by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Hopes were high of some points on the board for Mickleover, following three successive league defeats. But once again a late goal for Guiseley settled it and the pointless run continues.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-Nathan James 7-Ceiron Keane 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Brandon Ferron, Josh Carter, Bernard Nsiah, Dan Bradley, Curtis Weston.

After both teams stood in silence in Remembrance, the game starting with a fairly even opening 10 minutes.

But Bennett was yellow carded for a trip after 12 minutes, before Guiseley had their first real shot eight minutes later, when the defence failed to clear a Longbottom corner and Moke fired the shot wide.

Bennett proved to be the Mickleover saviour however after 24 minutes, when the visitors broke through again. Mersin saved Emmett’s initial shot, but Longbottom then tried a lob, with Bennett clearing off the line as it headed goalwards.

It was just after the half hour mark when Mickleover went close too. Dales’ 34^th minute header was heading for the top corner, but keeper Cracknell just got his fingers to it at full stretch.

Mersin was then back in action in the Mickleover goal. He had taken a Longbottom free kick comfortably after a foul on Lufudu, and comfortably collected a following cross too.

Keane was the second Sports player to go into the referee’s book, but the half time whistle soon followed, with it still level at 0-0.

Although Guiseley had continued to show promise in attack, it was Sports looking more likely to make telling breaks in counter attack.

Keane sent in a curling long distance shot after 57 minutes. Cracknell had to make a low save to palm the ball away, but the following corner was easily cleared.

The visitors followed up just a minute later when Lufudu had a shot straight at Mersin.

Bradley replaced Keane on the hour, but after only three minutes on the pitch he was yellow carded too after a scuffle. 

Both sides continued to have chances but it remained goalless. James had a header just wide and then Johnson tried his luck for the visitors. He cut in from the left and despite a deflection, it failed to trouble Mersin.

Bennett was on the attack in the 68^th minute with his cross going across the face of the Guiseley goal, with no one there to collect.

Nsiah replaced Beavon after 79 minutes and immediately went close with a header just over the bar. But a couple of minutes later a Longbottom shot had Mersin beaten, but fortunately it struck the post.

Carter then replaced Edwards, but Guiseley went close again when their sub Witham’s shot skimmed the post again.

Mickleover were holding on and desperate for a point to end the run od defeats. Ferron came on for Dales for the final minutes, but in the second minute of added time luck finally ran out. Lufudu charged down the wing and managed to get in a well timed cross, finding Thewis in the middle who finally opened the scoring.

The full time whistle soon followed and with it had gone any hopes of a point, leaving Sports edging ever close to the relegation zone.

I was frustrated at Morpeth that we showed no improvement from the Telford game, but today we showed better shape and deserved something out of the game. The late goal was a bitter pill though.

said Sports gaffer Gareth Homes, as we now look towards Saturday’s visit to Whitby.

 

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday Mickleover will be hosting Guiseley as they try to halt a run of three successive league defeats and take a first win since September 21^st.

New signing Jamie Soule should be making his home debut and hopefully the competition for starting places will begin to breed success.

Our visitors are currently ninth in the NPL table, having recently ended their FA Cup run with a first round proper defeat on penalties at Stevenage, after it had finished 1-1 after extra time.

Their last league win was back in September 2-0 at Basford, having drawn away at both Lancaster and Ilkeston since then.

Manager Mark Bower is a former Bradford City defender, who returned to the club for a second spell in April, having previously gained the club promotion to the National League during his previous stay. He left in 2016 and has also managed Bradford Park Avenue.

Goalkeeper Joe Cracknell was a pre-season signing from Scarborough, where he had spent two years since arriving from Harrogate. A former Hull City junior, he was loaned to Scarborough before going to Bradford City on his release, who then loaned him to neighbours Bradford Park Avenue.

Cracknell’s deputy is goalkeeping coach Danny King. He arrived in December 2023 from Bradford Park Avenue.

Ollie Brown is a centre back who started with our visitors. After a loan at Frickley, he joined Alfreton, where he stayed a year before returning to Guiseley in July last year.

Right back Lucas Odunston came from Bradford Park Avenue in pre-season. He was previously in Leeds Utd and Hull City’s Academy.

Left back Liam Ridehalgh was signed in September, after starting the season with Bradford City. A Huddersfield youngster, he was loaned to Swindon Town, Chesterfield, and Rotherham, before joining Tranmere permanently following another loan spell and had been at Bradford City for three years. He has played over 300 games in leagues one and two.

Prince Ekpolo is a central midfielder that returned to our visitors in July 2023 for a second spell. He started his career with Gimnastic de Tarragona, Ploba de Mahumet, CE Morell and Reus in Spain, before coming to the UK with Glossop North End in 2017.

