by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A magnificent second half fightback made sure that Mickleover came away with al three points in their opening league fixture of the season.

Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman; 2 George Wilkinson; 3 Sam Sanders; 4 Will Atkinson; 5 Hamza Bencherif; 6 Dwayne Wiley; 7 Kane Richards; 8-Josh Ashman; 9-Manni Norkett; 10- Terry Hawkridge; 11-Theo Rowe. Subs: Jude Taylor; Stuart Beavon; Liam Carter; Josh Carter; Yerim Zoko.

Almost straight from the kick off Nuneaton won a free kick. But a fairly tame effort proved to be an easy first touch for keeper Chapman.

Mickleover were soon on the attack though and after three minutes a succession of corners, saw a deflection and a cross that was missed by all. Norkett then jinked into the box and was brought down, but penalty appeals were waved away.

Ashman had a shot blocked, earning another corner, which was easily blocked, as Sports turned the screw on the home defence. Rowe had outpaced the defence on the left, but as he cut onside his path was blocked too.

Osborn in the Nuneaton goal was then tested after 12 minutes, when Richards layed the ball off for Hawkridge, who struck a 20 yarder.

Sports had dominated possession in the first 15 minutes, before our hosts earned their first corner. The original kick was cleared but centre back Softley was challenged in the box and went for a dive that initially didn’t seem to impress the referee. But after his hesitation and a couple of appeals, he pointed to the penalty spot.

Stretton stepped up to take the kick which was well saved by Chapman, but the miss seemed to trigger a positive reaction from the home side.

A scramble in the Mickleover box followed, before a free kick was awarded and then a short back pass from Bencherif fell to a Nuneaton striker. He tried to lob the ball over the advancing Chapman, who made a fingertip save.

The momentum continued however and after 20 minutes it was Nuneaton that opened the scoring. Sawyers sent wing back Chesterton on a run down the Mickleover right, his cross was fired into the box where Stretton met it and fired home a rocket shot into the top corner, 0-1.

Four minutes later our hosts went close and had another shot saved, before going even a closer in the 23rd minute, when Atem sent a crossfield ball to Green. He returned the favour which saw Atem send a glancing header just wide of the right-hand post.

Mickleover were doing their best to regroup and when Bencherif saw a chance he tried his luck from distance, but Osborn had it covered. With half time approaching Hawkridge made a breakthrough down the middle, but his long ball for Norkett to chase proved just too long and so it remained 0-1.

No sooner had the second half got underway, Mickleover were straight on the attack with purpose. Rowe went close after 50 minutes after a burst through the defence, but five minutes late he made it count. A lob over a static defence saw him to chip the advancing keeper. He completed his task with relative ease and it was back to 1-1.

Just three minutes later Hawkridge made it two, creating his own space in midfield after a corner, to fire home another great strike.

Nuneaton managed to make a break on the hour when Sawyers went charging down the wing. He found Armson but it was an easy stop for Chapman.

Rowe was then fouled on the edge of the box and Hawkridge sent in a curling free kick, well taken by Osborn as it headed goalwards.

64 minutes gone and Rowe outpaced the defence again, his cross from the left managed to cross the face of the goal, but agonisingly close to a final touch that would have made it three.

Mickleover made their first change when Taylor replaced Rowe after 72 minutes, soon followed by Josh Carter for Hawkridge.

Nuneaton continued to try and push forward at any opportunity and earned a couple of corners which were cleared, before Sawyers had a shot blocked by Chapman’s feet.

Carter managed to put Norkett through with eight minutes left, but it was another good save from Osborn at close range. A minute later Cooper did make it 3-1, after a wonder strike from distance following his midfield interception.

In the closing minutes Carter had a shot just over and another just wide, while Zoko became the final sub, after making a brief cameo appearance on for Norkett.

Following on from Saturday’s FA Cup win, it was a superb start to the league season. A 3-1 win against a decent footballing side, with a solid back line of Wilkinson, Bencherif, Wiley and Sanders and some solid defensive midfield work from Atkinson and Ashman.

