Author: Square Peg

First Pre Season Win For Mickleover

by Peter Scherer

Images by Your Best Shot Photography/Clipstone FC

With the planned game against Stapenhill postponed last week, Mickleover had their first pre-season game away to East Midlands Counties League side Clipstone FC,

Clipstone took a surprise lead after 11 minutes, when the Mickleover defence failed to clear a corner and Will Heather made it 1-0 to the hosts.

It only took two minutes before it was level however with Andy Dales scoring his first of two.

A Mason Warren free kick after 34 minutes, made sure that Mickleover went in for the half time break with a 2-1 lead.

Although Clipstone continued try and push forward, Dales netted his second after 53 minutes, before Larrel King made it 4-1 in the 90th minute.

Sports are back in action again playing Sheffield FC tomorrow night.

 

Pre-Season Training Steps Up A Pace

by Peter Scherer

With five weeks to go before the Northern Premier League kicks off its 2021/22 season, Mickleover boss John McGrath and his coaching staff have been putting the first team squad through their paces, prior to their first friendly on Saturday at Clipstone.

Keeper Joe Slinn and midfield sharp shooter Andrew Wright are both recovering from operations, Slinn on a wrist injury and Wright with a cartilage repair. 

Slinn hopes to be fit for the start of the season, with Wright setting a target of September for his comeback.

Atwal Latest To Go On Trial

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover’s successful National Championship winning Academy team continues to draw attention from football league sides.

A few weeks ago it was Josh Satchwell and Louis Pennington going on trial to Fleetwood Town and now 17 year old George Atwal has been invited to Stoke City.

Atwal recently made his first team debut in the Don Amott Spring Cup. A skilful midfielder, as well as being a regular goal scorer, George has also become a free kick expert with the successful Academy squad.

Statement on behalf of Mickleover F.C.

On the 22nd June at 11.00pm thieves have taken 11 rolls of pitch carpet from the ground at Station Road. We are working alongside our wonderful contractor Tim Pugh Lewis to get replacement carpet. This will delay the opening of the new pitch.

Don Amott the chairman of the football club issued the following statement:-

The news overnight of this theft is a devastating blow to the football club. All of the people who work around the club are volunteers who give up their personal time to help a local community club. We will come back from this stronger and look forward to celebrating with the local community once the project is completed.

If anyone has any information about the theft please contact Derbyshire Constabulary.

ACADEMY REDS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

by Peter Scherer

With 16 goals scored and only one conceded during the ESPFA National Academy play-offs, Mickleover Reds Academy can rightfully be proud to call themselves NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

Having beaten Runcorn Linnets 8-0 at Rushall two weeks ago, only a point was needed against Chesham Utd to add the National title to their Midlands crown.

The kick off was delayed as Chesham were stuck on the motorway, but once the game kicked off there was more one-way traffic.

Jake Edge-Lucas had a shot in the second minute, saved by the Chesham keeper Hosier, but earned the first corner.

A few minutes later Josh Satchwell found Brodie Carter in the box, but his path was blocked.

Chesham still hadn’t made it into the Mickleover half when the first goal came. Bobby Battisson had found Carter on the left, who calmly fired the ball into the top left hand corner after eight minutes, 1-0.

Only two minutes later Battisson tried his luck, firing over the bar from outside the box as the Mickleover pressure continued,

It was 12 minutes in before Chesham had an attack, but their hopes were soon foiled as Tom Smith came off his line to kick clear.

Chesham had a free kick after Will Robinson pulled striker Wilkins shirt to hold him back. The free kick was wasted however, bouncing off the wall.

Mickleover were straight back into attack mode and a charge down the right wing from Edge-Lucas, fired in a low cross to find Fin Barker, 2-0 after 16 minutes.

Chesham started to push forward, but their attacks came to nought, with Cameron Anthony and Robinson solid in the middle of the defence, ably supported by wing backs Edge-Lucas and Ben Lewin.

