By Peter Scherer

Having barely had chance to draw breath after last Saturday’s home win over St Ives, it was off to Ilkeston Town’s new Manor Ground for the Bank Holiday Derby match.

There was just one change in the starting 11, with Ryan Wilson back in for Jordan Fankwe.

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-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Elliott Walker, Fin Bowen, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Marcus Marshall, Ben Horleston.

The opening minutes were fairly even, with Hedge making a save from Montel Gibson in the first minute, before a Dolan cross was headed out for the first corner. Warren’s kick found Wilson, but the midfielder miscued his shot

Dales had a shot over the bar following a sixth minute corner and six minutes later Beavon won the ball to send Dales on a run, with Warren just failing to connect.

Gibson had another speculative long shot for the hosts but was well wide, and then after 14 minutes Dolan charged through and sent a shot whistling just inches past the post.

As Ilkeston had some random and off target shooting, Mickleover were becoming more and more dominant and after 22 minutes Warren crossed and Reeves was on the end of it for a 1-0 lead.

Only two minutes later another telling run down the left from Dolan, saw Reeves’ header just over the bar.

Reeves did get the ball in the net again on the half hour, after a Warren free kick had found Beavon, whose deft touch set up Reeves who was flagged offside.

The pressure on the home defence continued to build, with little creativity in return. Dales was fouled a couple of times as he attempted to start his runs and after 38 minutes Mann made the first of a couple of threatening crosses into the box. They were initially cleared, before a Wilson blast was deflected for a corner.

With little threat from a lethargic Ilkeston attack, Butler and Watt had things covered at the back, allowing Mann and Dolan more freedom on the wings, with Bateman going defensive in midfield.

A Dolan cross on the left found Reeves’ head in the 40thminute, but his effort was just over the bar and a couple of minutes later Deeney in the Ilkeston goal had to make a double save, from Dolan and Reeves’ rebound.

But with a minute to go to half-time Reeves made it 2-0 with a fine solo run, to confirm Mickleover’s first half dominance.

There were no immediate second half changes, but Reeves was soon in action with a fairly tame shot after 46 minutes.

But five minutes later Wilson’s cross from the left just missed Beavon’s head.

Sports were still well in control and on the hour Dolan made it 3-0 after Beavon’s skilful touch set him for his fourth goal in the last four games.

Ilkeston began to use their subs and appeared to restructure their whole challenge, which soon started to turn the tide.

Gibson almost broke through after 70 minutes, before Dolan’s last-ditch tackle stopped him and then skipper Fenton had a shot blocked after a corner.

Another header from Gibson went close after 73 minutes, but only a minute later an Ilkeston free kick into a crowded box found Gibson and it was 3-1.

Hedge made a save from a Willock header after 79 minutes, but it was only another three minutes when Gibson planted his shot from the edge of the box into Hedge’s top right-handcorner 3-2.

Marshall came on for Beavon and although time was beginning to run out for the hosts, it became almost a cup tie ending, with Ilkeston throwing everything at the Mickleover defence.

There was an 87th minute scramble in the Mickleover defence and almost an equaliser, but it finally resulted with a foul on Hedge.

Dales came off to make way for Walker, but the referee had added on a massive six minutes. It was pressure all the way to the final whistle, but it remained 3-2, a first away win of the season and second successive victory.

The local rivalry will peak tomorrow, when Mickleover travel to Ilkeston Town.

We had been expecting to play newly promoted Ilkeston in the Northern Premier League, but both have been moved to the Southern Premier League Central.

Whereas Mickleover succeeded in taking their first win last Saturday, Ilkeston are still seeking their first win and currently are 18th with Mickleover 17th in the table. Our hosts have had four draws and one defeat so far.

Former Aston Villa, Stoke, Peterborough, Southend and Scunthorpe striker Martin Carruthers has been in charge since 2019, having spent a couple of years on the playing staff too.

