by Peter Scherer

With just one defeat to their name this season, Worksop Town are flying high in second place in the NPL.

We last met the Tigers in the FA Trophy last season, when Sports came away 5-0 winners, but manager Craig Parry earned his side promotion last season and are already looking possible title contenders.

In his playing days Parry was a goalkeeper at Barnsley and previously managed Pontefract.

Sports had luck on their side last Tuesday, taking all three points at Basford, while Worksop inflicted a 2-0 defeat on Ilkeston.

Both teams were in FA Cup action last Saturday, with Sports going down 0-1 at home Anstey Nomads, while Worksop took on Basford at home, winning 6-3.

Mickleover will need all the fire power they can muster to break down the Worksop defence, which so far have only conceded goals in two league games this season, the 0-1 defeat at home to Macclesfield on the opening day of the season and in the 5-2 win at home to Blyth Spartans.

Seb Malkowski and Tommy Taylor have both been in goal since the start of the season, but it’s Malkowski currently in favour. He is a former Poland international who started his career with Wisla Tczew, before moving to Olimpia Sztum, Lechia Gdansk, Bytovia Bytow and Zawisza.

He first came to the UK with Frickley in 2015, before taking a two-year break. He then signed for Boston Utd, before spells at Belper Town and Pontefract, before coming to Worksop in July 2020.

Taylor is an experienced keeper too though, mainly in the National League North. He was a junior at Sheffield Wednesday, before joining Garforth on his release. Spells at Halifax, Brighouse, Scarborough and Buxton, before he came to Worksop pre-season, after three seasons at Darlington.

Centre back and captain Hamza Bencherif is an Algerian Under 20 International. He came to Nottingham Forest as youngster from EA Guincamp and was loaned to Lincoln City, before joining Macclesfield on his release.

He returned to Nottingham with Notts County, moving on two years later to Plymouth Argyle. JS Kabylie in Algeria was his next stop, before rejoining Lincoln on his UK return. Spells at Halifax, Wrexham and York City followed, before a three-year stay at Guiseley preceded his July 2022 move to our visitors, with over 100 appearances made in league one and two.

Fellow centre back Luke Shiels was a pre-season arrival from Buxton, having previously spent four years with Boston Utd. He has also played for Alfreton Town and Harrogate Town.

Charlie Winfield is a young left back who was signed in pore-season, after his release from Barnsley. During his time at Oakwell he was also loaned to Esbjerg in Denmark, Alfreton and Darlington.

Josh Wilde is a left back too, having just started his third season at the club since signing from Alfreton. He started out at Sheffield Wednesday, before spending two years at Buxton after his release. Gainsborough and North Ferriby were his next stops. He then had two years at Halifax, before a four year stay at Alfreton.

Right back Reagan Hutchinson is another longer serving player, having come from Farsley Celtic in August 2022. He was initially at Rotherham, before a two-year stay with Chesterfield, during which time he was loaned out to Sheffield FC, before a permanent move to Guiseley. 

Terry Hawkridge is a right sided midfielder signed from Matlock in July 2022. He played his junior football at Barnsley and Tranmere, before joining Carlton Town on his release. After spells at Hucknall and Gainsborough, he joined Scunthorpe Utd who loaned him to Mansfield and Lincoln City, before a permanent move to the Imps.

After two years at Notts County he joined Solihull Moors, later moving on to Boston Utd, Basford and finally Matlock in July 2022. He has almost a 100 games in leagues one and two on his CV too.

Attacking midfielder Liam Hughes has played in league two and the Scottish Premiership, after starting his career at Scunthorpe. His first moved was to Cambridge Utd, before spending five months with Inverness Caledonian. 

He came back to England with Barrow, and has played for Guiseley, Billericay, Darlington, Gainsborough, Stratford, Bradford Park Avenue, Frickley, Matlock and on loan at  Kettering. He came to Worksop from Causeway Lane in July 2022.

