by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Any hopes Mickleover had of making it two successive wins, were dashed when Wellingborough Town scored a decisive penalty on the hour to secure a 2-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Michael Hollingsworth 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Will Atkinson, Fraser Corden, Jake Bennett, Ashton Offler, Ali Mohiuddin.

Although Mickleover started strongly, it was home keeper McDowell first in action, with a fourth minute save.
But Sports went close just two minutes later when Dube took on the defence with a run down the wing, playing Webb through on the left, before his shot was deflected wide.

Mickleover continued to look pacey and put the visiting defence under pressure, until they gave away a soft goal after 13 minutes. After a long throw, the defence failed to intercept Green’s flick, which continued to bounce into the net, 0-1.

10 minutes later Dube won a free kick on the edge of the box, before White attacked down the left. His cross found Webb, but the final shot was wide.

Wellingborough’s keeper had been the busier of the two, but he was finally beaten in the 42nd minute. Dube again initiated the move, with a powerful strike from outside the box. Snedker made the save, but it went straight to Webb, who tapped it home at the far post, as we went into half time as 1-1.

Wellingborough came out fighting for the second half, but Mickleover soon went close again too. 53 minutes in and a good ball from Webb found Dyer, only for the ball to get away from him.

Five minutes later Jones had just had a shot for the visitors, when Ashman took him down with a clumsy and late tackle. The referee pointed straight to the spot, and Draper stepped up to make it 1-2.

After their first half performance Mickleover had gone off the boil, and opted for a triple substitution after 71 minutes, as Corden, Bennett and Atkinson, replaced Dube, Webb and Wood

But Mickleover continued to struggle to create any serious chances, and a further change was made when Offler replaced Hollingsworth. But it remained 1-2 and Mickleover now slip to ninth in the table.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover returned to winning ways last Saturday with a 3-1 win at strugglers Bourne Town and now face 15th in the table Wellingborough Town, who beat us 4-2 earlier in the season.

Our visitors have won three of their last 10 games, which have all been at home., but their last game on the road was a 0-1 defeat at Shepshed.

We have now reached the half way point in the season with 21 games played, seeing Sports currently 8th in a very close and competitive season

Under Jake Stone’s managership, Wellingborough were promoted to the NPL Division One Midlands at the end of 23/24 and finished eighth in the league last season.

Goalkeeper Dean Snedker was signed a couple of weeks into the season. A former England Under 19 international, he started out at Northampton Town. He joined Brackley after his release, quickly moving on to Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Kettering, Cambridge City, St.Albans, Hemel and Rushden and more recently with Coalville.

Captain and centre back Jack O’Connor is in his sixth season at the club, since signing from Kettering in July 2020.

Glenn Walker is one of the pre-season signings. A left back, he started out at Banbury and has played for Corby Town, Hednesford and Brackley and came to our vistors after a two-year spell with Spalding.

Sam Warburton is a left back too and a former Northampton Town youngster. He joined Rugby Town following his release, before moving to Nuneaton who loaned him to Kings Lynn before a permanent move. Corby, Rushden & Diamonds and Bedford were his next stops, before coming to Wellingborough from Spalding in November 2024.

Joe Pursey plays wing back or winger and is another pre-season arrival from Coventry Sphinx, where he had spent the last few seasons.

Left back Daniel Emovon came from Potters Bar in October. He’s also played for Hemel, Wingate, Hitchin and Kettering, before initially joining our visitors in October 2024. After four months he returned to Wingate and started this season at Potters Bar.

It was a pre-season return to the Dog & Duck for defender Charlie Green. He left Wellingborough at the start of last season for Rushden & Diamonds.

Theo Robinson is a young defender on loan from Notts County. He has also been on loan at Kettering.

Lloyd Buckby is the clubs longest serving player. A central midfielder, he joined the club in 2016 and has made over 200 appearances as he is now in his ninth season.