Former Derby County and Burton goalkeeper Saul Deeney came to the club from Coalville in March. He is now 39 years old and a former Republic of Ireland Under 21 International.

Right back Kalern Thomas was another one of the many pre-season signings, arriving from Coalville, having also played for Quorn, Loughborough, Corby, Boston Utd, Solihull Moors, Halesowen, Kettering and Kings Lynn.

Ben O’Hanlon is a former Wolves Junior. A left back he has been at Corby, Harrogate, Darlington and Hednesford, before coming from Stourbridge last month.

Midfielder Alex Troke was a Notts County youth player. He was at Eastwood, Grantham, Carlton and Coalville and came to Ilkeston from Bedworth in July 2020.

Centre back Liam Daley is another new arrival. He started out at Evesham and has played for a host of clubs, including Solihull Moors and Barnet, finally coming to Ilkeston from Kettering.

Skipper Kieran Fenton is a former England Under 19 International, who started his career with Nottingham Forest. He was loaned to Tamworth before joining Worksop, moving on to join Coalville, before signing for Ilkeston from Quorn in November 2019.

Jamie Ward is another well known player, who was signed from Buxton in the summer. The Northern Ireland international has over 400 league appearances under his belt scoring over 100 goals.

Apart from his time at Derby, Burton and Forest, he has played for Sheffield Utd, Charlton, Cardiff, Scunthorpe among other teams.

Midfielder Jack Thomas came from Tamworth in March. He was a Mansfield junior and has played for Hednesford, Boston Utd and Basford. It’s his second spell at the club, having left in July last year.

Striker Zak Goodson is a former Derby Academy player, who joined the club in May 2020, from Basford. He played for Newark Flowserve and Long Eaton too.

Montel Gibson is another striker, signed from Stourbridge in January. His career started at Notts County and during his many moves was at Ilkeston in 2017/18 before moving to Redditch. He played 28 times for Notts first team scoring three goals.

Midfielder Charlie Wakefield came from Buxton in July last year, having previously been a junior at Chesterfield.

Former England C midfielder and Aston Villa youth player Dan Bradley has been with our hosts since March. Tamworth, Kidderminster, Alfreton, Barnet, Fylde and Nuneaton all feature on his cv, while he spent last season back at Tamworth.

Striker Remaye Campbell came from Grantham in July last year, after a junior career at Notts County.

Declan Thompson is a new arrival from Sheffield Wednesday. The young right back also had a spell at Stocksbridge.

Ollie Brown-Hill is another striker, who came from Stamford in July 2020. He had started at Stamford too, before moving on via Corby and Rushden & Diamonds.

Centre back Marshall Willock was another pre-season signing from Stamford. He was a junior as Solihull, Walsall and Chesterfield, having also played for Redditch, Peterborough Sports, Grantham and Kemi City in Finland. He has played for RC Warwick and Stourbridge too, since returning to the UK.

Midfielder Jared Bird was at Derby and Barnsley, and was loaned to Yeovil before joining Ilkeston in October last year.

Striker Chris O’Grady is another vastly experienced player, having played well over 500 league games and scoring 110 goals. A Leicester City Academy player he joined Ilkeston in May, having been out of the game since leaving Bolton in July 2020.

He’s played for Oldham, Chesterfield, Brighton, Burton, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, and both Sheffield United and Wednesday to name but a few.

Centre back Ben Turner is yet another new signing from Buxton. He started out at Coventry and played over 300 league games, with the likes of Peterborough, Oldham, Cardiff, Burton, Mansfield and Notts County.

Billy Bennett is a defender or midfielder, who scores goals. He came back to the club in May 2020.

Reserve keeper Tomasz Bukowski came from Coalville with first choice keeper Deeney pre-season.

Kick off Ilkeston’s Manor Ground is at 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Losing two players to red cars before half time would usually mean defeat in anyone’s eyes. But a tremendous effort from the Mickleover nine brought the most remarkable fight back, culminating in Rhys Dolan’s injury time winning strike.

