Category: Academy

ESPFA Team Of The Week

by Peter Scherer

It’s a round of applause for Mickleover Reds Academy centre back Patrick Pugh, after he has made the latest ESPFA team of the week.

His strong performance to keep the nil goals against record against Belper Town going, when the Reds took their fourth successive win 4-0, earned his nomination.

Not making the final 11 but also nominated was Black Academy groups Ethan Mann, despite being on the losing side at Carlton.

This Thursday the Reds are away at Carlton, while the Blacks have a tough match away to Stafford Rangers.

First Years Go Down 1-0

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC Academy first years suffered their third successive defeat, after going down 1-0 at Carlton in the ESPFA Midlands Division.

The Black squad have struggled since their win against Belper in the first game of the season, but had held Carlton to 0-0 at half time.

The starting line-up was 1-Fin Bowen 2-Bernhard Koecher 3-Lewis Hughes 4-Ethan Mann 5-Amin 6-Sam Allsopp 7-Tom Griffiths 8-Jay Wilkinson 9-Devon Smith 10-Reece Perry 11-Emilio De Abreu. Subs: Dylan Sanghera, Lennon Higgins, Josh Woolley, Joe Nzeyimana, Dylan James, Chipigo Hamanga. 

In the second half Kyle Fawsitt opened the scoring for Carlton and with the Mickleover side unable to respond, the Nottinghamshire side sealed their first points of the season.

Academy Reds Continue To Dominate

by Peter Scherer

The Mickleover FC Academy Red squad continued their dominant start to the season with another 4-0 win against Belper Town in the ESPFA Midlands Division.

Coach Pablo Mills’ starting line-up was 1-Tom Smith 2-Ben Lewin 3-Wiliam Robinson 4-Louis Pennington 5-Cameron Anthony 6-Pat Pugh 7-George Atwal 8-Jacob Edge-Lucas 9-Kai Moore 10-Bobby Battisson 11-Josh Satchwell. Subs: Kyran Ward, Ted Stevenson, Niall Cole, Brodie Carter, Fin Barker, Sam Pipes.

Having beaten Belper 9-0 way a few weeks back, another high scoring game was anticipated.

The Mickleover team soon started to take charge, with Battisson the first to threaten after Belper lost possession in the fourth minute, his shot earning the first corner.

A minute later he was through again, firing his shot just wide of the right hand post.

Once the team had begun to settle, wing backs Robinson and Lewin began to enjoy plenty of freedom for long runs, and in the eighth Robinson put a shot just wide too.

But Belper had an early chance too when a rare mistake in the Mickleover defence, left a visiting striker with a clear shot just over the bar.

Battisson continued to cause problems in the Belper area and almost latched onto a long ball from Satchwell 13 minutes in.

But only a minute later another good through ball pierced the visiting defence, with Moore collecting and burying it in the left hand corner of the Belper net, 1-0.

They could easily have followed with a second almost immediately, Battisson cut inside to find Edge-Lucas who shot just wide.

The attacks continued to come thick and fast, with Pugh and Anthony marshalling the build up from central defence.

Battisson won a free kick on the outside of the box after 17 minutes, Atwal delivered, but the follow up was in the net but declared offside.

Soon after a Lewin corner caused havoc in the box, and Belper had to clear off the line.

It only seemed like a matter of time before a second goal and after Battison had another 23rd minute run stopped by the keeper, Moore got his second to make it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Belper had lost the ball on the halfway line and Satchwell’s interception provided the telling pass, before being brought down himself, which left Moore clear.

As the half hour was completed Battisson was still trying to get on the scoresheet, but had his shot saved again three minutes later.

Robinson managed to put another cross in across the face of the goal, but neither Moore nor Battisson could connect. But they followed up again almost immediately with Battisson taking a long ball from Satchwell, before the Belper keeper dived at his feet.

Another Satchwell cross then saw Battisson fail with his overhead attempt and after Moore turned the Belper wing back, Lewin had a shot tipped out for a corner.

Mickleover had only made one change in the first half, when Stevenson came on after Pennington took a knock.

It was Carter leading the Mickleover attack for the second half, but after an early corner for the home side, Belper got another good shot in just over Smith’s bar.

The shots began to reign in on the Belper even more, with Stevenson going close in the 54th minute. Five minutes later Lewin continued a run from his own half, only to have his final shot well saved.