Dan Bramall is a right sided midfielder, who was at Chesterfield, before Everton picked him up. He went to Matlock too following his release, but then joined Barnsley after a short spell at Buxton.

After a loan at Barrow, he went to Ireland with Ballymena Utd, returning to England with Scarborough a year later. Caroline Springs George Cross in Australia was his next port of call, before joining Worksop pre-season.

Attacking midfielder Luke Hall played for England as an Under 15. He was a junior with Sheffield Wednesday, before going to Sheffield FC on his release. He was loaned out to Guiseley and Matlock, before leaving permanently to join Worksop in July 2022.

Player coach Ben Tomlinson is Worksop through and through, having started his career as a young striker in their junior sides. He moved on to Macclesfield, Alfreton, Lincoln City and Barnet, before being loaned out to Tranmere and Barrow.

His next stop was Carlisle Utd, followed by Halifax and a return to Alfreton. He has been back at Worksop almost four years, following a short stop at Frickley and made over 30 appearances in league two.

Fellow striker Jordan Burrow came from Buxton last December and has league one and two experience, after starting out at Chesterfield. He joined Morecambe after a loan spell at Boston Utd, before spending a season each at Stevenage, Lincon City and Halifax.

Gateshead and York City followed, before returning to Boston Utd, moving to Buxton three years later.

Jay Rollins is another striker who came from Boston Utd in July 2022, where he been for seven years. He started at Askern and has played for Armthorpe too. 

Young Ukrainian winger Rostlav Yaramenko was signed in July 2023 from Korona in Poland.  He previously played for a number of junior clubs in his native Ukraine.

Sam Wedgbury if a former England C International, with experience in leagues one and two. Sheffield Utd signed him from Worcester City back in 2006 and he was loaned out to Mansfield Town and Ferencvaros in Hungary, before going to Macclesfield on his release.

After a loan at Altrincham he moved on via Stevenage, Forest Green, Wrexham, Chesterfield and Buxton and spent a year at Stalybridge before joining Worksop in July 2022.

Latvian midfielder Aleks Starcenko came to Worksop in October 2020. He has played for Frickley, Pontefract and Guisley too.

Fellow midfielder Vaughan Redford followed the management team from Pontefract to Worksop back in early 2022.

Defender Deegan Atherton arrived in 2018 following his release from Rotherham, while young striker Max Eastwood is a product of Worksop’s own youth scheme.

Winger Jacob Gratton is the most recent signing, after just arrived from Belper Town. He was a Rotherham Junior too, who was loaned to Guiseley, before a permanent move to Farsley Celtic. He went to Belper in October 2022, but spent last year at Whitby Town, before rejoining Belper pre-season.

Kick off 7.45 with the bar open from 6pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Hopes of matching last seasons target of reaching the FA Cup Third Qualifying round, with an early goal from visitors Anstey Nomads.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Callum Moore 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curti Weston 5-Charlie Hickingbottom 6-George Taft 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Cieron Keane 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Luke Cox, Lejo Davidson, Justin Iwobi, Dylan Edwards, Stuart Beavon.

The last time Mickleover played Anstey Nomads in the FA Cup, it was a 7-1 win back in 2018. But the NPL Midlands Division team had already knocked out Alvechurch in the last round, and are a renowned Cup team.

The decisive moment came early on, when the visitors played the ball back into defence from their left, before setting up an attack down the right. As the cross landing centrally in the box, the defence failed to clear and Leo Brown was left virtually unmarked, beating Mersin just inside his left-hand post from close range. 0-1after 16 minutes.

Mickleover made two early changes with Edwards and debutant Iwobi on for Dales and Bradley at the end of the first half, before Beavon came on for Davidson-Miller just after the hour, as Sports pushed for the equaliser.

Davidson was then a late sub for Barnes and Cox for Moore, but time ran out to seek the elusive equaliser and for 24/25 dreams of further FA Cup progress are over.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have signed 6ft 4in striker Justin Iwobi on an initial three months loan from Halifax Town.

