by Peter Scherer

Tuesday night sees Mickleover host neighbours Basford Utd at the Don Amott Arena.

Back in September Mickleover travelled to Basford and came home 2-0 winners, but despite success in the FA Trophy our visitors have struggled of late in the league.

Last Saturday they bowed out of the FA Trophy, losing 1-4 to Eastleigh in the fourth round.

Currently 20th in the table and two points ahead of Mickleover, they went down 0-5 at Ilkeston on New Years Day, their sixth successive league defeat.

It proved to be a positive start to the New Year for Mickleover though, not only a valuable away point at Lancaster, but a clean sheet too.

Our visitors have recently changed manager after Martin Carruthers resigned. Luke Potter is now in charge, with Saul Deeney continuing as assistant.

Goalkeeping duties have been shared recently between  Deeney and Harvey Woodward. Deeney started his career at Notts County, and after loan spells at Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston and Hull City, he made a permanent move to Burton Albion in 2005.

He then returned to Notts County, for a year, before a short stay at Hucknall Town preceded a return to Burton too. 4 ½ years at Derby County followed, before his first spell at Basford in 2015. Moving on to Coalville and Ilkeston, he joined Matlock in January last year, before returning to Basford pre-season.

Woodward is a former Ilkeston Town player, who came into the Basford side in November when Deeney was suspended. He also played for Gedling and Kimberley MW’s.

Ethan Stewart was signed in pre-season. He started his career with Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Billericay and Alfreton, before joining Nuneaton on his release. He then returned to Alfreton, before moving to Stafford Rangers in October 2021.

Josh Barnes is a former Nottingham Forest Junior defensive midfielder. He was loaned out to Truro City on two occasions, before signing for Basford in July 2022 following his release.

Bermudan International central midfielder Kacy Butterfield was another pre-season signing from Stourbridge. He was a junior at Walsall and was loaned to Rushall before joining Kidderminster on his release.

After moving on to Chesterfield, he was loaned to Guiseley and then made moves to Alfreton and Nuneaton, before joining Stourbridge in January 2024.

Right sided midfielder and captain Matt Thornhill started out at Nottingham Forest too. He was loaned to Brighton, Hibernian and Cheltenham, before a permanent moved to Hibs. He then spent three years at Buxton, before moves to Shaw Lane and Gainsborough and has been at Basford since March 2017. He has played in the Championship, League’s One and Two in England and the Scottish Premiership.

Rev James is in his fourth spell with our visitors, after playing his Junior football at Rotherham and Oxford Utd. He first came to Basford in December 2018 onloan, but then joined Tamworth after his release by Oxford.

In November 2019 he came back to Basford, stayed 2  1/2 years and then moved to Nuneaton, initially on loan. But he came back again in February 2023, started last season at Belper Town, but after four months he was back again.

Jordan Hallam is an attacking midfielder, who has spent most his career at Sheffield Utd. With 28 EFL appearances under his belt, he had loans at Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield, before joining Scunthorpe following is release. His next stop was Ilkeston after an initial loan, but after three months he moved to Basford in October 2023.

Striker Ash Chambers was signed from Coalville pre-season. A former Leicester City Junior, he was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers and Grimsby, before joining York City after an initial loan, following his release.

Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge and a return to Grimsby were his next stops, before making his loan spell at Nuneaton permanent. Stops at Kidderminster, Brackley and Buxton followed, before spending two years at Coalville. He played over 150 games in the Championship and leagues one and two.

Fellow striker Tyrell Waite moved from Mickleover to our vistitors in the close season, having joined Sports from Ilkeston last February.

He started out at Notts County and had loans at Nuneaton and Ilkeston before joining Lincoln City on his release. He spent time in Sweden with Skelleftea FF, before returning to Nuneaton the following year. Kidderminster, Matlock, Boston Utd, Tamworth and Coalville all followed, before he signed for Ilkeston in September last year.

Kane Richards is another well-travelled striker, after starting out at the Derby County Academy. He had a loan at Matlock before signing for Ilkeston on his release. Chester was his next stop, with a loan at Gainsborough before heading south to Dover Athletic. After another loan at Telford, he joined Kidderminster, before joining our visitors for the first time in July 2019.

Three years later he moved to Nuneaton and then started this year with a very brief stop at Kettering, before returning to Basford in February last year.

Striker Tyler Dacres is a young striker that came  through the clubs own Academy and is now a regular in the first team squad.

Harvey Ridgley has come through the Academy too, a young defender who was loaned out to Loughborough Dynamo last season.

Striker Joe Uveges and defenders Nelson Aideyan and Diamond Atai are also Academy Graduates, who have made their first team debuts this season, along with Dameer Rose and Saikou Brown.