But goal number three soon arrived, with Satchwell pushed off the ball in the area, the referee awarded a penalty.

Carter’s initial save brought out another fine save from the keeper, but the rebound fell straight to the Mickleover striker, who made no mistake with his second attempt, 3-0 on the hour.

There could have been a second for Carter only three minutes later, but his shot was easily saved, before Satchwell then had a go, only for the Belper keeper to whisk it off his foot.

Carter had another chance in the 73rd minute, but failed to connect properly and fell over.

There was no respite for Belper however as Carter made it 4-0 in the closing minutes and subs Cole and Pipes both had good chances foiled by the Belper keeper.

So the team remain unbeaten after three games, with a +19 goal difference, having yet to concede a goal. Next Thursday they are in action again, with a visit to Carlton.

Sports Academy Players Make Team Of The Week

by Peter Scherer

It’s congratulations to two of Mickleover FC Academy players, after they have named in the ESPFA team of the week.

First year goalkeeper Fin Bowen is acknowledged after a sterling performance in the way defeat to Rushall Olympic, while Jacob Edge-Lucas is nominated after his two goal contribution for the Reds in the 6-0 home win against Carlton.

Second Successive Defeat For Mickleover Youngsters

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover first year Academy suffered a 2-0 defeat on their visit to Rushall Olympic.

The Black group had won their opening game at home over Belper Town, before losing to Stafford Rangers at home before the Lockdown.

Rushall had also had one win against Carlton, having succumbed to Stafford too in their first game.

But Mickleover failed to penetrate the home defence on this occasion and will be hoping for better fortunes when they are way again next Thursday at Carlton Town.

Academy Hit Carlton For Six

by Peter Scherer

It’s been a few weeks since the Mickleover FC Academy Reds had their one and only match this season, a 9-0 win at Belper Town.

But with the home pitch unavailable, they were forced to switch this weeks game against Carlton Town to the Derby racecourse.

Carlton had suffered defeat against Rushall Olympic in their only game so far, and were soon on the receiving end of the Mickleover fire power.

Josh Satchwell opened the scoring from a set piece,” that was particularly pleasing as we had worked on it in training,” said coach Pablo Mills.

Jacob Edge-Lucas and Brodie Carter added to the tally, to make it 3-0 at half-time, but there was soon more of the same in the second half.

Carter and Edge-Lucas each netted for a second time before Fin Barker concluded the 6-0 victory.

“All the goals were good team goals, we played some good football particularly with  Bobby Battisson, Louis Pennington and Jacob Edge-Lucas,” Mills added.

It was a fairly lonely game for keeper Tom Smith, “I think he had two saves, but was the vocal point for many of our attacks, as they originated from him,”said Mills.

So the record now reads played two, won two, goals for 15 and against NIL. “They must have a good coach,” Mills concluded.

Their next game is due to be at home next Thursday with a return game against Belper Town, before they face Carlton away on December 17th.

Mickleover FC Student Of The Half Term: Emilio De Abreu

Courtesy of ESPFA

Congratulations to Emilio De Abreu of Mickleover who was named as their student of the half-term. His tutor, Ben Cocker said:

Emilio has made an excellent transition into further education. Since the start of this academic year, he has shown excellent understanding of the key topics we have studied. He is a very intuitive individual and has shown excellent capabilities within his written work and assignment submissions so far in Units C1, B and 5. Emilio is a very polite student and has been a role model to others in his approach to both his education and physical development within training sessions. Keep it up Emilio!

 

Stars Of The Future: Academy Players Make First Team Debuts

by Peter Scherer

We may only be a short way into the 2020/21 season, but as well as being top of the Northern Premier League, Mickleover FC have been able to give first team debuts to two of the budding Academy Stars.

Louis “Scholesy” Pennington got his call in the 85th minute of the victorious 4-1 Newark Cup tie in early October, after being part of the first team squad in pre-season games. “

“I didn’t expect making my competitive debut this early on,” as I am only in my first year at the Academy,” he said.

So how did he feel when he was told he was going on? “I didn’t really feel much pressure when I came on, as I had been previously training with the first team and had made a few appearances in pre-season, which settled my nerves with the first team.”

“When the gaffer called me to warm-up, I was quite surprised as I didn’t expect my debut in that game. But I was very excited to get on the pitch and perform,” he added.