Iwobi is a former Stoke City Junior who had loan spells at Gainsborough, Bradford Park Avenue and Mossley last season and debuted in  last Saturday’s FA Cup defeat against Anstey Nomads.

Justin is a powerful young man with lots of physical attributes and also has the ability to deal with the ball. He provides us with a different option to the strikers we already have and we look forward to working with him, to help us improve. I’d like to thank Halifax for allowing Justin to join us

said Mickleover boss Gareth Holmes.

by Peter Scherer

It’s FA Cup time again this Saturday, when Mickleover take on Anstey Nomads in the second qualifying round at the Don Amott Arena.

Sports were 5-0 winners in the last round, when our visitors beat Alvechurch 3-1. 

As well as the FA Cup, Anstey have already started their FA Trophy campaign too, having knocked out Lye Town 1-0 and Shepshed Dynamo 6-1 and currently lie 10^th in the NPL Midlands Division too.

Tony Blanchard manages our visitors. His first choice keeper Conrad Logan has lots of experience too. A former Republic of Ireland Under 17 International, he joined Leicester City from Swilly Rovers and was loaned out to Boston Utd, Stockport, Luton Town, Bristol Rovers, Rotherham and Rochdale before heading to Scotland with Hibernian following his release in 2016.

He then rejoined Rochdale, before a move to Mansfield Town and was loaned to Forest Green Rovers before being released again. His first spell at Anstey followed, before moving to Stamford, but after six months away, he returned to our visitors In July 2021. He has over 300 league appearances under his belt, and was a Scottish FA Cup winner with Hibs.

Logan’s deputy is former Mansfield Town junior Jude Kinch. He started out with Shepshed Dynamo and has also played for Corby Town, before joining our visitors in September 2020.

Centre back Ben Bayliss has just started his fifth season with the club, since signing from Mansfield in September 2020.

Fellow centre back Lewis Gibbens started out at Mansfield too. He moved onto Boston Utd after an initial loan, but came to Anstey from Worksop Town after one season, in July 2022.

Kyle Tomlin is another centre back and another former Mansfield Junior, after joining them from Burton Albion. He joined Coalville Town following his release, and played for Carlton Town and Eastwood before joining Anstey in February.

Rhys Dolan is well known to Sports fans, having only left the Don Amott Arena at the end of last season. The former Barnsley left back, had been part of the successful Ilkeston Town Youth Cup squad, before going to Oakwell.

He has since played for Long Eaton, Selston, Newark, Belper Town and Alfreton and came to Mickleover from Anstey in December 2021. He spent time on loan at Belper last season and rejoined our visitors pre-season.

Left back Oscar Tonge was a pre-season signing from Coleshill, where he had spent last season after being released by Peterborough Utd.

Midfielder Jack Thomas came from Basford in pre-season. He started off with Woodhouse Colts and Notts County and was loaned to Hednesford, Boston Utd and Tamworth, before moving to Basford after over 50 league two appearances.

Ilkeston and a return to Tamworth were his next stops, before joining Basford at the start of last season.

Striker Leo Brown started his career with Crusaders in his native Northern Ireland. He then came to England with Birmingham City, but returned to Ireland with Ballymena and Ards.

He then returned to England with Sutton Coldfield and was loaned to Alvechurch and Coventry Sphinx, before joining our visitors pre-season. He has been capped by Northern Ireland at Under 15,16.17 and 19 levels too.

Fellow striker Zayn Hakeem came from Shepshed Dynamo at the end of last season. He was a junior at Nottingham Forest and Mansfield and was loaned to Corby and Coalville, before joining Bradford Park Avenue on his release.

He played for Barwell and Coleshill before originally joining Anstey in September 2020, then returned to Coleshill four months later. Worksop, Stamford, Shepshed, Basford and Long Eaton also feature on his CV. 

Attacking midfielder James Tague is another pre-season arrival. He was a junior with Derby County and Mansfield Town, before joining Matlock on his release. He moved on to Gainsborough and Basford and was loaned to Corby Town too, before joining Loughborough Dynamo in February 2022.

