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. 

by Peter Scherer

Having had games at Stalybridge and Stafford postponed over the last week, Mickleover will be hoping to continue their 100% record in 2022, as they face Radcliffe at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Currently 12^th in the NPL after beating Hyde Utd 3-2 at home on Tuesday evening, our visitors are eight points ahead, but we have two games in hand over them.

Back in November we went down 1-3 at Radcliffe, but they have only had three wins out of their last eight, having gone down 1-2 in their last away game at Lancaster.

Cameron Belford is an experienced goalkeeper and has just regained his place after losing out to Sunderland loanee Jack McIntyre. 

Belford started out in Coventry City’s youth team and after a spell on loan at Tamworth, he spent six years with Bury in League’s One and Two making 86 appearances.

Further loans at Worcester City, Southend Utd and Accrington Stanley, then preceded a full time move to Tamworth. 

He then moved on to Mansfield Town, Rushall Olympic, Swindon Town and Wrexham, before a loan spell at Stranraer.

More recently he has played for Forest Green Rovers, Chorley and Nuneaton, before a loan spell at FC United. He came to Radcliffe in July 2020.

Second choice keeper is Joey Oldham, a home grown talent who is learning from Belford’s experience.

Right or centre back Tom Miller is a former Norwich City Youth team player. He moved on to Glasgow Rangers, but didn’t make the first team, but made one appearance for Brechin City during a loan spell.

His next stop was Dundalk in Ireland, where he played 37 games for the League of Ireland side, before moving to Newport County.

He then joined Lincoln City after an initial loan, before going to League Two Carlisle for four years. Spells at Bury and Fylde then came before his arrival at Radcliffe in October 2020.

Centre back Taylor Jones was signed pre-season from Oldham Athletic’s ranks, while fellow centre back Olly Thornley came in from Curzon Ashton, after coming through their youth scheme.

Defender Jo Cummings came through Sheffield United’s Academy and made two senior appearances for the Blades. He then moved to Charlton Athletic and made two appearances in his two seasons there and was also loaned to Guiseley.

He then moved to Scunthorpe but didn’t get the break and came to Radcliffe initially on loan in March 2020, before making it permanent two months later.

Simon Lenighan is a midfielder with vast experience. After starting out with Leeds Utd, he had loans at Bradford PA and Halifax, before joining Harrogate on his release in 2014.

He had a loan at Alfreton before joining Frickley, Rotherham and then Warrington. Further moves have taken him to Altrincham, Shaw Lane and Glossop NE, then Guiseley before a return trip to Halifax.

He was at Mossley and Buxton before arriving at Radcliffe in July 2020.Then after six months at Telford, he returned to Radcliffe pre-season.

Midfielder Jack Baxter is currently on loan to the end of the season from Preston North End. He has previously had loans at Clitheroe, Stalybridge and Cork City.

Midfielder Matty Crothers is one of Radcliffe’s longest serving players, having been part of their 2018/19 promotion side. He was previously at Curzon Ashton having been discovered in the Oldham Sunday League.

Striker Kole Hall is a Bermudan International. He was a youth team player at Tranmere Rovers, before joining City of Liverpool. He joined Radcliffe in 2020 and has also been on loan at Telford Utd.

After coming through Accrington Stanley’s youth scheme, Bobby Grant went on to make 77 appearances and score 19 goals for the League Two side, before moving to Scunthorpe in the Championship and League One, scoring a further 11 goals in 70 games.

He went on loan to Rochdale and Accrington before a permanent move to Rochdale, then spent two seasons at Blackpool, with loans Fleetwood and Shrewsbury, before a permanent move to League One Fleetwood.

He made 139 appearances and scored 24 goals in his four seasons at Fleetwood and was at Wrexham and loaned at Accrington again and Oldham, before arriving at Radcliffe in June last year as player coach.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro is a striker who started out with his home town club Toulouse. He made 46 first team appearances and scored five goals, plus a loan spell at Brest followed before a move to FC Brussels.

He came to the UK in December 2008 with Grimsby Town scoring eight goals in 56 games. Over the next few years he was a regular goalscorer at Rochdale, Tranmere and Shrewsbury and was on loan at Bury too, before joining Barnet.

After a loan at Yeovil he joined UAE side Masfout, before returning to the UK with Oldham Athletic in November 2019. He signed for Radcliffe in March 2020 and his Brother Jean Daniel is an Ivory Coast International. He has scored in both of Radcliffe’s last two games.

