by Peter Scherer

It’s a trip to Loughborough University Students for Mickleover on Bank Holiday Monday. But with two successive wins over the last week, confidence has grown rapidly as we face the bottom of the table team.

Our hosts started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Wellingborough, but have lost all three matches since.

Had coach Jamie Clapham was previously assistant manager at Leeds Utd, Barnsley, Coventry and Middlesbrough after a long and successful playing career started at Tottenham.

Goalkeeper Leo Webster was previously at Winchester City and had time in Spain with the Malaga Sporting Academy, while captain and defender back Jonty Bouch stated out in Mansfield Town’s Academy.

Centre back Harry Twite has previously played for Kings Lynn and Wisbech and is capped as a full international and under 20 by Bermuda.

Ben Royall is another defender who has played for Worthing, while left back Oliver Downs started at AFC Wimbledon, before moving on to Bognor and Fleet.

Winger Alex Spiteri is a Malta under 18 and 19 international and started his career with Sliema Wanderers, before a spell at Reading preceded his arrival at Loughborough.

Josh Roddy previously played for Corsham Town and Welton Rovers, while fellow midfielder Marcus Gilpin started his career with Bradfield College.

Striker Connor Keene, was previously at the Crystal Palace Academy, while his fellow forwards Gafar Abari and Max Prickett-Reed were at Sunnybank FC in Scotland, Northampton ON Chenecks and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Other players who have so far been in the squad this season are Matt Rennie, Will Dean, Hussein Issa, Sam Fielding, Sid Hollywood-Martin, Ashden Shortland and Henry Russ.

Kick off at the Loughborough University Stadium is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Following their first win of the season at Boldmere last Tuesday, Mickleover made it two in a row with a dominant 4-1 win over Rushden & Diamond’s at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Steven Fikula 3-Gerge Wilkinson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Ashton Offler 6-Danny Benson 7-Archie White 8-Louis Bonser 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Ali Mohiuddin. Subs: Michael Hollingsworth, Paddy Webb, Toby Smith, Pedro Mzau, Fraser Corden.

Mickleover had to make a late change when Harry Wood was a casualty of the warm-up, which promoted Bonser to the starting 11 and Corden to the bench.

Sports started strongly testing keeper Lewis Elsom twice in the fourth minute, White had his shot saved, while Dales followed up for the rebound, shooting just wide.

Three minutes later Mohiuddin’s cross found Dales, but his path was impeded but failed to draw a foul from the referee.

But a short back pass from Wilkinson almost cost Mickleover dearly after 10 minutes, but Bosworth had it covered, forcing Bruno Andrade wide, saving the shot from a tight angle.

Two minutes later David Adegbola was penalised for a handball in the box, and White stepped up to bury the ball in the bottom left-hand corner, 1-0.

Rushden had a chance too after 15 minutes, but Tyler Winters was forced wide, allowing Bosworth to save the shot again.

White then picked up the ball and made a break, but his shot drifted just wide of the left-hand post.

Andrade had looked the more dangerous of the Rushden strike force, but Sports went close again with a spectacular overhead kick from Beavon 23 minutes in, unfortunately just over the bar.

Four more minutes and White had another strike form the edge of the box, Elsom saved it, but the rebound was heading for Dales until Huw Dawson intercepted.

Rushden had been pegged back in their own half for a while, as Mickleover sought another goal. White won a 35th minute free kick but that came to nought, with striker Winters back in defence to make the block.

With three minutes of the first half left, Sports finally got number two. The cross was floated in from the left wing and met by Dales, who volleyed it into he bottom left-hand corner 2-0.

The visitors made a couple of half-time changes to try to quell Sports’ domination. But only a minute into the second half it was 3-0, when White scored his second from a Dales’ cross, with a lucky hint of deflection.

Benson then got his head to a free kick a minute later, but this effort was just over. As the hour mark approached Elsom had to make a double save to deny Mickleover again.

Rushden pulled one back after 61 minutes, when Andrade went clear, placing his shot under the advancing Bosworth, 3-1.

Webb came on for Beavon and 10 minutes later Rushden were awarded a penalty when Jordan Graham was brought down. Graham then took the penalty, but hit the bar, so it remained 3-1.

Hollingsworth replaced Fikula after 73 minutes, but there was soon a fourth goal for Mickleover. White played Webb straight through the defence, and he made mistake in front of goal, 4-1.

Debutant Nzau replaced White for the last nine minutes but Rushden had one more chance, a free header which Ryan Hughes put well wide of the target.

So a first home league win of the season, and a second successive victory, our season has STARTED!!

