Author: Square Peg

Stourbridge (A): Match Postponed

By Peter Scherer

(UPDATE: SINCE PUBLISHING THIS MATCH HAS NOW BEEN POSTPONED)

Back in November Stourbridge paid us a visit, we were then fourth in the table, and on a run of five successive wins, but drew 1-1.

Coincidently we now visit Stourbridge on Monday evening and once again are on a run of five wins, as we continue to keep out outside chance of a play-off place alive.

Stourbridge are currently 9th in Southern Premier League Central table, and our game on Monday will be their fifth consecutive home game, having won two. Saturday theyhosted St Ives  and snatched a late point with a 2-2 draw, thanks to an injury time goal from Joe Hull.

Joe Bateman was a casualty from our game at Rushden and remains a doubt, while Mitchell Rose and Jonathan Hedge are still on the road to recovery, but otherwise the whole squad should be available for selection.

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 returningthree 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, beforejoining 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.

Lee Vaughan is a right back and a former 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 onto Cheltenham, Tranmere and back to Kidderminster, he came to Stourbridge in July 2021 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.

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.

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 2021, 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 signingfor 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 a couple of weeks ago. 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.

It’s Five In A Row As Sports Hit Four At Lowly Rushden

by Peter Scherer

On form Mickleover put bottom of the table Rushden & Diamonds through a punishing second half, hitting three goals after going into half time all square.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Rhys Dolan 3-Ryan Wilson 4-James Butler 15-Joe Bateman 6 Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Stuart Beavon 10-George Nunn 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Pablo Mills, Marcus Marshall, Elliott Reeves, George Atwal, Oli Greaves.

It was only a great save from home keeper Dean Snedker that stopped Mickleover from opening the scoring in the first minute, tipping over Dales’ effort.

But we didn’t have to wait long as Dales picked up a rebound from Beavon’s blocked shot, firing from 12 yards through a crowded box to make it 1-0 after only five minutes.

Rushden came back with a positive response though, but Corden had a half chance which he put just wide.

As the hosts began to gain in confidence, they started to make more progress towards the Mickleover goal. Marian put a cross in after 15 minutes, but it was whipped off Burnside’s toe before he could shoot.

Two minutes later a good run from White was intercepted by the Mickleover defence, giving our hosts corner.

The defence of Dolan, Butler, Mann and Wilson was holding firm however, but there was a blow for Sports after 20 minutes , when Bateman went off injured and was replaced by Mills.

But Snedker’s goal was under pressure again as the half hour mark approached, saving again low to his near post.

Rushden had their chances too, with Joyces’s 33rd minute free kick placed into the box. Marian took a swing at it, but his left foot shot was well wide of the target.

Joyce was in action at the other end some six minutes later, after cutting out a first time ball from defence  to send Dales on a run.

Almost on half time Snedker kept the hosts in the game again, pushing another effort away low to his near side post, as Mickleover pounded the defence at every opportunity.

Into injury time Anker found Burnside, but his shot was cleared, only to fall to Marian who hit the rebound beyond Bosworth’s reach. 1-1.

It was good to see Mickleover come out fighting for the second half, and only two minutes into the second period Beavon jinked through the home defence, only to be intercepted by the advancing Snedker.

But there was soon another goal for Mickleover, when a penalty was awarded, Warren duly stepped up and it was 2-1 after 52 minutes.

Six minutes later Dales punished a defensive error to make it 3-1, before Joyce finished off a good Rushden build up, firing his final shot just over the bar.

Our hosts were punished further, when after 64 minutes Mills made it 4-1. The ball had bounced around the area, before finding Mills, who smashed home from short range, in a still crowded box.

Once the hour mark was passed, gaffer John McGrath made two changes, as Greaves came on for Dales and Reeves for Nunn.

Mickleover were pressing hard still for a fifth goal, but with 10 minutes on the clock, Snedker made another reaction save from a close header.

Reeves then sent in a curling effort just wide after a long run into the box, before Snedker denied Sports yet again, with his umpteenth great save.

