by Peter Scherer

Following their victory against Rushall Olympic in their last home game, Mickleover will be looking to make it two in a row as they face Needham Market at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Our visitors are currently 17^th in the table after four successive defeats, their last away win being back in September at Kings Langley. Ironically it was Kings Langley that inflicted their last defeat too, going down 1-2 at home last weekend.

Saturday will also see a league debut for goalkeeper Oliver Bosworth, covering for the injured Jonathan Hedge. Mitch Rose is out too, but hopefully Oliver Greaves will be back in the squad.

Former Northern Ireland International midfielder Kevin Horlock has been in charge at Needham Market for two years, having stepped up from a coaching role. He previously managed Chatham, Colchester Under 21’s and the Northern Ireland Under 21’s, having finished his playing career at Needham too. He also played for West Ham, Swindon, Manchester City, Ipswich, Doncaster, and Scunthorpe.

Nathan Munson and Tom Rothery are both assistant managers. Former goalkeeper Munson has been at Needham for nine years in various roles, having played league football for Colchester, while Rothery came back to the club in 2019 from Brightlingsea.

First choice keeper Marcus Garnham is in his fourth season at Bloomfields, having signed from Leiston, but his whole career has been spent in East Anglia, having played for Leiston, AFC Sudbury, Lowestoft and Bury Town.

His deputy Finley Shorten is a product of their own Academy and is looking to get his break having been on the bench so far this season.

Right back Kyle Hammond came from Leiston in July 2020, after starting out as an Ipswich Town Junior, during which time he was loaned to Maldon & Tiptree.

Dan and Keiran Morphew are twins and both play at centre back. Dan was at Haverhill Rovers and Thetford Town, before joining our visitors from Dereham in 2018. Keiran was the first graduate from their own Academy and made the first of his 250 plus appearances in 2013.

Christian Frimpong is another centre back. He joined Bristol City Academy from Chippenham Town, before moving on to Reading and Swindon. Following his release he played for Braintree, Lewes, Sudbury, and Chelmsford City, from where he joined Needham in last August.

Teenager Hugh Cullum is another defender to come from the clubs Academy, he debuted last season and is an England Under 18 Schoolboy International.

Right back Jake Dye has come through the home Academy too. He debuted back in 2015 and has made his 200^th appearance for the club this season.

Winger Jacob Lay was a summer signing from Ipswich Wanderers in the Eastern Counties League, having scored 13 goals for them last season as they won the Division One title. He started out at Ipswich Town and has played for Brantham Athletic, Sudbury Town, Braintree, Whitton Utd, Felixstowe & Walton and Dereham, as well as a short spell at Preston North End.

Jamie McGrath was another summer 2022 signing too. He was on a dual registration last year with Brantham Athletic and East Bergholt, with a reputation as a prolific scorer, with 56 goals in 34 games last season. He scored his first for Needham in the early season home win against St Ives.

Midfielder Patrick Brothers came from Leiston in February 2022, after 12 years at their Suffolk neighbours. He was previously at Brantham Athletic and is Needham’s top scorer this season with three goals.

Left winger Ross Crane came from Ipswich Town last August, where he was part of their Under 21’s. He started out at Colchester and Sudbury before joining Ipswich in July 2020 and was also loaned to Concord Rangers and Bury Town.

Noah Collard is another to come from the club’s own youth scheme. Another midfielder who has worked his way into the first team squad over the last couple of seasons.

Seth Chambers made his first team debut in February 2022 having come through the clubs Academy. This is his first full season and he has found the net on a number of occasions. Stourbridge.

Midfielder Tom Fitzgerald made his first team debut this season, having worked their way through the Academy and reserve teams.

Luke Ingram is the longest serving player, a midfielder in his 10^th season having signed from Bury Town, having previously been at AFC Sudbury.

Defensive midfielder George Exworth is yet another academy graduate, who has occasionally been in the first team squad.

Taylor Clark is a young midfielder who was on trial with Aston Villa at the beginning of the year, before returning to our visitors Academy.

