Author: Square Peg

Mickleover FC Announcement

We can officially announce that we are finishing our agreement with the NPLFA for the Mickleover Football Academy at the end of this season. It has been a pleasure to work with the team from the NPLFA and we wish them well in their endeavours for the future.

The club is currently hosting the MCG Academy at the Don Amott arena who are working alongside the DCCT (Derby County Community Trust) as we continue to develop the facility as a base for future footballers and a future educational base at Mickleover.

Mickleover have a proud history of bringing new and exciting talent from the junior section through to the academy and onwards in their football journey. We are sure that tradition will continue with our new partnerships and the guidance of John McGrath and the coaching staff.  

Thanks to all at the NPLFA and good luck to the new ventures.

Neil Hadfield
Treasurer

Reserves Extend Winning Streak

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC Reserves are now fourth in the Central Midlands League Premier South Division table and only a point from top, following their third successive win last Saturday.

With two early corners conceded by visitors Cromford & Wirksworth FC, Mickleover soon had the upperhand and following a foul on Fin Barker, Louis Pennington saw his free kick rebound off the wall.

But Pennington then sent Brandon Ferron through to cut inside, his shot was heading for goal, but a final touch from Barker made sure. 1-0.

The visitors had failed to create much in response, but a rare break was blocked by Rock, who was looking a solid pairing in the middle of defence with Ethan Mann.

Some promising and creative Mickleover play in midfield kept Sports going forward, but wasn’t creating the chances.

But after Barker was fouled again, he took the free kick which was cleared again as it came off the wall, so it remained 1-0 at half time.

It was the defenders on the attack early into the second half, when Mann found Rock, who couldn’t quite get his shot in before it was cleared.

Ferron put a couple of good crosses in, but there was no one on the end of it, then Zak Sandhu came on after Ferron took a knock, joined by Sam Harrison on for Cozens.

Sandhu’s first job was to block a Cromford shot, but the following corner wasn’t cleared and they shot just wide.

But shortly afterwards Cromford won a free kick, which wasn’t cleared, the follow up shot hit the bar, before another header breached keeper Fin Bowen’s defence and it was 1-1.

Mickleover were on the charge again though and Barker had a shot well saved by the visitors keeper. Sandhu and Harrison then combined to win another corner, with Pennington winning a free kick, which he took himself and was well held by the keeper after he breached the wall.

Sandhu hit the bar after a cross from Ronnie Bonser, before two more changes were made. Harry Atwal and Dean Ironmonger came on for Fin Ryder and Jack Leighton.

But Barker was running at the Cromford defence again and was fouled. Atwal stepped up to take the free kick and curled it past the wall into the top left-hand corner, with the keeper well beaten 2-1.

Mickleover continued to push hard but Cromford had far from given up and responded too. There was a late break too for Harrison in the final minutes, but his shot was just of target.

The Reserves are back in action again on Saturday when they visit Clay Cross in the League Cup, before their league campaign resumes with Teversal at home on October 8th.

(Information contributed by Mickleover Reserves FC Twitter)

Sports Youngsters March On

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Youth Team now progress into the Second Qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup, after beating St Andrews last Friday.

It got off to a great start when Zac Sandhu was fouled and the referee played on allowing Declan Brown to open the scoring.

But after the strong start St Andrews began to find their feet and started to pose more threat to the Sports defence.

Mickleover had to make an early change when Dean Ironmonger came on for the injured Owen Parr.

But another attack soon followed with Charlie Rock clearing from a St Andrews corner. Fin Ryder then sent a long ball for Brown to chase, but it was intercepted by the visitors keeper.

Rock then fed the ball to Jack Leighton down the right, his cross found Brown again, but a great save from the keeper prompted another St Andrews break.

Bill was deemed to have fouled a striker and although he got a hand to the kick, it was 1-1.

As the home defence continued to look fairly strong, Harry Atwal sent Brandon Ferron running down the left. His cross was met by Sandhu and it was 2-1 as we came to the end of the first half.

Sandhu hit the bar again from a Ferron cross as the second half got under way. The St Andrews keeper then saved from a corner and set up another break for the visitors, but the shot was straight at Bill

But another free kick had Bill beaten as it struck the bar, before the rebound was in the back of the net. 2-2.

Both sides were pushing to take the lead and both keepers were having to pull off some great saves as the clock ran down and penalties loomed again.

