by Peter Scherer

Mickleover will be hoping for a repeat performance of last Saturday’s excellent home win, when they visit table toppers Tamworth this weekend.

Both Ollie Greaves and Rhys Dolan were out injured last weekend, but will hopefully fit to rejoin the squad.

The Lambs have suffered only defeat in their last 11 games, when they went down 0-1 at title challengers Coalville, and their only home defeat this season was back on August Bank Holiday, going down 1-4 again to Coalville.

Their last home game was last Tuesday, when they beat St.Ives 2-1.

Tamworth Manager Andy Peaks has been in charge since February, having moved from Rusden & Diamonds. He started as a player at Northampton, before playing for Rushden, Raunds, Wealdstone and Stamford. After being assistant manager at Long Buckby and Daventry, he took charge at Northampton Spencer before moving back to Rushden.

Goalkeeper Jas Singh arrived from Telford in July 2018, having started his career at Shrewsbury Town. He has also played for Kidderminster, Solihull Moors and Gloucester City.

Reserve keeper Matt Sargeant came from Leamington last October. His whole career has been based in the West Midlands, having started at Tipton, before moves to Halesowen, Alvechurch, Sporting Khalsa, Rushall and Nuneaton.

Matt Curley is a right back who came from Buxton last July. His career kicked off at Romulus, before moves to Chasetown, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth and Hednesford preceded 2 ½ years at Buxton.

Midfielder Gift Mussa has spent his whole career in the West Midlands too, after starting out at Coventry Utd. After a short spell at Leamington, he spent almost two years at Bromsgrove, before a further year at Nuneaton prior to his arrival at Tamworth in February 2022.

Alex Collard is a centre back and club captain, having arrived from Rushden during the summer. He’s also played for Aylesbury, Chichester City and Kempton Rovers.

Fellow centre back Liam Dolman came through the ranks at Northampton Town, making over 50 appearances for the Cobblers. He was loaned out to Aylesbury Utd and Kettering, before joining Kidderminster on his release. Corby, Banbury and Daventry then preceded eight years at Rushden & Diamonds, signing for Tamworth pre-season.

Leading scorer Dan Creaney has been at Tamworth since signing from Coalville in July 2019 and recently made his 100^th appearance.  He’s also played for Bedworth, and during his time Coalville was loaned to Basford and Stratford.

Left sided midfielder Kyle Finn came from Halesowen in July. The former Coventry City Junior had previously been loaned to Tamworth, along with Hereford and Rushall, before joining Halesowen on his release in July 2019.

Left back Callum Cockerill-Mollet is a former Republic of Ireland Under 18 and 19 International. He was a Walsall Junior loaned out to Telford and Chasetown, arriving at Tamworth in late 2019 following his release.

Luke Fairlamb is a midfielder signed from St Ives pre-season. After starting out at Corby he had five years in the US with St Peter’s University Peacocks. On his return to the UK he joined Rushden & Diamonds, moving on via Bedford, Sileby, Brackley and Banbury.

Ben Milnes is another midfielder that arrived in July, after a year at Buxton. He was a Leicester City Junior before joining Boston Utd and had also played for Corby and Kettering, before joining Buxton in July 2021.

Central midfielder Jordan Clement started out at Wolves, joining Romulus after his release in 2016. After a spell at Coleshill he had his first stop at Tamworth in 2018 and was also loaned to Stratford, before moving to Alvechurch and finally Redditch, from where he was signed in August 2021.

Eoin McKeown is a well-travelled striker, who started off at Colchester Utd. After a loan at Maldon & Tiptree he was released and joined Kings Langley. Further moves have taken him to Wingate, Walton Casuals, Loughborough University and latterly Braintree, from where he was signed in February 2020. Along with team mate Creaney, he is one of the leagues top scorers.

Ty Deacon is a striker signed from Kettering in July. He has also played for Rushden & Diamonds.

Right back Lucas Yeomans is well known to Sports fans having just returned to our hosts after a loan spell at the Don Amott Arena. Burton born Lucas was part of Derby County’s Academy before joining Tamworth in August 2020, making his first team in the FA Trophy at the age of 16.