Left midfielder Dylan Williams has recently arrived from St Ives. He was a Cambridge Utd Junior, joining St Neots after his release. He moved on to Biggleswade and Lowestoft, before a two and a half year spell at St Ives.

Left winger Taykaan Bennett is a more recent signing too. He has arrived initially on loan from Colchester Utd.

Both Oliver Fraser and Mahmoud Igwebuika have both come into the squad recently via the Academy

Centre back Harry Knights came from Lowestoft last August, having previously been at Leiston.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena, is 3pm as usual and remember the Ladies in Red free admission offer!

by Peter Scherer

Those supporters who made the trip to Alvechurch last night, will already know the circumstances regarding the late postponement.

Having already had a lot of games called off, Alvechurch understandably wanted this already re-arranged fixture to go ahead, and were willing to do all they could to fulfil that.

The match referee inspected he pitch at 5pm and passed it fit for to play and around that time the temperature was around 4 degrees with 0 and possible mist forecast prior to kick off.

So with the Mickleover team already on the road, supporters set off, with the assurance that the game was on.

With both teams involved in their on pitch pre-match warm-up, the same referee then decided that the pitch was unfit and called the match off, much to the disgust of all concerned.

The difficulty is now to re-arrange for the third time, when Alvechurch don’t have another free Tuesday before the end of the season.

Watch this space…………..

by Peter Scherer

Alvechurch are the only team we are yet to play this season in the league, but back in September we were on the wrong end of 2-3 FA Cup defeat at the Don Amott Arena.

Tuesday’s game has previously been postponed twice, as a combination of Cup runs and waterlogged or frozen pitches, have limited our hosts to only four league games since the start of September. So Sports will be only second visitors to Lye Meadows this season, after they lost 1-3 at home to Nuneaton last Saturday

Currently 19^th in the table, they have six games in hand and have won two of their last eight games.

Despite going down 1-3 to Championship leaders Tamworth last Saturday’s, a strong second half performance bodes well for  a result.

Alvechurch manager Ian Long came back to the club in February 2020, having previously been there for four years, before joining Stourbridge.

First choice goalkeeper Dan Jezeph was a Walsall Junior, who was at Tamworth and Worcester City before joining Alvechurch in July 2021.

Ashley Carter is a centre back that came from Halesowen in May 2021. He was a Wolves Academy player and was loaned to Chesterfield and Tamworth before joining Kidderminster on his release.

He then came to Alvechurch in July 2017, joining Nuneaton a year later. November 2018 he was back at Alvechurch, before moves to Stourbridge and Halesowen preceded his third and current spell with our visitors.

Peter Taylor is a defensive midfielder, who started out at West Bromwich Albion. He was loaned to Stourbridge before coming on loan to Alvechurch in March 2020. But after four months back with the Baggies, he returned on a permanent basis.

Ex Aston Villa Junior right back Brad Burton has established himself in the starting line-up in the six months, after joining our hosts in October 2021.

Josh Dugmore is a young right back who was with the Walsall and Everton football Academies before joining Birmingham City on a scholarship. Following his release from the Blues he joined Bromsgrove for the start of last season and was a virtual ever present for them throughout the season, making a total of 47 appearances.

He then joined AFC Telford United last July, but moved to Banbury in September and signed for Alvechurch in January on a dual contract.

Jed Abbey can play midfield or right back and started his career with Wolves. He went to Telford after his release and came to Alvechurch pre-season.

Midfielder Tom Edge was a pre-season signing too. He played junior football at Telford and Walsall before heading for the US, where he had four years at Campbellsville University in Kentucky.

Jack Concannon was another one of the pre-season signings. An ex Birmingham City Junior, he was loaned to Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth, before going to Tamworth on his release.

Striker Leo Brown arrived in July last year too. He was picked up by Birmingham City from Crusaders FC, before returning to Northern Ireland with Ballymena and Ards after three years. He came back to England with Sutton Coldfield in September 2021.

Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton is a young striker in his third spell at the club. After being at Birmingham City, he had two years with Bournemouth, which included loans at Salisbury and Gosport.

He came to Alvechurch in July 2020 after his Bournemouth release, moving to Telford a year later. He was then loaned back to Alvechurch, before making his stay permanent earlier last year.