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

The game didn’t start well as third in the table St Ives Town went ahead after three minutes. Jonny Edwards got the better of a tussle with Butler, and when the ball broke lose, Edwards got to the ball before the advancing Hedge and made it 0-1.

Four minutes later Hedge pulled off a great save to his left from another Edwards effort, with Butler clearing the danger before the striker followed up once more.

Fankwe was in the ref’s book after only nine minutes after a wild tackle on Cowling, as Mickleover were taking time to get into the game.

Warren sent the visitors keeper scurrying back to his line with a speculative long-range lob over the bar after 19 minutes, before Dolan joined Fankwe in the book three minutes later for taking down Saka.

There was worse to come when only 25 minutes into the game Reeves was given a straight red card after another wild tackle on Cowling.

The fact that they were down to 10 men seemed to galvanise Mickleover’s spirit and on the half hour Dales went close after a Beavon flick sent him on his trademark run.

It was another Dales and Beavon combination that brought a 36^th minute equaliser. Dales had managed to dispossess Cowling, found Beavon, whose left foot drive had Goff in the visitor’s goal beaten, 1-1.

Mickleover continued to push forward and as half time approached Mann’s telling cross almost found Dales, but St Ives skipper Richens came to their rescue just in time.

With two minutes left on the clock Fankwe made another wild challenge on Cowling. A second yellow card brought out the red, and Sports were down to nine men.

A drastic reform was called up for the second half and Sports opted to pack the defence, with Beavon the sole striker.

Beavon was playing a brilliant holding role and set up Dales in the 63^rd minute, but his shot was fired over from just inside the box. 

Not surprisingly St Ives had the majority of the possession, but their efforts were either blocked or off target from long range.

Edwards was close to his second after 72 minutes, when he just missed connecting with a Kaziboni cross to the far post.

But only six minutes later and the striker did make it 1-2 after a turn and shot from the edge of the box was just beyond Hedge’s reach and into the top corner.

Just before the goal Wilson had come on for Dales and with Warren having gone in the book too, he was replaced by Marshall after 82 minutes.

It was a defensive mix up from the visitors that kept Mickleover’s hopes alive, losing possessions down the right. Marshall quickly picked up the loose ball, cut inside and hammered it past Goff to make it 2-2.

Goff then had to make another save from Marshall to deny Mickleover a winner, but St Ives had a 90^th minute chance too, but Nabil Shariff managed to put it over Hedge, but over the bar too.

The tide turned again when the visitors gave away a needless free kick in injury time, when Callum Milne fouled Beavon.

Milne had then attempted to clear the following free kick, which dropped at Dolan’s feet and allowed him to smash the ball home from 10 yards out. 3-2, a first league win of the season and an unbelievable comeback.

By Peter Scherer

Still seeking that first win of the season, Mickleover host second in the table St Ives Town at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Manager Ricky Marheineke has been in charge for nine years, and has had three wins and one defeat so, at the hands of Needham Market. Last Saturday they were 2-0 winners over Kings Langley at home.

Keeper James Goff came from Lincoln Utd in October 2021, having started as a Northampton Town junior. He’s played for Banbury, Wisbech and Spalding too.

Right back Julien Saka was a pre-season signing from Soham Rangers, who was previously at Tooting & Mitcham.

Left back Johnny Herd is another new arrival. The former Southend Utd youth player, moved on to Ebbsfleet, Bishops Stortford and St Neots and had a couple of seasons at Peterborough Sports before arriving at St Ives.

Michael Richens is a midfielder and team captain. He was originally at Peterborough Utd but spent much of his time out on loan. He made a couple of first team starts and joined Stevenage on his release. He then moved on via Farnborough, Hemel, Bishops Stortford and Biggleswade, before joining St Ives from Kettering in July last year.

Jordan Williams plays centre back and began his career at Cambridge Utd. Moves to Brackley, Cambridge City, Stratford and Stourbridge followed, before a return trip to Stratford preceded his move to St Ives pre-season.