Former West Bromwich Albion Junior midfielder George Cater is more of squad member, having spent most of the season the bench. After joining Kidderminster, he went to Stafford, Hednesford and Chasetown, joining our hosts in July after a return trip to Hednesford.

Centre back James Hurst has had a long and varied career. Capped by England at Under 16, 17, 19 and 20 he reached as high as league one, having started as another West Brom Junior, being loaned to Portsmouth, IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland, Blackpool, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield and Birmingham, before returning to Iceland with Valur Reykjavik in 2013.

He joined Crawley Town after returning to the UK where his changes in clubs took him the length and breadth of the country. After two years at Buxton he arrived at Tamworth in January 2022.

Yet another ex West Brom Junior, midfielder Alex Bradley came from Yeovil in pre-season. He’s an ex Finnish Under 16,17 and 19 International. He left West Brom in 2019 after loans at Havant & Waterlooville, Burton Albion and Lincoln City. His stop at Lincoln became permanent, before he moved to Yeovil in January last year and he made seven appearances in League One.

Striker Alex Jones was signed in November 2021 and is another ex West Brom Junior. After a move to Birmingham City he was loaned to Grimsby and Port Vale, before a permanent move to Bradford City. After a loan at Cambridge Utd he joined Patrick Thistle and was at Northampton before joining our hosts.

Ben Hart is a right back who came from Burton in July 2020, having previously played at Tamworth during one of his loan spells from the Brewers.

Centre back Cameron Howkins was signed from Brocton in December 2019, having started at Kidderminster. He has since had two loan spells at Sporting Khalsa.

Midfielder AJ George is an Antigua & Barbuda International who was signed from Rushden in July. A former Oxford Utd Junior, he moved on to Mansfield during which time he had a short loan spell at Mickleover in 2017.

After further loans he joined Chippenham and Oxford City, before joining Rushden October last year.

Keelan Fallows is one of three reserve goalkeepers and was recently loaned to Quorn and Atherstone. He was a Junior at Coventry City and has also been loaned to Daventry.

Fellow keeper Jack Hitchman and midfielder Callum Griffin are recent additions to the squad, having come through the clubs own Academy.

It’s an earlier kick of too, with the game due to start at 2pm.

by Peter Scherer

It had been five games without a win, as Mickleover took on third in the table Rushall Olympic, but having won the corresponding match back September, Sports once again returned to winning ways.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 15-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Pablo Mills, Marcus Marshall, Mitchell Rose.

It could so easily have been an opening goal for Mickleover in the first minute. The ball broke in the clear on the right, Reeves took his time to make sure he had control and managed to round the advancing keeper Jake Weaver and put the ball across right in front of goal. But no one managed to get the telling shot in and the chance was gone.

Beavon then found Dales on the right after five minutes following a throw, but his bending shot was well off target. He soon made amends though when he spotted Weaver guarding his near post, and cut in slightly from the left sending a curling shot beyond the keepers reach, but well inside that far post 1-0 after eight minutes.

Rushall went close to replying after a Sam Mantom free kick was headed on by Kristian Green, but well saved by Hedge at his far post. But Dales then led a break with Beavon and Reeves in support, but the move was cut off early.

A succession of corners kept the Mickleover defence on its toes, with William Shorrock going close after beating Mann on the Sports right, leaving Hedge to make a critical save with his legs.

Trueman was working hard to make a break into the visitors half, and give the home defence some respite, but his final shot after 15 minutes was just over the bar.

Butler in particular was looking strong in defence, but Rushall continued to push forward, forcing another good save from Hedge low to his left, after  a Green header 25 minutes in.

Warren had come deeper to help the defence too and made a strong clearance for the strike force to chase, but Mann was having to work hard down the right to keeper Shorrock at bay.

It was almost number two for Sports after 34 minutes, when Beavon sent Reeves through. As he cut in from the right again his shot was deflected against the right-hand post, but the refs assistant gave a goal kick.