Barker was through again after 20 minutes, but was blocked just before he was able to shoot. Then Carter was blocked similarly after a good build up with Barker and Ted Stevenson again.

Five minutes later and it was 3-0, when Carter picked the ball up on the edge of the area, saw Hosier only slightly off his line, but chipped a curling ball into his far right hand top corner.

They had barely kicked off again when the menacing Battisson’s trickery once again left the Chesham defence flat footed. He got his shot in but over the bar again.

Shots were reigning in on the Chesham goal from all angles and Battisson had another shot cleared off the line in the 27th minute.

Both wing backs were on the attacks regularly, and Edge-Lucas was able to do his own bit of showboating, with a double spin to baffle the Chesham defence, before firing a shot as he cut in from the right.

Goal number four began to look imminent, but Battisson’s 34th minute effort lacked any power to challenge Hosier. 

Robinson then charged half of the length of the field to get a telling cross in from the left, but after a rebound found Carter, his shot was just over.

Hosier had to charge off his line again in the 43rd minute, narrowing the angle as Satchwell attacked, finding Barker whose shot was just over.

But Barker concluded the first half in fine style, with a great jinking solo run. Hosier again came out to try and intercept, but Barker put his shot wide, glancing the post initially, before turning back into the net, 4-0.

The second half had barely kicked off and it was goal number five, with Carter on the end of a great build up between Satchwell, Battisson and Barker, for his hattrick, 5-0.

Three minutes later it was 6-0 after Barker was tripped in the box. He stepped up to fire it home for his hattrick too, after Hosier managed to get a hand to it.

Two more minutes and another good build-up saw Satchwell’s shot just over, before Wilkins was on the attack for Chesham, forcing Smith to make his first save of the game after 54 minutes.

George Atwal had a quiet first half, but was finding more space for himself in the second. He had two shots within a couple of minutes, the second forcing Hosier to tip it over for a corner.

As the corner came in Satchwell collected and his header was cleared off the line, before Edge-Lucas followed up with a fierce effort just over.

Chesham had never lowered their heads despite the mauling they were receiving, but after 58 minutes they had their chance, after Robinson pushed the striker from behind, Wilkins hit the penalty home for 6-1.

Shortly afterwards Barker put a cross into the box, just behind Battisson, Edge-Lucas picked it up and his shot was blocked, before Barker put the rebound over the bar.

In the 68th minute Battisson cut in from the left after a ball from Stevenson, before Barker’s shot was palmed away by Hosier.

From the resulting corner Carter’s attempt was cleared off the line.

Three minutes later it was finally Battisson’s turn to have the ball in the net, only to have it disallowed for allegedly being offside.

 They only had to wait another minute though and it was 7-1. Barker jinked his way through the Chesham defence with perfection and picked his spot for his fourth of the match.

Chesham then had an attack and called Smith into action.

But it was back on attack and Mickleover had another free kick when Battisson was tripped just outside the box. Atwal and Lewin deliberated over the free kick which was fired over the bar.

With 10 minutes left Carter was unlucky not to connect after a cross from Lewin on the left, just before Barker was left in the clear and shot just wide of the post.

Kai Moore was the first sub for Carter and shortly after it was goal number eight. Edge-Lucas and Battisson worked together to create the gap and Atwal made no mistake to make it 8-1.

Barker and Edge-Lucas then made way for Kyran Ward and Jovis Tsoumou, but their was little respite for the Chesham defence.

Reluctantly Hosier was replaced in the Chesham goal after his saves had kept the score down, but Chesham were still pushing hard and earned an 84th minute corner.

The clearance however found Moore, who had his shot cleared off the line, before Chesham had a late chance which was wasted by poor finishing.

With two minutes to go Ward was within inches of making it nine, when he slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, only to be six inches wide of the far post.

Ward combined again with Moore as the whistle was poised, firing just over, before the celebrations started and Mickleover were crowned NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

It was tremendous, they have been a fantastic group to work with, hardworking and humble, they listened and learned. This was the final product and I am proud of them.

concluded coach Pablo Mills.

