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 33^rd 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 13^th.

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 51^st minute effort over the bar, before appeals for a penalty after Bateman was fouled, were waved away.

Alvechurch had another chance with a 55^th 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.

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 16^th 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.

by Peter Scherer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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