Rushall continued to push forward as half time began to approach, but Warren found Dales after 37 minutes. The cross came in but there was no one to receive, but a few minutes Trueman was first in the refs book.

It was into time added when Warren jinxed his way through the Rushall defence. He was clear with just the advancing keeper to beat, but pulled his shot wide and it remained 1-0 as the whistle blew.

There were no changes for the second half and it was good to see Sports firing on all cylinders from the start, which has quite often not been the case.

Beavon had a shot blocked as he followed up a Wilson free kick after 48 minutes. Mann then won a duel on the right to pull the ball back from the line, but there was no one to receive.

Weaver then had to punch away a half chance from Reeves after 55 minutes, before Shorrock tried his luck a minute later, only to be blocked by the Mickleover defence.

Both Mann and Wilson had started to push forward more, as Rushall didn’t seem to be as a big a threat as earlier. It was Mann who then crossed to find Beavon, who layed the ball off to Wilson, firing just inches over the bar as the hour mark approached.

Trueman put in a god cross to earn a corner after 62 minutes and shortly afterwards Sports made their first change with Nunn on for Reeves.

Bateman had played a quite deep defensive midfield role for most of the game, but with both full backs pushing forward, Butler and Watt were able to cope at the back, allowing Bateman more freedom.

A self-confessed non scorer, Bateman had scored against Ilkeston, but made it number two when he fired it home from just outside the box at the second attempt after 66 minutes 2-0.

Rushall made a number of changes but failed to match their first half threat and it was Mickleover that continued to create the chances.

72 minutes and after an initial clearance from a free kick, Butler shot just wide of the right hand post. Four minutes later Trueman should have made it three, when Nunn found him in the middle after a good build up, but the chance was soon gone.

Nunn was yellow carded for the kicking the ball away, but then went close himself after 79 minutes. He found his own space, but shot just wide of the left hand upright.

Marshall replaced Dales for the final 10 minutes, but it was all three points to Mickleover in an all-round team performance to be proud of.

by Peter Scherer

Back in September the Mickleover squad had one of their most positive wins of the season, against a fairly poor Rushall Olympic side.

Since then manager Liam McDonald’s side have gone from strength to strength and currently sit fourth in the table, with only two defeats in the last 15 games and beaten just once all season away from home.

McDonald has been in charge for five years, having previously managed Solihull Moors and Hednesford, after ending his playing career as a player coach with Redditch.

With George Nunn back on loan from Derby County, Mickleover will have more choice up front, with Stuart Beavon, Elliott Reeves and Marcus Marshall all available, while hopefully Andy Dales and Mitchell Rose will be fit again after a further weeks rest.

Our visitors goalkeeper Jake Weaver has been receiving excellent reviews this season. A former Birmingham City youth player, he was loaned to Hungerford, Kidderminster, Hednesford and Leamington, before a permanent move to Leamington in August 2020. He arrived at Rushall pre-season.

Right back Kristian Green came from Stourbridge in July 2020, having also played for Halesowen, Solihull Moors and Tamworth.

Sam Whittall is one of the long serving players. A midfielder, he started out as a Wolves Junior, before joining Cambridge Utd. He came to Rushall in July 2016 from Brackley and scored a hattrick in Tuesday’s 5-1 Walsall Senior Cup win over Sutton Coldfield.

Former England Under 17 International Sam Mantom started at Walsall, but spent most of his youth career at West Bromwich Albion. He was loaned out to Haukar in Iceland, Tranmere, Oldham and Walsall, before joining the Saddlers permanently in 2013, where he later became captain. He then moved on to Scunthorpe and Southend, before arriving at Rushall in October 2020, with over 250 league and FA Cup starts under his belt.

After only a month he moved to Hemel, before rejoining our guests again in pre-season.

Left back Reece Mitchell came from Boldmere St Michaels in July 2019, having come through the youth team at Leamington.

After a spell at Hereford he joined Cheltenham Town and has also played for York City, Nuneaton, Macclesfield and Bradford PA in between three spells at Kidderminster, from where he joined our guests pre-season.