Reserves: Chairman’s Cup Final Report

by D.Mac, Reserves Manager, Mickleover F.C.

Having come through the group stages, a quarter-final against Dinnington and a tough semi-final against Rowsley, the reserves should have seen us in good shape to face the challenge of Retford Utd in the final of the Chairman’s Cup. 

Unfortunately, the cumulative fixtures of the Academy, Reserves and First team took its toll and we went to Sheffield with several players carrying injuries or knocks and also Jacob Ferdinand had a previously booked engagement.

The team that started the final was Tom Smith, Larrel King, Matt Fuertado, Tom Eccleshall, Ash Elliot, Jacob Lucas, Lopes Massampo, Surafel Tefera with Will Monteiro and Jude Ayetine up top. On the bench were Fin Barker, Devon Smith, Josh Satchwell, Bobby Battisson and George Williamson.

The team started off strongly and only brilliant agility and fortuity from the Retford goalkeeper maintained the stalemate. Good chances were being created almost every time Mickleover went into the Retford half. Will, Jude and Surf all thought they had scored but for the aforementioned quality of the goalkeeper. Tom Eccleshall then put in a great cross met by the head of Jude Ayetine, only for the ball to connect with the underside of the bar and clear.

It seemed that a goal would come soon and it did, sadly at the wrong end for us. It was a similar goal to the one we lost at Rowsley, with a player dribbling across our box and striking a shot low into the corner at the left-hand post. A good goal to score but defensively one that could have been prevented.

Worse followed! You ask for consistency from referees and we certainly got it on Saturday. Retford took advantage of leniency on the referee’s part by stealing several yards at throw-ins. The ball went out of play right beside the right-hand side corner flag but the throw-in was actually taken almost in line with the 18 yard line. From that point Retford worked the ball well up the park and an excellent cross was put in from the right-wing. The cross was met with a great header back across the goal high into the side of the net. A goal of great quality.

Into the second half and Mickleover continued to press without creating the same level of chances. Then Ash Elliot drove into the box beating a couple of players and was brought down by a desperate challenge – penalty awarded. Surf unceremoniously struck the ball low to the keepers right 2-1 game on. 

Five minutes later Ash again was in the box and in the action of shooting was caught from behind – a stonewall penalty in the eyes of everyone bar two- the ones that mattered. Ash said afterwards that the second challenge was worse than the first. 

Mickleover made another couple of chances which we snatched at which was understandable given the pressure.

Missing fouls was to prove the final nail when Tom Eccleshall was fouled some 30 yards out. The game carried on and what followed was a goal good enough to win any cup. The Retford sub found himself to the right side of our penalty box and hit a sweet ferocious drive into the roof of the net.

The game finished with a well struck shot that missed the target – the story of our match.

If football mirrored life there would have only been one winner but it’s a cruel game and whilst Retford scored three excellent goals and in the main defended well Mickleover should have won the game in the first 20/25 minutes. Congratulations to Retford Utd and also thanks to Sheffield FC for their organisation and hospitality.

 

Academy Reds Thrash Northern Champions

by Peter Scherer

Runcorn Linnets had already won the first of their ESPFA Play-off games, but it was all one-way traffic as they faced Mickleover Reds at Rushall.

Only 30 seconds into game and Bobby Battisson picked up on some slack defending, finding Fin Barker who slotted home 1-0.

Five minutes later Ben Lewin and Barker worked well on the overlap, but just ran out of pitch before a shot was taken.

We didn’t have to wait long for goal number two though, with George Atwal firing into the roof of the net, after a classy build-up between Brodie Carter and Josh Satchwell. 2-0.

Mickleover had a free kick 10 minutes in, when Ted Stevenson was tripped on the edge of the box, but Jacob Edge-Lucas’ kick was just wide.

With Runcorn barely getting out of their own half, they hit the post on their first real break.

Lewin then had a good try blocked after 15 minutes, before Battisson found Barker, whose close range shot was blocked by the keeper.