In the closing seconds though Brown then picked the ball up, beat two defenders and passed the advancing keeper 3-2.

So it’s next stop Lutterworth Athletic, to be plated w/c September 26th.

(information courtesy of Mickleover Reserves twitter)

Reserves Up Into Top Three

by Peter Scherer

A 3-1 victory at Arnold Town last night has moved Mickleover Reserves into third place in the Central Midlands League Premier South Division.

It didn’t start too well for the young Mickleover side, when they conceded an early goal from striker Chambers.

But the striking power of Declan Brown and the return of last seasons top scorer Fin Barker, soon had Mickleover fighting back.

Barker had a shot deflected onto the post before Brown followed up to make it 1-1. But Barker was on the attack and fired a shot just over the bar as it remained even at half time.

Sports had been forced to make one change before the break, with Fin Ryder coming on for Owen Parr.

The home keeper was in for a busier second half and after a couple of chances and corners, he had to make a spectacular save from a Brown effort.

But it wasn’t long before Mickleover went ahead, with Ronnie Bonser making a clearance, allowing Barker to send Jack Leighton on the overlap. His telling cross then found Brown and it was 2-1.

It was another Leighton charge that set up Brown for his hattrick, to settle all three points in Mickleover’s favour at 3-1.

The Reserves at home to Cromford & Wirksworth on Saturday at 3pm. The first team are without a game, SP PAY THEM A VISIT!!

(Information contributed by Mickleover Reserves FC Twitter)

Sports Make It Three In A Row

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover made it three successive Southern League Premier wins, after a 3-1 victory on their trip to Rushall Olympic last night.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Ryan Wilson 8-Mason Warren 9-Jahvan Davidson Miller 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: George Milner, Elliott Walker, Marcus Marshall, Ethan Mann, Jordan Fankwe.

From the starting whistle Mickleover were on the attack and earned their first corner after four minutes, after Dales’ initial cross was put out.

Only a minute later Davidson-Miller had his first shot of the night blocked after another Dales cross.

Not surprisingly it was Dales causing problems for the home defence that brought the opening goal. As the winger cut in from the left he let fly with a cracking shot from a tightening angle beating keeper Weaver on his far post, even though he got a hand to it. 1-0.

Dolan put a dangerous cross in from the left a few minutes later, but the keeper held it, before Rushall had their first real attack 14 minutes in, following a corner.

Dales broke through again and was tripped on the edge of the box, but no foul given, while only a couple of minutes later it was 2-0 to Mickleover when Davidson-Miller battled through to find Warren, who fired it home after 16 minutes.

Rushall earned a free kick but Bateman easily cleared the danger, just before Rushall had their first real shot after 18 minutes.

There were a couple of free kicks given but our hosts failed to threaten from any and after 25 minutes Warren went close again, just wide of the right-hand post from long range, with another powerful drive.

As Dales had before, Dolan had a long run and was tripped on the edge of the box, but no foul, but Mickleover continued to threaten the home defence, with the occasional break their only respite.

Dales and Warren were playing their usual roaming roles, as Wilson and Bateman played more defensive midfield, and after 33 minutes Dales put a long ball through just out of Davidson-Miller’s reach.

Beavon had a cracking shot just over the bar after 35 minutes, before Rushall managed to break out of the own half and finish the first half strongly.

The hosts had a few more random and wide shots and Wilson cleared a more telling cross, before Hedge had to make his first save of the night with two minutes left.

Milner came on as sub to replace Wilson who had a heavy cold, but in time added on a nice interaction between Davidson-Miller and Beavon, saw the former’s final shot of the half blocked again.

Just as in the first half Mickleover came out with all guns blazing again, but after 49 minutes Hedge had to punch away a good Rushall effort on his right.

There was a whole series of corners for our hosts before it was finally cleared, but after another tremendous run down the left from Dolan, he squared the ball for Beavon, a quick turn and shot and it was 3-0.

For the next 15 minutes it was fairly even, before a more sustained period of attacking was triggered from a long throw, but ended with a blocked shot.

Rushall made a triple substitution, but a mistake by Whittall at the other end almost sent Davidson-Miller clear, before he fouled the Mickleover striker and then appealed for his own free kick, neither of which were given.

After a fairly quiet but solid comeback game, Bennett was replaced by Mann for the last 14 minutes, as Butler and Watt had to earn their crust with more home attacking.

A Mantom effort was cleared off the line, but after 80 minutes Whittall pulled one back for Rushall 3-1.