Striker Luca Navarro started out at a junior at Bolton Wanderers. He came back to Radcliffe this season from Stafford Rangers and has scored four goals since the New Year, and has had spells at Bamber Bridge and Atherton too.

Raheem Hanley can play in defence or midfield and is a St Kitts International. He played for Manchester Utd Under 18’s before joining Blackburn Rovers and then Swansea in 2016.

He had a spell at Northampton following his release and was loaned out to Halifax. In April 20129 he moved to Connah’s Quay for a year, before leaving for Chorley and finally Mossley, from where he joined Radcliffe in January 2020.

Callum Gribbin is another ex Manchester Utd Junior. An attacking midfielder he spent a further year at Sheffield Utd, before a short spell at Barrow before joining Radcliffe in November.

Former Burnley Junior full back Jack Moore is currently on loan from Blackpool, along with midfielder Tayt Trusty.

John Pritchard is our visitors newest signing, have arrived from Matlock two weeks ago. He is an ex Oldham midfielder whose career has been firmly based in the North West, having played at FC United, Trafford, Ashton, Buxton and Chester

Right back Dougie Nyaupembe started his career at Bury, but after loans at Hyde and Stalybridge he joined Prescot Cables in 2019. Moving onto Atherton he then had his first spell at Radcliffe, before returning from Stalybridge on New Years Day.

The kick off as usual is 3pm, BE THERE !!

by Peter Scherer

UPDATE: THIS MATCH HAS SINCE BEEN POSTPONED.

With last Saturday’s visit to Stalybridge a late victim to a waterlogged pitch, Mickleover will be looking forward getting back in action tomorrow night at Stafford Rangers, hoping to extend their unbeaten 2022.

Over the last two seasons Stafford Rangers have been struggling near the bottom of the NPL, but with neither campaign completed, a resurgence of form and some new additions to Matt Hill’s squad has seen them mid table for most of this season.

Following last Saturdays 0-0 at home to Whitby Town, they are currently ninth in the NPL, unbeaten in the last eight games, but having drawn six of them.

Goalkeeper Luke Pilling is a Welsh International at Under, 19 and 21 levels came to the club back in August 2021 from Notts County, having previously spent five years at Tranmere Rovers, making seven first team appearances. 

He also went on loan to Ashton during his spell on the Wirral.

Tyrell Belford is the second choice keeper, a former Coventry and Liverpool junior who joined Swindon Town in 2013.

After loan at Southport he moved on to Oxford City, Nuneaton, Hinckley and Swindon Supermarine, before  a six month career break in 2018.

He returned with a year at Romulus, before second spells at both Hinckley and Nuneaton. In July 2020 he moved to Stratford Town and a year later arrived at Stafford. He was also capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and Father Dale is the clubs assistant manager. 

Right back Andrew Burns came to Stafford from Bala Town in June last year, having started out at Bolton Wanderers.

His next stop was Bradford City, but after only five months and a loan at Harrogate, he joined Dagenham & Redbridge, who loaned him out to Harlow, Bishops Stortford and Margate, before being released in August 2013.

He was at Barrow for two years and Tamworth for three, before his move to the Welsh League.

Young centre back Joe Dunne came from Rochdale on loan, where he made four senior appearances. He first arrived in December for one month, but his loan has been extended to the end of the season.

Alex Ray-Harvey is a midfielder who started his career at Burnley. He had loans at Fleetwood and Barrow before joining Barrow for a permanent five year stay. After two years with Guiseley he joined Hednesford Town, but after six months made his move to Stafford in July 2019.

Ex Nottingham Forest Junior Centre back Ethan Stewart was loaned to Billericay and Alfreton before being released in July 2020. After nine months with Nuneaton he returned for a short stay at Alfreton, before coming to Stafford in October last year.

Defender or midfielder James O’Neill played his junior football at Telford, before moving into the Welsh League with Newtown. 

He left after one year and was out of the game until signing for Chasetown in July 2017, but returned to Newtown for a second spell in 2020, from where Stafford signed him July last year.

Michael Tait-Moran is an ex Aston Villa Junior striker, who joined Tamworth in September last year. He came to Stafford on loan in November and will be with them until of the season.

Tom Tonks is another midfielder with plenty of experience. Starting out at Tipton Town and Halesowen, he had the first of a number of spells with Stourbridge from July 2015.

He left after three months but was back again only three months later, after a spell at Telford. Further moves to Solihull Moors and Alvechurch were both interspersed with returns to Stourbridge, before arriving at Tamworth in March 2020, from where he joined Stafford July last year.

