by Peter Scherer

Mickleover visited fellow strugglers Nantwich Town last night, seeking a third successive NPL victory. 

After a dour and fairly one-sided first half, Sports came out fighting and returned home with another win under their belt, thanks to a scorching goal from Stuart Beavon.

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

It was a bright opening five minutes for Mickleover, with McDonald straight into a challenge, which gave Beavon the ball on the edge of the box. A quick turn and a low shot was fired goal wards, but debutant loanee keeper McMillan had it covered.

Warren got a shot just wide too, before Miller burst through the defence for the hosts, shooting low to his right, forcing Hedge to palm the ball away for a corner.

Miller was soon through again, but it was charging wing back Devine who fired in the next shot, just wide of Hedge’s left hand post.

After eight minutes Miller and Devine combined again, with the latters final shot fired over the perimeter wall.

Dales managed to escape from his own half and send Bateman on a run, but his shot was blocked. But Bateman was soon on another run when he was brought down, but Warren’s free kick went straight to the keeper.

But it was the Mickleover goal coming under increasing pressure, with debutant winger Raffie giving Dolan a hard time.

Nantwich hit the post after 11 minutes, but it was proving ever more difficult for Mickleover to clear their lines.

Another Warren free kick bounced off a few heads in the box, before being cleared and after 16 minutes Radcliffe had pushed forward but his cross was safely taken by keeper McMillan.

Mills and Agustien tried to play long balls out from the back and into the Nantwich half, but it kept coming back after the midfield struggled to take any control.

Nantwich went close again after 27 minutes, when after a corner was initially cleared, Bourne found Miller again whose fierce shot was well saved by Hedge.

Dales had another bursting run a minute later, but was adjudged to have fouled.

But it was still Nantwich piling on the pressure with Mitchell trying a long shot, capably held by Hedge.

As the Mickleover strikers went deeper to try and get the ball, some nice play from Beavon on the right fed Warren, but barely into his stride he was fouled.

Skipper Watt headed away a telling cross from Raffie, before a second cross beat Hedge but also the target strikers too.

Chances for Mickleover had been few, but they were close to going into the half time break a goal up. After 41 minutes Radcliffe found McDonald but the shot was saved and only a minute later the striker smashed another attempt against the bar, with McMillan finger tipping it away for a corner.

The hosts had one more chance before the half time whistle, with Malkin missing a header from a good cross.

So despite Nantwich’s overall dominance, it remained 0-0.

Mickleover made one change for the second half kick off with Milner on for Agustien.

After Dolan lost out on the wing again, Mickleover began to take the game by the scruff of the neck, with a combination of skill and more importantly determination.

48 minutes in and Bateman’s neat turn found Warren who shot just over.

Robbins and Miller both had shots blocked before Bateman cleared the danger for Mickleover, but it was far more end to end than the first half.

Dolan and Milner both went in the refs book, but the fight was real as Mickleover started to push forward.

On the hour McDonald had his attempt blocked and only a minute later another Bateman burst found McDonald again whose shot was just wide.

Wright then came on for McDonald and in the 63^rd minute the deadlock was finally broke. A midfield ball had managed to clear the defence and fall nicely for Beavon, but his final shot was perfection in power and accuracy and gave McMillan no chance as it hot the top corner, 1-0.

“I just thought it was about time,” said Beavon, his third goal of the season and his first since October.

Robbins tried a long shot for Nantwich, but was well wide of the goal. But the hosts continued to push forward with Raffie finding the side netting after beating Dolan again.

Malkin fired a chance well over the bar from a Raffie cross, while Mickleover added to their defence for closing minutes with Butler on for Warren.

Radcliffe had far more freedom in the second half and with three minutes left, his cross went across the face of the goal and out danger.

Nantwich may have felt aggrieved at not getting at least a point, but they had their chances and failed to deliver. So how would Sports skipper Phil Watt sum up the game, “Just brilliant.”

So it’s three out of three now for Mickleover, with a visit to Stalybridge Celtic next on February 5^th.