There’s a well-deserved break now until we face Stourbridge away on March 13th.

Can We Make It Five At Relegation Threatened Diamonds

by Peter Scherer

Rushden & Diamonds are our next port of call on Saturday afternoon, as we strive to make it five successive wins, to sustain the pressure on the clubs currently in the play-off positions.

Former Football League side Rushden & Diamonds have been in turmoil all season with numerous changes both on and off the field.

With one win against St Ives in the last 10 games, they have a goal difference of -50 and are currently bottom of the table, with no other points since the end of last year.

Chris Nunn took over just before Christmas, having left Kempston Rovers and has made the side almost unrecognisable from side we beat 2-0 back in October, as he strives for their survival.

Keeper Dean Snedker was a Northampton Town Junior, who moved onto Brackley after an initial loan. Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Kettering, Cambridge City and St Albans were his next ports of call, before a year at Hemel preceded his move to Rushden in August 2021. He was also an England Under 19 International.

He was back behind between the sticks last weekend, having lost his place to Frenchman Loris Marcimain on loan from St Albans City.

Centre back Ryan Hughes started at Northampton too and after a loan at St Neots, he came to Rushden on loan too for three months until January 2020. Further loans at Banbury and Corby followed, before a permanent move to our hosts in August 2020.

Defender Luca Doorbar Baptist was a January arrival from Peterborough Sports, having started his career as a Nottingham Forest Junior. He was also on a dual registration with Cambridge City recently.

Fellow defender Miguel Lopez De Matos came from Hadley FC in January. He also played for Waltham Abbey, Potters Bar, Northwood, Staines, Welling and Kempton.

Charlie Pattison was signed in January too. A midfielder, he started as an MK Dons Junior, before joining Dunstable. After a spell at Banbury he rejoined Dunstable, from where he was picked up by our hosts.

Central defender Luke Massingham was a pre-Christmas  signing from Thame Utd. Standing at 6ft 4in, he scored their first goal in six games last weekend. An ex Wealdstone Junior, he captained Slough Town and played for Staines, Bracknell, Chalfont St Peter, Rayners Lane and Kempston. He was also manager Chris Nunn’s first signing.

Right back Eniola Agemoh-Davies was signed in August last year from Cambridge City, he is another ex Northampton player, who’s played for Stratford, Potters Bar, Soham and St Ives.

George Joyce is another right back. He played his junior football at Boreham Wood, before moving to Hitchin Town last November. He arrived at Rushden in January.

Midfielder Mitchell White came from Cogenhoe Utd in November, having previously been a junior at Rushden.

Midfielder Luis Pinto-Leite started his career in Portuguese Junior football, before a stay at Bloomfield College in New Jersey. He signed for Rushden in July last year, through a Scholarship programme with Moulton College.

Courtney Lashley is a left back who arrived at Rushden in July last year from Northampton Town, but is currently out on loan.

Andy Mandjoba started out at Blackpool, but moved to South Liverpool on his release. The midfielder moved on to Loughborough University, before coming to Rushden last October.

Midfielder Nigel Chikamba has become part of the first team squad, after coming through the clubs own junior ranks.

Striker Jenson Cooper was a summer 2022 signing from Shrewsbury Town’s Academy, while midfielder Fraser Corden  only broke into the first team at the beginning of this season, having graduated through the clubs own youth scheme.

James Burnside is another striker signed in January from Real Bedford. He was previously at Potton Utd and Newport Pagnell where he was a prolific scorer.

Striker Charlie Black was signed last September from UD Poblense in Spain. A former Luton Town Junior, he has played for Dunstable. Arlesey and Biggleswade too and has played in Finland and the US.

Bogdan Marian is a Rumanian born defender, currently on loan from Watford. Both attacking midfielder Joel Anker and defender Charlie Waller are on loan from MK Dons, having previously been loaned to Tring Athletic. Waller captain Dons Under 21’s.

Kick off is at 3pm.

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).