Centre back Jordan Annable came from AFC Mansfield in August 2021, after spending seven seasons with the Nottinghamshire club.

Striker Chris O’Grady is our visitors most experienced player, with 500 league appearances and 110 goals under his belt in a long career.

He started at Leicester City and had loans at Notts County and Rushden & Diamonds before joining Rotherham. He then joined Oldham and had further loans at Bury, Bradford City and Stockport, before joining Rochdale after an initial loan.

Sheffield Wednesday, Brighton, Sheffield Utd, Nottingham Forest, Burton Albion and Chesterfield followed, before returning to Oldham in in 2018 after an eight year absence. Then after a year at Bolton he joined Ilkeston and started last season with Grantham Town.

Midfielder Drew Lowe is another pre-season signing from Loughborough Students. He started his career with Chester and had a loan spell at Glossop North End too.

Fellow midfielder Henry Bestwick is one of the longest serving players, having just started his sixth year with the club. He has been club captain and came through their own youth scheme.

Jacob Fenton is a striker signed from Spalding last December, while fellow  striker Nyle Blake was recently injured and is expected to be out for the rest of the season.

Defender Brad Wilson is in his second season at Anstey and after a 20 month injury absence, Emilio Stavrou is also back in action.

Lewis Samuel and Charlie Thomas have also been in the squad this season.

By Peter Scherer

To say Mickleover were lucky to reach half time at Basford on equal terms would be an under-statement, but continuing missed chances for the hosts and a second half improvement secured all three points in a dramatic finale.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2–Charlie Hickingbottom 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Cieron Keane 5-Will Atkinson 6-George Taft 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Luke Cox, Callum Moore, Marcus Barnes, Leojo Davidson, Fin Ryder.

Basford took the kick off but Mickleover won an early corner, easily cleared by the home defence. But it was Basford on the attack, after Dales lost possession following a Bradley free kick, but Hallam’s shot was blocked by Taft.

Eight minutes in and Sports had their first chance, when Deeney had to tip the ball over the bar for a corner, after Beavon cut in from the left.

There was a lucky escape for Mickleover after 11 minutes, when Hallam struck again. His shot had Mersin beaten, only to hit the right-hand post.

It was still fairly end to end when Davidson-Miller had a shot blocked two minutes later, before the Sports striker was hauled back by a defender, but no free kick given.

There was a troublesome corner from the hosts 16 minutes in, that was eventually cleared. Then Butterfield hit the post again, after a through ball from Mancinelli.

Bradley was directing for Sports in the centre of midfield and was just short of sending Davidson-Miller clear on two consecutive occasions.

Cox had come on as sub after Atkinson took a knock to the head, and he was on hand to block a Richards shot, after the home striker had beaten Taft.

The chances continued to flow for the home side though and Mersin was forced to punch away an effort from Chambers after 29 minutes.

Wilson went close with a free kick on the half hour, landing on the left-hand roof of the net, before James crossed to find Chambers, whose shot was off target again.

Three minutes later James shot over the bar from just outside the box, but Sports then got a break with Bradley finding Davidson-Miller, but his shot was blocked again.

Most of Sports play was down the centre and looking easily repelled by the Basford defence, but when Hickingbottom fed Beavon on the left, his cross was enough to test Deeney again, and earned a corner.

But Basford bounced straight back with Barnes firing a good chance well over the bar, before Wilson responded for Sports, having his effort saved after a good build up.

It was total bombardment on the Mickleover defence for the final minutes of the first half, with Chambers missing an absolute sitter right in front of goal.

Mickleover did briefly respond but Davidson-Miller didn’t turn quite enough and his shot was over the bar. Basford then had a shot blocked to earn another corner, but the whistle went and amazingly it was still 0-0, despite Basford’s chances having almost reached double figures.

No immediate changes for the second half, but Sports kicked off showing more determination and pace, with Keane firing an early effort over the bar.