Both Rowe and Richards proved effective on the wings, as did Taylor later in the game. Norkett took quite a battering as target man and it was an outstanding first start for the experienced Hawkridge too.

We now look forward to hosting St.Ives Town in our first home league game, before our league and FA Cup double against Barwell.

by Peter Scherer

Straight off the back of our 2-0 FA Cup win at Winsford Utd, Mickleover open their NPL Midlands Division League season with a visit to Nuneaton Town tomorrow night.

Our hosts were also in FA Cup action last Saturday wining 5-2 away to Westfields. United Counties Premier League South Champions last season, it’s joint managers Darren Acton and Russell Dodd’s second season in charge.

They currently ground share with Bedworth too, while plans for their own stadium are completed.

Darren Minkley is almost fit again to take his place in the Mickleover squad, while Sports debuts are still awaited for the returning Charlie Hickingbottom and striker Luca Alonzi, as well as latest signings Terry Hawkridge and Yerim Zoko.

First choice goalkeeper for Nuneaton Finn Osborn was signed from Barwell in the close season. He learned his trade in the West Bromwich Albion Academy and made his adult debut with Kenilworth Sporting. Nuneaton Borough, Nuneaton Griff, Hinckley AFC and Atherstone are on his CV too, before joining Barwell last season.

His deputy is Brandon Bache, signed from Hinckley AFC a couple of seasons ago. He’s also played for Chelmsley and Coton Green and was our hosts first choice last season.

Josh Green is a right back signed from Shifnal Town in pre-season. He started out at Macclesfield, before moving onto Stalybridge Celtic, Fleetwood Town, Chester City, Stourbridge and Sutton Coldfield. He played in the Welsh League with Cefn Druids, before moving onto Hanley Town, Walsall Wood and Rushall Olympic.

Kai Thomas is a speedy wing back, who was signed from Heather St.John’s at the start of last season.

Left back Harry Chesterton is another new arrival. A former Aston Villa and Walsall graduate, he joined Solihull Moors following his release. He’s also played for Darlaston Town and Coventry Utd.

Centre back Luke Softley is one of the new arrivals too. A former Aston Villa junior, who arrived from Bromsgrove Sporting, he’s also played for Hungerford Town.

Aaron Roberts has also come from Bromsgrove, where he not only captained the side, but shared a centre back partnership with Softley. He had rejoined Bromsgrove from Redditch last September, and has played for Halesowen, Worcester City, Hednesford Town and Evesham Utd too.

Central midfield or winger Brad Stretton is another new signing from Quorn. He played for Bromsgrove Sporting most of last season, before moving to Quorn in March. A former Coventry City junior, he’s also played for Oxford City and Alvechurch, Stratford and Rugby Borough.

Eesa Sawyers is an attacking midfielder who came from Bilston Town at the start of last season. He’s played for Bedworth Utd and Rushall Olympic too.

Corey Carruthers is a midfielder too and team captain. He came from Highgate Utd two seasons ago, and has also played for Spalding Utd, Coleshill Town and Walsall Wood.

Another new signing and midfielder is James Armson from AFC Telford. He was originally with Nuneaton Borough before moving on to Solihull Moors and was at Brackley for eight years before his Telford move in June 2024.

Midfielder Charlie Jones, was one of the key players in last years promotion success. He originally graduated from Leicester City’s Academy.

Dec Somel is in his third season at the club. A midfielder signed from Hinckley AFC, he came from Tamworth’s Academy, before a spell with Walsall Wood.

Caine Elliott is a midfielder too, a recent arrival from Rugby Town, where he graduated from their academy into the first team

Striker Terry Atem has joined our hosts after spending last season at Grantham Town He has played for both Belper Town and United, Shepshed Dynamo, Sherwood Collieries, Eastwood and Heanor too.

Winger or striker James Harrison is starting his third season at Nuneaton, since signing from Ashby Ivanhoe. He was a Burton Albion junior and after a short spell at Redditch he moved to Coleshill Town. His next stop was Gresley Rovers.

Liam Murphy is a striker who’s arrived from Anstey Nomads, where he spent last season. He started out at Bedworth, before moving to Boldmere St.Michael’s and then returned to Bedworth.

