by Peter Scherer

Character and heroism came to the fore at Stourbridge last night, when having faced the whole second half a man down, a stunning Reeves winner clinched the points for Mickleover.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Elliott Reeves 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Oliver Bosworth, Rhys Dolan, Mitch Rose, Stuart Beavon, Pablo Mills.

It was a fairly scrappy start to the game with passes from both sides going awry. Dales had an early shot blocked and Stourbridge failed to make anything from the first corner of the game.

Prosser then a wild shot for the hosts after 10 minutes, before Wilson got on the end of a Mickleover attack, duelling with two players on the edge of the box.

White and Lyttle worked well for our hosts down the right wing, but there was no one on the end of Lyttle’s cross. Watt cleared for Mickleover but Lyttle sent another cross in, once more to no avail.

Wilson was then chasing down a Stourbridge break and caught the heal of his quarry. The referee obviously saw more malice in the incident than anyone else and reached for his yellow card.

The following free kick was way off target, but led to a Trueman run at the home defence. The breakdown prompted a break down the Stourbridge left with Anaebonam outpacing his pursuers to slot the past Hedge into the far corner, 0-1 after 16 minutes.

Sports started to break out a little more with Marshall, Dales and Warren setting up a positive move three minutes later, with Warren earning a corner.

21 minutes in and Anaebonam had another chance, but completely missed connecting with Lyttle’s dangerous cross into the box.

The ball then ran loose and Kettle decided to have a crack at goal, seeing his effort sent out for another corner, headed clear by Butler.

Dales then launched on his first real run after 24 minutes, but was hacked down by Jack Wilson. He went in the book too, as Ryan Wilson lined up the free kick.

The game had opened up more with Mickleover in the ascendanacy. After some Trueman trickery on the edge of the box after 26 minutes, he set up Reeves for a run into the box.

A clumsy challenge from centre back Knight, saw Reeves hit the ground and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Warren stepped up and fired straight down the middle, with keeper Price well beaten 1-1.

Mickleover were on the attack again a couple of minutes later, with Wilson just connecting to get a half effort blocked, but Lyttle again proved to be dangerous on the break for our hosts. He beat the defence, but there was no one to receive the final ball.

Dales had a chase after 34 minutes but the keeper beat him to it and a couple of minutes later Trueman made good progress to find Wilson, but his curling cross from the left had no one to receive at the far post.

White then failed to maximise a chance for our hosts, when he put a clear opportunity well wide of Hedge’s right-hand post.

The referee then made his presence known again, when Wilson was alleged to have put in a high tackle on White. Having already given the Sports player a totally unnecessary yellow card earlier, he was almost pressed into a second yellow and subsequent red, by the aggression shown by a couple of the Stourbridge players.

Mickleover were down to 10 men but made a quick change with Dolan coming on to replace Marshall for the final five minutes of the half.

There was an expected barrage from Stourbridge at the start of the second half, with Watt, Butler, Bennett, Dolan and Mann defending heroicly, but struggling to break out of their own half.

There was a lot of short passing from Stourbridge, without any positivity, until Prosser fired a long range shot in for Hedge to tip over.

Home skipper King seemed to be getting more vociferous in the refs’s ear, and when Kettle forcibly held back Reeves in a 52^nd minute break, he was one of a number of players who made sure the assistant ignored the confrontation.

Prosser then received a yellow which he had probably deserved earlier, but the frustration was beginning to show for Stourbridge, both on the pitch and in the crowd.

Dales and Dolan worked together to get away after 65 minutes, they earned a corner, but that led to White making a break for Stourbridge, earning a corner from Hedge’s save.

Mickleover had grown in confidence again mainly due to our hosts lack of success, and Dales cut in from the left but was off balance as he shot over the bar.

There were appeals for a penalty after 74 minutes after White fell over in the box. At least on this occasion the ref ignored the Stourbridge pleas.

But a moment of magic soon followed when a positive break in the 76^th minute saw Mickleover charging goalwards. Reeves was head down and taking route one, firing past Price into the waiting net, 2-1.