Super-sub Niven grabs late goal as Mickleover beat Witton 2-1

by Sports’ Junior Journos

An 88^th minute winner from substitute Callum Niven earned Mickleover a late victory against Witton Albion in front of 312 fans at the Don Amott Arena.

Niven’s goal gave Mickleover their 7^th win of the season to move them onto 27 points.

The home side started brightly with a couple of early efforts from long range. Witton goalkeeper Greg Hall saved Mason Warren’s long-range chip before getting fingertips on Stuart Beavon’s excellent curling effort from the edge of the box a few minutes later. 

In the 22^nd minute, Mickleover made their early dominance count by breaking the deadlock. Rhys Dolan cut inside from left-back, before beating his man and arrowing a pinpoint pass to the feet of Beavon. The former Burton Albion forward set up debutant Shaquille McDonald who hit a fantastic half-volley that curled into the far top corner from 20 yards, before pulling out a spectacular backflip in celebration.

Just a minute later, Mickleover were on the attack again, with Beavon cutting in from the right and firing a low shot on goal that was well held by Hall in the Witton Albion goal.

Three minutes later, Beavon came close once more when he met Joe Bateman’s long, floated free kick, however the header sailed agonisingly wide of the far post.

Witton managed to withstand the Mickleover onslaught and settled down again in the last 20 minutes of the half, with neither side creating much as they headed into the break.

Witton began the second half strongly, with right-back Joe Ferguson driving from deep to the edge of the Mickleover box, before drilling a shot just wide of the far post.

Despite the away side’s strong start to the half, Mickleover looked dangerous on the counter-attack, as McDonald picked the ball up on the halfway line before beating his man and hitting a powerful strike against the crossbar. Beavon smashed home the rebound, but the linesman quickly raised his flag to disallow the goal for offside.

Mickleover were pushing hard for a second goal, as centre-back Phil Watt came close twice in three minutes. The captain met an Andy Dales cross with a looping header that hit the top of the crossbar, before having a shot blocked on the line following a corner just moments later.

Mickleover’s failure to double their lead inspired Witton to push forward and, in the 62^rd minute, they came close as Rob Hopley rose highest to meet Isaac Baldwin’s long ball, but the effort sailed over the crossbar.

Just one minute later, Hopley had another chance, and this time he made the most of it. Callum Saunders flicked on a long ball to Hopley who poked the ball past Jonathan Hedges and into the back of the net to equalise for Witton.

Witton now had the momentum as they looked to make it a quickfire double. James Lawrie’s curling effort went just wide of the post before Saunders and Baldwin had close-range efforts blocked well by the Mickleover defence. 

The 73^rd minute introduction of Andrew Wright almost paid off immediately for Mickleover as he met a fantastic long ball by Germaine Agustien and put the ball back across the face of goal. Unfortunately for the home side nobody was there to score an easy tap-in. 

Beavon should have put Mickleover back in front in 77^th minute as he brought down a superb McDonald cross but fired the ball wide of the left-hand post from 12 yards out.

Just as it looked like it could be a frustrating day for the home side, substitute Callum Niven, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, found a late winner in the 88^th minute. The super-sub picked up the ball on the edge of the area, before cutting onto his left foot and drilling a low shot across the face of goal that Witton goalkeeper Hall couldn’t keep out. 

Despite two late penalty appeals from Witton that were ultimately waved away by the referee, Mickleover survived injury time to secure all three points. 

Starting Line-ups:

Mickleover: Hedges, Bateman, Watt ©, Mills, Dolan, Agustien, Radcliffe, Warren (Wright 74), McDonald (Niven 85), Beavon (90), Dales

Witton: Hall, Ferguson, Baldwin, Wardle ©, Hopley, Agboza, Owens, Lawrie, Jones (Jebrin 62), Saunders, Foley (McKenna 56)

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover will be looking for their third successive win on Tuesday evening, when they visit Nantwich Town in the re-arranged fixture.

At present the Dabbers are four points behind Mickleover in 20^th place, following their defeat at Basford last Saturday and have been struggling to find form.