Striker Stuart Hendrie arrived in July 2024 from Coton Green, after a well-travelled career. His youth career saw him at Aston Villa, Tamworth and Walsall, before moving onto Studley, Stratford, Coleshill, Alvechurch and Atherstone.

He then joined League Two Morecambe in 2010, made seven first team appearances and was loaned to Tamworth before joining Hinckley Utd on his release. He’s continued to play for various midlands clubs.

Finally striker Jay Snook is on a season long loan from Shrewsbury Town and was also loaned to Kidsgrove Athletic last season.

Just a reminder to traveling fans, our hosts play their home games at Bedworth Utd’s Oval ground CV12 8NN and it’s the usual 7.45 kick off.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

After a tough scoreless first half, a Manni Norkett penalty and Liam Carter’s first senior goal, made sure Mickleover march on to the First Qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman; 2-George Wilkinson 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Hamza Bencherif 6-Dwayne Wiley 7-Kane Richards 8-Josh Ashman 9-Manni Norkett 10-Andy Dales 11-Theo Rowe. Subs: Tyrrell Waite; Jack McDowell; Cieron Keane; Terry Hawkridge; Yerim Zeko; Josh Carter; Liam Carter.

Within minutes of the kick off Norkett found himself flattened by the home keeper just outside the box, but Dales free kick was soon cleared.

Although Mickleover tended to dominate possession early on, Chapman had to rush off his line to intercept a seventh minute break from our hosts.

Ashman went close for Sports too with an early header from a corner, but Chapman was in action with another save 11 minutes in, as Winsford tired to maximise any opportunity to break.

Both Richards and Rowe’s early explorations on the wings had been thwarted, but Rowe managed to battle his way into the box after 15 minutes, before Norkett’s shot was well saved by the keeper.

Richards then floated in a corner from the right which was headed around in the box, before Rowe cut inside again from the left six minutes later to fire a shot over the bar.

Mickleover continued to look solid at the back and similarly Atkinson and Ashman in the centre of midfield, which was allowing Dales to push forward.

22 minutes gone and Dales latched onto a Sports corner, but his shot was blocked. Similarly just after the hour mark Dales struck again after Rowe had cut inside, but that shot was blocked too.

Mickleover had comfortably withstood the Winsford breaks but when Sanders committed a foul just outside the box on the left, Chapman had to tip the free kick over the bar as it headed for the top corner.

The breeze and the bone-dry pitch hadn’t contributed to the quality of the first half, but despite chances for both sides it remained 0-0 as the whistle went.

Sports seemed to start the livelier of the two sides in the second half and after some hard work from Dales cutting in from the left, Rowe sent a curling shot just wide of the far post.

A couple of minutes later Rowe set up Norkett after outrunning the defence on the left, it was another good save from the keeper though.

Only minutes after he had been the hero, the keeper became the villain when he felled Norkett in the box. Up stepped Norkett with a perfect spot kick, making it 1-0 after 55 minutes.

Keane was the first sub on for Ashman just before the hour. But Richards tested the keeper too, with a chip tipped away at full stretch.

Waite then replaced Norkett, but apart from one break which was nicely stopped by Wilkinson and Sanders, Winsford showed little urgency to retaliate and seek an equaliser.

Both Josh and Liam Carter came on too and almost on time Josh had a great chance for a Mickleover second, but put it wide of the left-hand post as the keeper advanced.

Liam had earlier had a shot over the bar, but there was still a Carter on the score sheet. Into stoppage time the home defence seemed to freeze, but Liam continued, beat the keeper and secured his first senior goal for the club.

So it’s on to the first qualifying round on August 22nd when we visit Barwell, just four days after we lay them at home in the league.

 

by Peter Scherer

The road to Wembley starts here, with Mickleover heading to Cheshire to face Midland Football League Premier Division Winsford Utd in the Extra Preliminary Round on Saturday.

Our hosts finished third in the table last season under the joint managership of Dean Jones and Dom Johnson, but lost out to Northwich in the play-offs. It was their first season in the higher league, having been promoted as North West Counties First Division South Champions.