It was end to end again and Mersin had to cut out a telling cross from the right, before Dales broke on the left, cut inside and sent a curling shot just over the bar.

Chambers then had two chances in as many minutes for the hosts, the first well over, but the second on 50 minutes bounced off the bar.

Hallam then broke through for Basford after 53 minutes, but a last ditch tackle from Taft stopped him and then Beavon put Wilson through, he found Davidson-Miller, but he couldn’t turn to shoot.

Chambers then went close again for Basford, before Mersin tipped away from the right-hand post, but Mancinelli followed up and fired over the bar again.

Taft headed away a James cross following another corner and then the same player was booked for taking out Edwards.

Beavon was replaced by Barnes on the hour and after 62 minutes Davidson-Miller tried a spectacular overhead kick, which was only just over the bar.

Sports were starting to come into the game more, with Basford maybe frustrated at not taking their raft of chances. Keane set up Davidson-Miller, he layed it off to Wilson but his shot was blocked and then Bradley had a try which almost cleared the perimeter net.

Moore then came on for Bradley, just before the game took a dramatic and surprising turn. Dales had won the ball on the right and as the ball came into the box there was scramble, Deeney failed to collect and James got a foot to it as Edwards challenge. The result was an own goal and 1-0 in Mickleover’s favour after 70 minutes.

Basford the made a triple substitution, but Hallam put yet another shot over the bar.

Barnes set up Davidson-Miller again but his 77^th minute was wide and the Davidson came on for Edwards for the last 11 minutes.

It was almost a second for Sports after 81 minutes, but Deeney saved well from Davidson-Miller, after a cross from Davidson on the left.

After yet another shot over the bar from Basford, Mersin was yellow carded for time wasting, but with two minutes of normal time left, Davidson-Miller got a break on the left, fed Davidson who sent a fizzing shot into the far corner, 2-0.

Six minutes were added on and Ryder came on for Dales, but the win, if not very surprising, was sealed and it’s now five league games unbeaten and four consecutive clean sheets.

 

by Peter Scherer

As Mickleover head to Basford tomorrow night, they will be aiming to make it five unbeaten in a row. 

Sports have given debuts to Cieron Keane and Jahvan-Davidson-Miller in the last two matches and will hopefully have Marcus Barnes back in the squad tomorrow night too.

Mickleover are now 12^th in the table, one place and one point behind our hosts, following their win at FC United last weekend.

Manager Martin Carruthers made over 400 league appearances in his career, scoring 110 goals, for the likes of Aston Villa and Stoke City. He was at Matlock Town last season and took over at Basford at the start of this season.

Goalkeeping duties have been shared so far this season, between Sail Deeney and Kieran Preston. 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.

Former Scottish Under 19 International Preston had been first-choice until Deeney arrived, having signed from Bristol Rovers, back in December 2019. But he has left the club this week to join Belper Town.

Centre back Victor Nirennold started his career with Stade Rennais in France, before moving to the US with Miami City.

He came to the UK with Fleetwood Town, who loaned him to Guiseley, before a permanent move to FK Senica in Slovakia. SHB Da Nang in Vietnam was his next stop, followed by UiTM United in Malaysia.

After a few months with Motherwell in early 2022, he joined Gloucester and started last season at Nuneaton. He then came to Basford in February, after a brief stay at Halesowen.

Stern Irvine is a centre back in his third season at Basford. A former Notts County player, he came from Ilkeston Town.

Fellow centre back Ethan Stewart is a pre-season signing. He started 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.

Henri Wilder is a left back who started off at Brighton, before moving to Mansfield Town. He was loaned to Lewes, before going to Tamworth on his release. He then had a few months at Alfreton, before joining Ilkeston in November 2022, from where he joined our hosts a year later.

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 is 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 last January. 

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 hosts, after playing his Junior football at Rotherham and Oxford Utd. He first came to Basford in December 2018 on loan, 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.