Mickleover were on the retreat but holding firm, Dales made way for Marshall into the last five minutes and Beavon had a shot blocked from a Warren corner.

Although Rushall hadn’t played badly, the game was won and lost in midfield, where Mickleover’s strength seemed to lie.

We are now up to ninth in the table and only a point outside the play-offs, but it’s now over a week until the next game, when we visit 11th place Needham Market on the 24th.

Mickleover Look For Second Away Win

by Peter Scherer

Following last Saturday’s postponements, tomorrow evening it’s a short trip down the A38 for Mickleover FC as we visit Rushall Olympic.

Manager Liam McDonald has been in charge for five years, having previously managed Solihull Moors and Hednesford, after ending his playing career as a player coach with Redditch.

The season started badly with a 0-3 home defeat against Coalville and after drawing 0-0 at Hitchin, they got their first goal in a 1-3 defeat at Tamworth.

Wins at home to Bromsgrove and away to Needham Market, were followed by another draw, 1-1 at home to Barwell.

But like Mickleover their FA Cup hopes fell at the first hurdle, going down 1-4 at home to Redditch. They have an identical record to ours, but are one place ahead in the table in 13th.

Goalkeeper Jake Weaver has been receiving excellent reviews this season. A former Birmingham City youth player, he was loaned to Hungerford, Kidderminster, Hednesford and Leamington, before a permanent move to Leamington in August 2020. He arrived at Rushall pre-season and is one of four ever-present players in the team.

Right back Kristian Green came from Stourbridge in July last year, having also played for Halesowen, Solihull Moors and Tamworth.

Sam Whittall is one of the long serving players. A midfielder, he started out as a Wolves Junior, before joining Cambridge Utd. He came to Rushall in July 2016 from Brackley.

Former England Under 17 International Sam Mantom is the leading scorer this season with three. Having started at Walsall, he spent most of his youth career at West Bromwich Albion, and was loaned out to Haukar in Iceland, Tranmere, Oldham and Walsall, before joining the Saddlers permanently in 2013, where he later became captain. He then moved on to Scunthorpe and Southend, before arriving at Rushall in October 2020, with over 250 league and FA Cup starts under his belt.

After only a month he moved to Hemel, before rejoining our hosts again in pre-season.

Left back Reece Mitchell came from Boldmere St Michaels in July 2019, having come through the youth team at Leamington.

Former Stoke City youngster Tom Thorley is an experienced midfielder. He was loaned to Stafford Rangers and Burscough, before a permanent move to Stafford in 2009.

He had three years at Worcester City and five at Hednesford, before returning to Stafford in 2018. He joined Rushall in October 2020.

Keith Lowe is a very experienced centre back, having played over 400 league games. Initially a Wolves Academy player, he was loaned to Burnley and QPR where he played in the Championship, before, Swansea, Brighton, Cheltenham and Port Vale, joining Kidderminster on his release in 2008.

After a spell at Hereford he joined Cheltenham Town and has also played for York City, Nuneaton, Macclesfield and Bradford PA in between three spells at Kidderminster, from where he joined our host pre-season.

Striker Johno Atherton arrived from Chasetown last month. He has also played for Uttoxeter, Walsall Wood and Alvechurch.

Andre Carvalho-Landell is another striker that arrived last month, scoring his first goal in the win over Needham Market. A former Wolves Junior, he moved to Bath City before joining Rushall in August 2012. After a year he moved to the US with Tiffin Dragons and Michigan Bucks, before returning to our hosts in September 2017.

He then moved on via Alvechurch, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, before a year at Hednesford preceded his third spell with Rushall.

Midfielder Alex Fletcher is yet another pre-season signing. Starting out as a Shrewsbury Town Junior, he played for Telford and Tividale, before joining Welsh League Newtown. He also played form Southport and Stafford, returning to Newtown in between. He spent a year back at Stafford, before arriving at Rushall.

Midfielder Richard Batchelor is well known to Mickleover, as he was at the Don Amott Arena before joining Rushall in November 2019.

He started at Romulus, moving on to Chasetown, Leamington, Hednesford, Brackley, Worcester, Stafford, Stourbridge and Highgate, before coming to Mickleover from Redditch in July 2019.

Jayden Campbell came Walsall Academy in pre-season. He’s an attacking midfielder and scored his first goal in the home win against Bromsgrove.

