunn for the last 10 minutes and found himself in the book, after the referee took offence to the words he received after awarding a dubious free kick.

Warren tried an exploratory lob after seeing keeper Preston off his line and Lewis Carr put a strong header just wide for the hosts.

As Mickleover played the holding game in the final minutes, a frustrated Basford side gave away a couple of free kicks and after four minutes were added on, the final whistle went with the 2-1 win and three more pints secured.

Sports Look To Do The Double

by Peter Scherer

Having beaten near neighbours Basford Utd 2-1 back in November, Mickleover will be looking to do the double when we visit them on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Mark Clifford’s side have had a mixed season and currently lie 13th in the league table. They are seven points behind Mickleover with two games in hand.

They have had three wins in the last 10 games and drew 1-1 at home in their last match against Bromsgrove, having won away at Stourbridge the previous week.

Mickleover will still be without Jonathan Hedge and Mitch Rose, but Oli Greaves may be fit to rejoin the squad.

Let take a look at our hosts.

Goalkeeper Kieran Preston is a former Scotland Under 19 International, whose been at Basford since December 2019. He played his junior football at Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers.

Second choice keeper Gianni Musson was in goal for Basford when they beat Mickleover in the FA Youth Cup in a penalty shootout, having previously been at Derby County, Nottingham Forest and Notts County.

Brad McGowan is a centre back signed from Peterborough Sports in July 2022. He started out at Notts County, before joining Grantham on his release. He then joined Alfreton and was loaned out to Boston Utd before his stay became permanent. He then moved on to Frickley and back to Boston, before a two-year stay at Peterborough.

Josh Barnes was a pre-season arrival. A former Nottingham Forest junior, the young defensive midfielder had two loans at Truro City, before coming to Basford following his release from Forest.

Right back Dom Roma has sometimes captained the side. He has a long and well-travelled career that started at Sheffield Utd. Loans at Boston and Tamworth were followed by a move to Hinckley Utd, moving on to Alfreton, Harrogate, Gainsborough and Scarborough.

He first came to Basford in July 2017, but after almost two years he returned to Scarborough, only to return to Basford four months later.

Midfielder Adam Chapman was another pre-season signing. A former Northern Ireland Under 19 and 21 International, he started off at Sheffield Utd. Having moved onto Oxford Utd, loans at Newport and Mansfield followed, before a permanent move to Newport, preceded a return to Mansfield. He made over 150 League Two appearances, before going non-league with Gainsborough, Boston Utd, Sheffield, Handsworth and Grantham. Then he had nine months at Ilkeston before signing for Basford.

Ben Starkie is a central midfielder and capped by Tanzania at full, under 17 and under 20 levels. He started at Rugby Town before going to Germany with Wilhelmshaven. On returning to the UK he joined Shepshed Dynamo, and had eight months at Spalding Utd before joining Basford last summer.

Midfielder Matt Thornhill had captained the side for part of this season. Another former Forest Junior, he was loaned to Brighton and Cheltenham, before joining Hibernian in December 2012. 

With 80 league games under his belt, he then joined Buxton, moving on to Shaw Lane and Gainsborough, from where he came to Basford in March 2017.

Striker Anthony Dwyer was another summer 2022  signing. He was a Mansfield Town Junior and has been regularly on the move. Stafford, Matlock, Telford, Hednesford, Altrincham, Leamington, Barwell, Tamworth, Glebe, Stourbridge and Alvechurch, before spending nine months at Nuneaton prior to his Basford signing.

Fellow striker Gregg Smith is well-travelled too, since starting off at Corby. Much of his career has been spent in Lincolnshire with Grantham, Stamford, Gainsborough and Boston Utd, with brief stops at Kings Lynn and Tamworth. He arrived last summer too after his second spell at Spalding and currently captains the side.

Centre back Declan Dunn has been at Basford since August 2020, following his release from Notts County. He also had a loan spell at Grantham.

Lewis Carr is another central defender, who came from Grantham in 2016. He played for Stamford and Quorn too, after a spell at Cambridge Utd.