Defender Callum Milne is in his second season with our guests, having arrived from Harborough Town. He started as an Aston Villa junior and has also played for Kettering, Wisbech, Eynesbury and Bedford.

Zimbabwean born midfielder Greg Kaziboni started out at Northampton Town. He’s played for Corby, Brackley, Tamworth, Rushden, Banbury and Stratford, before two years at Nuneaton, pre his St Ives arrival. He scored the winning goal against Kings Langley.

Myles Cowling is a midfielder on loan from Cambridge United. He has made one start this season and was previously loaned to St Neots.

Striker Jonny Edwards was another summer singing from FC Romania. He started at Peterborough but has had experience in Leagues One and Two during his various moves. He was loaned to Bishop Stortford and St Albans before moving to Hull City, where further loans at Accrington and Woking following, before a move to Halifax. 

He has since played for Maidstone, Biggleswade and Royston, before spending last season with Romania.

Dylan Williams is another midfielder who started out at Cambridge Utd. St Neots, Biggleswade and Lowestoft followed, before a return trip to Biggleswade preceded his St Ives move two years ago.

Midfielder Enoch Andoh is a Ghanian international at Under 17 and 20 levels. Much of his early career was spent abroad, with FC Porto and Limassol, before a spell with Port Vale, where he played in League One. He then played for Whitehawk, Nuneaton, Macclesfield, Hednesford and Stratford, arriving at St Ives earlier this month from Biggleswade.

Nabil Shariff is a striker who has already scored four league goals this season, including a hattrick against Stratford. He started at Rushden & Diamonds, moving to Banbury, Tamworth, Oxford City, Kettering, Banbury, Corby, Stamford, Alfreton, St Neots and Stratford. He came to our visitors in July 2020 after a third spell at Rushden.

Edmund Hottor is another Ghanaian midfielder. Most of his early football was spent in Italy, which included spells at both AC and Inter Milan. He came to the UK with Kettering in July 2018 from Sliema Wanderers in Malta and was at Banbury before coming to St Ives in December 2019.

Former Boston Utd junior Owen Sherriff is a young centre back yet to make his league debut, after arriving earlier this month.

Right back Kane Lewis is another new arrival, yet to make a start too. He was with Brentford and Liverpool, before playing in the Welsh League with The New Saints and Cefn Druids, where he gained Champions League and Europa League experience.

Midfielder Andrew Osei-Bonsu is another Ghanaian, who started at MK Dons. Corby, Wealdstone, Dunstable and Larne FC came before his first spell at St Ives. He also played for Billericay before moving to East Fife last season and came back to St Ives for a third time in March.

Ethan Johnston is a striker signed from Banbury last November, after starting out at Northampton Town.

Midfielder Tyrone Barker arrived last November too from Basildon, having been at Bowers & Pitsea and Heybridge Swifts previously.

Kick off as usual is at 3pm WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC suffered their second successive defeat after travelling to Leiston in Suffolk last Saturday.

One goal down at half-time, there were two more second half goals, with Rhys Dolan pulling one back.

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

Only three minutes into the game Chettle went close to giving Mickleover the early lead, but gradually Leiston began to take charge,

After 13 minutes Barnes and Davies combined for the hosts and put Adam Mills through to slot the ball past Bowen, 0-1.

Most of the play seem to be centred around the battle in midfield, before host keeper Donkin sent a long kick downfield, Davies managed to break through the defence but his 27^th minute shot was well saved by Bowen.

Walker sent a free kick just over 10 minutes later, before Warren had a couple of free kicks in the closing minutes of the first half, the last of which was just wide.

Mickleover made one change for the second half with Beavon on for Marshall, but only five minutes into the half and it was 0-2, with Mills netting his second goal in the bottom right-hand corner.

Davies had gone close again a few minutes later, before Sports brought Bateman on for Chettle.

