by Peter Scherer

With five successive wins to keep the 100% record intact for 2022, Mickleover will be looking to made it six in a row as they continue to climb the NPL, with a  visit to seventh place Bamber Bridge on Saturday.

Our hosts at the Tom Finney Stadium started the season well but have recently dropped out of the play-off places.

Unusually they have secured more points away from home than at home and have been without a win since they beat Radcliffe away on January 11^th, having more recently lost at home to Stafford last Saturday.

They have used over 20 players so far this season and have rarely fielded an unchanged team.

Lets take a look at their squad.

Mateusz Hewelt was first choice keeper until he moved to Tranmere in January. He came through the Everton junior sides before being released in 2019. After a couple of years back in his native Poland with Miedz Legnica, he was signed last September by manager Jamie Milligan and is currently back on loan until the end of the season.

James Cottam has been between the sticks more recently, a former Preston North End junior, who was signed from Barnoldswick last October.

Former Blackpool junior left back Luke Higham made one first team appearance for the Seasiders. He had loans at Nuneaton and Telford before his release, after which he was at Fleetwood, with a further loan at FC United. He came to Bamber Bridge October 2020 from Lancaster and has recently had a spell at Marine.

Nathan Pond is a vastly experienced central defender, whose career began at Lancaster City in 2003. He then had seven years at Fleetwood including loans at Kendal Town and Grimsby, before joining Salford City in 2018.

After two years he moved on to Fylde and joined our hosts from Telford last October.

 Midfielder Craig Carney was signed from Matlock in September. He started out at Lancaster, and has journeyed via Stockport, Marine, FC United and Warrington.

Chris Churchman is a midfielder who started out at Stockport. After a loan at Buxton he briefly joined Macclesfield, before stops at Connah’s Quay and Clitheroe and arrived at Bamber in July 2018 from Hyde.

Irish born winger Mark Yeates has a wealth of experience behind him, since starting out at Tottenham Hotspur in 2002.

Four first team games for Spurs and loans at Brighton, Swindon, Colchester, Hull and Leicester, preceded his release in 2007 and a permanent move to Championship/League One Colchester, scoring 21 goals in 81 games.

He played in the Championship with Middlesbrough, Sheffield Utd and Watford, before moving to Bradford City, Oldham, Blackpool and Notts County, finally going non league with Eastleigh in 2017, after 500 senior appearances and over 50 goals. He came to Bamber from Fylde in September 2020 and is also a Republic of Ireland Under 21 International.

Left midfielder Isaac Sinclair is the son of well know ex Pro Trevor. He joined Bamber from Curzon Ashton in September 2020, and has also played for AFC Blackpool, Squires Gate and Longridge.

Danny Forbes has been at Bamber since 2017, when the midfielder arrived from Kendal Town. He served his apprenticeship at Preston North End.

Winger Finley Sinclair-Smith is another Blackpool graduate. He had loan spells at Marine and Widnes before his release, moving on to Longridge Town. After almost two years at FC United, he signed for Bamber last September.

Defender Macauley Wilson was a junior at both Manchester Utd and Blackpool. He was first loaned to Bamber in 2016 and also to Fylde, until his release June 2017, when he became a permanent Bamber Bridge player. He also captains the side.

Right back Callum Spooner spent his earlier career with Bolton Wanderers. He was loaned to Stalybridge and joined Atherton on his release in in 2017 and has been with our hosts since October 2018.

Matty Thomson had five years at Chester before joining Bamber in October 2020. Primarily a right back, he started out at Tranmere.

Aaron Skinner arrived in November last year after a couple of years at Tottenham Hotspur. A centre back or midfielder he was also at Bury and Bolton Academies earlier in his career.

Lewis Coulton is a Scottish Under 19 International defender currently on loan from Preston North End.

Sheldon Green is a striker who has alternated between Bamber and Fylde over the last few seasons. But last August he became a permanent Bamber Bridge player.

Jake Thompson  is a recent signing from Ramsbottom. The striker started out at Huddersfield Town and has also played for Liversedge and scored on his Bamber Bridge debut last month.

Rhys Turner is a recent signing. He started out at Preston and Lancaster’s Academies before Oldham signed him from Stockport’s Academy and loaned him to York City, and Macclesfield, before he joined Morecambe on his release.

He was loaned to Stockport, moving on to Barrow and Stockport Town, before Bamber signed him from Lancaster. He scored  six goals in his 66 appearances in leagues one and two.

Jacob Holland-Wilkinson is coming to the end of his loan from Preston North End. The young striker had also been loaned to Fylde.