He first came to Guiseley in January 2020, staying 2 1/2 years before moving to Telford, making the return trip a year later.

Lebrun Mbeka is club captain and a centre back, signed in pre-season from Spennymoor. He started out at Tadcaster, before first arriving at Guiseley in September 2020. He moved to Boston Utd after two years, but came back on loan for a month, before a permanent move to Spennymoor in January last year.

Jake Lawlor is another experienced centre back signed in pre-season from Darlington. Having started out at Harrogate, he first joined our visitors in 2013. He stayed for 5 ½ years which included a loan spell at Fylde, before moving on to Salford.

A stop at Wrexham, and a return trip to Harrogate followed, before he signed for Hartlepool. After a loan at Darlington, he made that move permanent and spent 2 ½ years with the Quakers before joining our visitors.

Right back John Lufudu was another pre-season signing from South Shields. He started off at Sheffield FC, and played at Emley, Tadcaster and Ashton Utd, before joining Guiseley in November 2020.

Just under a year later he moved to Spennymoor and was loaned back to Ashton, before going to South Shields in July last year. However he spent the latter part of last season back on loan at Spennymoor too.

Adriano Moke is a midfielder and former Leeds Utd and Nottingham Forest junior. He spent a year in Spain with Jerez after his release, then returned to the UK with York City.

His next move was Cambridge Utd, who loaned him to Tamworth, before a permanent move to Stockport County. Macclesfield, Wrexham, Boreham Wood, a return to York City, Spennymoor and Darlington followed.

He was loaned out again to Ashton, before finishing last season at Hednesford, arriving at our visitors at the start of the new term.

Centre back Jameel Ible is a St.Kitts and Nevis International in his third season at Guiseley. He started out with Stockport and played for Salford and York, before his first stop with our visitors in 2013. After just over a year he moved to Frickley Athletic and has also played for Scarborough and Pontefract, before coming back to Guiseley from Whitby in July 2022.

Former Bradford City junior centre back Sam Bentley was signed in September, following his release.  He also had a spell on loan at Ramsbottom last season.

Central midfielder Joe Ackroyd has spent most of his career at Barnsley. He was loaned to MFK Vyskov in the Czech Republic and spent three months at Guiseley in 2022. He was also loaned to Buxton before his release and returned to Guiseley pre-season.

Jack Emmett is another midfielder and another pre-season arrival, from Knaresborough. He has also played for Harrogate.

Will Longbottom is a striker that came through Doncaster Rovers Academy. He was loaned to Kidderminster and Halesowen before his release and then had a spell in the Republic of Ireland with Waterford. Since his return to England he has played for Bradford Park Avenue and Farsley Celtic, and was another pre-season signing.

Centre back Freddie Westfall has captained the Guiseley Academy, before joining the first team squad this season. he spent part of last season on loan with North West Counties side Steeton FC.

Midfielders Sam Walters and Max Dickinson are more Academy products, Walters having previously been with Hull City. Team mate and striker George Sebine has also joined the first team squad too.

Fellow striker Gabriel Johnson in his second season with the club and has previously played for Brighouse.

Leo Farrel land Feyi Afuape  are both  strikers on loan from Barnsley. Farrell spent last season out injured and is on the comeback trail.

Jordan Thewis came from Alfreton in pre-season. Another striker he started out with Scunthorpe, before moving onto Corby and Gainsborough. He then joined Harrogate and has also played for Boston Utd and Spennymoor. He is in his second spell at Guiseley, having spent six months with the club in 21/22.

Striker Jake Wright came from Buxton in pre-season. He was a junior at Sheffield Utd and was loaned to York City,  Southport and Gateshead, before joining Harrogate. He also had a spell at Boston Utd and spent all last season at Buxton.

Kick off 3pm, at the Don Amott, YOUR SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover made the long journey to Morpeth to face one of the current form teams in the league, as they hoped to return to winning ways and climb the NPL table.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Brandon Ferron 3-Jake Bennett 4-Curtis Weston 5-Nathan James 6-Danny Benson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Ceiron Keane, Jamie Soule, Dan Bradley, Dylan Edwards, Bernard Nsiah.

It had been a fairly even first half, with the Mickleover holding their own against occasional attacking flurries from the hosts.

Morpeth had a couple of attempts on goal blocked in the first 15 minutes, before Hickingbottom was booked for a trip on Barlow.

The hosts had a shot from Gibson-Booth blocked again after 18 minutes, after Bollado’s initial attempt went across the goal face.

Bollado had another shot on goal on the half hour, but failed to test Mersin in the Sports goal. James found Marshall too, and although the final shot was blocked again, they earned a corner which came to nought.