So was he happy with his performance and what’s next?

“Yes I was happy as I thought I had a few good touches and played a part in one of the goals too. My next step is to work towards more opportunities with the first team by playing well in the Academy and having a good season with the reserve team too. Plus I train each week with the first team squad and that helps me move forward,” he concluded.

Three weeks later is was Bobby Battisson’s turn to debut, as Sports beat Grantham 3-0 at home.

“When John called me over to come on I was both excited and slightly nervous, I just needed to impress,” he said.

So how did he feel it went for him? “When I came off at the end I was very happy with my performance, I felt like I came out and did a job, keeping the ball quite well,” he added.

Bobby also hit a hattrick for the Academy against Belper Town last month, but what is next for him?

“I want to attempt to get on the first team bench weekly and get on in some more of the league games. Overall I am really happy with the process and the way it’s all going, so just gotta keep moving forward,” he concluded.

Reds Put Nine Passed Belper Town!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Academy’s second year students played their first match of the season last Thursday lunchtime, away to Belper Town.

Belper had lost to our First Year Black line-up last week, so victory was expected.

Bobby Battison scored three of the goals, and Brodie Carter was on the score twice too. Kai Moore, Ted Stevenson and Fin Barker also found the back of the net, with an own goal making it  a resounding 9-0 victory!!

Academy Kick Off With A Win

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC’s first year Academy squad opened their ESPFA Midlands Division season with a 2-1 win over Belper Town, thanks to two goals from Reece Perry.

Although Belper went straight into the attack from the kick off, the opening minutes were fairly even.

Lennon Higgins had a random shot which was well over the Belper bar, before the wing back sent a sixth minute through ball which Devon Smith just failed to connect with.

Belper kept coming back in surges and Berhard Koecher cleared the first real effort from the visitors, playing the ball nicely out of his own area.

Smith led another attack for Sports after 12 minutes, but weak ball into the area came to nothing. It was only two minutes later that Perry found the top right hand corner from outside the box, after a gradual multi-player build up to make it 1-0.

Belper had a fairly good chance to equalise four minutes later, with the Mickleover defence failing to intercept on a couple of occasions, but the Belper number eight’s shot was high and wide.

Mickleover keeper Fin Bowen had little of the ball as most of Belper’s attempts were very wide of the mark, whereas Mickleover went more for the gradual build up.

After 23 minutes Emilio De Abreu was in the clear, but the Belper keeper managed to block his shot and send it out for a corner.

On the half hour a Sports free kick was sent back into the box by Lennon, the ball bobbed around without either side collecting it, until Belper made another break which failed to reach its destination.

Smith though he had made it 2-0 after 32 minutes, but was flagged offside, but De Abreu the pout a good shot in from outside the area, just wide.

Perry and Smith the combined to put an effort just wide following a corner, before Belper’s number 11 managed to rebound his own first effort, only to shoot well wide again.

Smith was on the attack again with seven minutes left in the first half, his back header fell to Perry, who put in a weak shot which trickled to the Belper keeper.

There was one more slight chance for the visitors too, before half time, easily dealt with by Bowen.

There had been continuous substitutions from both sides, but it was Mickleover again, getting the first shot on goal in the second half, but Smith’s attempt was blocked.

But Belper’s number 11 was in space again, but failed to actually get a shot in, before Tom Griffiths put a god ball in the Belper box, just short of connecting with Lennon and Smith.

The visitors had a fierce shot blocked after 55 minutes, before Ethan Mann got clear, but his attempt was well wide of the target.

Smith broke through the Belper defence three minutes later, but fell at the final hurdle before getting his shot in and then Sam Allsopp had a shot saved.

But Perry made it 2-0 on the 20 minute mark, after Smith was chasing the ball and the Belper keeper went down injured.

Another fractional offside robbed Smith of another goal, but into the last 10 minutes Belper began to show more urgency and put the Mickleover defence under pressure.

Bowen had to palm away a close range shot, before Dylan Sanghera found Smith in the box for Sports, but his shot was saved. But Belper pulled one back when their number five beat Bowen on his near post with a header.

There were few more threats to the Sports defence before the final whistle went, but overall a good solid performance and a well earned three points.

The first years Black team play the return game at Belper next Thursday, and at the Don Amott Arena it’s the second years Reds v Stafford Rangers.