Lewin’s defensive duties were called upon after a Runcorn free kick was cut out, before Will Robinson burst from the defence to find Battisson in space, shooting wide of the post.

With both wing backs pushing forward, Cameron Anthony and Robinson were the only Mickleover players to stay back. There was a free kick after Battisson was fouled again, and a combined effort from the majority of the team set Barker free, earning another corner after 27 minutes.

Tom Smith had a rare touch of the ball when he raced from his line to kick well clear as the half hour mark approached, quickly followed by a charge down the wing from Edge-Lucas after he intercepted, almost putting Carter in the clear.

Carter was close to adding to the goal tally in the 33rd minute when Anthony sent Lewin on a run, before his precise cross was inches from the strikers head.

Battisson had a try high and wide, then Atwal, Barker and Carter combined. As Barker had no space, Atwal collected and fired over the bar.

It was soon 3-0 though when Carter was on target after 41 minutes. Another Lewin cross had found Barker, whose pinpoint pass set Carter up.

From 3-0 at half time, Mickleover were straight back on the attack as the second half got underway. Barker put a shot across the face of the goal after 48 minutes and a minute later Barker’s attack left Atwal shooting over.

Battisson and Barker then combined with yet another chance, only to be denied by the keeper’s legs. It was another Barker and Battisson run than earned goal number four. After being tripped in the box, Barker made no mistake from the penalty spot. 4-0.

Runcorn had a random shot well over after 58 minutes, but there was only one team in the game.

Edge-Lucas hit the post after 68 minutes and four minutes later Stevenson had a fantastic run to set up Barker, who took it around the keeper and fired into the roof of the net for 5-0.

Only two minutes later Barker put Carter through but the keeper intercepted, then Stevenson came off to make way for Kai Moore.

It was soon 6-0 when Battisson was tripped in the box and recovered to take the penalty himself after 76 minutes. Lewin then fired just over from another free kick.

10 more minutes and it was goal number seven, after the Runcorn keeper lost the ball, Battisson picked it up and slotted home 7-0.

There was still more to come, with Niall Cole on for Carter, it was 8-0 with two minutes left. Edge-Lucas had burst down the wing and was also on the end of it, with a top corner shot 8-0!

Kyran Ward and Joris Yates were both late subs for Lewin and Edge-Lucas, leaving Mickleover to play possession football for the last few minutes.

Moore had a half chance late on and  Smith in the Mickleover goal had one brief threat to his clean sheet, but Moore played it back for him to clear confidently.

So the Midlands Division was sewn up last week, and   victory in the first play-off, leaves the Reds in good stead for the final game against Chesham Utd in two weeks.

“Job done, now one to go,” said Coach Pablo Mills, who was also celebrating his 37th birthday.

Sports Reserves Into Chairman’s Cup Final

by D.Mac, Mickleover F.C., Reserves Manager
with additional words from Jon Battisson and Peter Scherer

Rowsley 86 v Mickleover F.C. Reserves – Chairman’s Cup – Semi Final

The Mickleover Reserves team headed back up the A6, unless you went up the A38 and across the A615, to the scenic setting of Rowsley, situated in a little Swale at the edge of the Peak District. 

This semi-final was the third time we have made acquaintance with them in the last month, having been paired with them in the group stages and playing our home game there as well.

 I also went up and watched their quarter-final win over Bentley and now my Sat Nav thinks my home address is Peaktor Lane, Rowsley! The results of the first two games were one win each, however being the tactical geniuses that Aaron and I are, we inveigled a 2-1 defeat in the last game, so as we would get an away tie in the quarter-final and not have to pay the officials!

But one thing guaranteed at Rowsley is a friendly welcome and post-match.

The team, showing a couple of changes from the quarter-final win at Dinnington Town, was Tom Smith, Lopes Massampo, Jacob Ferdinand, Matt Fuertado, Tom Eccleshall, George Milner, Clinton Morrison, Bobby Battisson, Surafel Tefera, Jude Ayetine and Will Monteiro. On the planks of wood were Ash Elliot, Jacob Edge-Lucas and Devon Smith.