Midfield or wing suits Harvey Grice, another former Forest youngster who joined Alfreton on his release. He had a months loan at Basford back in February 2022, before making it permanent in the July.

Defender Stern Irvine was another Notts County Junior. He came do Basford in May 2022 after spending the last season at Ilkeston.

Striker Kevin Da Silva Bastos only arrived last month from Loughborough Dynamo. An ex Forest Junior, he moved on to Ilkeston and Tamworth, before joining Loughborough. 

Kameron Campbell is a dual registered player with Long Eaton Utd. He came to Basford in December and has made a couple of starts so far.

Yet another ex Notts Junior is Owen Betts, who arrived in 2020 after loans at Dover Athletic and Worksop.

Riece Bertram was another summer 2022 arrival from Belper Town. He was at Basford in 2016 too, but has also played for Carlton, Matlock and Ilkeston.

Striker Tyreece Palmer came on loan from Notts County in January 2022, before making his stay permanent. He also had spell at Melton Town.

Midfielder Courey Grantham has been with the club for seven years, since coming from Heanor Town. He has also played for Ilkeston and was loaned to Hednesford last season.

Ollie Clark is another midfielder, signed from Carlton in January 2021, but has been out of action for much of his time with the club due to injury.

Defender Jordan Haywood has come through the Academies at both Scunthorpe and Mansfield before joining Basford, but has also been loaned to Newark, Heanor and Eastwood Community. 

Nathaniel Peters was also at Mansfield and both played a major part in our hosts FA Youth Cup run last year.

Striker Wayde Hines was a Forest Junior, who arrived at Basford last season. He also had a loan spell at Grantham.

Mitchell Tait is a young left back signed from Ilkeston in December 2021.

Midfielder Lynden Joyce has also come through Basford’s junior ranks, along with strikers Lui Bull and Tyler Dacres.

Striker Lewis Rourke and defender Louis Nicholson are both more recent additions to the squad, having graduated from the clubs own Academy in December.

Kick off is at 3pm and we hope to see as many Mickleover supporters as possible making the short journey down the A52.

Reserves Return To Winning Ways

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover youngsters returned to winNing form last night, with  a 2-1 victory over South Normanton in the Central Midlands Premier Division South.

Sports were looking in fairly good shape from the kick off, but then gave away a free kick, which was followed some careless passing.

But then Fin Ryder got clear on a run and earned a free kick just outside the box. Harry Atwal’s kick rebounded back to him, earning -corner at the second attempt. As the corner came in Charlie Rock met it with a cheeky back heel and it was 1-0.

Ryder managed to make a midfield interception to find Declan Brown. They had a quick one-two, but a last-ditch tackle thwarted any attempt on goal.

Both Jack Leighton and Brandon Ferron started to use their pace on the wings. Leighton found Brown, whose shot was just over the bar and then Ferron reciprocated, with Brown’s effort rebounding to Leighton, only to shoot straight at the visitors keeper.

Another Leighton cross was met by Owen Parr’s head, but failed to trouble the keeper.

Brown was then in the action again though, having come back on side to meet a Leighton pass. He ran back through the defence, let fly and hit the underside of the bar, which then deflected into the net 2-0.

Mickleover keeper Josh Maher had easily coped with any threat from South Normanton and almost set up Ferron for a late run as the half time whistle arrived.

Mickleover started the second half strongly, with Atwal finding Ronnie Bonser. He got a cross in to the far post but there was no one to meet it.

South Normanton managed to earn another free kick, failing to trouble Maher and then Brown held the ball nicely, to set up Jake Edge-Lucas, but his shot was over the bar.

Brown had a another half chance, which then became a South Normanton break, before Rock charged back to recover the situation.

A few random long distance shots from South Normanton failed to trouble the Mickleover goal, only for a late free kick to be headed in from the far post to make it 2-1.

Dean Ironmonger had come as sub and had one late chance, reigning in on the South Normanton keeper. But the keeper won the duel and remained 2-1 as the final whistle went.