They started their new league season last Saturday, with a 2-0 home win over Dudley Town, before visiting Cheadle Town on Tuesday evening claiming a late 1-0 victory

Goalkeeper Ryan Brown came out of the Port Vale Academy and joined Kidsgrove Athletic following his release. After a loan at Eccleshall he moved to Hednesford, but was loaned back to Kidsgrove. He is of a number of our hosts pre-season signings.

Jacob Kirwan is second choice keeper and was the league’s goalkeeper of the year in their 24/25 promotion year. He came to Winsford in July 2024, for his second spell at Alsager Town.

Defender Ewan McGeady was originally part of Altrincham’s youth scheme, he spent most of last season at Witton Albion.

Fellow defender Ashton Brogan was signed from Alsager Town, where he had been since December 2024. It was his second spell at Alsager after a short spell at Market Drayton.

Kaylan Wilkinson is a defender too, dual registered with Northwich. He’s also played for Wythenshawe, Alsager and Cheadle Heath Nomads.

Left back Junior Brown is an England C International, with experience in leagues one and two. He started out at Crewe Alexandra, before moving onto Halifax, Northwich, Fleetwood and Tranmere. After spells at Oxford Utd and Mansfield, he spent three years at Shrewsbury, before moving on to Coventry City, Scunthorpe and Bristol Rovers. After a spell at Whitchurch he had a career break, but returned with Hednesford in 2024. He joined our hosts in November last year from Alsager, after a brief spell at Nantwich.

Former Port Vale junior Josh Hall can player anywhere across the back four. He was previously at Congleton Town before joining the new intake.

Centre back Henry Briscoe is a recent arrival from Chester. He has also had loan spells at Hanley Town, Burscough and Northwich.

Ste Jenyons is know as Captain Marvel, he’s the club captain and a centre back. He has just started his ninth season with the club, having signed from Knutsford back in 2018.

Harry McGowan and Kerr Dollochin are midfielders on loan from Macclesfield, for Dollochin it’s an extension of a loan from last season.

Fellow midfielder Diego McGann began his career with S Puma Generaleña, Academia River Plate, Santa Ana FC, Deportivo Saprissa and LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica, He then joined Irish club Linfield, but coming to England with Stafford Rangers. Newcastle Town and Eccleshall followed, before coming to Winsford after nine months at Whitchurch a couple of weeks ago.

More midfielders and another new arrivals, Harry Johnson played for Burscough and Clitheroe last season, while Dan Brown has come from Madeley White Star and Sam Taylor has signed from Crewe FC.

Sam Latham is another former Alsager Town player, a midfielder who was part of the teams promotion push last season.

Jordan Johnson has recently returned for a second spell with our hosts. The striker was previously at Winsford between 2016 and 2019 and has played for Burscough, Middlewich Town, Lostock Gralam and Crewe FC.

Teenager Danny Guiver is a striker too and another recent arrival from Alsager Town, similarly Zach Gatwood, a new arrival from Bollington Utd.. Niza Chilufya was one of last years stars though, known as the Zambian Pitbull.

Winger Mykah Skervin started his career with a US scholarship at Michigan and arrived at Winsford pre-season from Hucknall Town.

Regan Hughes is a young striker who has stepped up from the clubs academy, fellow striker Adam O’Mara has recently moved across town from Winsford Town.

Kick off at Barton Stadium is 3pm. If you are going via junction 18 of the M6, allow extra time due to a diversion for long standing roadworks entering Middlewich.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A goal in each half made sure that Mickleover retained the Keith Calladine Memorial Trophy, the annual pre-season fixture against Burton Albion.

Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2-George Wilkinson 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Dwayne Wiley 6-Trialist A; 7-Kane Richards 8-Cieron Keane; 9 Manni Norkett; 10-Josh Carter; 11-Theo Rowe. Subs: Tyrell Waite; Stuart Beavon; Liam Carter; Josh Ashman; Trialist B.