A few minutes later Reeves came off after a slight knock to be replaced by Beavon, but there was surprisingly no real urgency from the home side. They made a couple of changes, but failed to trouble the Mickleover defence in the final minutes and with Mills subbing for Trueman the whistle blew and all three points were safe for Mickleover.

by Peter Scherer

Our twice postponed visit to Stourbridge finally takes place tonight at 7.45, with Mickleover only four points behind Rushall Olympic and the final place in the end of season play-offs, with six points still on the table.

Our hosts tonight beat Rushall 2-0 at home last Saturday, but lost to Rushden by the same score in their previous home game.

Our hosts Joint managers Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint have been in charge since October 2021 and are both still registered to play.

Centre back Broadhurst is the clubs record appearance holder on 780, spending 10 years at the club before moving to Bromsgrove.

Pierpoint is also a centre back who has also played for Oldbury Utd, Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen, Stafford, Nuneaton, Solihull, Leamington and Brackley before a four-year stay at Stourbridge from July 2015. He was at Coalville before returning to our hosts.

Goalkeeper Charlie Price is in his second spell at the club, having left to join Alvechurch in June 2016, before returning three years later.

Defender Joel Kettle is in his second spell at the club too. He started out with Sutton Coldfield before joining Stourbridge in August 2014. His career then took him to Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Rushall, Solihull, Tamworth and Nuneaton, before joining our hosts pre-season from Bromsgrove.

Striker Darryl Knights is a former Ipswich Junior, who was capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and was loaned to Yeovil, before joining Kidderminster on his release.

Solihull was his next stop, then Newport and Solihull before returning to Kidderminster. After a spell at Tamworth, he had two years at Telford, before coming to Stourbridge in July 2020.

Full back Jack Wilson was another signing from Bromsgrove back in September 2021. He had made 200 appearances before his move and had a brief loan spell at Lichfield City too.

Jason Cowley is a striker who came from Bromsgrove too in July 2021. He started out at Redditch, before a first spell at Bromsgrove preceded a move to Stevenage. He was loaned to Solihull and on release he had a month at Macclesfield, before rejoining Bromsgrove.

Midfielder Reece King arrived from Buxton in July 2021. He started his career at Malvern Town, before moving on to Gloucester City and Hednesford. After a spell at Leamington, he rejoined Hednesford, before going to Buxton in February 2020.

Joe Hull is another returnee having arrived for his second spell from Alvechurch in December 2021. He started out at Kidderminster, before moving to Redditch in 2010. Further moves took him to Hinckley Utd and Stourport Swifts, before returning to Redditch.

He first came to Stourbridge in February 2016 after just over three years at Halesowen. But after eight months and a loan at Tividale, he moved to Rushall Olympic, Bromsgrove and finally Alvechurch.

Midfielder Callum Gittings came from Leamington in pre-season. After starting at Alvechurch, he also played for Kidderminster, Solihull and Telford.

Former Walsall Academy midfielder Alex Moore joined Wolverhampton Casuals and Shifnal Town after his release, before stepping back up the ladder to Bromsgrove and Rushall Olympic. He had three years at Rushall before joining Stourbridge pre-season.

Midfielder Harry Lewis made his first team debut last season, after coming through the clubs academy. He has also had a few games for Team Dudley.

Centre Back Chris Knight is in his third spell at Stourbridge. He first joined them in July 2012 from Dudley, moved onto Lye Town but returned in July 2017. After going back to Lye and latterly Wulfrunians, before re-signing for our hosts again in pre-season.

Defender Alex Worley is an ex Walsall Junior, who was at Haverfordwest last season. He was another pre-season signing for out hosts.

Tyler Lyttle was an autumn 2022 signing, and is a former Wolves and Bristol Rovers Junior is the son of ex Forest defender Des. He made three first team starts at Bristol and was loaned to Nuneaton and Truro, before joining Hednesford on his release. He was at Sutton Coldfield prior to joining Rushall, where he spent the last four years.