Striker Kaiman Anderson only arrived at the club a month ago, but is yet to open his scoring account. A former Shrewsbury Junior, he was loaned out to Telford, Halesowen and Oxford City, before joining Southport on his release. He was loaned to Nantwich before joining Stourbridge and spent 18 months there before a two and a half year stay at Leamington preceded his move to Stafford.

Midfielder Alex Fletcher is another ex Shrewsbury Junior in his second spell at Stafford. He had a year with Tividale following his release, before the first of two stays at Welsh League Newtown.

Southport then preceded his arrival at Stafford in October 2017, before a return trip to Newtown after three months.

Stourbridge was the next stop., before a third spell at Newtown in February was followed by his move to Stafford in July.

Joe Cuff was another returnee when he came back to Stafford in July 2020. A winger who originally came to our hosts from Market Drayton in 2018/19, he had a spell back with the Shropshire club before his latest move. He also played for Whitchurch Allport.

Winger Theo Bailey-Jones was at Wrexham as a junior. He was loaned out to Colwyn Bay and joined Macclesfield in 2015. Stays at Stalybridge and Altrincham followed, before his first stop at Stafford in July 2018.

After two years he left for Hyde, from where he returned last October. 

Tre Pemberton is a right sided play anywhere player who played his early football at Blackburn and Stoke. Moving onto FC United, he was loaned to Longridge before joining Stafford in October.

Midfielder Joe Kenton had been at Newtown for two and a half years before coming to Stafford in July 2020. He played his junior football at Wolves and Shrewsbury and also played for Tividale.

Jake Charles is the Grandson of Welsh legend John Charles and has been capped himself at Under 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels.

A left winger he was picked up by Huddersfield Town from Garforth Villa. After a loan at Guiseley, he joined Barnsley and was loaned out again to York City, before joining Stalybridge in 2017.

His first spell at Stafford was in July 2018, when after two years he left for Farsley, only to return a year later.

Centre back Jon Moran was a Crewe Junior, who joined Nantwich after an initial loan. He joined Forest Green in 2017 and was loaned to Halesowen, before joining Chester a year later.

He then spent just under a year at Bradford Park Avenue, before coming to Stafford in November 2019.

Defender Ben Woods is a left sided player, who was signed from Spanish side Lorca in August last year and has also played for Stalybridge Celtic.

French midfielder Louis Malandjou played most of his junior football in Switzerland, but had six months at Nottingham Forest.

He has played for Anagen Derynias and Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus and Salgueiros and Sanjoanense in Portugal, before returning to the UK with Welsh League Bala Town.

 Further stops at Caernarfon and Tamworth followed, before he joined Stafford last November.

Midfielder Tom Carr arrived in July last year from Wythenshawe Amateurs and defender Luis Morrison is on a season long loan from Macclesfield, having previously played at Radcliffe, Nuneaton, Altrincham and Alfreton.

by Peter Scherer

Doncaster Rovers midfielder Liam Ravenhill has returned to Mickleover FC on loan for two months.

Ravenhill is the son of Sports assistant manager Ricky, and has had recent spell in Doncaster’s league one line-up.

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday Stalybridge Celtic are our NPL hosts. The Cheshire side are one of many teams to have endured an up and down season, which sees them currently 15^th in the table.

They are four points ahead of Mickleover with a game in hand, having won two of their last eight matches, at home to Atherton on January 11^th and away to Bamber Bridge last Saturday.

For the last two games they have also had the luxury of fielding an unchanged team.

Northern Ireland Under 21 International goalkeeper Liam Hughes is first choice goalkeeper. 

Having been part of Portadown’s first team squad from the age of 15, he joined Glasgow Celtic in 2018, moving  to England in February last year with Liverpool.

He arrived at Stalybridge in January and is on loan from the Reds until the end of the season.

Matthew Liptrott is primarily a midfielder, who can also play in defence. He is on loan from Blackpool, having previously been loaned out to Prescot Cables.

Left back Ashley Smith-Brown was capped by England at Under 16, 17,18,19 and 20, during his time in Manchester City’s Academy, which spanned 17 years.

He was loaned out NAC Breda, Hearts and Oxford Utd, before joining Plymouth Argyle on his release in July 2018.

After a loan spell at Oldham he was released at Plymouth, having played 36 senior games for the Pilgrims.

He arrived at Stalybridge in August 2021, after spells at South Shields and Farsley.

