by Peter Scherer

This Saturday at the Don Amott Arena we are hosting our first Southern Premier League game of the season, with Hednesford Town the visitors.

While Mickleover were unlucky not to come way with all three points at Kings Langley last week, our visitors went down 0-1 to Redditch after a second half free kick from Ryan Nesbit broke the deadlock.

Keenen Meakin-Richards side included four debutants in the squad. Keeper Lewis Gwilliams came from Belper Town in May, having previously played for Alvechurch, Rugby, Worcester and Sutton Coldfield.

Winger Joe Cuff is a recent arrival from Stafford Rangers after four years service. He was previously at Market Drayton.

Luke Rowe is a play anywhere midfielder signed from Redditch. He started at Wolves Academy and also had a spell with Coventry City.

Finally defensive midfielder Sam Wilding only arrived at the beginning of this month. A junior at both West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland, he was loaned to Leamington too before his release from Sunderland at the end of last season.

Former England Under 21 player and Chelsea Junior Leroy Lita is probably Hednesford’s best known player. After leaving the Blues he had three years at Bristol City, scoring 38 goals in 100 games. Four years at Reading saw another 100 games and 32 goals, plus loan spells at Norwich and Charlton, was followed by a move to Middlesbrough.

He played for Swansea City in the Premiership and after loans at Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton, he then continued his travels via Barnsley, Notts County, AO Chania in Crete, Yeovil, Sisaket in the Thai Premier League and finally non-league in the UK at Margate, Salisbury, Chelmsford,, before joining our visitors in March from Nuneaton, scoring a hattrick on his debut!

Lewis Hayden came from Walsall Wood and can play anywhere in defence or central midfield.  He was signed in February and has played for Coventry Utd, Solihull Moors and Rugby Town too.

Cameron Ebbutt was another February signing too from Bromsgrove. A striker, he started out at Bristol Rovers and was loaned to Dorchester, Evesham and Yate, before joining Hereford on his release in 2019. He also had a spell with Gloucester City before joining Bromsgrove.

Defender Carter Lycett came through our visitors own youth scheme and has become a first team regular over the last couple of season. He is also an England Schools International.

Harvey Portman is another young defender, preferably centre back, he came from Stourbridge in February, having came through the youth scheme.

Skipper Lewis Ison was a youth player at Bristol Rovers, after they spotted his talent at Coventry Utd. But a UCL injury hampered his progress when he was on the verge of the first team. He then returned to Coventry from where our visitors signed him in January 2021.

Young striker Riley O’Sullivan was an October 2021 signing from Coventry Utd, having previously been a Mansfield Town junior.

Former Wolves Academy player Todd Parker is a midfielder who arrived in May ’21 after a year out following his Molineux release.

Andre Landell came from Bromsgrove in June last year. An experienced and well-travelled striker, he started at Wolves too, before going to US College football after spells at Bath City and Rushall.

He returned to the UK with Rushall in 2019 and has played for Alvechurch and Stourbridge too.

Yet another former Wolves junior is winger Kyle Bennett. His league career has seen him make over 400 appearances with 30+ goals, for clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Swindon, Portsmouth and Doncaster.

He came to Hednesford in January and is also an England Under 18 international.

Veteran centre back Martin Riley started at Wolves too, and was signed from Tamworth last December. Among his long list of clubs are Mansfield, Wrexham, Tranmere, Alfreton and Hereford.

Rhys Williams is currently second choice keeper having come through the youth scheme.

Taylor Carter-Byrne is a centre back recently brought in from Coleshill Town, but he wasn’t in last weekends squad.

Former Birmingham City junior left back Harry Manton was also absent from last weekends line-up.

Mickleover will hopefully have a full squad available too for gaffer John McGrath to select from, dependant on Callum Chettle’s troublesome hamstring.

Kick is 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, BE THERE!!

by Peter Scherer

It was a valuable away point but it could so easily have been three, as Mickleover left Kings Langley with a 2-2 draw.

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

Hosts Kings Langley started strongly and after Cain Keller had gone close with a long range shot after nine minutes, only two minutes later Alie Bangura swivelled in the box and fired a shot into Hedge’s top corner, 0-1.

As Mickleover began to settle and pushed forward more, keeper Al-Droubi pulled off his first save from a Sports strike after 24 minutes, but only two minutes later Reeves scored his first league goal for the club, 1-1.

The hosts keeper was suddenly very busy and on the half hour Sports had another shot saved, before Butler’s looping header saw Mickleover head to the half-time whistle for a 2-1 lead.

Only three minutes into the second half and Kings Langley were back on level terms, when debutant Kennedy Feyi made it 2-2.

There was almost a repeat for Feyi straight the restart, but Hedge had this one covered.

Mickleover finished strongly though and had a 75^th minute effort cleared off the line, then with one minute on the clock another shot was deflected onto the bar, an so it remained at 2-2.

By Peter Scherer

This weekend is the start of a new era for Mickleover FC, when they travel to Hertfordshire to face Kings Langley in their first game in the Southern Premier League Central Division.

Chris Cummins side are also new to the league as they just escaped relegation in the South Division and have also been transferred for 2022/23.