In October Mansfield Town Juniors Taylor Anderson and McKeal Abdullah both arrived on loan. Anderson is a defender who made his first team last season and Abdullah is a striker, who has also played internationally for Pakistan.

Louis Nicholson is a recent arrival too, a left sided defender from Grantham Town. He has also played US College football and was previously in Basford’s own academy.

Defensive midfielder Alex Swallow joined the club in November and both Jacob Gratton and Kevin Da Silva Bastos are new arrivals too.

Striker Gratton came Worksop just before Christmas. A former Rotherham youngster, he was loaned to Guiseley before a permanent move to Farsley Celtic. He then had two spells at Belper Town, with a year at Whitby Town in between. He started this season at Belper too, before his short stay at Worksop.

Winger Bastos left Basford in July 2023 to join Belper too, but after a year went to Kosevo with KF Istogu. A former Nottingham Forest junior, he played for Ilkeston and Tamworth too and has rejoined Basford from Loughborough Dynamo.

Finally defender Archie Aves has recently arrived on loan from Notts County, and made his debut in last Saturday’s FA Trophy defeat.

Weather permitting kick off is 7.45 as usual.

IT’S REDUCED ADMISSION TOO, ONLY £5 FOR ADULTS AND FREE FOR UNDER 12’S!

by Peter Scherer (Images from LJC photography)

Mickleover made the long trip to Lancaster City on New Years Day, with one real quest, to break the run of defeats.

It proved to be good solid performance with chances to seal a win, but it stayed 0-0 with new optimism for the rest of the season.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Gabby Adebambo 11-Jamie Soule. Subs: Andrew Buah, Cieron Keane.

Heavy overnight rain had caused the going to be heavy, but it was Mickleover that took the kick off, straight out of play for a Lancaster throw.

Light rain had started again but just two minutes in Adebambo was fouled on the halfway line to earn the first free kick of the game.

The hosts then made a break but Mersin collected the cross at the second attempt. But a few minutes later Bailey intercepted a ball from Brown, and Shaw fired a shot from outside the box, well saved by Mersin again.

It was already developing into an end to end game, whenafter six minutes Bennett’s cross found Dales, but his header was an easy catch for keeper Dowling.

Shaw responded again for Lancaster, after another through ball from Bailey, Mersin was forced into another great save, before Benson headed away the following corner.

Dales and Brown were looking dangerous for Mickleover on the left and were able set up Barnes a couple of times. After 12 minutes the striker managed to get a shot in, but was wide of his target.

Lancaster then had a shot blocked, before Atkinson and Brown combined to clear any threat. The clearance found Brown again, but although Dales found Barnes too, the home defence rallied and cleared their lines once more.

After Adebambo was fouled again, Bennett’s free kick was cleared and sent Cusani on a run, earning another corner. Bennett cleared it to Soule, but the ball came straight back.

Bennett cleared another Lancaster corner, but for a couple of minutes the hosts were in the ascendancy. They had another attack after 21 minutes, it broke down and the ball fell to Soule, but his advance was halted when he was hauled back by Beeden, earning a free kick and a yellow card for the defender.

Wilson found Dales from the free kick, but he was offside. But as the action changed ends again, Cusani picked up on a poor clearance from Benson, but Mersin made another good save.

24 minutes gone and Wilson earned a corner, Dales kick was headed away, then Adebambo struck the rebound high and wide.

Dales had another run three minutes later, finding Brownon the left, but Coulton blocked his path and pushed forward again for Lancaster.

There was a hold up in play though on the half hour mark, when the hosts midfielder Sloan went down injured and was subbed.

Sub Evangelinos was soon into the action, putting a header just wide of the near post.

Keeper Dowling’s kicks had become wind assisted and were setting up home attacks and after 37 minutes Evangelinos went close again after collecting a cross fromBailey.

Mickleover had started to have more possession in midfield after Sloan’s departure. With three minutes on the clock a long goal kick from Mersin, went the full length of the pitch, with home keeper Dowling then slicing his clearance straight to Wilson. With the keeper still off his line, Wilson hit it hard on the volley, but it was just over the bar and a lucky escape for Lancaster.

Home skipper Bailey was booked for a foul on Adebambo, then Cusani won a later corner, it was taken short but Mersin punched clear, before a follow up corner came to nought.

Mersin had made another save in time added on, but some casual passing by the hosts allowed Barnes to break free. He was into the box and squared the ball to Soule, but with the goal at his mercy from a few yards out, his shot went over the bar and so it remained 0-0, with Lancaster counting their blessings.

With no half time changes Lancaster pushed hard from the restart, and they had the first chance of the second half, when Evangelinos’ shot was deflected wide after 49minutes, before Mersin palmed away Coulton’s following corner.