Andre Carvalho-Landell is a striker that arrived earlier this season. A former Wolves Junior, he moved to Bath City before joining Rushall in August 2012. After a year he moved to the US with Tiffin Dragons and Michigan Bucks, before returning to our guests in September 2017.

He then moved on via Alvechurch, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, before a year at Hednesford preceded his third spell with Rushall.

Midfielder Alex Fletcher is another pre-season signing. Starting out as a Shrewsbury Town Junior, he played for Telford and Tividale, before joining Welsh League Newtown. He also played form Southport and Stafford, returning to Newtown in between. He spent a year back at Stafford, before arriving at Rushall.

Callum Coyle is another midfielder who joined the club in August 2021, after spending most of his career with Solihull Moors. He was loaned out to Sutton Coldfield, Romulus, Nuneaton, Halesowen and Grantham, before moving to Stafford on his release in 2020.

Midfielder Richard Batchelor is well known to Mickleover, as he was at the Don Amott Arena before joining Rushall in November 2019.

He started at Romulus, moving on to Chasetown, Leamington, Hednesford, Brackley, Worcester, Stafford, Stourbridge and Highgate, before coming to Mickleover from Redditch in July 2019.

Will Shorrock was another product of Walsall’s youth scheme. A midfielder, he went to Bromsgrove after his release in 2018 and came to Rushall pre-season too.

Another former Bromsgrove midfielder, Jordain Masidi arrived in November 2020, he also played for Littleton.

Jermaine Hylton is primarily a left winger, signed by Birmingham City from Kidderminster as a junior. Following his release he played for local club Continental Star, moving to Redditch after three years.

He then had a spell at Swindon Town, moving to Solihull after a loan spell at Guiseley. Next stop was Motherwell and Ross County, before heading south again with Newport County. He came to Rushall just before Christmas, after 11 months without a club.

Centre back Jordan Brown is a former AFC Wimbledon Junior, who then played for Staines, before trying his luck with VPS in Finland and Floy in Norway.

After two years he was back in the UK with Hayes & Yeading, before heading to the Midlands with Redditch, Stafford and Stourbridge. He came to Rushall in March last year from Tamworth.

Midfielder Owen Parry came in from Boldmere St Michaels in June 2021.

Striker Sam Moore was another pre-season capture. A fairly prolific scorer, he started out at Coalville, before moving to Quorn, Shepshed, Birstall, Barrow Town, Eastwood, Coleshill and Corby.

Kieran Cook is a striker too. He came back to Rushall in 2020, after a couple of spells at Alvechurch and time at Stourbridge too.

Alex Cameron is yet another striker that arrived in June last year. He started out at Stourbridge and has played at Dudley Town, Tividale, Sporting Khalsa and Redditch.

Centre back Liam Daly arrived from Ilkeston in October. Vastly experienced, he started at Evesham, before moving rapidly on to Corby, Redditch, Solihull, Halesowen, Leamington, Barwell, Gloucester, Barnet, Stourbridge and Nuneaton.

He started last year at Nuneaton, but moved to Kettering in March and Ilkeston in August.

Declan Riley and Tyreese Hughes have both come through Rushall’s own youth scheme. Riley is a striker, recently added to the Rushall squad, similarly winger Hughes, who has also been selected for England Under 19 Schools.

Teenager Miguel Ngwa recently arrived on loan from Northampton Town. The young midfielder had already been loaned to Rushden.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual, and with the Rams not playing until Monday, why not give Derby’s number two team your support?

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday we visit Stourbridge, who like Mickleover have had a fairly up and down season.

Sports have now gone without a win in the last five games and will be looking for maximum away points for the first time since October.

Andy Dales is still shaking off his groin strain and similarly Mitch Rose with his foot injury, but James Butler will be available again after his one match suspension.

Mickleover are currently ninth in the Southern League Premier Central table, with Stourbridge 11^th, three points behind us, but with three games in hand.

In early November we fought out a 1-1 draw and since then the Glassboys have only lost two games, having beaten Royston 5-1 in their last home game and have made only one change in their line-up in the last four games.