Adam Dawson is a well travelled winger who started at Bury, before moving to Wigan in 2012. He was loaned to Accrington and was with FC United and Barrow, before Leicester City signed him 2013.

After loans at Notts County, Nuneaton and Bristol Rovers, his release then found him at Kidderminster. Moving on to a loan at Tranmere, then Eastleigh and back to Tranmere. He was loaned to Darlington and then played at Telford and Macclesfield before a year in Cyprus with Achyronas Liopetriou. He then had a short stay at Radcliffe before arriving at Bamber Bridge in December.

Midfielder Paul Dawson arrived from Lancaster City in November, having previously been at Bamber Bridge a few years earlier after coming in from Kendal Town.

Dan Martin is another young loanee. The midfielder has been a regular starter during his time away from Accrington.

Sam Billington was a Liverpool, Junior before arriving at Bamber in 2020. 

Kick of is at 3pm if you are travelling and all support will be welcomed.

Ten Men Mickleover Make It Five In A Row

A valiant display from ten-man Mickleover made it five wins since the turn of the year with a hard-fought win over promotion chasing South Shields. 

Kevin Phillips’ side came into the game off the back of a 2-1 victory against Atherton Collieries, but James Butler’s 15^th minute header was enough to seal all three points despite a red card to captain Phil Watt early in the second half. 

After an opening ten minutes with little to shout about for both teams, the game sprung into life just before the quarter hour mark, with Ben Radcliffe picking the ball up 30 yards from goal after a scuffed clearance before firing his effort goal bound only to be denied by Mariners goalkeeper Myles Boney. 

The fine save produced a corner for the home side, which was powerfully headered into the top corner by Butler to give the Sports an early lead. 

Minutes later, Sports pushed for a second. A goal mouth scramble saw Stuart Beavon try and prod the ball goal wards, before eventually teeing up flying full-back Jake Scott but he was unable to trouble the keeper with his powerful effort. 

The away side grew into the game as the first half progressed, with Mitch Rose firing well over after a training ground free kick routine. 

After a flurry of half chances, South Shields best chance of the first 45 fell to Rose once more, after good work down the right hand-side by Jordan Hunter saw him whip a delightful ball to the back post for Rose. However, the former Notts County man couldn’t direct his header goal bound giving McGrath’s side a deserved lead at the break. 

Mickleover started the brighter of the two sides in the second half, and the first real chance fell to Andrew Wright in the 48^th minute after brilliant work from Andy Dales saw him play a pinpoint ball into the feet of Wright at the far stick but his unfortunate first touch ran the ball out of play.

Both teams settled into the second period, before a sequence of events in the 55^th minute swung the momentum into the visitors favour. 

Frontman Beavon picked the ball up on the left-hand side, before being clattered into the advertising boards by Dillion Morse resulting in handbags between both sets of players. 

Amongst the chaos, captain Watt was shown a straight red card, whilst Morse was only given a yellow for the original tackle on Beavon. The sending off forced boss McGrath to switch to a 4-4-1 formation, to try and weather the onslaught from Phillips’ side for the remaining 35 minutes of the encounter.

A handful of half chances came and went for the Mariners, but with their backs against the wall, Sports continued to counterattack and good work from George Milner saw the home side win a free kick in a dangerous area which was glanced narrowly wide by 37-year-old Beavon. 

Shields had a five-minute spell from the 75^th-80^th minute where they really cranked up the pressure on the ten men. Their best chance came when full-back Hunter drilled a low ball across the face of the Mickleover goal, but none of the players in and around the six-yard box could divert the ball on target. 

Rose was the next to try his luck once more, with a stinging effort from the edge of the box, but Sports keeper Jonathan Hedge was equal to the effort and parried the ball wide before Nathan Lowe volleyed the resulting cross past everyone and hit the base of the post and out to safety. 

After riding out the South Shields storm for the majority of the second half with ten men, a hopeful long ball found its way to Beavon who beat a man before his fierce effort was tipped over for a corner. 

McGrath’s men tried to hold the ball in the corner but were dispossessed and allowed for one more chance for the visitors. A free kick just inside Sports half allowed for everyone apart from keeper Boney to push forward, but their attempts came to no avail and the final whistle signalled a vital three points for McGrath’s ten men. 

by Peter Scherer

Despite being down to 10 men for most of the second half, Mickleover made it five wins out of five in 2022 with an outstanding performance against aspiring champions South Shields.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Scott 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ben Radcliffe 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Liam Ravenhill 8-Andrew Wright 9- George Milner 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: George Atwal; Ethan Mann, Kemy Agustien, Callum Niven. Jahvan Davidson-Miller.

In the opening 10 minutes South Shields showed the pace and accuracy in passing that would be expected from a full professional team.