Our hosts  captain is Sam Wedgbury, a central midfielder who started out at Worcester City, before being picked up by Sheffield Utd. After a loan spell at Mansfield, he had a year in Hungary with Ferencvaros, before the Blades released him in July 2010.

He then moved on to Macclesfield, Altrincham, Stevenage, Forest Green, Wrexham and Chesterfield, before arriving at Stalybridge from Buxton in July last year.

Centre back Connor O’Grady is a Republic of Ireland Under 21 International. He was a Sheffield Wednesday Junior until July 2019, when he joined Buxton. He is now in his second season at Stalybridge.

Defender or midfielder Keenan Quansah was another player that arrived at Stalybridge in July 2021. He started his career at Accrington Stanley, before moving to Burscough in 2016.

He soon moved on again spending a year at Mossley, returning after three months with Hyde, finally coming to our hosts after almost three years with Glossop.

Callum Harris is an experienced midfielder, who played in Manchester City and Blackburn’s Academy, before a spell in the Nike Academy at St Georges Park.

He then joined Wolves, before venturing abroad, firstly with Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, returning to the Belgian third tier club again in March 2018 after two months in Trinidad with Central FC.

He came to Stalybridge in September 2020, after a year in Spain with Real Burgos.

Charley Doyle is another centre back who can play midfield. He came straight to Stalybridge in September 2020 from the Blackburn Academy.

With three goals in his five games so far, Angolan born Raul Correia is our hosts top striker. Starting out in local football, he moved on to Cheadle Heath Nomads and Radcliffe, before stepping up with Chorley.

His next move was Trafford, before a return to Radcliffe. He was at Blackpool for a year, after they signed him from Radcliffe, but after loans at Guiseley and York City, he made a permanent move to Barrow in July 2018, having made one senior appearance for the seasiders.

After another year he moved to Southport and then into the Welsh League with Bala Town, before signing for Stalybridge only four weeks ago from Aberystwyth.

Ntumba Massanka is an experienced well striker. Although born in London, he was at Manchester Utd, Manchester City and Burnley’s Academies and was loaned to York City, Morecambe, Wrexham, Dover Athletic and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium before being released in August 2019.

After a brief stop at Chorley, he moved to Angelana in Italy for 18 months, returning to the UK with South Shields last July. Like fellow striker Correia, he only arrived at Stalybridge a few weeks ago on a season long loan, scoring his first goal last Saturday in the win at Bamber Bridge.

Winger Justin Johnson started his career in his native Netherlands, with three years at the Sparta Rotterdam Academy, before coming to the UK with Manchester Utd.

After moving onto FC United, he then moved to Scotland with Dundee Utd, but was released in 2017 after a loan at York City.

He played for Othellos Athienou and Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus, but then returned to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals, after scoring 24 goals in 37 appearances in Cyprus. He came to Stalybridge last September from Morton.

Ethan Padden is a midfielder who came to Stalybridge from Buxton last summer. A former Chesterfield youth team player who has played for Glossop North End too.

Defender Shane Killock started out at Ossett before joining Huddersfield Town. He made one first team appearance for the Terriers, before being loaned to Hyde and Harrogate. He then had another loan at Oxford Utd, before a permanent move in 2009.

Moving onto Telford Utd, where he made over 130 appearances he also captained the side. Loans at Harrogate Guiseley followed before moves to Hyde, Bradford PA and Boston Utd. He then had a season at Alfreton before joining Buxton, arriving at Stalybridge in June last year. 

Midfielder Gedeao Varela has recently arrived from Kendal Town, he also played at St Helens and Glossop.

Striker Scott Bakkor originally came from Skelmersdale in 2018, but has also played for Colwyn Bay, Marine, Warrington, Witton Albion and Curzon Ashton.

He returned to Stalybridge in May last year after scoring five goals in 10 games back at Witton.

Young winger Aaron Grewal is another new arrival, coming from West Didsbury and Chorlton. He has also played for Curzon Ashton.

Midfielder Matty Jones is a product of their own youth scheme and made his first team debut in October.

Assistant to manager Simon Haworth, Republic of Ireland International Stephen O’Halloran is massively experienced. He started at Aston Villa, and played for Wycombe, Southampton, Leeds, Swansea, Coventry and Carlisle until moving into non-league with Nuneaton in 2012.

He also played for Stockport, Salford and FC United, before coming to Stalybridge in July 2019.

Kick off at Bower Fold is at 3pm and John McGrath and the team would be delighted to see as many Mickleover fans as possible.