Mickleover started really well with some crisp passing and good movement supporting players on the ball. The central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Fuertado were solid and well balanced, making good decisions on when to play out or give it the wellie. 

With the stability of Morrison in front, it allowed the industrious pairing of Battisson and Milner to pressurise Rowsley into errors, so we got the ball back. 

After 15 or so minutes Mickleover had fashioned chances for Monteiro, Ayetine and Tefera, with the home keeper being called into action.

Prior to the game, we talked about the importance of set pieces – corners and free-kicks and how having a plan would work in our favour. It was therefore pleasing that from a free-kick from our right side, just to the right of the penalty box, about 21.5 yards powerfully struck by Eccleshall between the posts that we took the lead. 

Monteiro had gone close in the opening minutes, after a fine ball from Ayetine on the left. Then Tefera found Ayetine, but his effort was saved by the Rowsley keeper, before Milner put another telling ball into the box, from a Massampo feed.

15 minutes in and Battisson lofted a corner in, finding Milner in space, but the final header was over. Both Battisson and Milner went close again as the pressure built on the home defence and it was no surprise when Tefera opened the scoring.

It was a free kick from Edge-Lucas after Monteiro was fouled, but the keeper did well to parry the shot and his next action was to fetch the ball out of the net, after Tefera had controlled the high spinning ball and guided the ball carefully into the corner.1-0 Mickleover.

Only five minutes later Monteiro was on another run, beating players to pile more pressure on the Rowsley defence.

The tails were up and in the next period we played some sumptuous impressive football and not much later followed a goal of quintessential beauty.

The ball got played out to Monteiro just in our half, he set the ball back to Tefera, who spun with one touch and slotted an exquisite through pass in front of the onrushing Monteiro. There was still work to be done as their centre backs had come across to close down the danger, but Monteiro took them both out, sidestepping inside before bending the ball to nestle in the corner of the net. 2-0.

Monteiro continued to run rampant through the defence, ably supported by Ayetine, Morrison, Battisson, Tefera and Milner, but after 35 minutes Rowsley had their best chance of the game, when Smith had to charge off his line to try and retrieve a short back pass. The striker was their first but his shot was wide of an almost open goal.

There were penalty appeals after Monteiro was fouled again, but it was still virtual one-way traffic.

Just before half time however Rowsley pulled one back, with a shot from 10 yards out, which Smith misjudged 2-1.

To Rowsley’s credit, they continued to fight and it was a good goal from their point, but one which we should have stopped. 

Collecting the ball about 30 yards out on our left he ( the scorer) drove into the centre area and got away a shot that went through Morrison’s legs and trundled with a wee bit of pace into the net near the left-hand post. If there was a good time to lose a goal when 2-0 up, the minutes before halftime as the momentum they could have gained was stopped by the interval.

There was still a chance for one more shot from Mickleover before the half time whistle, as yet another foul on Monteiro, saw Battisson shoot over.

We started the second half well but the game developed into a tousy affair with a spate of bookings. I suspected that the referee had left his cards in the changing room first half, as he allowed a few robust challenges to go unheeded.

Tefera was booked for pushing a defender after being kicked from behind and then Monteiro flew into a tackle that merited the yellow that he received. 

Worse was to follow for the Rowsley centre half when he got a yellow to match the one he had just got previously so he had to go.

On the positive side, Eccleshall had a free kick saved and just after the hour, Rowsley had a shot hit the underside of the Mickleover bar, before Battisson tested the keeper, after nice build up between Morrison and Tefera

In the last period of the game the Rowsley keeper made three very good saves from Tefera twice and Monteiro.

 However, there were other opportunities squandered which would have made the game safe, when we either were slow in getting a shot away or took the wrong option.

One thing we knew was that Rowsley would keep playing and were very unlucky on three occasions. 

In the 73rd minute Morrison used his experience to be in the right place and cleared off the line and luckily for us a Rowsley player snatched at a shot from six yards and squirted the ball past the post.

