by Peter Scherer

This Saturday at the Don Amott Arena Mickleover face Rushden & Diamonds, currently 21^st in the table.

Joe Bateman should be back from suspension and it will be a first chance for home supports to see our four new signings.

A change of manager to Richard Maxwell in the last week may prompt a change in form for Rushden, but with wins at home to Nuneaton and away at Cadwell , plus two draws they have only amassed eight points so far.

In last weeks home game against Redditch went down 0-2, but in their last two away games they have failed to score and had 12 scored against, 0-5 at Hednesford and 0-7 at Coalville.

Most of their squad are relatively new singings and currently includes five loanees.

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.

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 visitors in August 2020.

Hamilton Bunga is a centre back who came from Yaxley a couple of weeks ago. He started at Kingstonian, and is well travelled via Staines, Arlesey, Thurrock, Royston, Norwood, Bedfont Sports, Leiston, Basildon, Three Bridges, Hemel and Marlow, before a three-week stay at Yaxley.

Central Midfielder Nathan Hicks was a pre-season signing. He was at Kettering, Histon and Leamington, before a six month stay at Alfreton. Moving back to Leamington, he then played for Nuneaton, Kettering and Biggleswade, before his first spell at Rushden  in July 2018. Two years later he went to St Ives, from where he returned this summer.

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, through a Scholarship programme with Moulton College.

Courtney Lashley is a left back who arrived at Rushden in July from Northampton Town.

Norwegian Centre back Matthew Fossen was another July arrival. A former Bradford City Junior, he played for Halifax before returning to Norway with SK Herd. CD Bupolsa in Spain was his next stop, before Nybersgund in Norway. He then had six months at Linkoping City in Sweden before arriving at Rushden.

Miguel Ngwa is an 18 year old midfielder on a five month loan from Northampton. Similarly Morgan Worsfold-Gregg is also a midfielder and loaned from Lincoln City, again for five months.

Centre Forward Jack Connor is the third loanee, like Ngwa he has come from Northampton too.

Conor Tee arrived from South Shields in August. Another midfielder who, started at Leicester City, before moving on to Brackley, prior to spending last season with South Shields.

Jesse Akubuine is a midfielder too, who has spent much of his career in Scotland. Initially at Queen of the South, he played for Dalbeattie Star on loan and Open Goal Broomhill, before a permanent move to Cumbernauld. He has been at Rushden since July 2019.

Striker Jenson Cooper was a summer signing from Shrewsbury Town’s Academy. Midfielder Fraser Corden has only recently broken into the first team, having graduated through the clubs own youth scheme.

Evangelis Empochontrif was a summer signing too from Canvey Island. A young defender he’s played for Walthamstow, Woodford Town, Newbury Forest and Hullbridge Sports.

Striker Charlie Black was signed last month 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.

Jordan Hines is another striker to join the club during September. He started out with Bradford City and Sheffield Utd, before moving on to Halifax, Harrogate, Dereham Town, Thackley and Knaresborough.

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

Both striker Dylan Surace and goalkeeper have both come through the clubs youth scheme and joined the first team squad this season, along with centre back Dante Grey.

Attacking midfielder Tyreese Sutherland is another fairly recent arrival, having played for London Tigers and Dorking.

Kartell Dawkins is a young striker and the fourth loanee from Leicester City and finally Neo Richard-Noel has recently arrived from Kettering as s fifth loanee for a month, he’s a former Cambridge Utd striker.

Kick off as usual is 3pm!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover made it three successive wins last Saturday, in a seven goal thriller at Barwell, with two goals for Ryan Wilson.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Lucas Yeomans 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Ethan Mann 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oliver Greaves. Subs: George Nunn, Pablo Mills, Olaleka Osideko, Ben Horleston.

Both sides had half chances in the opening minutes, but disaster struck for Mickleover in the seventh minute when Rowley headed home a Brogan free kick to give the hosts the lead, 0-1.

Brogan had a shot wide again a few minutes later, before Mickleover saw a glancing header just past the Barwell post after 14 minutes.

Another four minutes and Wilson hit the first of his two goals to bring it back to 1-1, before catching the home keeper off his line and chipping it home to make it 2-1 after 34 minutes.

Mickleover had deserved their half time lead and were soon on the attack again in the second half. But it a mix up between the home keeper and his defence that led to the third goal, missing a back pass to make it 3-1 after 51 minutes, credited as an own goal for Green.