The hosts then had a free kick after a Brown foul, but after the ball had bounced around the box it was finally cleared.

Bennett picked up the attack and pushed forward to Wilson, but Adebambo was then intercepted.

Mickleover were looking strong though and Dales had a shot deflected out after 52 minutes. Wilson and Dales then worked a short corner, before Thompson cleared, but it came straight back with Weston, Bennett and Dales linking up, before Barnes shot was just wide.

Seven minutes later and Dowling sliced another clearance, which fell for Soule. He earned a corner but Moonan’s clearing header was almost into his own goal.

The chances continued to come and on the hour Barnesdidn’t quite connect with a Bennett cross enough to challenge Dowling.

Ferron and debutant Buah came on for Brown and Barnes, but it was still anyone’s game. Dales had a low shot on target after 72 minutes, but easily saved by Dowling, but then a breakdown in the Lancaster midfield sent Soule clear. Dales then cut in from the left and hit the bar, after the keeper got a hand to it.

The pressure was coming from Mickleover, but the hosts still looked dangerous on the break. Evangelinos found Mansell after 77 minutes, but his low volley was just past the post.

Hickingbottom came on for Weston and soon had a shot just over the bar too and then Abbott fired over at the other end on the 90 minute mark.

Ferron went in the book too but there were four minutes added on. Soule led another break which came to nought and finally after Dowling punched away a Mickleover corner, Shaw then had to clear off the line, before Bennett and Adebambo combined and Buah tried his luck.

So it remained 0-0, a valuable point, but so close to three again.

I was really proud of the lads today, as they stuck to a difficult task. They played particularly well in the secondhalf, with energy and created chances to go on and win the game. It’s nice to curtail the run we were on and get a point on the table, so now we look forward to Basford on Tuesday night

said Sports boss Gareth Holmes.

 

by Peter Scherer

Its back on the road again for Mickleover as they try to begin the road recovery and move up the table. Our hosts on New Years Day are Lancaster City, currently ninth in the table, with three wins from their last 10 games.

On Boxing Day they visited Bamber Bridge, taking their first win in five games. Their last home win was in early November against Ilkeston and when they visited the Don Amott Arena back in August, they played out a 0-0 draw.

Manager Chris Willcock has been in charge since January, having previously managed Stalybridge Celtic, Ramsbottom Utd and Workington.

Goalkeeper Aidan Dowling arrived from Cork City a few days before Christmas. A former Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper, he first came to our hosts in October 2021 on loan, after previous loan at Halifax. 

After a further loan at Marine, he crossed the Irish Sea with Larne, following his release, moving on to Cork in January 2024. 

Prior to Dowling’s arrival Andre Mendes had been first choice. AC Marinhense and Benfica in his native Portugal were his junior clubs, before coming to the UK with Morecambe. After loans at Colne and Ashton Utd, he first joined Lancaster in in July 2023 after his release, but after eighth months moved on to Bury.

FC United was his next stop at the start of this season, but after just a month he moved to Prescot Cables and finally our hosts in early November.

Josh Lucas is another keeper, who has been on the bench a number of times. He is the goalkeeping coach too.

Centre back Jamie Mellen came from Holker Old Boys in July last year, after starting his career in Everton’s Academy. He has also played for Workington.

Midfielder Christian Sloan started his career at Barrow and then spent a year at Kendal after his release. He came to Lancaster in September 2020.

Dylan Moonan is another midfielder who started out at as a Burnley Junior. He joined Accrington on his release and was loaned to Stalybridge, before starting last season at Atherton Collieries. He was another pre-season arrival at Lancaster.

Long serving Charlie Bailey is a midfielder too, who spent most of his early career at Morecambe. After a number of loans at Kendal Town, he joined them permanently following his release, but after one further year he came to our hosts at the start of 2016/17. He currently captains the team.

Striker Nic Evangelinos was signed from Workington in July 2022. He started out at Rugby Town, but in a well-travelled career he has played for Banbury, Rushden & Diamonds, West Didsbury, Ashton Utd, Ramsbottom and Stalybridge.

Another midfielder is Sam Bailey. A former Bolton Wanderers Junior, he joined Kendal on his release, staying three years and has now started his eighth season at Lancaster.

Defender Harrison Beeden was a pre-season signing from Whitby Town, where he spent the last two seasons. He came from Rotherham’s Academy and also played for Brighouse.

Former Scotland Under 16, 17 and 19 International Lewis Coulton started out at Preston North End. He was loaned to Bamber Bridge, Warrington, Chester and Bradford Park Avenue, before joining FC United on his release at the start of last season. He has also played for Atherton Collieries and Widnes and came to Lancaster pre-season.