Radcliffe was unlucky to receive a yellow card after an early trip on Alex Kempster, but gradually Mickleover settled to their task and began to play the ball out of their own half.

It was Mickleover that earned the first corner after 11 minutes and after Beavon had found Ravenhill, the young loanee fired just over the bar.

But the pressure was now on the visitors and after a goal mouth scramble, Dales had a shot saved one-handed by Myles Boney, before another corner kept the pressure on.

Beavon again was in the middle of the action, before Boney had to tip a strong shot from Radcliffe out for another corner.

Butler had come up for the kick and rose serenely head and shoulders above the visitors defence to head home the opening goal after 15 minutes. 1-0.

Mickleover continued to pile the pressure on as South Shields struggled to regain their composure, with a Dales cross causing another scramble before Scott’s shot went over the bar.

Two minutes later Beavon’s shot was blocked after another telling pass from Dales, before the visitors finally started to push forward again.

A 20^th minute free kick was wasted by South Shields, before Mitch Rose saw his attempt go over the bar. Robert Briggs then tried his luck from outside the box, before Watt’s header relieved the danger.

As the completion of the first half hour approached, Hedge pulled off another save, but the following corner found no one on the receiving end.

Nathan Lowe went in the book for a foul on Dolan and Mickleover got another break, with Scott’s cross taken cleanly by Boney in the South Shields goal.

Although South Shields were having more of the possession, their creativity was lacking. Watt and Butler looked solid in the middle of defence, ably supported by Scott and Dolan.

Radcliffe, Wright and Ravenhill were all working hard and made sure that Dales, Beavon and Milner were all in the action, with the strike force playing somewhat deeper than of late.

Mickleover went on the attack again after 37 minutes when a good build up found Milner, who fed Wright for an attempt on goal comfortably taken by Boney.

Lowe had a random shot high and wide for the visitors, just before they had their best chance of the game. Jordan Hunter’s cross found Rose’s head, but it was wide.

With the half time whistle poised Ravenhill was fouled and took the free kick himself, before the whistle blew and Mickleover headed back to the changing rooms with their 1-0 lead intact.

Atwal was on for Ravenhill as they came out for the second half and within minutes of the restart Dolan went close from outside the area before Milner hit the side netting.

But South Shields had started the half with more determination and Will Jenkins put a good ball into the box, but Watt once again had it under control.

Lowe put a free kick into the side netting but as they pushed forward Dales got another break and his cross from the right just failed to connect positively with the advancing Wright.

Dolan then had to clear after Blair Adams had found Lowe, but on 55 minutes centre back Dillon Morse sent Beavon clattering into the perimeter fence, from where skipper Watt was shown a straight red card, for his reaction.

Despite the referee’s over reaction to Watt, Morse only received a yellow card and fortunately Beavon was able to recover after treatment.

So Mickleover had over 30 minutes to play with 10 men, but it proved to be a task that brought out the character and determination of the whole team.

Hedge held a lob from Hunter after 56 minutes and on the hour Dolan had another shot which was well saved by Boney.

But the pressure was building and Butler headed away a couple of telling crosses, before JJ Hooper went close from a Kempster pass.

Hedge was tested again soon after following a goal mouth sort out, but Beavon went close with a header too from an Atwal free kick.

Milner managed to collect a poor clearance from the South Shields keeper, but in haste his shot was wide. 

Hooper had another chance to hit the equaliser following a 72^nd minute corner by Hunter, but once again Hedge had it covered.

Dolan was next in the book, but Mickleover still had a share of the attacking, Dales whipped past Hunter and played a quick one two with Dolan before his continuing run was intercepted.

But it was Hedge’s goal under more and more pressure, making a diving save from Rose before tipping another effort over the bar.

Lowe skimmed the bottom of the post with another attempt, but the goal kick then gave Mickleover some respite from the ongoing onslaught.

With 10 minutes left Davidson-Miller came on for Wright, but with the clock ticking down the visitors passing had starting to go awry and they were hurling themselves to the ground seeking free kicks.

The referee fell for the trickery but fortunately it had no affect on the outcome.

But it was so close to a second goal for Mickleover when in the final seconds Beavon picked up a loose ball and let loose a rocket shot which Boney did well to tip over.

So after extensive time added on it was a magnificent win for Mickleover, making five in a row as we now look forward to Saturday’s visit to Bamber Bridge.

PETER SCHERER

by Peter Scherer

Despite their successes South Shields have recently replaced Manager Graham Fenton, with former England and briefly Derby County striker Kevin Phillips. Our visitors have managed to keep a fairly stable starting eleven of late too, but having gone down 0-3 on the opening day of the season, Sports will be looking to turn the tables on our North Eastern visitors.