Former West Bromwich Albion defender Ben Cassidy holds the record of being the youngest Alvechurch debutant, when he first appeared for the first team in 2018 aged 16.

Striker Danny Waldron arrived from Leamington in July last 2021 and he’s also played for Rushall Olympic.

Former Coventry Academy defender or midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed at the end of last summer. He moved to Stratford Town at 14 and was at Shrewsbury Town until the end of last season.

Defender Harry Williams and midfielder Jack Hallahan both hit the headlines after being hospitalised following a clash of heads in the opening game of the season.

Both are former West Bromwich Albion Juniors. Williams then moved to Burnley for a year, before coming to Alvechurch last July.

Hallahan is a former Irish Under 19 midfielder, who who moved on to Hednesford and Bromsgrove, also having had a spell in Cyprus too.

Joining the plethora of ex West Brom Juniors is Angolan born midfielder Aurio Neto Teixeira. He joined our hosts last September, after a summer release from the Baggies.

Striker Manny Olakoko arrived in July from Leamington, but was almost immediately sent out on a three month loan to Heather St John.

Jeremy Abbey had made one appearance since his arrival. He has spent most of his career at Telford, with loans at Markey Drayton, Barwell and Rushall.

Left back Jamie Melbourne was a new year signing, after being released from Stoke City. He spent time at West Bromwich Albion too.

Midfielder Maxwell Ngbeken was a pre-season signing from Darlaston.

Finally Jamie Soule was signed only a couple of weeks ago from Dover Athletic. Yet another West Brom junior striker, he had loans at Barrow, Cheltenham and Lincoln before his release. He made his debut in the recent defeat at St Ives and is capped by England at Under 16 and 17 levels.

Kick off is 7.45pm.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover manager John McGrath had the rare privilege of being able to field an unchanged team for our visit to table toppers Tamworth.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 15-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Pablo Mills, Rhys Dolan, Marcus Marshall.

In the opening few minutes the referee seemed to give a free kick for almost every Mickleover challenge. The first was when Watt was alleged to have fouled top scorer Dan Creaney, but Milnes shot was wide. Only two minutes later Watt was yellow carded for a challenge on Finn and Milnes kick from Sports right, found debutant Willetts head on the far post and it was 0-1.

Mickleover began to push forward and play their normal passing game and Trueman managed to work his way through the defence after being set up by Beavon, but his final shot failed to trouble the keeper.

12 minutes in and Dales had a positive run cutting in from the left after a good build up. He made it just inside the box before his path was blocked.

Reeves got his first shot in after 16 minutes, with a nice turn just inside the box, but his effort was blocked too. Dales then earned a corner, which Butler connected with after Beavon and Reeves combined, leaving Warren with the final shot comfortably taken by the keeper.

Finn then got on the end of a Tamworth break but his shot was well off target, but although Mickleover were getting plenty of possession, there were no chances forthcoming.

25 minutes gone and Milnes and Finn combined for another shot from the hosts, but the final effort was straight at Hedge, before Dales put a lovely centre field ball through for Reeves to chase, but the ball was cleared.

Butler was then penalised for a challenge on Mussa, but the free kick was well over the bar. But then Milnes had a perfect chance for Tamworth’s second, when the space just opened up for him in in front of goal, only to put his shot over the stand.

The pressure was back on Mickleover as they were pegged back into the first third. The defence managed to block Finn and Creaney, before a long throw found McKeown, who earned another corner.

Creaney then got his head to yet another corner on the half hour, but without positive direction, then Finn had his follow up effort blocked.

Bateman was penalised for high boot on Creaney after 37 minutes, but Finn’s free kick was wasted.

Sports came back with a flourish to complete the first half though and earned a free kick when Trueman was tripped by Mussa after a positive run. Willetts headed Warren’s free kick away, before Reeves hit the follow up wide.

Tamworth started strongly again in the second half, not the most skilful and technical of sides, but robust and uncompromising in their approach.