Mickleover made their now customary pacey start, which soon led to the opening goal. Rowe outran the visiting defence on the left, fired in a cross which met Richards and goal number one was into the far corner, 1-0 after just four minutes.

From there Burton seemed to settle more and the play and possession were fairly even up to the completion of the first half hour. Norkett then shrugged off a challenge to break down the right wing. He then cut inside and fired in a shot just over the bar.

Mickleover continued to press down the wings and after 39 minutes Richards tried his luck cutting in from the right. The ball went across the face of the goal, but there was no one to tuck it home.

With just one minute on the clock before the half time whistle, Sports went close again, with Norkett getting on the end of another telling cross, to see his header agonisingly hit the post. So it stayed 1-0 as we reached the interval.

There were no half time changes but there was soon another goal for Mickleover. 50 minutes in and a Josh Carter strike brushed a Burton defender and had the keeper beaten 2-0.

Sports made their first change when Waite replaced Norkett after 62 minutes.

But the attacks continued to flow and six minutes later Keane almost crowned a starring role in midfield, sending in a cross that had the defence beaten, only for Waite’s shot to be well saved by the keeper.

Burton pulled one back with a 71st minute penalty, while further changes were made as Liam Carter replaced Rowe, and Wiley and Richards made way for Trialist B and Beavon.

And so the pre-season schedule came to an end with a 2-1 victory making it four wins out of six, as we now look forward to the FA Cup on Saturday, when we visit Winsford Utd.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover headed for National League North Worksop Town for their penultimate pre-season game, going down 0-1 to a second half goal, in other an otherwise strong performance.

Starting line-up: 1-Aaron Chapman 2-George Wilkinson 3-Sam Sanders 4-Will Atkinson 5-Hamza Bencherif 6-Dwayne Wiley 7-Kane Richards 8-Josh Ashman 9-Manni Norkett 10-Trialist A 11-Theo Rowe. Subs: Ty Waite; Jack McDowell; Josh Carter; Liam Carter; Trialist B; Cieron Keane.

It was a now customary lively start from Mickleover, with an early free kick after Norkett was fouled on his opening run. As at Matlock where he scored the opening goal, Richards stepped up to take the kick, curling goalwards but well taken by the home keeper Dearnley.

Four minutes in and Norkett outpaced the defence again on the left, but his Crossfield ball was just out of range for Richards’ pursuit.

Worksop had their first shot three minutes later when Whitman-Brown shot just wide, but it was end to end with both sides looking to attack.

Wiley put in a strong header just wide from a 13th minute corner, before Worksop earned a free kick, taken short and faded away.

Ashman and Atkinson were looking extremely solid in the middle for Sports, which allowed Richards and Rowe to attack down the wings to support the chasing Norkett. Their combination gave Richards the chance for a telling cross from the right after 17 minutes, but the home defence had it covered.

Gradually our hosts began to apply more pressure and after a 22nd minute corner, there was a further spell of sustained pressure, which Wilkinson, Bencherif, Wiley and Sanders not only soaked up but looked solid and comfortable.

28 minutes and Bencherif went close from a header after another corner, but it continued evenly matched as we reached half time 0-0.

Mickleover made one change for the second half with Keane on for Ashman, but three minutes into the restart it was Worksop that opened

the scoring. A break down the Mickleover left saw a deflected cross sent into the box. The deflection appeared to have wrong footed Chapman in the Mickleover goal and the ball fell nicely for Whitman-Brown who slotted it home 0-1.

Both Trialist A and Norkett then made way for Waite and Trialist C, but now in front Worksop were starting to look stronger and had another shot on goal deflected wide for a corner on the hour mark.

It was nearly a second for our hosts after 66 minutes. Chapman had made an initial save, the ball was fired back in but Wilkinson was on the goal line and headed it clear.

The next change was Josh Carter on for Richards and over the next few minutes Trialist B replaced Wiley, McDowell for Chapman and Liam Carter for Rowe as we were into the final 15 minutes.

Keane managed to make some space to try a shot from distance which was just past the post, but Worksop kept McDowell busy in the closing minutes. Firstly he held a close range shot and the made a diving save to his right and make sure it remained 0-1.