Will Shorrock was another product of Walsall’s youth scheme. A midfielder, he went to Bromsgrove after his release in 2018 and came to Rushall pre-season too.

Another former Bromsgrove midfielder, Jordain Masidi arrived in November last year, he also played for Littleton.

Centre back Jordaan Brown has only made one start this season. He is a former AFC Wimbledon Junior, who then played for Staines, before trying his luck with VPS in Finland and Floy in Norway.

After two years he was back in the UK with Hayes & Yeading, before heading to the Midlands with Redditch, Stafford and Stourbridge. He came to Rushall in March from Tamworth.

Midfielder Owen Parry came in from Boldmere St Michaels in June 2021.

Striker Sam Moore was another pre-season capture. A fairly prolific scorer, he started out at Coalville, before moving to Quorn, Shepshed, Birstall, Barrow Town, Eastwood, Coleshill and Corby.

Sports would appreciate your support for the 7.45 kick off, it’s less than an hour away, just 31 miles!

Davidson-Miller Hat-trick As Reserves Hit Ashland For Six

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves secured their second win of the season last night, hitting six without reply at home to Ashland.

Starting line-up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Jake Bennett 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Charlie Rock 5-Pablo Mills 6-Zak Sandhu 7-Owen Parr 8-John McGrath 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Jack Leighton 11-Ben Horleston. Subs: Harry Atwal, Louis Pennington, Fin Ryder, Declan Brown, Dean Ironmonger.

In his first game since last November, Bennett was back from his knee operation and soon on the attack, with a right cross in the first minute to earn a corner.

Having moved from his previous right back position, Leighton chased a through ball after six minutes, but it just outpaced him and went out for a goal kick.

Sports were looking very strong going forward and a cross from Mills just missed Davidson-Miller’s head, before a slight fumble from the Ashland keeper was cleared.

McGrath and Horleston were controlling midfield, freeing up Parr and Leighton for runs at the visitors. 10 minutes in and McGrath fed Bennett down the right again, but his cross the saw Davidson-Miller’s shot blocked. Parr then fired in another cross three minutes later to earn another corner.

Mills put a shot wide after 14 minutes from a McGrath cross and a minute later a free kick from the Gaffer saw Davidson-Miller hold the ball well in the box, but he couldn’t get the turn for a final shot before it was cleared.

The shots were coming thick and fast and Horleston found Davidson-Miller again in space, but his shot was just wide of the left-hand post after 16 minutes.

Three minutes later and Davidson-Miller finally hit the opening goal, after a long and precise build-up from midfield 1-0, and only a minute later Mills crashed a shot against the bar after a great diagonal run from Leighton.

Davidson-Miller was constantly on the attack and his long run after 22 minutes earned another corner, he then cracked in another shot a minute later which was well saved by the Ashland keeper.

McGrath then had a corner, which led to a deflected shot hitting the post, and then in close succession both Horleston and Mills had further shots saved.

On the half hour another McGrath corner saw the visitor’s keeper save again from Davidson-Miller before Bennett made it 2-0 after a build-up down the right in the 33rd minute. 2-0.

Mills then hit the bar again from a McGrath pass, before both Davidson-Miller and Mills had further shots saved as half time approached.

With a minute to go Ferron beat the defence on the left, found Mills but the keeper saved his shot again Then Leighton just missed making contact as the Ashland keeper ran off his line to intercept, with Mills waiting unmarked in the middle.

There was no peace for the visitors again as Mickleover were straight on the attack again at the start of the second half.

A Ferron cross just missed Davidson-Miller’s head after 46 minutes, but three minutes later the visitors had their only real shot in the whole match, well wide of Bowen’s left-hand post.

Ferron had a shot himself which the keeper held onto at the second attempt and then after 55 minutes Bennett was causing more trouble down the right, but the following shots were off target.

We only had to wait another minute though before Davidson-Miller connected in a goal mouth scramble to make it 3-0.

Ashland had a break almost on the hour, but with Bowen racing off his line, the danger was soon cleared before Mickleover made a double substitution with Pennington and Ryder on for Bennett and Leighton.

Davidson-Miller then completed his hattrick after 68 minutes after taking the ball around the keeper, he then came off to be replaced by Ironmonger, with Atwal on for Parr. 4-0.

Mills was still seeking his goal and fired another attempt wide after 73 minutes. Ferron then fed another ball to him, but he just missed connecting, but there was another goal after 77 minutes with Ironmonger on target 5-0.