Ed Ipakwu is defensive midfielder that started out at Manchester City. He then moved on to Stoke City and Leicester City, before his first arrival at Lancaster in October 2020. After one year he moved to Hyde Utd, but 10 months later he returned to our hosts. His next stop was Colne before returning for a third spell in early 2023.

Dom Lawson is a striker signed from Thornton Cleveleys for the start of 22/23, becoming a regular starter and frequent scorer last season.

Wales Under 15, 16 and 19 International midfielder Aaron Bennett joined our hosts in August. He started his career at Preston and was loaned to Altrincham, before joining Warrington on his release, and FC United  last December 2023.

Striker Tomas Kilifin came back to the club last season, after a couple of years away at Bury.

Left winger Brayden Shaw arrived from AFC Darwen pre-season. He started out with Bury, before moving on to Bangor City, who loaned him to Accrington Stanley.

Cardiff City was his next stop, before joining Blackburnians a year later. After spells at Bamber Bridge and Telford he moved to FC United, where he spent 10 months before his move to Darwen.

Centre back Dylan Thompson was an Everton Junior, before crossing the Atlantic to join USD San Diego Toreros. He was loaned to Asheville City too before returning to the UK in March 2023 with Nantwich. He moved on to Atherton Collieries seven months later and joined our hosts in September.

Striker Lewis Mansell was another signing from Atherton, having arrived pre-season. He was a junior at Blackburn Rovers, who loaned him to FC United, before a permanent move to Partick Thistle.

His next stop was Accrington, who loaned him to Halifax and Southport, before ending the 22/23 season at Ramsbottom. He spent the whole of last season at Atherton, and has played in League One and the Scottish Championship.

Attacking midfielder Josh Abbott completes the squad. He was a Manchester Utd Junior, signed from New Miils in May and also played for Chadderton.

Kick off at the Giant Axe ground is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Thickening fog brought a premature end to Mickleover’s Boxing Day fixture against Ashton Utd, just after the visitors had taken a 0-3 lead.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Stefan Galinski 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Tyreace Palmer 10-Gabby Adebambo 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Jamie Soule, Curtis Weston, Stuart Beavon, Cieron Keane, Brandon Ferron.

A misty start but on the field it was fairly even. Seven minutes in and Mickleover created their first chance, when Dales cut in from the left, almost finding Palmer and Barnes in the middle.

Two minutes later Mersin was forced into a diving save  to his left from a distance shot, giving the visitors their first corner. 

Darius Osei hit the post for Ashton after 12 minutes too, with Mersin covering on his right-hand post, but it was out for a goal kick.

Brown had begun to open up the left wing for Sports and after his cross in the 14^th minute, Adebambo and Dales combined, before Dales fired his shot over the bar.

Palmer managed to turn defender Baird in the box, who then hauled him back by his shirt to earn the first yellow card. Wilson’s free kick then bounced around in the box, before a follow up shot from the initial clearance was blocked.

Ashton were on the attack too and Mersin had to race off his line after 23 minutes, to block the visitors at close range.

But just after the hour mark, the ball ran loose just outside the Mickleover area. The defence failed to pick it up and James Hardy struck the opening goal into the bottom corner. 0-1.

A minute later and Barnes created his own space, but his distance shot was wide of the goal.

36 minutes in and some more casual defending handed Ashton a second, with Nathan Lowe finding the far corner of Mersin’s goal from the edge of the box, 0-2.

Mickleover’s first change soon followed, with Soule replacing Galinski, so Wilson went to left back and Brown into the middle.

Soule then earned a free kick, as his legs were taken from under him as he turned the defender. Wilson’s kick had keeper Jordan Eastham and the defensive wall beaten, but the ball was agonisingly the wrong side of the right-hand post.

Mickleover finished the half with a short corner that came to nothing, but after a fairly even game overall, they were 0-2 down after defensive errors.

The fog thickened during the half time break and Weston had replaced Atkinson as the teams came out for the second half.

But only a few minutes into the restart Palmer was down injured. “My shoulder popped out,” he confirmed, as he was forced to off and replaced by Beavon.

Mickleover were still pushing forward, but Ashton looked strong on the break. Dales worked hard on the left again to find Soule in the middle, but his shot was blocked again after 50 minutes.

It was becoming difficult to see from one side of the pitch to the other as the temperature began to fall too. But play continued for a while and after 58 minutes Osei ‘s back heel flick made it 0-3 in the visitors favour from close range.

Shortly afterwards the referee consulted with her assistants and skipper’s Dales and Burke and initially play was suspended, before the decision was made to abandon the game with the fog continuing to thicken well into the night.