Our hosts have still have three games in hand, so it’s another critical double pointer as we try to pull clear of the drop zone, so with Nantwich only an hour down the road travelling support would be more than welcomed by John McGrath and the boys.

Let’s take a look at our hosts.

Having used three goalkeepers this season, Matty Gould holds the number one shirt at present, on loan from Altrincham until later this month.

He started out in New Zealand with Hawke’s Bay and Maycenvale Utd, before coming to the UK with Cheltenham in 2014. He was loaned out to Bishop Cleeve before moving to Scotland with Livingston. 

Further loans at Stenhousemuir and Stourbridge followed, before he went to Spennymoor in 2018, moving on again to Altrincham after two years. He is the third generation of footballer, with father Jonathan an ex Celtic keeper, and Grandad Bobby the former Coventry City legend.

Troy Bourne is one of the main stays of the Nantwich defence, now in his seventh season at the club. A graduate from the Dabbers’ youth team, he spent much of the 16/17 campaign on loan at Alsager Town but did make a couple of first-team appearances for the Dabbers. Now a regular in the centre back position but can also play at right back when required.

Defender Josh Langley was a summer 2019 signing from Southport. He started out a Junior at Wigan Athletic, then had four years at Fylde before joining Southport. Loans at Altrincham and Guiseley followed before arriving at Nantwich. 

Matty Devine is a left back who switched Cheshire allegiances in the summer of 2019 as he joined the Dabbers from Witton Albion. An attacking full-back, he was previously at Marine and Burscough.

Joel Stair is another long serving player in his sixth season at the club. Primarily a right or centre back he was signed from Hanley Town in 2016.

Former Welsh under 15, 16 and 17 International Jacob Edwards is a right back, signed in September 2021 after serving his apprenticeship at Swansea.

Callum Huxley is a defender or winger signed just before Christmas from Caernarfon Town. He started out at Wrexham, before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2020.

Midfielder Caspar Hughes re-joined the Dabbers from AFC Fylde at the start of the 2017-18 season, before being named captain in January 2018 after the departure of Sam Hall. He started at Crewe Alexandra youth academy and had a loan at Chasetown before starting his long association with Nantwich, first as a loanee, before it was permanent from July 2012.

Moving on to Fylde a year later, he helped them gain promotion from both the Northern Premier League and the National League North, before returning to Nantwich.

Midfielder David Vaughan came through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra, playing 209 matches and scoring 20 goals over eight seasons.

But in 2007 he ventured to Spain with Real Sociedad, scoring one goal in nine games before returning to the UK with Blackpool. He had three years at Bloomfield Road before moving to Sunderland for £1.8 million and then spent five years at Nottingham Forest, making over 100 appearances.

 He then crossed the Trent for a spell at Notts County, which brought an end to his league career of over 500 games. He turned to Crewe to coach the Academy and after two years out, started playing again at Nantwich last September.

 

Having already been capped by Wales at under 19 and 21 levels, he went on to play 42 games for the full Welsh side and was part of the successful 2016 Euros squad.

Sean Cooke is an attacking midfielder and is the son of manager Dave. He played with Caspar Hughes, at the AFC Fylde side that won promotion from the Northern Premier, but played his junior football at Crewe and Blackburn Rovers.

He first came to Nantwich in 2011, before moving to Fylde after five months.  Moving on to Telford Utd, where they loaned him back to Fylde and FC United, from where Nantwich signed him again in 2015.

Carlos “Thommy” Montefiori is a young Argentinian winger who was signed in February 2021 after turning 18. He has been a local resident with his family in Chester for the last couple of years and was spotted and invited to Nantwich and subsequently signed. He started at the famous All Boys FC in Buenos Aires.

Joe Mwasile has spent recent games on the bench, but a midfielder or pacey winger he joined the club in October 2017. A former Morecambe Academy Graduate, he had loans at Workington, Altrincham and Barrow before being released in 2014.

He then joined Workington permanently, moving on via Salford City, Marine and Warrington, before arriving at Nantwich.