As the hour mark approached Sports defence repelled a Dunbar cross as Davies was poised to receive it, and after 65 minutes Dales had a fine shot well saved by Donkin.

With Mickleover pushing forward more Dolan broke into the area and made it 1-2 and for a while the pressure continued to seek that elusive equaliser.

The home defence held firm and with nine minutes left Davies made it 1-3.

Fankwe came on for Walker with six minutes left, but the score remained the same and Mickleover head home pointless as they slip to 20^th place in the table.

by Peter Scherer

Following our home defeat against Coalville Town, Mickleover will hoping to bounce back on Saturday when they visit Leiston FC in Suffolk.

Having rested both Mason Warren and Elliott Walker onto the bench last Tuesday, both will hopefully be fit for Saturday. Elliott Reeves also hopes that his slight strain will be recovered include him in the squad for Saturday.

Joint Leiston managers Chris Wigger and  Darren Eadie’s squad are currently eighth in the SPL Central Division, with Mickleover in 16^th.

They beat Nuneaton at home 3-2 in first game, thanks to a late winner from Will Davies. After a 2-2 at Ilkeston last Saturday, they drew again 1-1 at Royston on Tuesday evening, with a last minute penalty from Davies again salvaging the point.

Manager Eadie is a former Norwich and Leicester City winger, who has made only one change in his starting line-up over the first three games.

Goalkeeper Sam Donkin was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford.

Full back Wyatt Hill is a more recent arrival, having come from Wroxham in June after coming back from US College football.

Captain and left back Seb Dunbar came from Stowmarket in July last year. He was an Ipswich Town Junior and also played for Maldon/Tiptree, Bishop Stortford and Bury Town. It’s his third spell at Leiston.

At centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis has 12 years experience under his belt. He started at Aveley, before moving to Bury Town. His path then took him via  Bromley, Bishop Stortford, Hemel and Chelmsford, before joining our hosts in October 2020.

Fellow centre back Jake Hutchings has travelled far and wide since starting out at as a junior with Leyton and Torquay. 

Grays, Weymouth and Frome preceded a spell at Hearts, returning south of the border with Enfield. He then moved on to returned to previous clubs before arriving at Leiston for his first spell in 2016. He left after a year but came back in December 2019, from Braintree and finally came back again for the third time from Kingstonian in May 2021.

Midfielder Rossi Jarvis was capped at under 18 and under 19 by England and was a Norwich City junior. He was loaned to Torquay and Rotherham, before joining Luton Town on his release and netted almost 100 appearances as a league player.

Spells at Barnet, Cambridge Utd and Lowestoft followed, before joining Leiston from Dereham Town last month.

Brother Ryan has England caps as an under 16, 17 and 19. He started at Norwich City too and was loaned to Colchester, Leyton Orient, Kilmarnock and Notts County, before joining Orient on his release.

After many more moves he settled back in East Anglia with Lowestoft in 2015. Then after a move to Kings Lynn he returned to Lowestoft, from where Leiston signed him last month. He played in every division of the football league and the Scottish Premier, with well over 300 appearances.

Another former Norwich junior is midfielder George Quantrill. He arrived at Leiston in May last year, after spells at Dereham and Stowmarket.

Another midfielder and another former Norwich junior, Zach Dronfield came from Hampton & Richmond last month. He had previously been at Wealdstone.

Fellow midfielder Finley Barnes has followed a similar path too, but he came straight to Leiston in July 2020 on his release from Norwich.

Striker Will Davies is a prolific goal scorer, having arrived at Leiston in 2018. He has played over 106 games since his arrival, scoring 34 goals, 19 of which were last season! He has already scored two last minute goals this season.

Joe Marsden is mainly an attacking midfielder who is in his second season with our hosts, since arriving from Needham Market. He was previously at Lowestoft Town. He came back to Leiston in June last year after three years away.

Another midfielder, Adam Mills was signed in July last year from Needham Market. He has also played for Maldon/Tiptree and Sudbury Town.