 

by Peter Scherer

It hasn’t been the best of starts for our visitors AFC Rushden & Diamonds. The former league club played against Mickleover two seasons ago in the Southern Premier League when they were relegated.

They drew 1-1 in their first game of the season against Shepshed, a score they repeated when they visited Rugby Borough. But like Mickleover they too had their first win of the season, 1-0 at home to Bedworth and now stand seventh in the table

Sports will continue to be without Jake Bennett this weekend, as he recovers from a calf strain. But Paddy Webb hopes to be back in contention, having recovered from a knock against Long Eaton. Manager Gareth Holmes’ only other concern is Harry Wood’s bruised foot, which hopefully will be sorted too.

Our visitors manager Elliot Sandy is also a registered player, having joined pre-season from Sileby. A striker, he started his career at Brackley and played for Oxford City, Leamington, Dunstable and Kettering, before first coming to our Rushden in 2016. It was only a short stay before moving on to Stamford, Newport Pagnell, Sileby Rangers, Banbury, Corby and Spaldin., starting his managerial career with the latter too.

Lewis Elsom is their first choice goalkeeper, having arrived from Peterborough Sports pre-season. He started his career at Peterborough Utd and has also played for Deeping.

Right back Curtis Hartley is another one of numerous pre-season signing’s. He’s played for Eynesbury, Oadby Town, Peterborough Sports, Daventry, Stamford, Real Bedford and Moulton too, after starting off at Corby.

David Adegbola is a right back too, signed from St.Ives Town last January. He’s also played for Buckingham Utd, Carlton Town and Radford.

Centre back and captain Gary Mulligan is another pre-season signing. A vastly experienced player, he played for Wolves after they picked him up from Belvedere. He was loaned to our visitors way back in 2005, before moving on to Sheffield Utd.

A further loan at Port Vale was followed by a move to Gillingham, followed by Northampton Town, Gateshead, Brackley, Kettering and Corby. He spent the last three years at Harborough and is a Republic of Ireland Under 21 International, with over 140 appearances in Leagues One and Two.

Ryan Hughes has just started his sixth season with Rushden, following his release from Northampton Town. Another centre back, he was loaned out to St.Neots, Banbury and Corby as well as a spell with our visitors back in 2019.

Tarik Dallas is a centre back too, brought in pre-season from Daventry Town. He’s played for Kempston Rovers, St.Neots and Arlesey Town too.

The only player in the squad from Rushden’s own youth scheme is defender Tejan Thomas.

Central midfielder Jake Duffy has also captained the side since arriving from Aylestone Park pre-season. After starting at Oadby Town, he’s played for Holbeach, Stamford, Corby and Harborough too.

Lewis Walker plays central midfield. He is another pre-season arrival following his release from Stoke City, having started his career with Leicester City.

Ross Oulton is another new arrival and midfielder, arriving last month for his third spell at the club. After arriving from Daventry in 2015, he stayed for three years before moving to Stratford Town. After a spell at Barwell and a return trip to Stratford, he came back to Rushden in 2020 for another year.

Then it was back to Barwell and Stratford, before stops at Berkhamsted, Harrow Borough followed, spending last season at Berkhamsted before his current move.

Joel Nketia is a midfielder too, and another new arrival from Newport Pagnell.

Aidan Webster plays in midfield and came to the club at the beginning of last season, from Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Bruno Andrade is dual registered with Bedford Town, a midfielder he started off at Queens Park Rangers and played for Wycombe Wanderers, Stevenage, Woking, Boreham Wood, Lincoln City, Salford City, Boreham Wood, Maidenhead, Chesham and Maidstone.

Midfielder Huw Dawson is also dual registered with Bedford Town. He’s played for St.Albans, Kettering and Shepshed too.

Tolani Omatola came from Long Eaton Utd in pre-season. He’s a striker that started out at Tranmere Rovers, before moving to Altrincham on his release. He has a vast CV of clubs, including Coalville, Buxton, Corby, Barwell, Hyde, Alvechurch, Carlton, Stafford, Atherton Collieries, Burscough, Anstey Nomads, Coventry Sphinx and Racing Club Warwick.

Tyler Winters is a former Peterborough Utd Academy striker. He then joined Spalding, before moving to Peterborough Sports, who also loaned him to Wellingborough before he joined our visitors in pre-season.

Fellow striker Ethan Johnston is in his third season with the club. Another ex Northampton Town youngster. He also had a loan spell at Kettering and a spell at Banbury, before joining Rushden from St.Ives Town in July 2023.