Midfielder Luke Nock is currently on loan from Stockport. He started as a Rochdale youth team player and also played for Sunderland on trial.

Ethan Mitchell is another loanee, having arrived from Plymouth on January 10^th. The defensive midfielder started out at Tranmere, before moving to Plymoth in June 2020.

Striker Shaun Miller hasn’t been in the starting line-up of late. He started his career with Crewe Alexandra’s youth system, and he signed a professional contract with the club in July 2006. He made his first-team debut in November 2006.

After a loan at Witton he joined Sheffield Utd, after making 179 appearances and scoring 43 goals at Gresty Road.

After nine goals in 35 games for the Blades in League One and a loan Shrewsbury, he joined Coventry City, but was soon loaned out again to Crawley and York City.

Further moves to Morecambe and Carlisle preceded his return to Crewe in 2018. He then joined Bolton Wanderers in 2020, before coming to Nantwich at the beginning of this season and scored on his debut.

Striker Joe Malkin is the son of former Tranmere Rovers striker Chris. He joined the club at the beginning of the 2018-19 season from North-West Counties Football League side Cammell Laird 1907 and won the Northern Premier League Young Player of the Season. 

Connor Heath was a signing in the summer after being released from Crewe Alexandra, where he had impressed during his 2-year scholarship period with a number of goals, he signed a professional contract in the summer of 2019.

He had previously been loaned to Witton Albion and Colwyn Bay and is currently dual registered with Farsley Celtic.

Dan Cockerline came through the ranks as a Sheffield Utd junior. He had loans at Grantham. Marine, Matlock and Curzon Ashton before being released in July 2016 to join Northwich Vics.

Further moves to Barrow and Southport soon followed plus a loan at Stalybridge, before he had three months in Australia with Adelaide. 

On his UK return he joined AFC Liverpool, then FC United, Aberystwyth and back to Liverpool, finally coming to Nantwich September last year.

Joe Robbins is a central midfielder currently on loan from Crewe. He previously had a spell on loan at Altrincham too.

Midfielder Matt Bell came back to the club last month. The former Port Vale graduate moved onto Mansfield, and after loans at Stafford, Solihull Moors, Leek Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, he first came to Nantwich in May 2015.After 21 goals in 199 games in moved back to Leek in October 2019, before arriving back at Nantwich again.

He is also a full international too, having been caped twice by the British Virgin Islands in 2015.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover made it two wins in succession, but it was a tough duel with fellow strugglers Witton Albion.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Joe Bateman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Phil Watt 5-Pablo Mills 6-Kemy Agustien 7-Ben Radcliffe 8-Mason Warren 9-Shaquille McDonald 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Andrew Wright; Jahvan Davidson-Miller; James Butler; Callum Niven; Bobby Battisson.

Without a game since their New Years Day win at Hyde, Mickleover started much the stronger of the two teams.

After only a couple of minutes a Warren free kick showed promise, before eventually trickling through a busy area to Witton keeper Hall.

It was Warren again on the end of a curling shot three minutes later, but it was safely into Hall’s hands again.

Playing on the right of midfield, Radcliffe had been finding plenty of space and sent a challenging cross in for Beavon, whose shot was tipped away by a diving Hall to his right, 10 minutes in.

Witton had hardly been into the Mickleover half, but two minutes later they had their first chance, blocked for a corner after Mickleover had failed to clear their lines.

McDonald’s pace was a concern for the visitors and he managed to put Dales through after 13 minutes, but his effort was wide of the left hand post.

Another McDonald run resulted in a free kick after he was fouled as he collected a ball from the right. He took the free kick himself but fired wide.

Both Dolan and Bateman had caused problems for the visitors defence on the overlap, and after 20 minutes Dolan’s cross just missed from connecting with Dales.

Two minutes later however McDonald picked up the ball just outside the box and fired past Hall 1-0. Only two minutes later McDonald was through again, finding Beavon as he squared it, but the final shot was easily taken by the keeper again.