10 minutes later and Beavon showed his experience and composure as the ball fell nicely in the box to make it 4-1 and Sports then made their first change, with loanee Nunn on for Reeves.

Hickey scored a consolation header for Barwell on the 90 minute mark 4-2, and with Horleston a late sub for Dales, Nunn crowned his debut with an injury time fifth goal.

The win now moves Mickleover back to 12^th in the table, with games in hand over most of the teams above them. 

by Peter Scherer

It’s back on the road for Mickleover this Saturday, with a short trip to Barwell as they resume their Southern League Premier Division Central campaign.

With Joe Bateman still suspended and George Milner having left the club this week, Sports will be hoping that Andy Dales, Marcus Marshall and Jake Bennett are fit for action.

Sports will looking for their third successive away win in the league, following success at Ilkeston and Rushall, as well as making up for the disappointing FA Trophy defeat at Stowmarket last weekend.

Mickleover are now 16th in the league, with our hosts 20^th and still seeking their first home win of the season.

Ian King has been in charge since May and has kept a fairly stable line-up so far, but with just away wins at Ilkeston and Royston, they have taken a point off Alvechurch, Rushall and Kings Langley and also went out of the FA Trophy last week 1-3 to Gainsborough.

First choice goalkeeper Andy Wycherley started his career with New Saints and Guilsfield in Wales, before  moving on to Telford Utd. He has also played for Solihull Moors, Hednesford, Nantwich and Halesowen and was at Rushall for one month before arriving at Barwell in July.

With Wycherley give a straight red card last week, second choice Elliott Lawson will probably be between the posts.

Derby born Micah Edwards started off as a Rams Junior, before the young midfielder had spells at Ilkeston and Gresley Rovers. He has been at Barwell since July 2019.

Centre back Kyle Rowley arrived from Stourbridge pre-season. He was a Walsall Junior and after a loan at Sutton Coldfield, he joined Rugby following his release. Moves to Alvechurch, Walsall Wood and Hednesford followed, before his seven months stay at Stourbridge.

Herve Pepe-Ngomi joined Leicester City’s Academy from St Etienne. Another centre back he went to Nuneaton on his release, but after spells at Kettering and Boston Utd he had a career break. 

After three years out he joined Coalville in July 2021 and moved to Barwell two months later.

Midfielder Max Brogan has scored five goals this season. He was signed from Coleshill Town last season and previously had a spell at Tamworth.

Brady Hickey is the club captain and central midfielder, who came from Nuneaton in January 2018, having moved in the opposite direction only seven months earlier. Like Brogan he has scored five goals too this term.

Jack Deakin is a midfielder too, currently on loan from Mansfield Town, having previously been at Sheffield Wednesday. He scored in both of the last two league games too.

Beck-ray Onoru is a winger or striker signed pre-season. He has scored two goals and already been a “man of the match.”

Striker Tiago Nassunculo was a pre-season signing from Redditch, having previously played for Peterborough Sports.

George Ward is a defender on a dual registration with Weymouth during his time at Loughborough University. He had played for the University side too, as well as Bromsgrove, before joining Barwell last month.

Albanian born Melis Bushaj is a young left back who started out with Solihull Moors. He was loaned to Leamington, before being released to join Barwell pre-season.

Dominic Brown-Hill is a midfielder who first came to Barwell in 2018 after his release from Notts County. After 18 months he moved to Alvechurch, but returned in July 2021.

Striker Michael Heading hails from Washington DC, but started his career at Northampton Town. After a loan at Kettering he joined St Ives Town, before moving to Beaconsfield November last year. He was another pre-season signing for Barwell.

Cam Moore is another striker signed last month from Redditch, having only joined them two months earlier. He is a former Bolton Wanders Junior and has also played for Loughborough University, Prescot Cables and Stalybridge Celtic. 

Already well known to Mickleover is Bermudan International midfielder Roger Lee. He joined Barwell in July from Loughborough Dynamo, having joined them from Mickleover in January.

He has played for Kalev Talinn in Estonia, FK Jurnieks in Latvia, as well at Stafford, Corby, Basford, Stamford, Rugby and West Super Mare, after spending his early career at home in Bermuda.

Sid Kerr is a defensive midfielder, recently arrived from Loughborough Students. He made his debut in their last league match and has also been on the books at Everton, Chelsea and Brighton.

Deen Master is another midfielder too. He attends Nottingham Trent University and has also played for Leicester Nirvana.