Romeo Ingman is an attacking midfielder who started the season with a brief stay at Rushden & Diamonds. He was previously at Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Fellow midfielder Chris Clements has made over 200 league two appearances during his time at Mansfield Town, Grimsby and Forest Green. He started out at Crewe Alexandra and was loaned to Nantwich, Leigh Genesis, Stafford Rangers and IBV Vestmannaeyjar in Iceland, before joining Hednesford on his release.

He then spent almost five years at Mansfield, before moving on to Grimsby, Barrow, Forest Green, Cheltenham, Nuneaton and Potters Bar. He had spent the last two yeas at Rugby Town, from where he joined our visitors pre-season.

Danny Draper is a right sided midfielder, signed from Spalding in September last year.

Archie Murray is a midfielder too, and an ex Northampton Town youngster.

Connor Furlong is the most recent signing, having made his debut in last Saturday’s victory. He started with MK Dons and was loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd before joining Bedford Town on his release. St.Ives, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade, Rushden & Diamonds and Royston followed, before rejoining Bedford again in March 2023. Nuneaton and Daventry followed, before spending the last two seasons at St.Neots.

Isa Abrahamu is a winger who signed for our visitors at the start of the season, after a short spell at Coventry Utd.

Striker Nile Ranger has played in al three EFL Divisions and the Premiership. He started at Crystal Palace and Southampton, before joining Newcastle in 2008. Further loans at Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday followed before a permanent move to Swindon Town.

Blackpool was his next stop, before three spells at Southend Utd. He’s played for Spalding and Boreham Wood too, before joining our visitors in October, after a year at Kettering.

Ethan Johnston is another striker signed from Rushden & Diamonds last month. He started at Northampton Town, before loan at Kettering preceded a move to Banbury. He spent two years with St.Ives, before his two-year spell at Rushden.

Kobi Bivens is another striker recently signed locally from Northampton Silbey Rangers, while Taylor Franklin and George Barnell both came through the ranks with our hosts.

Fellow striker Will Jones first came to our hosts at the end of the 23/24 season dual registered with Cambridge City. He was previously at Sporting Khalsa.

Joziah Barnett is on loan from Northampton Town. A winger originally from Stotfold, he has also been out on loan at Redditch.

Kick at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm and REMEMBER “WHEN THE RAMS ARE AWAY COME AND WATCH MICKLEOVER PLAY”

by Peter Scherer

It had been five games without a win, but Mickleover returned to winning ways at Bourne, with a solid 3-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Danny Benson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Ashton Offler, Josiah Dyer, Will Atkinson, Michael Hollingsworth, Ross Derham.

In the opening minute of the game Wood tested keeper Swan after positive work from Webb on the left. Bourne then earned a corner, which was wasted, before Sports reciprocated when Wood and Dales combined.

Our hosts had their first shot after four minutes when O’Brien fired his effort over the bar, but three minutes later they had the lead after Furey had outpaced White on the left. His first cross was blocked but at the second attempt he found Eyett relatively unchallenged to strike the ball home 0-1.

Furey’s pace continued to cause trouble on the Mickleover left, after twisting and turning himself clear, he shot wide of the right- hand post a few minutes later.

Dube then had his first real down the right, his cross was blocked and Gascoigne went close with a header, earning another corner.
In the first 15 minutes Mickleover had been on top possession wise, but still sought the equaliser, while trying to close down Furey’s continuous threat on the left.

17 minutes and Furey was through again, but Bird’s header was over the bar, eight minutes later another Furey strike was saved by McDowell at his near post.

As we reached the half hour mark White had broken clear on the left and almost connected with Beavon in the box. Then Dube attacked down the right, as he cut in the path was blocked, but it fell to Benson just outside the box, who smashed home the equaliser 1-1.

As Mickleover pushed forward from the restart, Bourne got another break, with Wilkinson trying to pursue Bird into the box. There was no tackle but the Sports defender pushed his rival in the back and as he fell to the ground the assistant alerted then referee who awarded a penalty.