Jordan Graham is another striker, who came from Wellingborough pre-season. After starting out at Leicester City, he played for Oxford Utd and Mansfield, before moving to Tamworth. He joined Rushden in March 2022, but moved to Kettering four months later. He has also played for Hednesford and Spalding.

Yet another striker and new signing is Olly Brown-Hill. He first came to Rushden in 2017 from Stamford, but after six months moved on to Corby. Most of his career has been spent at Stamford, with spells at Ilkeston and Barwell in between.

Raymond Poku is another recently arrived striker from ON Chenecks.

Finally Will Mellors-Blair, another pre-season arrival, can play midfield or striker. He had a spell in the US with Detroit City, as well as playing for Hednesford, Kettering, Stamford, Kings Lynn and Solihull Moors after starting out at Walsall.

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

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

In a game where Mickleover should have had had three points sewn up before half time, it all came down to a last-minute free kick and deciding goal. But we’re off the mark goal wise and points wise and our season is up and running.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Steven Fikula 3-Toby Smith 4-George Wilkinson 5-Ashton Offler 6-Danny Benson 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Harry Wood 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Archie White. Subs: Will Atkinson, Michael Hollingsworth, Fraser Corden, Louis Bonser, Liam Carter.

Mickleover took the kick off which went straight out of play for a throw, before Boldmere went on the first attack. But Bosworth was quick off his line to kick the ball clear.

Only two minutes in and Sports were unlucky not to go ahead, when White struck the bar following a corner. Dales then followed up with his first shot just wide.

Five minutes later Dales had another shot blocked after a poor throw from our hosts. It was all Mickleover though with Dales then putting in a challenging ball from the left, before White’s effort ran just wide of the right-hand post. Dales shot again a few minutes later, but that was well off target.

For a while the game calmed down, but Mickleover still had the majority of possession, but on the 18 minute mark they went close again, with another cut in from the left by Dales, before Wood’s shot went just wide of the right-hand post again.

Sports had been pushing well forward when a minute later Boldmere got a break against the run of play. The defence couldn’t get back and despite Bosworth’s attempts to close it down, Ealing opened the scoring and it was 0-1 to our hosts.

Mohiuddin, White and Wood had been particularly creative in midfield, aiding the runs of Dales from the left. 21 minutes in and Mohiuddin set up Beavon who shot just wide, but five minutes later the same combination succeeded.

Mohiuddin floated in a lovely cross from the left and Beavon rose to head home in the top right-hand corner, with keeper Rinaldo at full stretch, 1-1.

Just a minute later Beavon set up a possible second for Mickleover, sending Smith on a clear run for goal. But his shot was straight at the keeper and the chance was gone.

Sports continued to push hard for a second and Fikula robbed the defence, Beavon then forced the home keeper into another save.

Beavon and Dales were showing more and more of their class, combining again on the half hour. Beavon broke on the left this time, but Dales effort was wide of the right-hand post.

Despite dominating the half, Sports were creating chances but failing to hit the target. 36 minutes Dales earned a corner, which Rinaldo punched clear, as the pressure continued.

Two more minutes later and a Dales free kick was cleared from a crowded box, sending the hosts on another break. But Lock’s effort landed on the roof of the net, with the defence once again losing out.

As half time approached White boke down the left again, but with no one in support, he tried his luck from a tight angle but it went for a goal kick.

The defence were caught out again with one minute left, as Lock went on a one on one chase to the Mickleover goal. Bosworth was quick to respond and his challenge went for a late corner.

Boldmere had one more chance before the whistle, but sent a free kick well over the bar. So it remained 1-1, when Mickleover should have been well ahead, having dominated the half, but on three occasions the defence were caught too far forward, which proved costly.

There was no immediate change for the second half, until Wood came off with a bruised foot after 53 minutes and was replaced by Atkinson.

There was a lucky escape just before the hour mark, when s hot from the right bounced off the Mickleover bar.

Unlike the first half, the second was becoming more scrappy and end to end. So after 67 minutes Corden and Hollingsworth came on for Mohiuddin and White and three minutes later Bonser replaced Smith.

Fikula had a great chance to take the lead after 68 minutes, but clear through on goal his shot failed to test the keeper.

Boldmere then came back with an effort from Cunningham, he was through and clear to shoot but failed to trouble Bosworth too.

At the back Wilkinson, Offler and Benson had things seemingly under control, while Corden and Dales combined for a strong run before running out of pitch.

There had been a lack on consistency from the referee throughout the match, which resulted in yellow cards for Wood, Mohiuddin and Atkinson and three Boldmere players too.