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 visitors.

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 was a regular starter early in the season, but has been on the bench of late. A former Ipswich Junior he 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 2020. He started out at Redditch, before a first spell at Bromsgrove preceded a move to Stevenage. He was loaned to Solihull and on release had a month at Macclesfield, before rejoining Bromsgrove. He scored a hattrick in the recent 5-1win at Royston.

Midfielder Reece King arrived from Buxton in July 2020. 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 2020. 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.

Right back Lee Vaughan was an academy player at Birmingham City and Portsmouth, before joining Chelmsley, from where he was spotted by Walsall.

He played over 45 first team games and was loaned to Willenhall, before joining Telford on his release. Moving on to Cheltenham, Tranmere and back to Kidderminster, he came to Stourbridge in July 2020 from Barnet, after a spell at Solihull and a return trip to Telford.

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 and has made a few starts this season.

Rackeem Reid is a striker that came from Rushall pre-season. He initially played for Chasetown and Paget Rangers before going to Nottingham University. He moved on to Belper Town and Long Eaton, before joining Quorn for 2019/20.

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, he signed for our hosts again in pre-season.

Reece Stryche is both an England C and current Gibralatarian International, having scored three goals in 27 games for the latter.

He came from Hednesford in September in 2020, having played for a huge raft of clubs in his 14 year career, including Buxton, Alfreton, Darlington, Macclesfield and Wycombe, having started out at Hednesford.

Defender Alex Worley is an ex Walsall Junior, who was at Haverfordwest last season. He was another pre-season signing but is struggling to make the starting line-up so far.

Originally a right back, Tyler Lyttle arrived at Stourbridge in November. The former Wolves and Bristol Rovers Junior is the son of ex Forest defender Des and has scored four goals in the last three games.

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.

Demico Burton is a young left back on loan from Derby County. He played for the Glassboys in a few games last season, before returning this term. He is also an England Schools Under 18 international.

Former Aston Villa junior central midfielder Alex Prosser was a new arrival earlier this season on a joint registration with Leamington. After a loan at Brackley he joined Kidderminster following his release from Villa and spent a year with them until his move to Leamington.

Just over a month ago Norwegian born winger Stanley Anaebenam arrived at Stourbridge from Hednesford and immediately became a first-choice starter. He first came to the UK from IFK Youth and joined Wolverhampton Casuals. After spells at Solihull Moors and Redditch he spent 10 months in Ireland with Shelbourne, before joining Truro City on his return to England.

Dexter Walters is also a winger who spent some time at Mickleover on loan from Tamworth at the end of 2021. He started his career with Romulus, before a couple of seasons at Coventry City, from where he returned to Tamworth on release. Following his Sports loan, he moved onto Stratford, before moving to Stourbridge in November.

Jaiden White has only just joined our hosts on loan from Stafford Rangers. He played junior football at Wolves and Coventry as well as a spell at Kidderminster, before joining Stafford and plays striker or winger.

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.

It’s a grass pitch at the War Memorial Athletic and kick off is due at 3pm, but weather could still play its part.

by Peter Scherer

Saturday will be the first time Hitchin Town will have visited the Don Amott Arena, but it’s time to turn the tables on the Hertfordshire side as they have become a bit of a jinx side for us.

Having been knocked out of the FA Trophy by them a couple of seasons back, we went down 1-4 in November’s League visit, in probably Sports worst performance of the season.

With five points from the last five games, we have now slipped out of the play-off positions down to eighth place, with our visitors ninth, level on points, having played one game more.

Mason Warren will be available again after his suspension, but James Butler is due to start his. It remains to be seen if Andy Dales, Jake Scott and Mitch Rose are fit to play and if Elliott Reeves is available too.

Lets take a look at who we are up against. Their win last Saturday, broke a run of three defeats, all away from home.

Goalkeeper Charlie Horlock has been at Top Field for three years, since signing from Hastings Utd. He started his junior football at Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage and was loaned to Hendon and Harrow, before coming to Hitchin on loan too in November 2014. He then made a permanent move to our visitors a year later, before moving to Eastbourne. He captained the side too in last Saturday’s victory against Bromsgrove.