O’Brien took the kick and aimed for McDowell’s bottom right corner. “I don’t think he was going to take the kick, so we tried to get into his head. I just went for my favourite side and saved it,” said the Mickleover keeper.

Sports maximised their reprieve and another strong run by Webb on the left, prompted a lay-off to Dales, who almost matched Benson’s early strike with another scorcher into the back of the net after 40 minutes, 2-1.

Dube tried his luck on two more occasions before the half time whistle, firing over the bar after 42 minutes and over the top a minute later following a throw in as Mickleover went into the break with a 2-1 lead.

Dyer replaced Beavon as the second half got underway. After Bourne earned a corner from the first attack of the half, Dales tested Swan from long range, pushed wide by the keeper.

55 minutes in and Dyer almost maximised a moment of chaos in the home defence. Webb had found him unmarked, but keeper Swan raced off his line to make the save with his feet.

After our hosts had tried a wild random shot over the bar, Dales broke again down the left on the hour mark. Webb put the cross in and Dyer was so close again to connecting.

With the Mickleover defence looking much more solid, both Ashman and White had been able to push forward too and the threat from up front looked ever more threatening to the home defence.

Wood received a yellow card after contact with Ellis, who writhed in agony until the card was given ad then miraculously recovered.

Hollingsworth then replaced Wood, followed by debutant Derham coming on for Dube.

Sports defence had kept Furey quiet in the second half, but he broke again in the 75th minute, but his dangerous cross was cleared with relative ease.

A few minutes later a long kick from McDowell was picked up by Webb, with the home keeper off his line he tried a lob but just off target.

Dales then attacked down the right to cross for Webb in the middle, but he couldn’t quite connect.

Ellis had a shot easily saved by McDowell after 80 minutes, before another comfortable save from an O’Brien shot, after their free kick had come off the wall.

But Sports hadn’t finished yet, and with Derham taking it the line on the right, he passed across the goal face to give Dyer a tap in on the left, 3-1.

Webb had another lob saved by the keeper almost on time, but it was a solid three points for Mickleover once the defence had settled after a shaky start, much to the approval of the five stalwart supporters that made the trip.

 

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday Mickleover head to 20^th placed Bourne Town, as they seek to return to winning ways after taking just the one point at home to bottom of the table Bedworth in their last four league games.

Both Thabang Dube and Fraser Corden impressed in our 7-0 Derbyshire Senior Cup win and will be pushing form a starting place, while Will Atkinson came back from injury as a second half sub and new loan signing Ross Derham should be in the squad too.

Back on October 13^th Mickleover were 3-1 winners when we hosted the Lincolnshire club, with goals from Ali Mohiuddin, Will Atkinson and Paddy Webb.

Our hosts were United Counties Division One Champions 23/24 and last year finished second in the Premier Division North, gaining promotion again via the play-offs.

Manager Michael Goode has been in charge since October 2023 and shares responsibilities with player/co manager Dan Flack.

Goode was previously manager at Deeping Rangers, where Flack played over 350 games before moving to Bourne in May 2023.

First choice goalkeeper is Will Lakin who arrived pre-season. A former Peterborough Utd youngster, he was loaned to Kettering Town before going to Dulwich Hamlet on his release. He started last season at Stamford, before moving to Wisbech.

Lakin was injured in their recent defeat at Boldmere and so Dan Swan came out of retirement after 133 appearances for the club, as cover in their defeat at home at home to Belper Town last weekend.

Right back Callum Milne came from Wellingborough at the end of September. He’s played for Corby Town, Bedford Town, Eynesbury Rovers, HarboroughTown, Kettering, St.Ives and Wisbech too.

Centre back Connor Peters was another pre-season arrival and another former Peterborough junior. After a loan at Yaxley, he went to St.Josephs in Gibraltar, before returning to the UK with Peterborough Sports. He then spent six months at Spalding, before returning to Gibraltar with Lions, where he spent most of last season.