Midfielder Prince Mancinelli came from Nuneaton in January and has also played for Belper Town, Tamworth and Long Eaton.

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 hosts 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 hosts 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.

Striker Tyler Dacres is a young striker that has come through our hosts own Academy and is now a regular starter.

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

Strikers Harry Goddard, Joe Uveges and defender Nelson Aideyan make it five Academy graduates to join the first team squad, Goddard is yet to make his first team debut, while Uveges has made one appearance and Aideyan five.

Kick of as usual is 7.45.

by Peter Scherer

Striker Jahvan Davidson-Miller rejoined Mickleover on the eve of last Saturday’s home win against Matlock.

The former Derby County Junior player had spells at Belper Town and Kettering, before joining Barwell Town. 

After almost four years at the Leicestershire club, he came to Mickleover in November 2021 and was part of the squad until he went back to Barwell in October 2022.

He started this season on a dual registration with Barwell and Shepshed Dynamo.

Defender Brandon Webster has left Mickleover. A pre-signing from Ossett, Brandon had made one league start in the home defeat to Ilkeston and been on the bench for four games.

Everyone at Mickleover wishes him well in his future career.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A good crowd and a reasonable day were welcome additions, as two late goals secured Mickleover all three points against local rivals Matlock Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Callum Moore 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-George Taft 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Cieron Keane 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Luke Cox, Charlie Hickingbottom, Lejo Davidson, Stuart Beavon, Fin Ryder.

It was another strong start for Mickleover, with Dales hitting the post after seven minutes, before the  rebound was cleared.

But the visitors had early chances too, with Poole firing over the bar after an 11^th minute corner

Only four minutes later Mickleover went close again, but keeper Ravenhill denied Sports skipper Wilson, before the rebound was flagged offside.

Former Sports favourite George Milner then tested Mersin with a distance shot, which after being parried away, Morris was blocked as he went for the rebound.

Mickleover were playing a  positive game and pushing forward on the wings at every opportunity, and only  a last minute tackle from West stopped Edwards after 25 minutes, before Dales collected and fired his rebound over the bar.

Ndlovu then had a chance too on the half hour, after a momentary slip in the home defence, losing out in a one on one with Mersin, as he fired over the bar too.

Essien then tried his luck for Matlock, but fired over from distance, just before Wood was booked for a foul on Keane, who then went into the book too for pushing his rival.

Some good work from Davidson-Miller then set up Edwards again after 41 minutes, but once again West was on hand to deny the Mickleover striker.

“We went very close a few teams in the first half and our performance was good. We had a lot of the ball, but didn’t take our chances. We were more progressive and showed a quicker route to goal though,” said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

Early into the second half Essien sent Ndlovu on another run, but his cross was straight into Mersin’s hands.

Sports made their first change with Hickingbottom replacing Moore at right back after 52 minutes, but the chances continued to flow too, when after 54 minutes Ravenhill managed to intercept a curling shot from Edwards, before Davidson-Miller shot wide from just outside the box, following a Dales cross.

Beavon then came on for Weston in the 67^th minute, before Ndlovu had another shot saved for Matlock.

Dales was next on the attack for Mickleover, cutting in from the left he curled a shot just wide of the left-hand post five minutes later.

It took until the 78^th minute for the deadlock to finally break, when Taft rose above the defence to head goalwards, with a bit of assistance from a defender on the line and the underside of the bar, to make it 1-0.

Matlock tried to push for an equaliser and Morris had a shot saved by Mersin after 82 minutes. Durose then put the ball in the net, but was declared offside.

Almost on full time Edwards had a free header from a corner and made no mistake in making it 2-0. Cox replaced Bradley for the final minutes, but the first home league win, fifth game unbeaten and third consecutive clean sheet were assured.

“Matlock has a good spell of 10-15 minutes in the second half, before we established ourselves control. But Dales on the left and Edwards on the right were very effective, both having chances and nice to see Taft back and getting a goal,” Holmes concluded.