Our visitors have had a busy pre-season which concluded with a 2-0 home win against Watford Academy ON Tuesday night.

Manager Cummins had mainly worked in Youth football with Watford, Luton and Reading before taking over at Kings Langley in 2019. He has also coached at Toronto FC in Canada.

Centre back Jorell Johnson is our hosts longest serving player, having arrived from Watford in July 2016. During his time with the Hornets he was also loaned to Hemel and St Albans.

Midfielder Cain Keller was one of the scorers in the home win against Watford on Tuesday night, he has also played for Biggleswade, Hendon, Barnet and Stevenage.

Goalkeeper Hafed Al-Droubi is a recent signing from Potters Bar. He started in Luton’s Academy before going to Turkey with Besiktas. He has also played for Manchester 62 in Gibraltar, Chesham, Harrow, Beaconsfield and Northwood.

Midfielder James Jellis arrived from Aylesbury last October. He is a former Stevenage junior and has also played for Hitchin and Wingate.

Alex Lafleur was another signing made last October, when he came in from Beaconsfield. A versatile defender he started out at Wealdstone and has played at Chalfont St Peter, Gosport, Moneyfields and Salisbury.

Ryan Case is a centre back or midfielder who was signed from Hartley Wintney in March. A well-travelled and experienced defender his career started as a Bournemouth Junior before joining Havant and Dorchester continuing via Braintree, Basingstoke, Staines, Poole, Eastbourne, Bath, Gosport, Oxford City, Dulwich Hamlet and Chippenham.

Striker Bradley Wadkins was part of last years team, having arrived from Chesham in July ’21. He previously was at Enfield and Slough and was the other scorer against Watford.

James Mulley is another recent signing. The winger or midfielder was with Ware last season, having started his 15 year footballing career at Yeading.

Among his other teams have been Hayes and Yeading Utd, Maidenhead, Slough, Chelmsford, AFC Wimbledon, Enfield, Bracknell and Uxbridge.

Young striker Edu Toiny-Pendred had come through the clubs own youth scheme. He made his debut in 2018 before moving to Berkhamsted. After a spell in US College football he played for Watford Under 23’s and St Albans, before returning to Kings Langley.

Former Arsenal schoolboy defender Samuel Okoye-Aheneku had a spell at Stevenage and Wingate & Finchley, before joining Hitchin. He started last season at Sittingbourne.

Josh Boorn is a new arrival from Chalfont St Peter, the attacking midfielder was previously with Luton Town.

Striker Alie Bangura hit two goals in five appearances towards the end of last season, after signing from Berkhamsted. He was previously at Biggleswade, Tring, St Margaretbury, Enfield and Broxbourne.

Turkish born midfielder Aryan Tajbakhsh arrived in February from Potters Bar. He has played for numerous southern based teams as well as spells in Turkey.

Noyan Tajbakhsh is the clubs most recent signing. A striker who was a junior with top Turkish side Fernerbahce, but has dropped in and out of the game in recent years. He has also played in the UK for Woodford and Uxbridge.

Centre back James Kaloczi is another new arrival from Hemel, he has previously had a couple of years at St Albans, where he was also loaned out to Wingate.

It’s a grass pitch and kick off is at 3pm

by Peter Scherer

A goal in each half was enough to see Mickleover FC’s pre-season end on a victory at Gresley Rovers.

Only five minutes into the game Kai Moore gave Sports the lead. A long ball had caused some confusing in the home defence, which left the young striker with a free run on goal to slide past the advancing Fenney. 1-0.

Seven minutes later Andy Dales tried his luck from long range, but was off target, before a Gresley corner was headed towards goal. Sports keeper Jonathan Hedge shot off his line to intercept but was beaten to the ball by Gresley’s Landsdowne, who’s header was over the bar.

Although Mickleover had the majority of the possession, the home defence continued to hold out.

Left back Elliott Walker went close after 23 minutes with a free kick just inches wide, followed five minutes later by some Dales magic. He managed to create the space to shoot, but it was straight at the keeper.

Nbakop had a shot for Gresley just over the bar again, before Morris earned corner for the hosts after a run down the left.

While Gresley’s attacks seemed to lack the final ball, Moore went close again after 39 minutes, when he cut in from the right only to have his shot deflected for another corner. Ryan Wilson was on the end of it, but his effort was wide of the post.

Gresley had another try when Wells effort was headed clear after 42 minute and so it remained 1-0 at half time.

Mickleover started the second half strongly, with Dales collecting from a 50^th minute free kick to fire over, before a Gresley clearance resulted in a Moore half volley just off target too.

It could have been another Sports goal after 54 minutes, when a break from Elliott Reeves found Dales, who was thwarted by keeper Fenney pushing his shot around the post.

Mason Warren then tried his luck with a curling ball just over the bar, before Dales left the defence flat-footed, leaving Jahvan Davidson-Miller to go for goal, only for his hot to be deflected by an offside player.

Davidson-Miller had started to cause problems for the Gresley defence and was able to cut inside Frizzelle after 70 minutes, before a weak shot went straight into Fenney’s hands.