Centre back Elliot Percival came to Barwell from Sheffield Wednesday in August  2017, having joined them a year earlier from Leicester City.

Jake Pemberton was summer signing from Wantage. He started at Reading and was at Loughborough University for two years, before moving to Wantage.

Tolani Omotola is a striker in his second spell at Barwell. A Tranmere Junior, he played for Altrincham, Buxton, Corby and Coalville, before arriving for the first time in Jul 2019. 

After just over a year he moved to Hyde and played for Alvechurch, Carlton, Stafford and Atherton, before arriving back at Barwell from Burscough in August.

Midfielder William Warren is in his second season at the club, while defender Callum Stewart and striker James Pye have been on the bench, but yet to make a start. 

Kick of as usual is 3pm and as it’s only about 40 miles, your support would be most welcome.

by Peter Scherer

After the disappointment of the early exit from the FA Cup, hopes were high of success as Mickleover visited Isthmian League North side Stowmarket Town, for the FA Trophy tie.

Stating line-up: 1- Jonathan Hedge 2- Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Jordan Fankwe 8-George Milner 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren. Subs: Jahvan Davidson-Miller, George Atwal, Ben Horleston.

The hosts had the ball in the net after only two minutes following a free kick, but it was given offside.

Beavon then had the first Mickleover shot on goal a minute later, with his effort just wide of the left-hand post. But Reeves went close six minutes in, when his strike forced keeper James Bradbrook into a diving save, after a good build up between Mann and Beavon.

Stowmarket had a couple of corners that came to nought and a 13^th minute cross from Chris Casement, was straight into Hedge’s waiting hands.

The play had been fairly even, but Reeves had another header just over the bar after 17 minutes, following a Warren free kick after Beavon was fouled.

Five minutes later Beavon found Reeves on the left, but his shot was deflected out for a corner. Then a telling cross from the Stowmarket left after 26 minutes, almost found Jack Ainsley, but it was just a couple of inches too high.

Neither side looked particularly decisive in midfield, and neither Mann nor Dolan were having the usual cutting runs on the wings.

Beavon found Reeves again after 39 minutes, but his powerful shot was straight at the keeper and then Ainsley wasted a chance for the hosts, wanting too much time before shooting, as the danger was cleared.

With the whistle poised for half time, Mann, Beavon and Reeves combined, but the final ball rolled out of play, just beyond the left-hand post and it remained 0-0.

From the start of the second half Mickleover had more drive and it was only three minutes in when the ball fell nicely for Beavon in space, who set up Reeves for a run, outpacing the defender and slotting it past Bradbrook 1-0.

It could so easily have been level again only two minutes later, when Hedge parried an initial shot, which fell at Evan Collard’s feet, but the Stowmarket midfielder sent his shot high over the bar.

There hadn’t been a lot of creativity from the Mickleover midfield, despite Milner and Warren’s pace and enhthusiam. But after 53 minutes Fankwe had a weak shot wide of the left hand post, with Warren then spotting the keeper off his line, trying a chip just wide gain.

Tev Allen broke through the Mickleover defence and earned a corner after his shot was blocked, but the follow up was just wide.

As the hour mark approached Mickleover just about had the edge, but it was decided to make the first change with Davidson-Miller on for Fankwe.

It was close again for the hosts after 63 minutes, when Butler lost possession on the edge of the box and gave away a free kick, which fortunately caused no problem.

But Davidson-Miller was unlucky not to hit a second for Sports, when he held the ball well and cut in from the right, seeing his shot hit the right-hand post.

Beavon had a 72nd minute break, before Warren’s shot was blocked, but at this point it was just about going Mickleover’s way still.

Allen had another shot across goal after 78 minutes, which Hedge had covered and with four minutes on the clock Horleston came on for his first team debut, replacing Milner.

Reeves teed up Beavon who shot over on the 90minute mark, but then disaster struck. With some of the home fans accepting defeat, Mickleover lost possession and with the ball in the box the defence froze.

Allen was first to react and fired in the equaliser past Hedge from close range, 1-1.

The full-time whistle soon followed and with no extra time, it was straight into penalties. Stowmarket’s first was in, before Warren saw his attempt saved. After the hosts had made it two, Reeves shot was saved too! 

Hedge managed to keep Stowmarket’s third shot out, before Wilson stepped up. His attempt was nearer the parallel A14 than the goal and it was all over for Mickleover, apart from the long journey home.