by Peter Scherer

A goal in each half by new signing Andy Dales, secured all three points for Mickleover, in their first home game of the NPL season against Gainsborough Trinity.

With skipper Mason Warren out injured after last week’s defeat at South Shields, there were a few changes to the starting line-up, including a debut at left back for Ben Lewin.

1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ben Lewin 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-George Milner 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs. Paddy Webb, George Atwal, Kemy Agustien, Josh Satchwell, Ben Gowing.

It was strong and fairly robust start from both sides, with Gainsborough making the first serious attack after five minutes, easily dealt with by the home defence.

Only a minute later a good run overlap from Lewin produced a perfect cross, if Battisson had just been three inches taller.

The loose ball fell to Bacon whose miss kick allowed Dales to get the first shot in.

Making his seasonal debut, Milner had a charge after 10 minutes, which almost took him through the visitors defence.

Shortly afterwards another build up involving most of the team, resulted in Bennett shooting just wide.

The Mickleover pace had picked up and was forcing the visitors back and a nice combination move between Dales, Beavon and Bacon, resulted in Gainsborough keeper Matt Yates saving Beavon’s final effort.

Gainsborough still showed occasional flair from breaks and Hawkins was called into action when Gainsborough had a long run down the right.

Some excellent build ups were just lacking the final ball for Mickleover, but after Battisson had created space in the middle, his final pass to Dales left the striker in the perfect position for a 25 yard shot into the roof of the net after 22 minutes, 1-0. “I just felt relief when the ball hit the back of the net,” said Dales. 

Straight from the kick off Gainsborough burst into attack, until Neal Bishop was fouled by Butler on the edge of the box. Sports skipper Butler went into the refs book for the tackle too.

The following free kick was easily saved by Hawkins, but the visitors continued to try and push forward, with Watt heading one attempt clear, before Bishop fired a shot high and wide.

Bateman and Battisson had linked up well with the tenacity of Milner and started to take control again. 

Battisson’s strong run into the box in the 29^th minute, prompted a great interpass with Bennett, before the wing back’s shot went just wide again.

Milner then tried his luck, with a deep cross into the box which slightly overshot until Butler headed it back into play.

But after 39 minutes there were shouts for a penalty, after Bennett was through on goal again from a Beavon pass, only to be pushed down, but the appeals were waved away.

Milner then had a shot just over after nice build up from Bennett and Bacon, but shortly afterwards he was replaced by Gowing after spraining his ankle.

In time added on Dales created his own space and fired a shot on goal, before he then put Bacon through, whose shot went into the side netting.

As the second half got underway Mickleover started much the stronger, with Battisson fouled just outside the box after 48 minutes, with Bacon’s shot then saved from Dales’ free kick.

Bennett was then fouled in a similar place, before a third wild tackle from the visitors saw Dales hacked down.

Butler hit the bar with a header and then Bacon had a shot just past the post, after the ref played the advantage.

Only a few minutes later Dales got his revenge for the earlier foul in the best possible way. Keeper Yates had made a clearance but it fell right at Dales feet, his shot took a slight deflection, but it was in for 2-0. “I know it took a deflection, but I will happily take that,” he said.

Now looking for his hattrick, Dales fired just over only three minutes later, before a rare second half attack from the visitors saw Joe Wilson’s cross go across the Mickleover goal, with no one to receive.

Another good long run from Dales ended when he ran out of steam and was intercepted, before Bennett put Beavon through. He was fouled but still got a shot in just wide of the post, but penalty appeals again fell on deaf ears.

While Butler, Watt and Lewin had stayed as the defensive block to any threat, it allowed Bennett to continue his penetrating runs. After 65 minutes he came from his own area, to have a shot blocked on the edge of the visitors box.

Dales was then replaced by Webb a couple of minutes later, but it was then almost three for Mickleover, when a Battisson cross was headed against his own bar by Gainsborough centre back Hayden Cann.

Yates easily saved the resulting corner, but the attacks were coming thick and fast again. Bacon found Bennett whose shot was blocked after 77 minutes and Webb burst through seven minutes later, but his cross for Battisson proved too long.

Gainsborough had a half chance after a mix up in a crowded Mickleover box and then a pass from Butler to Watt fell short, leaving the visitors to intercept, but Hawkins easily held the following shot.

In the closing minutes Bennett was through yet again before his shot was blocked, then Battisson outstripped the Gainsborough defence, but there was no one to receive his cross.

Finally Gowing got clear, passed to Beavon, but his path was finally blocked.