Right back Eunis Lievins is dual registered with Royston Town, but spent last season at Bourne. He has played for Peterborough Sports and Melton Town too.

Richard Jones is another centre back signed in September 2023. After starting out at Peterborough Northern Star, he joined Corby Town, before a three-year spell with Stamford. He came to our hosts after seven years with Peterborough Sports.

Joshua Burrows is another former Peterborough Utd youngster. A defender, he came in pre-season from March Town.

Freddie Allen is a full back, currently on loan from Stamford. He was previously with Doncaster Rovers.

Defender Brad Marshall arrived at the start of last season from Corby Strip Mills. He was previously at Daventry Town.

Midfielder or striker Connor Furey was another pre-season signing from Shepshed Dynamo. He was previously at Loughborough Dynamo, Harborough Town, Corby Town and Stamford.

Henry Dunn is a midfielder in his second spell at the club. Another ex Peterborough Utd junior, he moved on to Peterborough Northern Star, before his first spell at Bourne. He also played for Melton Town and spent four years with manager Mike Goode at Deeping Rangers.

Midfielder Aaron Eyett came from Deeping Rangers last season. He’s also played at Boston Utd, Holbeach and Pinchbeck.

Jack Wilson is a midfielder too, signed from neighbours Blackstones in January 2024.

Sam Bayly is a central midfielder on loan from Peterborough Sports, who he joined at the beginning of this season having come from the United States. He’s played for Mars Hill University Lions, Appalachian FC, CSC Pueblo Thunder Wolves and Eastern Florida State Titans in the US.

Striker Lewis Darlington is another pre-season arrival who started his career at Nottingham Forest. He moved on to Peterborough Utd, who loaned him to Corby Town, Cambridge City and Banbury, before going to Spalding following his release. He spent most of last season with Grantham Town.

Sidney Pereira is another striker, signed from Peterborough Sports in pre-season. He had previously been loaned to Grantham and St.Ives Town.

Striker Tom Siddons came to our hosts from Stamford at the start of last season. He has also played for Kings Lynn, Grantham and Sleaford Town.

Jordan O’Brien was signed from Wellingbrough in September. A striker, who came from the Sheffield Wednesday Academy and has played for Corby too. He scored a hattrick on his home debut in a 4-0 win against Racing Club Warwick.

Will Bird is another ex Deeping Rangers player. A striker he came to Bourne in June 2023. He also became sub goalkeeper against Boldmere last month, when Will Lakin went off injured.

Long serving strikers Robie Ellis and Zac Allen tend to share the captaincy. Ellis made his 100th appearance for the club at the end of last season.

Kick off at Abbey Lawns is 3pm and your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer

TWO goals each from Thabang Dube and Archie White saw Mickleover advance to the next round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup, with a 7-0 victory over Chesterfield Reserves.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Josh Ashman 3-Archie White 4-Danny Benson 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Fraser Corden 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Andy Dales, Stuart Beavon, Ali Mohiuddin, Michael Hollingsworth, Will Atkinson.

It was a strong start from Mickleover, with captain Webb testing the visitors keeper in the third minute, cutting in from the left and forcing a low save to the right.

Three minutes later Dube earned a corner on the right, as Chesterfield struggled to break out their own half and so it continued.

Eight minutes in and Webb broke through again on the left wing. His cross went across the face of the goal, with Dyer just missing a connection as he slid in., before Dube’s strike was blocked to earn another corner.

The first 15 minutes was all Mickleover, before Chesterfield got their first break, which brought McDowell racing off his line to head clear again.

Sports earned another corner a couple of minutes later, which White floated into the box, but initially it missed everyone, until Corden connected to fire his effort just over the bar.

Webb continued to look strong on the left keeping the visiting defence under pressure, and with Offler and Wilkinson untroubled at the back, Ashman and White were able to push forward on the wings, aiding an already strong midfield marshalled by Wood.