The back four of Mann, Butler, Watt and Wilson had coped well with the Tamworth attacks

Tamworth put a cross over the face of the Mickleover goal after 47 minutes, fortunately there was no one to receive. But Mickleover were still fighting and Trueman shot over after some groundwork from Reeves in the 49^th minute.

54 minutes and Tamworth were awarded a penalty for handball by Wilson. Creaney stepped up but his casual approach failed to beat Hedge, whose left knee saved the day as it remained 0-1.

Only two minutes later Watt had remained upfield after a corner and as he attempted to put the ball back into the box, Fairlamb handled and it was a Mickleover penalty.

Warren stepped up and his no nonsense approach brought it back to 1-1, with keeper Singh choosing the wrong way.

Mussa was yellow carded on the hour after going in hard on Beavon with his studs up, he carried on after treatment, but Sports decided to bring Dolan on for Wilson.

Creaney and Bradley combined to earn a 63^rd minute corner for the hosts, before Mickleover made a break and Beavon earned a corner too.

Marshall came on for Trueman for the last 20 minutes and immediately set up Reeves , whose effort was blocked again. Warren then charged through to cross from the left, but it was just short of connecting with Beavon.

Mickleover were still well in the game, but Hedge had to make a good save from another Creaney effort after 74 minutes, before Dales responded at the other end with a chip straight into Sigh’s hands.

Nunn was on for Reeves after 75 minutes, but two minutes later Sports defence was in turmoil after Hedge had initially caught Deacon’s shot, but it fell at the feet of Creaney, who made no mistake from close range 1-2.

Only a couple of minutes later Creaney went straight through the defence and although his shot was straight at Hedge and looked to be saved again initially. He had failed to hold it and it rolled home for 1-3 after 80 minutes.

Willetts had a far post header into the side netting from a Finn corner, but Beavon then had a shot blocked. Dolan then had a run down the left, but his cross failed to connect with Nunn by inches.

Tamworth keeper Singh then sat down and feigned injury as Mickleover had gained late momentum. He performed the same feat in the home game earlier in the year, but was allowed to get away with it again.

But Sports went close at the death when Warren hit a belting shot which the keeper managed to hold onto, after a nice build up between Nunn and Dales.

On the second half performance Mickleover should have come away with a point, but slips at the back proved costly again.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover will be hoping for a repeat performance of last Saturday’s excellent home win, when they visit table toppers Tamworth this weekend.

Both Ollie Greaves and Rhys Dolan were out injured last weekend, but will hopefully fit to rejoin the squad.

The Lambs have suffered only defeat in their last 11 games, when they went down 0-1 at title challengers Coalville, and their only home defeat this season was back on August Bank Holiday, going down 1-4 again to Coalville.

Their last home game was last Tuesday, when they beat St.Ives 2-1.

Tamworth Manager Andy Peaks has been in charge since February, having moved from Rusden & Diamonds. He started as a player at Northampton, before playing for Rushden, Raunds, Wealdstone and Stamford. After being assistant manager at Long Buckby and Daventry, he took charge at Northampton Spencer before moving back to Rushden.

Goalkeeper Jas Singh arrived from Telford in July 2018, having started his career at Shrewsbury Town. He has also played for Kidderminster, Solihull Moors and Gloucester City.

Reserve keeper Matt Sargeant came from Leamington last October. His whole career has been based in the West Midlands, having started at Tipton, before moves to Halesowen, Alvechurch, Sporting Khalsa, Rushall and Nuneaton.

Matt Curley is a right back who came from Buxton last July. His career kicked off at Romulus, before moves to Chasetown, Sutton Coldfield, Tamworth and Hednesford preceded 2 ½ years at Buxton.

Midfielder Gift Mussa has spent his whole career in the West Midlands too, after starting out at Coventry Utd. After a short spell at Leamington, he spent almost two years at Bromsgrove, before a further year at Nuneaton prior to his arrival at Tamworth in February 2022.

Alex Collard is a centre back and club captain, having arrived from Rushden during the summer. He’s also played for Aylesbury, Chichester City and Kempton Rovers.