Brown came on for Horleston in the last 10 minutes and after a solid performance at the back from Rock and Sandhu, Rock went close to adding to the scoresheet after 82 minutes, after his effort was just wide of the left-hand post.

88 Minutes on the clock and Mills got his goal to round off the night with a comfortable 6-0 victory. “I wasn’t a matter of if I scored, it was more a case of when,” Mills concluded.

The Reserves are next in action next Tuesday night, when they visit Arnold Town. 

Sports Go Out To Second Half Fight Back

by Peter Scherer

It was disappointing end after a promising start, as Mickleover went down 2-3 to Alvechurch in their FA Cup tie at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Ryan Wilson 8-Mason Warren 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Elliott Walker, Fin Bowen, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Ben Horleston.

With Mickleover taking the kick off Warren soon put a long ball through just out of Marshall’s reach, but Alvechurch responded with Butler clearing.

Six minutes in and Dales led a good build up, but Marshall’s final shot failed to test visiting keeper Jezeph.

It was fairly end to end with a long Alvechurch build up coming to nought after 11 minutes, when the final pass saw the striker offside, but a following cross from the visitors drew a corner from a Dolan challenge, eventually cleared by Beavon.

Only a minute later Dales, Wilson and Marshall combined, before a ball out to Warren found Mann. He spotted the keeper fairly forward, and sent a chip over his head into the far corner for his first senior goal 1-0.

Both Dolan and Marshall were fouled in close succession, but neither free kick proved positive. In the 22nd minute however Dales was fouled just outside the box and Wilson beat the four-man wall into the keeper’s top let hand corner, 2-0.

 Beavon was then brought down on the edge of the box after 26 minutes, but nothing was given. 

Hedge had to collect an Alvechurch cross from the right on the half hour, but Mickleover went close again after 33 minutes. A Warren corner was headed clear, before the ball fell to Wilson whose shot was only just over the bar.

Alvechurch went onto the attack with more effort in the final 10 minutes of the first half, Butler and Watt had most of it covered and Bateman was looking strong just in front of the two centre backs.

But the defence was breached after 37 minutes, prompting Hedge to charge off his line to intercept at the strikers feet.

Marshall then had a good solo run, cutting in from the right, before he was blocked and earned a corner.

Warren had pot from well out and was just wide of the mark, before Alvechurch followed similarly a minute later.

Then a Beavon turn sent Marshall through but his path was blocked again.

Alvechurch had three late chances to pull one back before the interval, one from a corner that missed everyone, the second was just over from long range and the third was wide from the left, while Warren almost put Beavon clear, but was just offside.

Although Alvechurch hadn’t played badly, Mickleover gave them little space in midfield and started the second half similarly.

Only two minutes after the restart Marshall had a great chance after Dales cut in from the right, but he gave the keeper an easy save.

Bateman was yellow carded a minute later, before Dales taunted the defence then crossed for Mann to go close again.

Dales was tearing the visitors right hand side apart as Mickleover looked even stronger than the first half, with Beavon inches from collecting a Dolan cross.

The home defence showed a sign of weakness as the hour mark approached, but the visitors failed to take their chance with a shot well over.

After Alvechurch made two substitutions, they earned a free kick after 56 minutes, Hamilton stepped up and fired high into Hedge’s left-hand corner 2-1.

Almost from the kick off Sports were beaten down the left, with the cross earning another corner. But they came back strongly with Marshall earning a free kick after being pulled back. Butler then came up for the kick and earned a corner, which was easily cleared.

In the 66th minute the referee gave Alvechurch a most innocuous penalty, which Hedge saved with a dive to his right. But in the scramble that followed, sub Waldron collected the ball to make it 2-2.

Seven minutes later and Waldron was on the score-sheet again. A cross from the visitors left found Waldron by the far post and made it 2-3.

Davidson-Miller was on for Marshall as it was now Mickleover seeking the equaliser.

Alvechurch were now chasing every ball, just as Mickleover did for the first 66 minutes, but Davidson-Miller headed into the side netting from a Mann cross for Mickelover.

Sports were pushing everything into the visitors box, Mann had a cross or shot taken by the keeper on his line and Davidson-Miller was fouled after a good turn but nothing given.

Mann then headed wide from a late free kick and finally Dales shot wide into the side netting after a late foul on Mann.

So the 2-0 lead became a 2-3 defeat and the FA Cup dreams are over for another year at the first hurdle.