With only seconds to go, Atwal came on for Bacon, which turned out to be 10 second cameo appearance as the whistle blew to end a good all round team performance.

by Peter Scherer

Tuesday night’s visitors began their NPL season with a 1-1 draw at home against Witton Albion last Saturday. Trinity have had a tough couple of years and could easily have been relegated if the seasons had run their course.

A new youthful squad will be hoping to progress this season with a many out to impress early on.

Goalkeeper Matt Yates has recently been released by Derby County and after loan spells at Gloucester, Hereford and Telford, joined Gainsborough this summer.

Lewis Carr is an experienced defender just signed from Basford, but he’s played at Grantham too. He will be hoping to partner Irish Under 19 international Left back Cieron Keane, who had League One experience during his graduation at Notts County.

After leaving the Magpies he has played for Nuneaton, Worcester, Kidderminster, Alfreton, Boston Utd and Leamington and was at Basford last season.

Charlie Jemson, son of Forest legend Nigel, is another central defender just signed from Worksop. He had a spell on Forest’s books and also played for Ilkeston, Tamworth and Peterborough Sports.

Derby County’s Academy was the starting point for central defender Callum Minkles, while wing back Joe Wilson started out at Reading. He is a new signing from Ilkeston, but has played for Hayes & Yeading and Fleet Town too.

Midfielder Kyle Dixon has just come in from Basford, but is another former Notts County graduate. He made one League One appearance for Notts, before loans at Grantham, Boston and Telford. He had a couple of seasons each at North Ferriby and Newark Flowserve, before spending last season at Basford.

Experience in coaching and playing make Neal Bishop a valuable member of the Gainsborough squad. A former Middlesbrough Academy player, he made his league debut for Barnet in League two. The reliable midfielder had already played at Billingham, Spennymoor, Whitby, Scarborough and York, before making 95 appearances for Barnet.

168 games at Notts County and a spell with Blackpool in the Premiership followed, before another four years at Scunthorpe. His league career ended at Mansfield and he was at Scarborough last season, before joining Gainsborough as player coach.

Midfielder Alex Wollerton is another summer singing. The ex Manchester Utd and Leeds junior also had a spell at the Barnsley Academy, before joining York City last September.

Gianluca Bucci is an ex Lincoln City Junior who is at home in defence or midfield. He has played at Spalding too, but has returned to Gainsborough after a spell at Frickley.

Recently released by Grimsby Town, midfielder Jock Curran is keen to impress. He started at Doncaster Rovers and has also played at Spalding and Lincoln Utd.

George Hornshaw made 12 first team appearances for Scunthorpe last season. He joined the Irons back in 2011 aged 12, making his first team in 2017. He had a loan spell at Farsley and came to Gainsborough initially in 2019, before joining permanently in July this year. He plays full back of midfield.

Ex QPR and Fulham winger Toby Gould and former Chester Junior Jack Gibson will be looking to start up front, the latter coming in from Carlton in May this year.

Another new signing is Curtis Morrison, back at Gainsborough for a third time but this time its permanent for the former Chesterfield midfielder. He made two first team appearances at Chesterfield and was also loaned to Matlock before joining Guiseley and also played at Matlock and Hednesford.

Striker Ben Morris started at Derby County, before coming to Gainsborough via Bedworth, Matlock and Ilkeston and finally Portuguese striker Joao Antonio Soares Rangel as been brought in from Portuguese club Nogueirense, having sampled the UK scene with Norwich, Barnsley and Mansfield.

by Peter Scherer
Photo: Kev Wilson (South Shields FC)

It was always going to be tough visiting South Shields for the first game of the new NPL season, but for 33 minutes Mickleover held off the hosts challenge.

Callum Hawkins was under attack in the Mickleover goal from the word go, pulling off a save from a 20 yard strike from Darius Osei.

Only three minutes later he was in action again, collecting a Nathan Lowe free kick. It wasn’t one-way traffic however, but skipper Mason Warren found himself on the end of a foul by Blair Adams, which earned the South Shields defender a yellow card.

The hosts had a positive attack down the right wing 12 minutes in, but the final ball was too long. Three minutes later Phil Watt joined Adams in the book, after bringing down Osei in full flight.

Rob Briggs took the free kick for South Shields, which Hawkins had covered as it went just over the bar.

As the first half hour was completed however, Mickleover were forced to make a change with Kemy Agustien coming on for Warren.

The hosts were on the on the attack again though and just after Adams had a shot blocked, he collected the ball again from the left and sent a scorching shot out of Hawkins reach into the top corner after 34 mins, 0-1.