Fellow centre back Liam Dolman came through the ranks at Northampton Town, making over 50 appearances for the Cobblers. He was loaned out to Aylesbury Utd and Kettering, before joining Kidderminster on his release. Corby, Banbury and Daventry then preceded eight years at Rushden & Diamonds, signing for Tamworth pre-season.

Leading scorer Dan Creaney has been at Tamworth since signing from Coalville in July 2019 and recently made his 100^th appearance.  He’s also played for Bedworth, and during his time Coalville was loaned to Basford and Stratford.

Left sided midfielder Kyle Finn came from Halesowen in July. The former Coventry City Junior had previously been loaned to Tamworth, along with Hereford and Rushall, before joining Halesowen on his release in July 2019.

Left back Callum Cockerill-Mollet is a former Republic of Ireland Under 18 and 19 International. He was a Walsall Junior loaned out to Telford and Chasetown, arriving at Tamworth in late 2019 following his release.

Luke Fairlamb is a midfielder signed from St Ives pre-season. After starting out at Corby he had five years in the US with St Peter’s University Peacocks. On his return to the UK he joined Rushden & Diamonds, moving on via Bedford, Sileby, Brackley and Banbury.

Ben Milnes is another midfielder that arrived in July, after a year at Buxton. He was a Leicester City Junior before joining Boston Utd and had also played for Corby and Kettering, before joining Buxton in July 2021.

Central midfielder Jordan Clement started out at Wolves, joining Romulus after his release in 2016. After a spell at Coleshill he had his first stop at Tamworth in 2018 and was also loaned to Stratford, before moving to Alvechurch and finally Redditch, from where he was signed in August 2021.

Eoin McKeown is a well-travelled striker, who started off at Colchester Utd. After a loan at Maldon & Tiptree he was released and joined Kings Langley. Further moves have taken him to Wingate, Walton Casuals, Loughborough University and latterly Braintree, from where he was signed in February 2020. Along with team mate Creaney, he is one of the leagues top scorers.

Ty Deacon is a striker signed from Kettering in July. He has also played for Rushden & Diamonds.

Right back Lucas Yeomans is well known to Sports fans having just returned to our hosts after a loan spell at the Don Amott Arena. Burton born Lucas was part of Derby County’s Academy before joining Tamworth in August 2020, making his first team in the FA Trophy at the age of 16.

Former West Bromwich Albion Junior midfielder George Cater is more of squad member, having spent most of the season the bench. After joining Kidderminster, he went to Stafford, Hednesford and Chasetown, joining our hosts in July after a return trip to Hednesford.

Centre back James Hurst has had a long and varied career. Capped by England at Under 16, 17, 19 and 20 he reached as high as league one, having started as another West Brom Junior, being loaned to Portsmouth, IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland, Blackpool, Shrewsbury, Chesterfield and Birmingham, before returning to Iceland with Valur Reykjavik in 2013.

He joined Crawley Town after returning to the UK where his changes in clubs took him the length and breadth of the country. After two years at Buxton he arrived at Tamworth in January 2022.

Yet another ex West Brom Junior, midfielder Alex Bradley came from Yeovil in pre-season. He’s an ex Finnish Under 16,17 and 19 International. He left West Brom in 2019 after loans at Havant & Waterlooville, Burton Albion and Lincoln City. His stop at Lincoln became permanent, before he moved to Yeovil in January last year and he made seven appearances in League One.

Striker Alex Jones was signed in November 2021 and is another ex West Brom Junior. After a move to Birmingham City he was loaned to Grimsby and Port Vale, before a permanent move to Bradford City. After a loan at Cambridge Utd he joined Patrick Thistle and was at Northampton before joining our hosts.

Ben Hart is a right back who came from Burton in July 2020, having previously played at Tamworth during one of his loan spells from the Brewers.

Centre back Cameron Howkins was signed from Brocton in December 2019, having started at Kidderminster. He has since had two loan spells at Sporting Khalsa.

Midfielder AJ George is an Antigua & Barbuda International who was signed from Rushden in July. A former Oxford Utd Junior, he moved on to Mansfield during which time he had a short loan spell at Mickleover in 2017.

After further loans he joined Chippenham and Oxford City, before joining Rushden October last year.