Chesterfield had a random shot in the 21st minute well over the bar, before White sent Corden on a long run, almost making it clear of the whole defence. He earned a corner, but Offler’s rising header was over the bar.

Three minutes later Dube saw off three defenders on the right before finding Webb. He managed to get a shot in, but hadn’t quite connected and it was an easy collection for the keeper.

The inevitable happened on the half hour after another Dube run on the right. He put the ball inside for White to run onto and fire it home from just outside the box. 1-0.

We only had to wait two minutes for a second goal, when a powerful shot from Dyer was parried by the keeper for Dube to hit the rebound home 2-0.

Straight from the restart Webb put a toe poke just beyond the right-hand post, and 35 mins in Corden put Dube through forcing a good save out of the Chesterfield keeper.

Dyer had another close range blocked by the keeper after 40 minutes, but three minutes later he made it 3-0, after a corner on the left was headed back in by Ashman, for Dyer to head home.

Webb had three more attempts before the half time whistle, one saved by the keeper and the others blocked earning corners.

Five minutes into the second half Chesterfield had their second shot, well off target, but only two minutes later Mickleover made it 4-0. Corden had worked hard on the left and found Dube who hit his second of the game.

Benson then put a header over the bar and Corden set up Webb, but his shot was blocked again to earn a corner.

Dube outpaced the defence again after 57 minutes, but the keeper denied him his hattrick. White then made it 5-0 wit a great strike down the middle from outside the box, after more ground work from Dube.

Benson and Dube made way for Dales and Mohiuddin on the hour mark, which was soon followed by a finger tip save onto the bar from the visitors keeper, after Webb had layed the ball off for a Dales shot.

Dales, Corden and White then combined , before White’s shot was deflected for a corner, from which Dales put the final shot just over the bar.

Corden then made it 6-0 after 72 minutes, he picked up a ball from White and his shot came off the keeper and the bar before going over the in.

Just after Offler had tried a semi-overhead kick, more changes were made as Hollingsworth and Atkinson replaced Wood and Wilknson.

Dales finally rounded the tie off at 7-0 to end a totally dominant performance from Mickleover and now we look forward to the draw for the next round.

 

by Peter Scherer

Tuesday evening we play hosts to Chesterfield Reserves in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Our visitors play in the central league for reserve teams and were winners of the Senior Cup back in 2017/18, after a 1-0 win over Alfreton Town.

Staveley were the first winners back in 1883/84, 2-1 over Derby Midland, before a repeat the following year.

Last season Mickleover started with a 4-0 win at Stapenhill, with Edimond Oppong scoring twice, with other goals from Tyreace Palmer and Justin Iwobi.

Clay Cross then came to the Don Amott Arena and we were 4-1 winners with two goals from Amarn Robinson and one each from Dylan Edwards and Andy Dales.

Hopes were high of making it to our second ever final, drawing Alfreton Town at home in the semi. Despite an impressive second half performance it was a 0-2 defeat, with Alfreton going on to beat Buxton on penalties in the final.

The previous year we had beaten Belper Town 2-1 with goals from Marcus Barnes and Sam Tomlinson, but then lost 2-3 at Matlock.

Mickleover’s only final appearance was in 2019, when they faced Alfreton Town again at Pride Park. It was 2-1 defeat for Sports with goals early in the first half and late in the second split by Shaquille McDonald’s penalty.

If we look further back to 2009, Sports were then in the Northern Counties League and won the title. Senior Cup wise we beat Staveley MW 3-0, with Liam Walshe, Dave Middleton and Karl Ashton on the scoresheet, before a 7-1 win at Long Eaton, with Ashton, Kieran O’Connell and Dan Martin each scoring twice, along with one from Ricky Law.

Ashton and O’Connell then helped us beat Ilkeston 2-1, to earn a semi final place against at Buxton, ending in a 0-1 defeat.

Kick off is 7.45 and it’s ONLY £5 admission!