There was a chance for Mickleover to bounce back, when a mix up in the hosts defence left Dec Bacon with a one on one on Myles Boney in the South Shields goal. His initial effort was saved, but he collected the ball again and had his shot tipped over.

Briggs shot just past the post after 40 mins and Hawkins had to pull off another save, diving to his right to keep out a 15 yard free kick from Lowe.

Into injury time for the first half it could so easily have been level again, as Stuart Beavon’s header went close after collecting a cross from the right.

Only three minutes into the second half it was 0-2 though, when debutant Ntumba Massanka met an Adams cross. Six minutes later it was South Shields third and Massanka’s second, after Osei’s initial shot was blocked, then fell kindly for the striker to hit the roof of the net 0-3.

The hosts had a penalty appeal turned down after 61 mins and Hawkins saved well again from a Briggs header seven minutes later.

In the closing minutes Bobby Battisson was booked for a trip and on Conor Tee and in the final seconds Sports saw their last attempt skim the crossbar.

by Peter Scherer

In 2019/2020 South Shields were heading for promotion to the National League North and then Covid struck. Two years on and the North Eastern side under former Leicester City striker Graham Fenton, are still striving for that elusive promotion.

Goalkeeper Myles Boney had a spell on loan to Darlington during the NPL lockdown, but the former Blackpool junior will back between the posts for South Shields this Saturday.

Left back Blair Adams captains the side, a former Sunderland graduate had played at League One, Two and Scottish Premiership with the likes of Brentford, Coventry, Northampton, Mansfield and Hamilton.

Centre back Dillon Morse has been at South Shields for five years, having signed from Blyth Spartans, whereas wing back Jordan Hunter  came through the Liverpool and Sunderland Academies, before signing in July 2020 after a couple of loan spells.

Jack Bodenham is one of the new additions to the squad, having recently signed from Cardiff City. A Welsh under 19 international he has also been at loan at The New Saints and Hereford.

Central midfielder Callum Ross joined the club in January 2020, after two years in the US with Oklahoma City, he will be vying for a place with long serving Rob Briggs. He came in August 2015 from Spennymoor, having started out at Gateshead.

Nathan Lowe is a product of the Burnley Academy, the midfielder having come from Southport last January, via FC United and Spennymoor. Conor Tee is another midfielder and new signing, who started out at Leicester City.

Among the strike force is Alex Kempster, signed from York City last year, he was previously at Spennymoor and Whitley Bay.

Jon Shaw has lots of experience mostly at National League level added to a host of coaching experience too. From his start out at Sheffield Wednesday, he has played at Burton Albion, Halifax, Rochdale, Gateshead and Luton. He’s been at South Shields since 2016.

Ghanaian born Darius Osei spent six months at Oldham Athletic after signing from Stalybridge. After his release he went to Maidstone, before returning Stalybridge from where South Shields brought him in February last year.

Ntumba Massanka has a host of class teams on his cv. The Congalese striker started at Manchester Utd, before joining Burnley Academy. Among various loans spells he played in Belgium and Italy and recently joined South Shields.

Defender Matthew Wade is one of South Shields own products, and has played for England at Junior levels. Striker Sam Hodgson is another home product working his way in the team too.

It will be a tough game and Mickleover won’t quite be at full strength. With keeper Joe Slinn still recovering from his wrist operation, Burton loanee Callum Hawkins will be starting.

Last year’s strong back four of Jake Bennett, James Butler, Phil Watt and Alex Morris will hopefully be fit, after both Watt and Morris have nursed injuries of late.

Skipper Mason Warren leads from midfield, but with Andrew Wright on the road to recovery and George Milner suspended, Kemy Agustien should bring along his vast experience and Ben Gowing could get a start, with Bobby Battisson or George Atwal.

Up front Stuart Beavon leads, will lead by example, ably supported by Dec Bacon and Paddy Webb.

Kick off 3pm, let’s see what happens!!

by Peter Scherer

A regular goalscorer, ice captain and unsurpassed enthusiasm, just some of the attributes that have made Andrew Wright a fans favourite.

A recent knee operation will see him miss the first month of the season, but he is already keen to start playing again.

Delighted to have committed to the club for another year, I’m enjoying every minute at Mickleover & we have a really good group of lads & staff. It was an easy decision for me and looking forward to getting back out there with the boys and picking up from where we left off last season.

Wright been a key team players since being signed by John McGrath back in 2019.

Another really important player for us who is a vital cog in what we are trying achieve here at Mickleover.

said the gaffer.