Keelan Fallows is one of three reserve goalkeepers and was recently loaned to Quorn and Atherstone. He was a Junior at Coventry City and has also been loaned to Daventry.

Fellow keeper Jack Hitchman and midfielder Callum Griffin are recent additions to the squad, having come through the clubs own Academy.

It’s an earlier kick of too, with the game due to start at 2pm.

by Peter Scherer

It had been five games without a win, as Mickleover took on third in the table Rushall Olympic, but having won the corresponding match back September, Sports once again returned to winning ways.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 15-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Pablo Mills, Marcus Marshall, Mitchell Rose.

It could so easily have been an opening goal for Mickleover in the first minute. The ball broke in the clear on the right, Reeves took his time to make sure he had control and managed to round the advancing keeper Jake Weaver and put the ball across right in front of goal. But no one managed to get the telling shot in and the chance was gone.

Beavon then found Dales on the right after five minutes following a throw, but his bending shot was well off target. He soon made amends though when he spotted Weaver guarding his near post, and cut in slightly from the left sending a curling shot beyond the keepers reach, but well inside that far post 1-0 after eight minutes.

Rushall went close to replying after a Sam Mantom free kick was headed on by Kristian Green, but well saved by Hedge at his far post. But Dales then led a break with Beavon and Reeves in support, but the move was cut off early.

A succession of corners kept the Mickleover defence on its toes, with William Shorrock going close after beating Mann on the Sports right, leaving Hedge to make a critical save with his legs.

Trueman was working hard to make a break into the visitors half, and give the home defence some respite, but his final shot after 15 minutes was just over the bar.

Butler in particular was looking strong in defence, but Rushall continued to push forward, forcing another good save from Hedge low to his left, after  a Green header 25 minutes in.

Warren had come deeper to help the defence too and made a strong clearance for the strike force to chase, but Mann was having to work hard down the right to keeper Shorrock at bay.

It was almost number two for Sports after 34 minutes, when Beavon sent Reeves through. As he cut in from the right again his shot was deflected against the right-hand post, but the refs assistant gave a goal kick.

Rushall continued to push forward as half time began to approach, but Warren found Dales after 37 minutes. The cross came in but there was no one to receive, but a few minutes Trueman was first in the refs book.

It was into time added when Warren jinxed his way through the Rushall defence. He was clear with just the advancing keeper to beat, but pulled his shot wide and it remained 1-0 as the whistle blew.

There were no changes for the second half and it was good to see Sports firing on all cylinders from the start, which has quite often not been the case.

Beavon had a shot blocked as he followed up a Wilson free kick after 48 minutes. Mann then won a duel on the right to pull the ball back from the line, but there was no one to receive.

Weaver then had to punch away a half chance from Reeves after 55 minutes, before Shorrock tried his luck a minute later, only to be blocked by the Mickleover defence.

Both Mann and Wilson had started to push forward more, as Rushall didn’t seem to be as a big a threat as earlier. It was Mann who then crossed to find Beavon, who layed the ball off to Wilson, firing just inches over the bar as the hour mark approached.

Trueman put in a god cross to earn a corner after 62 minutes and shortly afterwards Sports made their first change with Nunn on for Reeves.

Bateman had played a quite deep defensive midfield role for most of the game, but with both full backs pushing forward, Butler and Watt were able to cope at the back, allowing Bateman more freedom.

A self-confessed non scorer, Bateman had scored against Ilkeston, but made it number two when he fired it home from just outside the box at the second attempt after 66 minutes 2-0.

Rushall made a number of changes but failed to match their first half threat and it was Mickleover that continued to create the chances.

72 minutes and after an initial clearance from a free kick, Butler shot just wide of the right hand post. Four minutes later Trueman should have made it three, when Nunn found him in the middle after a good build up, but the chance was soon gone.

Nunn was yellow carded for the kicking the ball away, but then went close himself after 79 minutes. He found his own space, but shot just wide of the left hand upright.

Marshall replaced Dales for the final 10 minutes, but it was all three points to Mickleover in an all-round team performance to be proud of.