Only a minute later Davidson-Miller had another shot straight at the keeper, before Lee made a break for Gresley but Hedge had it covered.

With three minutes on the clock Morris broke free for the hosts and found Wells. Hedge managed to push it wide, but was at full stretch to keep Sports advantage.

Only a minute later though there was a second goal, but it went in Mickleover’s favour. After a dangerous ball into the box, Davidson-Miller collected and sent a cracking shot into the top corner to seal the victory 2-0, with the final whistle soon following.

by Peter Scherer

With some minor injuries and a couple of players away, it was a considerably weakened team that made the trip to visit Uttoxeter Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Wilson 4-George Atwal 5-James Butler 6-Ethan Mann 7-Ben Horleston 8-Mason Warren 9-Kai Moore 10-Elliott Reeves 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Joe Bateman, Stuart Beavon, Brandon Ferron.

In a fairly even start to the game in which Uttoxeter tried to push forward, the hosts won the first corner after four minutes, before Mickleover followed four minutes later.

It was the hosts that had the first shot too, with an attempt well off target in the ninth minute, before an Atwal break found Walker on the right, and Wilson had a shot over the bar.

As Sports began to push out of defence Mann tried a long shot, again just off target, before Horleston managed to split the home defence but the final ball was just too long for Walker.

Both Dales and Atwal had started the game well back, which allowed the continued push from the home side. Uttoxeter won a free kick in the 14^th minute which went straight out of play, before Mickleover followed suit when Atwal found Warren who fired just wide.

A couple of minutes later the Uttoxeter left back gave the ball away and Moore picked it up. He broke towards goal and earned another corner.

Butler got his head to a free-kick after 22 minutes, but the angle was too tight to trouble the keeper and then Atwal gave away a free kick which the hosts put straight out of play again.

Uttoxeter were relying on the breaks and a left wing charge was partially cut off by Walker, before Bowen was forced to make his first save of the night after 24 minutes.

The Mickleover attack then seemed to spring into action for a while, with Horleston finding Reeves, who shot well over, before Warren and Wilson combined with the keeper tipping away the best shot of the night, as Walker just missed out on the rebound.

Dales then had a run down the left to find Moore in the middle, but the home keeper again had it covered.

Another break for the hosts saw a hasty shot well over, before Warren broke on the left and had his effort saved on the half hour.

Moore then connected with a long ball from Walker on the right and shortly afterwards Reeves got on the end of a goal mouth scramble but his shot was deflected out.

Bowen had to make another save after 37 minutes and finally an Atwal corner found Wilson, but his shot was just wide as the half time whistle blew at 0-0.

Sports brought on Beavon and Bateman for the second half, with Moore and Atwal making way.

It was Mickleover that started the stronger and an early Walker shot earned a corner, but it didn’t last long. Walker again tried to be the instigator but the home side had him covered, before Bateman cut off their retaliatory break.

Although Butler and Mann kept things tidy at the back, Uttoxeter continued to make some challenging breaks, before dales got away to find Reeves, whose shot was blocked again after 52 minutes.

There were a few minutes of sustained attacking with Wilson firing in another good effort, before Warren found Reeves on the left, then a well-timed cross just failed to connect with Beavon.

Beavon then set up another chance for Reeves as the hour mark approached and Sports brought on Ferron for Horleston.

The young Academy players pace was soon evident and he managed to get a cross in from the left, but no one collected.

Bateman had a shot blocked after 65 minutes but the deadlock looked set to be broken after 72 minutes when Dales was tripped just inside he box. But Warren stepped up to take the penalty, which he placed to the keeper’s right and it was well saved, so it remained 0-0.

For most of the final 15 minutes Mickleover were on top, but the ball just wasn’t falling for the strikers. Dales had another run but the ball got away before he shot, while Atwal and Moore came back on for the closing minutes for Walker and Warren.

With three minutes left Uttoxeter had a free-kick. It was cleared out of the box, but sent in again to find a relatively unmarked striker on the far post. His free header went wide however and the best chance of the match was lost.

It’s now off to NPL Division One Midlands Gresley Rovers on Saturday for the final pre-season game of the year. Rovers had a 1-1 with Hanley Town last Saturday, after going down 1-5 to Rugby Town.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover first team squad continued their unbeaten pre-season build up with a 4-0 win at local neighbours Borrowash Victoria.

Sports kicked off with the same line-up as in last Tuesday’s home win against Derby County Under 21’s.

1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliot Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Ethan Mann 7-Joe Bateman 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Fin Bowen, Ben Horleston, Marcus Marshall, Kai Moore, Brandon Ferron.

It was a strong performance from Sports throughout the game despite some determined opposition from the hosts. Once again Elliott Reeves was on the score sheet, having scored in every pre-season game he has played.

Stuart Beavon, Joe Bateman and recent signing  Marcus Marshall also found the net, with Marshall scoring two in two sub appearances after recovering from back injury.

Tuesday evening it’s Mickleover’s penultimate pre-season match, when they visit Midland League Premier Division side Uttoxeter Town, with a 7.30 kick off at the Oldfields Sports ground.