South Shields are currently second in the league, one point from top with games in hand. Having lost to Morpeth last Tuesday, they were back to winning ways with a 2-1 home win against Atherton on Saturday. Their only other defeat in 2022 was 1-2 at Warrington and with Mickleover winning four on the bounce to keep their 100% record intact, could an upset be on the cards?

Myles Boney is back in goal for our visitors, after making way for Barrow loanee Scott Maloney.  A former Blackpool Academy graduate, Boney made six first team appearances and was loaned to Nantwich and Solihull Moors, before a third loan spell brought him to South Shields in July 2019, then making the move permanent a year later. He was then loaned to Darlington for a month in early 2021, before becoming first choice for South Shields.

Midfielder Mitch Rose is the brother of former England player Danny. He started out in the Sheffield Wednesday youth team before a move to Rotherham in 2012, where he made five senior appearances. Loans at Stamford and Crawley Town preceded a move to Ilkeston, moving on to Mansfield Town in League Two where he made 52 appearances.

After a short spell at Newport County, he had a couple of seasons each at Grimsby Town and Notts County, before going non-league again with Boston United. He came to South Shields in December, after three months at Yeovil.

Left back Blair Adams is the visitors captain, having started his career as a junior at Sunderland. He didn’t make their first team, but gained league experience during loans at Brentford, Northampton and Coventry, before joining the Sky Blues permanently in 2013.

After 64 games in a Coventry shirt he moved on to Notts County, making another 55 first team appearances, plus being loaned to Mansfield. Further stops at Cambridge Utd, Hamilton Academicals and Hartlepool followed, before arriving at South Shields in July 2018. He had a months loan at Gateshead early last year, but is now first choice on the team sheet and is s former England Under 20’s capped player.

Midfielder Callum Ross started out at Cramlington Juniors before being spotted by Sunderland, where he spent three years before returning to Cramlington again. He then tried his luck in the US, spending three years at Wingate Bulldogs, a University team. He then moved up to the US Pro Soccer League with Charlotte Independence and Oklahoma City Energy, before returning to the UK with South Shields in January 2020.

Former Carlisle Utd Junior centre back Dillon Morse has spent all of his career in the North. After his release from Carlisle, he joined Benfield, before spending a year each at Gateshead and Blyth Spartans. He came to South Shields in July 2016, but was briefly loaned back to Gateshead for a month, early last year.

Welshman Jack Bodenham started out at Cardiff City, but was released in August last year after loans at The New Saints and Hereford. Capped by his country at Under 19 level, he came straight to South Shields and was quickly established in their starting 11 this season.

Ghanaian born Striker Darius Osei started out at Stalybridge Celtic, before being picked up by Oldham Athletic. In 27 games he scored three goals for the League One side, before a short stop at Maidstone preceded his return to Stalybridge. He came to South Shields in February 2020.

Nathan Lowe is a midfielder who started out as a Burnley Junior, he joined FC United after being released in 2016. Moving on to Southport he was then loaned to Spennymoor, before joining South Shields in July 2019. Like a number of his team mates, he was loaned to Darlington for a month in early 2021.

Striker JJ Hooper started off at Cray Wanderers Academy before moving north to Newcastle Utd. He was then loaned out to Darlington and Workington before a permanent move to Northampton, where he made five starts for the League Two side.

Further loans at Alfreton and Farnborough followed, before another move to Havant and Waterlooville, preceding a spell at League One Port Vale, where he scored 10 goals in 54 appearances. After a loan back at Northampton, his path took him to Grimsby, Bromley, Wrexham and Barnet, before joining South Shields in November 2021.

Will McGowan was a summer signing who started out at Sunderland. The young midfielder has more recently been at Doncaster Rovers.

Striker Cedric Main played his early football in the Netherlands. From the KFC Youth side he played for FC Groningen/Cambuur and Ajax Amateurs, before moving to Spain with CF La Nucia and Almagro CF. After joining FC United in January last year, he came to South Shields last October.

Jordan Hunter is a former Liverpool and Sunderland Academy player, who came to South Shields in July 2020 and has only recently returned from injury.

Alex Kempster is a striker who came to South Shields from York City in August 2020, after a loan at Spennymoor. He started out at Whitley Bay.

Midfielder Robert Briggs has spent over six years at South Shields, having joined from Spennymoor in August 2015. With over 300 games under his belt for the club, he started off at Gateshead and has played for Blyth Spartans, Sunderland RCA, Shildon and West Auckland too.