Witton wasted a 24^th minute free kick, before Dales picked up a loose ball before charging towards the Witton goal, only to be fouled in full flight.

Beavon got his head to Dales free kick, but the effort was just wide again.

In the last 15 minutes of the second half Witton began to get into the game more, aided by Mickleover’s willingness to sit back in their own half and try to absorb the pressure.

The visitors had a shot wide after 37 minutes, but Mickleover still had chances too with Dolan’s challenging run and following cross just too high as a deflection took it out of Beavon’s reach for a corner.

Dales short corner came to nought, before Witton broke again only to shoot well wide.

Warren was given a yellow card just before half time. Once again Witton wasted their free kick, before Dales broke clear again. He was fouled again but the referee didn’t give it.

There was one more chance before the half time whistle, when some good play from Beavon found Bateman, whose cross managed to find Dales’ head, but the effort lacked pace and failed to trouble the keeper, so it remained 1-0.

Both sides remained unchanged as the second half got underway, and unfortunately there was little sign of the early flourish from Mickleover that faded during the first 45.

Witton were straight on the attack as they sought the equaliser, with a shot from Ferguson on the right just fractionally wide of the left hand post.

But it was almost a second for Mickleover when McDonald smashed a shot against the bar after 50 minutes. Beavon put the rebound in, but it was disallowed for an alleged offside.

Watt and Mills had managed to thwart the Witton attacks so far, but as the midfield began to make less and less progress, they came under pressure too.

But Mickleover went close again when Bateman’s header from a free kick was tipped over by Hall after 52 minutes.

Dales then connected with a weak effort at the end of a long build up, before another close call for the Witton defence after 55 minutes, when McDonald went close following up a corner.

 There were chances at both ends and Witton had two in a five minutes spell, but the inevitable finally happened in the 64^th minute.

A cross from left found Rob Hopley in the box, where his strikers had failed, he slotted home to make it 1-1.

There still seemed to be more fight from Witton, but after a hand ball Warren’s kick was on target but failed to trouble Hall.

Watt blocked a powerful Witton strike after 71 minutes and shortly afterwards Warren was replaced by Wright.

It was fairly even for the next 10 minutes, with a Bateman cross finding both Beavon and Wright trying to get a shot in.

Dolan then found McDonald’s head with a cross from the left, but it was just wide after 76 minutes. But only two minutes later it was McDonald’s turn to set up Beavon, but the golden chance went begging and his shot was wide.

Time was beginning to run out and two of the crucial three points were looking lost.

McDonald managed to head a Bateman cross just wide again and Dales shot from outside the box after a Dolan cross, was blocked.

With five minutes left on the clock Niven came on for his debut replacing McDonald and attempting to turn for his first shot was pushed to the ground. Penalty appeals failed, but two minutes later he completed a dream debut by firing a shot hard and low passed Hall for 2-1.

Butler came on for Beavon for the last couple of minutes and Witton failed in two consecutive penalty appeals, so it remained 2-1 and Mickleover took all three points, but only just!

by Peter Scherer

Burton Albion Academy striker Callum Niven is another new addition to the Mickleover for this weekends game at home to Witton Albion.

The 17 year old has played mainly in Burton’s Under 18’s, but had a loan spell with Redditch before Christmas and has just returned from a month at Sutton Coldfield Town.

by Peter Scherer

This weekend’s visitors Witton Albion have been short on games recently, with a number of postponements.

Currently 21^st in the NPL table, one point behind Mickleover, they have identical goal difference, but four games in hand.

They have only played three league games in the last two months, with a 0-1 defeat at Matlock last Saturday, a 1-1 at home to Gainsborough and a 1-4 defeat at home to Warrington. Their last win being on October 26^th at home to Atherton.

First choice goalkeeper Greg Hall returned to the club at the start of this season, having left two years earlier for local rivals Nantwich.

He started out at Glossop North End, moving on via Ramsbottom, 1874 Northwich and Ashton Utd, before his first stop at Witton in July 2019.