Defender Callum Rowe came from Hereford last month. He is an ex Aston Villa Junior, and had a loan spell at Hereford, before signing for Exeter City on his release. He was then loaned to Chippenham and Bath City, before moving on permanently to Yeovil where he stayed for three months before going to Hereford.

Welsh under 15 and 16 International right back Ethan Vaughan is currently on loan from Solihull Moors, but he started out as Cardiff City Junior.

Left back Demico Burton is on loan too, in his second spell from Derby County. He started out Stourbridge, before joining the Rams last year.

Norewegian born winger Stanley Anaebonam started out with IK Start Youth, before moving to the UK to join Wolverhampton Casuals in 2016. He then spent two years with Solihull Moors, before moving to Redditch, then returned to Solihull before a spell in Ireland with Shelbourne.

He returned to England last year with Truro City and had two months at Hednesford, before coming to Stourbridge in December.

Winger Jaiden White is a fairly recent arrival from Stafford Rangers, where he had initially been loaned, after spending most of his career at Kidderminster.

Alex Prosser is another ex Aston Villa Junior. A midfielder, he was loaned to Brackley before a permanent move to Kidderminster. He started this season at Leamington.

Midfielder Dexter Walters is a fairly recent arrival too. Having started at Romulus, he moved on to Tamworth, to where he returned after a shot spell at Coventry City.

During his time at Tamworth he loaned to Mickleover, but had three months at Stratford last year before arriving at Stourbridge in  November.

Striker Fin Holmes had also been on the bench recently, having come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Lewis Solly is both reserve goalkeeper and coach. An ex Wolves and Bury player, he played for Welshpool and Aberystwyth, before moving back to the midlands with Stafford Rangers.  He was then at Telford and Redditch and first came to Stourbridge in 2005 from Hednesford, and stayed eight years before moving to Rushall. He moved onto Worcester but had time out with an injury and has been back at Stourbridge since the end of last season, having made over 350 appearances.

7.45pm kick off as usual, your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover finished off their home league campaign last Saturday with a 2-1 win over Redditch Utd, leaving them with an outside chance of a play-off position.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mitch Rose 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Mason Warren 11-Will Trueman 15-Ethan Mann. Subs: Fin Ryder, Jonathan Hedge, Pablo Mills, Elliott Reeves, Rhys Dolan.

Both sides kicked off with attack in mind. Only four minutes gone and Warren put a telling cross into the Redditch box, with Wilson sending a flying header just wide.

But three minutes later our visitors had a penalty appeal waved away, after a Hudson pass found Flanagan but the tackle was seen as fair.

They went close again when Sheaf fired a shot in, which was deflected over the bar for a corner.

It was Redditch that opened the scoring however, when after 15 minutes Flanagan broke through the defence, finding Mensah whose cross was hit home by Barry King, 0-1.

Only a minute after the opening goal it was level again, when Dales went on a run, cut inside and fired it into the top corner, 1-1.

Redditch continued to push forward and managed to keep the home defence busy, with Bosworth having to save low down from another King shot after 24 minutes, following a good build up from Mensah and Sheaf to earn another corner.

King broke through again after 37 minutes, but Bosworth made the save with his feet, before a Hudson follow up was blocked. But Sports were quick on a break that followed, with Dales charging down the left, before Warren’s shot was blocked.

Mann earned a corner when his shot was blocked, but Redditch went close again after another Flanagan pass split the defence, before Mensah pulled his shot wide  as half time approached.

There was late drama though for Mickleover, when Warren was injured and replaced by Dolan, but as the whistle went it was still 1-1.

It continued to be fairly even, but Mensah had the first chance of the second half, heading wide after 53 minutes, following a positive build up.

Redditch keeper Harrison then made a good save from Wilson’s free kick, following a foul on Rose, but the following corner came to nought.

The hour mark had gone and then Marshall held the ball well and was able to feed the ball through the following Dolan, sending a rocket shot into the top corner from the edge of the box, 2-1 after 65 minutes.