A summer 2021 signing Midfielder Conor Tee is a former Leicester City Junior, who was signed from Brackley

Sam Hodgson is a young striker from our visitors own Academy, similarly midfielder Will Jenkins and Goalkeeper Aaron Steavens, all more recent additions to the first team squad.

Although Jon Shaw is the assistant manager, the veteran striker is often on the bench for first team games too. He was a Sheffield Wednesday Junior, and played at York, Burton, Halifax, Rochdale, Crawley, Barrow, Mansfield, Luton and Gateshead, before arriving at South Shields back in 2016.

Kick off is at the Don Amott Arena at 7.45, don’t miss it!!

by Peter Scherer

Despite the frustration of having the last two games postponed, Mickleover rose to the occasion to make it four wins out of four so far in 2022, with a 4-1 win over Radcliffe.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ben Radcliffe 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Phil Watt 5-Pablo Mills 6-Kemy Agustien 7-Lian Ravenhill 8-Mason Warren 9-Callum Niven 10-Stuart Beavon 11-AndyDales. Subs: Andrew Wright, George Milner, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Jake Scott, James Butler.

In the opening few minutes Radcliffe were on the attack and Gribben almost broke through for the visitors after five minutes, but managed to earn a corner.

But as Sports started to open up, Beavon had a good run two minutes later and fired in a shot saved by keeper Belford, but it was a sign of things to come.

10 minutes in and Dales found Beavon again and his shot from outside the box found Belford’s bottom right hand corner, 1-0.

Radcliffe continued to push forward, now seeking an equaliser, with Crothers shooting over the bar from the kick off.

Hall looked threatening at times for the visitors too, but was tending to outrun the ball when it counted, but after 17 minutes Gribben had a good chance. His weak finish failing to trouble Hedge in the Mickleover goal however.

Returned loanee Ravenhill was looking particularly sharp on the right and with Warren’s tenacity and Agustien’s calm exterior, the Mickleover midfield began to take control and provide good feed to Dales, Niven and Beavon up front.

20 minutes and another Dales and Beavon play proved positive. As Beavon slipped the ball back to Dales, he sent a powerful shot into the top right hand corner, with Belford well beaten again, 2-0.

Dales was looking for his second only four minutes later, but successful with pace he couldn’t get a clear shot on goal.

Skipper Watt and the experience of Mills had successfully kept Radcliffe at bay and allowed both Radcliffe and Dolan the chances to work well on the overlaps.

Radcliffe player manager Bobby Grant was doing his best to motivate his side and led by example, but his 26^th minute effort was easily taken by Hedge.

Just after the first half four Dolan continued his charge down the left to try his luck on goal, with a good effort just over right hand upright.

The visitors continued to look dangerous at times but Gribben wanted too much time, but his loss found Grant again whose 34^th minute effort was well saved by Hedge.

Grant found Hall again a few minutes later, but it was a poor finish from the Radcliffe striker as they continued on the attack, with far too many crosses too close to Hedge who collected easily.

With only two minutes left on the lock until half time Dolan shot down the wing again and his precision pass found Beavon who comfortably made it 3-0.

Mills had taken a knock earlier and was replaced by Butler as the teams came out for the second half.

It started well again with Dales charging through the defence, chipping the oncoming Belford, only to see his shot go just over the bar.

It was the visitors pushing forward though as Mickleover absorbed the pressure. Gribben put a good cross into the box after 54 minutes, but there was no one on the receiving end and five minutes later he tried again with a shot over the bar.

But the Mickleover defence was really under pressure with Butler and Watt heading away a number of balls into the box.

Davidson-Miller came on for Niven after 65 minutes, but shortly afterwards Radcliffe pulled one goal back. Navarro’s effort had come back off the post but Grant was on hand to pick up the rebound, 3-1.

Wright was then on for Agustien, but as the visitors pushed even further forward, any Mickleover attacks were caught offside.

Radcliffe sub Akpro got a break after 72 minutes, but shot wide from outside the box. The pressure was finally relieved though when Warren split the defence and found Beavon again, who just picked his spot and placed it home to make it 4-1 and secure his personal hattrick.

From the restart Beavon almost got Wright through again, but with 10 minutes left Hedge was called into action again palming away a Baxter free kick that was heading for the top corner.

In the closing minutes Wright fed Davidson-Miller who found his path blocked and Wright had a shot blocked too shortly afterwards.

But the visitors kept fighting to the final whistle and Hedge had to make an 85^th minute save from a Grant header, but the result was a proud 4-1 win for Mickleover.

“My confidence was already coming back after the goal at Nantwich, but after a hattrick I’m buzzing now,” concluded three goal star Stuart Beavon, as we now look forward to Tuesday’s game against South Shields.