Left back Ollie Saunders came from Braintree in November 2019. He started as a Norwich junior too, before moving on to Grimsby Town.

Just for a change midfielder Nya Mesuria started out at Ipswich Town. He was released in July last year and came to Leiston in December, after a short spell at Billericay.

Another former Norwich youngster, striker Jamie Eaton-Collins came from Sudbury in July 2020 and has played for Concord Rangers too.

Finally Iuri Fernandes is a midfielder who has been at Leiston for a couple of season.

Kick as usual is 3pm and the game can be followed via Leiston’s own twitter feed.

by Peter Scherer

Two second half goals finally put pay to Mickleover hopes of a first win of the season, as table topping Coalville Town returned home as 4-2 victors.

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

Mickleover opened the game fairly strongly with Dales on his first run down the left, before his pass just failed to connect with Marshall, as keeper Paul White intercepted after three minutes.

Elliot Putnam then ran in from the left to fire a shot over the Mickleover bar, before Tom McGlinchey followed up for the visitors a minute later.

Dales was tripped just outside the box on another run after eight minutes, but he was soon on the attack again with another cross intercepted before it reached Marshall.

The 13^th minute proved to be unlucky for Mickleover though, when Hedge saved a McGlinchey shot, only for the rebound to hit Butler and it was into the net, 0-1.

Fankwe was trying to be creative in midfield and managed to set Dolan on a run, but the visitors defence had it covered.

There was some positive play from Mickleover down the right and as the ball came into the box, Chettle couldn’t quite connect for a shot on goal.

Doyle-Charles had another shot blocked, but Coalville were looking much the stronger as Mickleover seemed to be lacking ideas, particularly in midfield.

Wilson shot wide for Coalville after 24 minutes and Dolan had another long solo run, which ended with Chettle firing a shot over the bar.

Mickleover skipper Watt was in the firing line with referee after pulling back Chambers, having already been booked earlier.

The resulting free kick stopped hopes of a comeback when after 32 minutes Andi Thanoj put his kick beyond Hedge’s reach into his top left-hand corner. 0-2.

Five minutes later and the fight back started with Marshall charging down the right to get a cross in. The keeper almost collected but it was just out of reach and Dolan fired in from close range 1-2.

Marshall was on another charge within minutes, firing another cross from the right, Dolan was there again too but just failed to connect.

Almost on half time Dales brought it back to 2-2, when he collected from a mix up on the left, outpacing the remaining defender he then cut in to shoot past White.

There were no changes for Mickleover as the second half got under way, and Marshall had an early chance, but his shot was straight at the keeper after a good build up down the left.

Putnam then responded with a wild shot over the bar, before Coalville made it 2-3 after 55 minutes.  Fankwe had lost possession in the middle and Berridge got a telling break, making no mistake has he homed in on goal.

Mickleover made their first change when Warren came on for Fankwe and his silky skills soon became apparent. Dales fired high and wide after 58 minutes and there was as slight chance five minutes later, when Marshall back healed into space in the box, but no one was there.

Butler came up for a corner and headed just wide and then another positive charge from Dolan down the left, found Dales, both could have shot but it was passed to Warren and the chance had gone.

McGlinchey tried a chip over the bar for Coalville after 73 minutes, but it was Mickleover pushing forward in their best period of the game.

Davidson-Miller then came on for Beavon and at the other end Hedge then held a cross from Shaw.

Hedge was in action when he collected a long-range effort from Chambers and with everyone pushing forward, Watt nearly found himself clear on goal after a free kick.

With six minutes left Dolan forced a diving save from White, before Coalville got another break against the run of play. With Shaw out running the remaining defence, he found Chambers unmarked and it was sealed at 2-4.

Three minutes from time the ball fell nicely for Davidson-Miller, but he didn’t get a shot in. Then a scramble following a corner could easily have broken in Mickleover’s favour.

Dolan had another opportunity with virtually a free header on the left, but that came to nought, and it was game over.