Reserve keeper Tiernan Parker is a former Northern Ireland Under 15, 16 and 17 International. He started out at Luton Town and was a loanee at Hitchin in 2019 and 2020, before joining Haringey. He returned again last July from Colney Heath and deputised for Horlock in the pre-Christmas defeat at Rushall.

Full back Stan Georgiou is a home- grown talent who has been a regular starter since the second half of last season. He captained the clubs Youth Cup team and also had a loan spell at Letchworth Garden City Eagles, before securing his place as a regular first choice.

Kye Tearle is a defender or midfielder who came from the Pro Direct Academy in Baldock. He is in his third season with the first team squad.

Irish midfielder Stephen Gleeson was spotted by Wolves when he was playing junior football for Chery Orchard FC. He spent a few years on loan at Stockport County before a permanent move to Mk Dons. He then moved on to Birmingham City, Ipswich and Aberdeen, before coming back to England with Solihull Moors. He came to Hitchin in November 2020 after four months at Hemel.

He was capped by the Republic of Ireland at full, Under 17, 18, 19 and 21 levels and has played over 40 league games in the Championship, League One & Two and Scottish Premiership, scoring 27 goals. He is also the first team coach.

Lewis Barker arrived at the start of the 2019/20 season, after five years at Baldock Town and Dempsey Thomas is a young defender having recently broken into the first team squad.

Defender or midfielder Malaki Black arrived from MK Dons in July 2020, while fellow midfielder Bradley Bell came back for his second spell last season, from Barton Rovers. He had initially left to join Biggleswade in 2020 and has also played for Royston and Cambridge City, having started at MK Dons.

Striker Diogo Freitas-Gouveia originally came to Hitchin on loan from Colchester Utd in 2019/20. He was also loaned to Brightlingsea and Maldon & Tiptree, but then made his move to our visitors, making his move permanent following his release during the summer. He is a regular goal scorer. games.

Rio Da Silva is a midfielder who has been at Hitchin for three years, since arriving from Dunstable. He previously played in Luton Town’s Academy, followed by four years in Chelsea’s youth team.

Striker Ashley Hay is a former Luton Junior too. He moved from Baldock Town to Biggleswade at the start of this season and came to Hitchin last September.

Steve Cawley is a striker in his third spell at Top Field, having started out at Chesham. Spells at Bishop Stortford, Concord Rangers and Hemel followed, before he came to Hitchin on loan for eight months in September 2019. He then returned permanently in July 2020, before a two-month spell at Stotfold at the beginning of last season, preceded his current stay.

Jack Snelus came from Rushden & Diamonds last September. He is another ex Luton Junior and has also played for Hemel and St.Ives Town.

Toby Syme is s full back in his second spell with the club. He came from one Canaries team to another, after leaving Norwich City in 2017. He moved on to Kings Langley a year later, before spells at Leverstock, Tring Athletic and Harpenden, were followed by his return to Top Field last August.

Centre back Ciaren Jones is an ex Luton Town and Norwich Norwich City Junior too. He started this season at Brackley, having joined them from Gloucester City in July. He also played for South Shields and spent a week at Hitchin in 2020, before his move to Gloucester.

Josh Coldicott-Stevens is another player who’s been at the club for three years. He is a midfielder, who started at Boreham Wood, before arriving at Hitchin from Kings Langley in December 2019.

Midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon spent most of career so far with Oxford Utd. He had loans at Biggleswade, Havant & Waterloovile, Gloucester City and Slough, joining Hitchin on his release in August last year.

Defender Alfie Warman was a new signing from Baldock Town last August too. He has also played for Welwyn, Codicote and Potton Utd.

Callum Kane is another summer arrival from Baldock. A full back, he is a product of the Pro-Direct Academy.

Delsin Ackom is another young defender, signed in 2021 after his release from MK Dons two years earlier. In between he played for Potton Utd, MK Gallacticos, Buckingham Athletic and Desborough, as well as having a spell in Spain with Almunecar.

Midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa was a Luton Town Junior, who joined Newport Pagnell on his release. He is a recent signing for Hitchin and now a regular starter.

Midfielder Finley Wilkinson was a summer signing from Histon, after coming through their Youth Scheme.

Striker Johnny Allotey signed pro-forms for our hosts towards the end of last season.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, the bar will be open and before kick off you can also visit the Rams Heritage Trust, which will be on site from 11am.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover came to Royston seeking their first away points since Barwell in October, but on a wet evening it proved to be a tough encounter.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 15-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Will Trueman 8-Joe Bateman 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oliver Greaves. Subs: Pablo Mills, Oliver Bosworth, John McGrath, Fin Ryder, Lekan Osideko.

It was light rain and a swirling wind that greeted kick-off, but the grass pitch had passed it’s afternoon inspection and it was game on.

Beavon had an early lob towards goal, but straight into keeper Chadwick’s hands, before Hedge go this first touch collected a cross from Furlong.

The first 10 minutes were end to end and fairly scrappy, but Chadwick made a couple of week clearance’s which Mickleover failed to maximise.

Wilson had a shot blocked after 14 minutes as he tried to pick a spot through a crowded box and a following corner was then headed away by the home defence.

Dolan managed to get a shot in after 25 minutes, following another corner, but again it was blocked, but it was Mickleover in the ascendancy.

Royston got a break though, but Dolan headed away the cross with no one waiting to receive. But another good build up had the defence on the run, before Marshall found Greaves, who slotted home in the bottom right hand corner 1-0 after 28 minutes.

Sports were showing a bit more controlled aggression and determination than of late as they began to push forward, seeking to add to their tally.

Marshall was yellow carded for a foul on skipper Adam Murray and only a couple of minutes the favour was returned with Murray in the book. Wilson stepped up for the free kick, but it was comfortably over the bar.

Beavon almost beat the keeper to the ball after a chase as half time approached and then Marshall looked clear to, but was pulled back with a late offside flag.

Overall Mickleover just about deserved their half time lead, having gradually gained the upperhand.

The rain had stopped as the teams re-appeared and Furlong was quick to get an early cross in, but well off the mark. But Royston had come back out with all guns blazing.

Watt, Butler and Mann had looked aerially strong in the first half, which had allowed Dolan to virtually join Wilson and Bateman in midfield, as Greaves and Trueman seemed to have more of a roaming role.

Trueman battled through on the right to find Beavon, and his pass to Marshall in the box brought Chadwick racing off his line to save. Royston then had a good spell with  a number of shots fired in, but fortunately none on target.

Greaves chased hard to catch a clearance from one of the hosts attacks, but was just short as the ball sped away on the wet pitch.

Osideko then came on for Trueman, but Sports were having difficulty breaking out of their own half, as Royston kept firing in shots, mostly blocked. We were still holding on as the hour mark passed, but an equaliser was beginning to look more and more likely.

Mills was on for Beavon after 70 minutes and then Greaves found Osideko whose shot was blocked but earned another corner. It was initially cleared but a toe poke from Watt went just past the post.

Harness then headed a Da Silva cross just wide after 75 minutes and then Murray put his attempt just wide of the mark too.

The rain had just started again as there was just five minutes left for Sports to hold out. 85 minutes and an initial Royston corner was cleared, but only as far as Matt Bateman who made it level from close range 1-1.

From a hopeful three points we were now looking to hold onto one, as Royston continued to push forward strongly, and Mickleover failed to clear their lines.

Hedge made a good save from Tshikuna in the 88^th minute and Williams put another effort just over. But then the ref announced four minutes add on.

Nakatani-Brown’s run ended with a good catch from Hedge and then on a final break Marshall found Osideko, but his shot was over.

With whistle poised Royston went close to snatching winner, when a Harness effort was cleared off the line, before Henry’s final header went over the bar.

Having led for 85 minutes it was a disappointing finale, but on the second half performance Royston more than deserved their point.