Hudson tried to set up another Redditch attack, but his lay off on the edge of the box found no one waiting.

Reeves came on for Rose after 75 minutes and was soon in action, being brought down in the box to earn a penalty. The striker stepped up to take the kick himself and Harrison dived to his right and made a well-timed save.

With time running out Riley headed a Flanagan free kick across the box, before Redditch skipper Byrne fired over and then eight minutes from time, Harrison had to save again from a powerful Sports strike.

Final score at 2-1 brings Mickleover within just four points of a play-off place with two games to play,

by Peter Scherer

Redditch Utd our visitors for the final home game of the season have had a similar season to us, and are currently just two points behind in eighth place.

They have one more game after Saturday, whereas Sports head for Stourbridge on Monday evening and Bedford on the final day. Redditch have won five of their last six games, having beaten Alvechurch 1-0 at home on Easter Monday

Matt Clarke has been in charge at the Trico Stadium since September 2020 and is a former player for the club. He also played for Wolves, West Bromwich Albion and Kidderminster during his playing career.

First choice goalkeeper Adam Harrison signed from Worcester in December, having joined them during the previous season from Tividale.

He was a Leicester City junior and also played for Bedworth Utd.

Scott Cashmore and Sam Rowbottom are the clubs deputy keepers, having come through the clubs own scheme.

Captain Jack Byrne is a midfielder and has been with the club since November 2021, when he came from Telford.

It’s his second spell with the club having previously arrived in January 2009 from Stratford. He also played for Kidderminster, Solihull, Brackley and Nuneaton.

Centre back Ryan Wollacott started out at Stourport, before spending just over three years in the Welsh Premier League with Aberystwyth. He then moved to Alvechurch, before returning to Stourport, from where Redditch signed him in July 2021.

Left back Calum Flanagan is another ex-Villa Junior. After a loan at Kettering he joined Hinckley on his release, before making his first stop at Redditch in 2015, when he came from Worcester.

Further moves to Hednesford, Solihull, Rushall and Halesowen, with a couple of career breaks in between, preceded his return to Redditch in January.

He isn’t the only Flanagan in the squad though, as brother Reece is a midfielder and former Walsall Junior.

He joined Leamington after his release and had spells at Rushall and Stratford, before Redditch signed him from Hednesford pre-season.

Ioan Richards is another centre back and is in his second with our visitors. He first arrived from Gloucester in July 2020, before going to Taunton a year later. He then moved to Yate Town for another year, before returning to Redditch last month.

Martin Riley is another centre back with vast experience. After starting as a youth player at Wolves, his career has taken him to Kidderminster, Cheltenham, Mansfield, Wrexham, Tranmere, Halifax, Alfreton, Hereford, Stourbridge, Tamworth and Hednesford, before arriving at Redditch in January, after two months at Stratford, with over 100 league two games under his belt

Midfielder Max Sheaf had spent most of his career with Hull City, making 19 League Two appearances. He had loans at Cheltenham and Torquay, before going to Gloucester following his release. After a loan at Hungerford, he made his move to Redditch in August 2022.

Harvey Gregson is another midfielder who has come through Fylde’s youth scheme. He has spent most of the last couple of years out on loan at Bamber Bridge, Prescot Cables and Bromsgrove, before coming to Redditch last December. After a brief return to his home club, he returned to see the season out from March.

Winger Bernard Mensah was a pre-season signing. He started off at Watford, being loaned out to Braintree and Barnet, before a permanent move to Aldershot.

He has also played for Bristol Rovers, Lincoln City and Maidenhead, before joining Gloucester in January 2020. He was initially loaned to Redditch in February last year, before making it permanent in the summer.

Full back Lewis Hudson came from Coventry Utd in July 2021 and played for Rugby Town, Coventry Sphinx and Racing Club Warwick too.

Midfielder Danny King was initially on loan from Gloucester City, but his stay became permanent at the end November.