Full back Isaac Baldwin is a former Huddersfield Junior who arrived from Farsley Celtic in 2017 initially on loan, he previously played for Spennymoor, Ossett, Halifax and Brighouse Town.

Josh Wardle is a central defender who started at Lancaster City, before making his first move to Kendal Town. He captained Liverpool John Moores University and after a year at Skelmersdale, arrived at Witton for the 2018/19 season and is currently team captain.

Joe Ferguson is a right back currently on an extended loan from Blackburn Rovers, where he has been playing in their Under 23 side.

Central midfielder Ben Pleavin had been at Manchester Utd’s youth set up before moving to Blackburn Rovers, where he spent a year before joining Accrington. He is currently on loan until next month.

Midfield or striker Rob Hopley was initially a youth team player at Macclesfield, before moving on to Winsford and Leek.

He then had a long spell at Colwyn Bay, spending almost eight years at the club, with only a brief spell away at Chester, before coming to Witton in 2015.

He is one of Witton’s top scorers in the clubs history, having netted 85 times up to the end of last season. Currently dual registered with Winsford, he has recently recovered from a serious leg injury and has been the club captain.

Wing back or midfielder Tom Owens started out at Preston North End. He played at Marine and had a short spell at Witton before venturing overseas to the US and Australia. He came back to Witton in September 2017 from Brunswick City.

Midfielder James Foley is one of Witton’s long serving players, having been signed from Marine in 2017. He started at AFC Liverpool before joining Macclesfield Town juniors. He moved on to Buckley Town and Camell Laird, before his three year spell at Marine. He is the Witton penalty taker.

Jawad Jebrin is another attacking midfielder and former Warrington Town junior. He has also played for St Helens.

Cesaire Lingoube played junior football at Morecambe and Stalybridge, before moving on to Droylsden and Northwich in 2017. The striker or midfielder had his first spell at Witton in October 2020 before joining Matlock Town. 

Former Bolton Wanderers Junior midfielder Danny McKenna originally had a dual registration with Witton and Runcorn, but has been full time at Witton since September 2017.

Striker Will Jones came from Colwyn Bay in 2017, having spent most of his career in the North West with Bootle, South Sefton, AFC Liverpool, Burscough, Nantwich, Marine and Warrington. 

Callum Saunders was new signing at the beginning of the season from Nantwich. Son of Welsh International and former Rams star Dean, Callum is a Welsh under 19 and 21 international himself.  He came through the Crewe Academy and has played at Notts County and Curzon Ashton too.

Striker James Lawrie is capped by Northern Ireland at full, B, under 21, 19 and17 levels, having started his career at Port Vale. 

After 30 games and two goals in Leagues One and Two and a loan at Kidderminster, he moved on to Telford Utd, before a lengthy stay at Altrincham, scoring 51 goals in 275 appearances.

Moving on to Hednesford in June 2017, he then joined Nantwich a year later, when he remained until signing for Witton last September.

Nick Ryan is a centre back who joined Witton from Stalybridge in 2017. After multiple leg fractures in 2018, he missed a whole season, before going out to Runcorn Linnets to regain his fitness and a return to Witton.

Josh Paterson is new to the first team squad, the midfielder having come through Witton’s own youth scheme.

Defender Josh Agbozo was a Shrewsbury Academy player, signed in November, having been at Chorley where he had a dual registration with Leek Town.

Second choice keeper Raj Gill is a former Leicester City Junior. After a spell at Kettering he played for Frederico Mayo in Spain and has had spells at Tamworth, Cirencester and Alvechurch, before arriving at Witton September last year.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual with the bar and food available pre kick off.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC have added two strikers to their squad over the last week, both returning to the Don Amott Arena for second time.

Shaquille McDonald (top left) helped avoid relegation in 2018/2019 with a goal in the final game of the season, before moving to Bromsgrove and more recently Tamworth.

Kai Moore was part of Sports successful National and Regional Academy winning team from last season, who has played his football at Carlton and West Bridgford so far this season.

Both will be in the Mickleover squad for this weekends home game against Witton Albion.