But one free kick couldn’t be denied when Beavon sent Dales on another run almost on time. The challenge was more akin to WWF than a football field, but Dales recovered to take the free kick. His shot hit the under side of the bar, bounced out and was hit goalwards by Benson, to secure a well-deserved opening league victory of the season 2-1.

by Peter Scherer

It’s our second away league match of the season as we visit Boldmere St.Michaels on Tuesday night, currently 10th in the table.

It’s been another difficult start for Mickleover, losing both league games 0-2 and going out of the FA Cup last Saturday by the same score.

Danny Benson was back from a hamstring strain last Saturday, but we will probably still be without Jake Bennett who injured his calf in the Coventry Sphinx defeat.

As well as seeking a settled side, Sports will also be looking for their first goal of the league season as well as their first points.

Australian born goalkeeper Ashton Rinaldo is currently on loan from Chesterfield, after making his senior debut for the Spireites last season.

Centre back and captain George Cleet is a pre-season signing from Highgate Utd. A former West Bromwich Albion junior, he was loaned to Worcester and Hednesford, before joining Halesowen. He also played for Sutton Coldfield before his three-year stay at Highgate.

Frankie Ealing is a right back who started out at Aston Villa, but following his release he spent last season in the Welsh League with Aberystwyth.

Left back Jordan Gough spent four months at Mickleover back in 2021. He started out at Gresley Rovers and has played for Solihull, Brackley, Telford, Chester, Boston Utd and Tamworth. He is a pre-season signing after spending two years at Quorn.

Zach Binns is a left back who has played for Sutton Coldfield and Smethwick Rangers and came to Boldmere last season. While currently on loan from Burton Albion is centre back Kye Bilton

Defensive midfielder Aaron Forde came in pre-season from Rushall. He started at Walsall, before joining Romulus on his release. Bedworth, Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Stourbridge, Tamworth and Nuneaton are also on his CV.

Harry Wakefield has scored two of our hosts three goals this season. The young striker was a junior at Basford, before moving on to Anstey Nomads and Matlock Town, and returning to Basford in October 2023. He has played for Shepshed Dynamo and Coventry Sphinx too.

Striker Kory Burke has also scored this season, a pre-season arrival from Sutton Coldfield, he’s also played for Bedworth.

Striker Charlie Manners came from Walsall Wood last November, having previously been at Coventry City.

Nathan Oyemade was previously at Shifnal Town and Willenhall Harriers. A midfielder, he was part of our hosts squad last season too.

Striker Alex Lock came from Coventry Sphinx, while Freddie Cockerell is another pre-season arrival from Coleshill. He’s also played for Sutton Utd.

Matt Greenway is an ex Kidderminster Harriers player and Kaireice Cunningham is another former Smethwick Rangers graduate.

Lewis Allison joins the players retained from last season too, while Danny O’Callaghan is a pre-season arrival from Chasetown, having been at Rushall and Sutton Coldfield.

Kick off is 7.45

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Any hopes of an FA Cup run came to an abrupt end at the Don Amott Arena, when two first half goals from Matlock Town proved decisive.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Archie White 3-George Wilkinson 4-Steven Fikula 5-Ashton Offler 6-Danny Benson 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Michael Hollingsworth 9-Stuart Beavon 10- Andy Dales 11-Harry Wood. Subs: Louis Bonser, Jack McDowell, James Matthews, Fraser Corden, Liam Carter, Toby Smith.

The visitors were quickly on the attack, with Bosworth forced to race off his line after 10 minutes, to intercept a long ball from ex Sports loanee Ravenhill.

Only a minute later Bosworth made another excellent save from Di Girolamo, as Mickleover had to fight to tray and gain possession.
But the defence was breached after 21 minutes when Gibson made it 0-1.

Sports attempts to test Boney in the Matlock goal had drawn a blank, until he collecting a telling cross into the box on the half hour. Bosworth was forced to make two more saves, but a 41st minute close range effort from Sports brough the best out f keeper Boney. With the half time whistle poised Di Girolamo made it 0-2 to the visitors, after is initial shot from a tight angle went in off the post. Mickleover made one change for the second half with Carter on for Hollingsworth, but five minutes into the half and Mickleover went close again only for Boney to save the point blank effort.

As the hour mark arrived Matlock were reduced to 10 men when skipper Ravenhill was red carded. Although Mickleover continued to try and push forward, bringing Corden and Matthews on for Wood and Beavon they were unable to take advantage of the 10 men. Into time added on a Sports free kick looked to be aiming for the top corner, but Boney saved again and so it remained 0-2, with Mickleover still goalless after three competitive matches.