In the final minutes Ayetine had a shot well saved, but in time added on, Rowsley were handed the chance of an equaliser, but put the shot wide with a open goal, before Monteiro lost out in a final one on one with the Rowsley keeper.

A good first half followed by a dip in the second with excellent performances coming from Ferdinand and Fuertado, with Battisson and Milner in midfield and Monteiro and Tefera taking their goals well. 

There was also a display of ball retention and simplicity that would be hard to match from Morrison, added to his goal-line clearance, making make him motm. (I won’t mention the ‘swinger’ of an attempted shot in the first half though)

We now look forward to a final with Retford at Sheffield on Saturday, at the end of a strange season and thank Rowsley for their hospitality and wish them well for the future.

 

Mickleover Go Down To Belper Utd In Poor All Round Performance

by Peter Scherer

Following the comfortable Don Amott Spring Cup semi final win at Heanor, Mickleover once again fielded the majority of their first team for their Cup Final game at Borrowash against Belper United.

Belper were first on the attack, earning a corner in the fifth minute, before George Milner passed to Stuart Beavon, finding Dec Bacon, whose shot was just wide.

Captain for the day Bobby Battisson then had a good run, but ran out of space before managing to fire in a shot. But then the   Mickleover attacks were becoming more and more intense, with Beavon’s attempt just wide after eight minute, followed by a shot from Milner two minutes later.

The Mickleover game wasn’t its usual flowing play however and with Alex Morris in the middle of the defence with James Butler, Jake Bennett was at left back, with Larell King on the right and that familiar look reliability seemed to be lacking.

 But 14 minutes in the Belper keeper missed a cross and it fell nicely for Beavon, who made no mistake from close range with a powerful header 1-0. Belper  came back fighting however, earning another corner four minutes later and their determination was rewarded after 20 minutes, when a cross from Tom Lewis on the left was deflected, finding its way passed Mickleover keeper Fin Bowen’s  far post 1-1.

The usual machine like midfield of Mason Warren, Ben Gowing , Milner and Battisson, were struggling too, and despite some challenging runs, the final ball continually failed to reach the strikers.

Belper were quicker on the break and looked dangerous on a number of occasions. After a couple of near misses they split the Mickleover defence right down the middle in the last five minutes of the first half, before Richard Hanslow slotted it past the advancing Bowen 1-2.

As the team returned for the second half, Academy centre back Will Robinson was on for King, which meant Bennett and Morris reverted to their more familiar right and left back positions. Gowing also made way for Kemy Agustien.

The equaliser almost came in the opening minutes of the second half when Robinson’s effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced out. But the promise didn’t last long, and after 49 minutes Belper had another shot just wide.

There were still very few chances coming Mickleover’s way, even though they began to take more possession.

Belper had a wild shot high and wide in the 56th minute, before Bacon lofted a dangerous ball into the box five minutes later, which was blocked by the defence.

There was a free kick for Mickleover after Morris was fouled and took a knock to the head,  but Agustien’s kick was well off target.

But more danger followed in the  Mickleover defence after Morris lost possession on the left wing. Robinson managed to clear the danger, only for Belper to make an immediate return with a powerful header going close.

Robinson then lost possession himself on the edge of the box, calling on Bowen to race off his line and rescue the situation.

Although there seemed to more input from the Mickleover team, the results were still not there. Bacon put a promising ball in to the area, it was cleared and then Agustien fired the final shot over the bar.

Only two minutes later Belper had shot wide again, before following up with a double attempt, one blocked and one wide again.

Time was running out for the elusive equaliser, but Belper continued to try and make it safe. With four minutes left Bowen pulled off another good save, which was followed by an attempted overhead kick from a Belper striker, who failed to connect.

In the final minutes Beavon headed just over from a build up from Warren and Morris, and with the whistle poised Warren fired a shot into the crowded box, but it was game over and a disappointing defeat, after a lack lustre and uninspiring all round performance.