Aram Soleman is a midfielder and former West Brom Junior. He went to Solihull Moors after his release, but soon moved on to Coventry Utd. His carer continued to move on quickly to Rushall, Guiseley, Bromsgrove, Tamworth and Matlock, before a return trip to Guiseley.

He then had a few weeks at Hednesford, before coming to Redditch last December.

Striker Ryan Boothe signed in January 2022 from Halesowen. He has played for Racing Club Warwick, Rushall, Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, Barwell, Bilston, Lye Town, Anstey Nomads, Walsall Wood and Highgate Utd too.

Striker Jerell Sellars was signed in early November. Aston Villa had signed him from Lincoln City and loaned him to Wycombe, before a permanent move to Cheltenham.

He played 39 games in League Two scoring two goals, but moved to Sweden after his release, spending nearly three-years at Ostersund, before returning to the UK.

Riley O’Sullivan was a junior with Mansfield Town. The striker then joined Coventry Utd on his release, before a 14 month stay at Hednesford, preceded his Redditch move in February.

Worcester Raiders captain Joe Billingham is a recent arrival on a dual registration. He is a midfielder with a goal scoring touch.

Midfielder Harry Reilly came from Kettering in February. He has also played for Banbury, Daventry and Stratford and had a speel in the US with Red Storm.

Midfielder Murphy Culkin was a pre-season signing for this season, from Barton Rovers. He was previously at Eynesbury Rovers, Potton Utd and Biggleswade.

Henry Smith, Adam Hanson and Josh Clews have also been on the bench a number of times, having come through the Redditch youth programme.

Kick 3pm as usual and remember the end of season awards and entertainment after the match.

by Peter Scherer

A goal in each half from Mickleover leading scorer Andy Dales, secured all three points over promotion hopefuls Nuneaton Borough.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Oli Greaves 11-Will Trueman 15-George Atwal. Subs: Pablo Mills, Fin Ryder, Jonathan Hedge, Ethan Mann, Mitch Rose.

There was a lively start to the game with both sides homing in on goal. Nuneaton keeper Breeden had to block a Dales effort after two minutes and the visitors had chance a minute later, when Waite found Gordon in the box.

Storer fired a Nuneaton free kick straight into Bosworth’s hands after a sixth minute foul on Dinanga, before Greaves had to go off injured and was replaced by Ryder, inside the first 15 minutes.

Ryder made a positive break but was caught offside, but Mickleover continued with some strong and positive attacks.

A 17^th minute corner came to nought, before Sports defence cleared a dangerous cross into the box five minutes later.

The strong breeze was having a noticeable effect and went in Mickleover’s favour, when the wind held a Trueman cross from the right, finding Dales on the far post to hammer it home 1-0.

Nuneaton continued to create their own chances, but a 35^th minute shot from Dowd managed to clear the boundary fence with wind assistance.

As half time approached, Nuneaton pushed hard for an equaliser, but after Bosworth saved a 41^st minute effort from Dowd, there was another clearance from the back post to make sure Sports went in for the break a goal up.

Nuneaton second half sub Luke Benbow was quick to make an impression, but his 53^rd minute free kick after Waite was fouled, was blocked by the Mickleover wall.

Storer nearly broke through for the visitors too after a good build up a few minutes later, but he was intercepted on the edge of the area.

Mickleover had just subbed Rose for Marshall when Trueman broke through the visiting defence, to poke the ball beyond Breeden’s reach, making it 2-0 after 58 minutes.

Nuneaton were still fighting though and Bosworth had to palm away a McWilliams effort 64 minutes in.

Hopes of another clean sheet for Bosworth were dashed however when Dowd was fouled and a penalty awarded. Benbow stepped up and buried it in the bottom corner, making if 1-2 with 14 minutes left.

Mann came on for Atwal to tighten up the defence, but with 10 minutes on the clock Dales scored a trademark goal, cutting in from the wing into Breeden’s bottom far corner, 3-1 and his 16^th goal of the season.

A good strong team performance to secure the three points against top opposition, restoring us in sixth place, with three games to play.