The Mickleover back four of Ferron, James, Benson and Bennett and another excellent performance from Mersin, had managed to fend off the pressure from Morpeth and with half time approaching had their own best chance of the game, when Hickingbottom hit a distance shot and with the home keeper Langley beaten, it struck the post but set up a breakaway for the hosts.

James managed to meet the cross as it came into the centre, but Mersin was on top form with a terrific save to keep it level pegging.

But in the second minute of time added on, Morpeth got the break they had been seeking, with a precise cross from King, as Marshall made it 0-1, shortly followed by the half time whistle.

The hosts were on the attack again as the second half got underway, but fortunately their moves tended to lack finishing. 

Edwards and Soule came on for Beavon and Bennett just before the hour mark and Mersin made another great save to keep out an effort from James.

But two goals in five minutes ended any hopes Mickleover had of a comeback, with Barlow netting after 72 minutes and Dowling in the 77^th, both long range, while Foalle had gone close too, seeing his shot whistle past the post.

Nsiah came on for Barnes, who had also been yellow carded and with five minutes on the clock Bradley replaced Weston. Soale became the third yellow card for Mickleover too.

So it ended with a disappointing 0-3 defeat and a long trip home, with Sports still seeking their first win since the Blyth Spartans victory in late September and their first league point in four games.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A goal in each half from Ricardo Dinanga ended Mickleover’s hopes of advancing in the FA Trophy, going down 1-2 to AFC Telford Utd.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Will Atkinson 3-Jake Bennett 4-Curtis Weston 5-Nathan James  6-Danny Benson 7-Brandon Ferron 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Justin Iwobi 10-Andy Dales 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Cieron Keane, Ryan Wilson, Stuart Beavon, Dylan Edwards, Bernard Nsiah.

Mickleover won a corner in just the second minute, but Whittall managed to beat Barnes in the air, before it was deflected for another corner and eventually cleared.

Bennett was back on the attack though a minute later, testing the Telford defence, who managed to intercept on this occasion.

The visitors then had their first corner after five minutes, before Mersin saved a shot from Moore, following a deflection from another corner.

Keeper Hall saved a long range shot from Mickleover after seven minutes, before Dinanga went on a charge for Telford, well intercepted by Benson, who tapped it back to Mersin.

Dinanga had a shot wide 10 minutes in, after two more successive corners, before another Bennett charge for Sports was stopped by the visiting defence.

Hall made another easy save a minute later, before Piggott tried his luck for Telford, only to find his shot blocked.

Dales latched on to a free kick after 14 minutes when Barnes was fouled, but after cutting inside he failed to test Hall too.

The deadlock was finally broken after 18 minutes, when Dinanga collected and let fly hard and low with his left foot, after evading the Mickleover defence, 0-1. Sports tried to fight back and Weston brought the ball out after 25 minutes, he found Iwobi who was then outpaced by Myles, before the Sports striker then fouled his challenger.

Weston then tried to shoot through a crowd before Piggott cleared, before Sports won a free kick to test the defence again, but the final ball was easily taken by Hall.

Iwobi’s effort to progress on the half hour ended with a challenge from Gudger and then Barnes similarly, after he was stopped by Dinanga and Piggott, before the ball was cleared again.

A 35^th minute free kick from Mickleover again failed to test keeper Hall, who was in action two minutes later, comfortably collecting a Dales effort.

Telford then broke out before Storer was stopped, the same player then fouled by Weston, but that free kick was easily cleared too.

Weston continued to try and play the ball forward, but his 43^rd minute attempt was taken and fed back to Hall again.

But Telford continued to press too and Mersin had to save again from Walker and Piggott before the half time whistle went and so it remained 0-1.

Mersin was soon action again, as just one minute into the second half he saved a close range shot from Dinanga.

There was almost a second for Telford though, when after 49 minutes Bennett cleared off the line after Gudger won the ball from a corner.

Two minutes later though Sports were back on equal terms, when Piggott was caught out and Hickingbottom collected, firing in the equaliser from close range 1-1.

Dales then hit a volley just wide after 54 minutes, before Ferron led a Mickleover press. He was initially closed down, but persevered and broke through, before Hall collected a tame effort.

Edwards came for Iwobi just after the hour mark and found Bennett, whose cross just missed finding Barnes on the near post.

Sports made their second change when Keane replaced Atkinson, but with 71 minutes gone Dinanga made it 2-1 to Telford, after he collected Brown’s cross, took it around the back of the defence and scored from close range.

Sports were unlucky not be level again just three minutes later, when Pendley headed a Benson attempt off the line.

Brown then tried to stop Ferron’s run five minutes later, the teenager broke through again, but his final effort was blocked again.

Mersin did well to block a Telford effort in a crowded box after 81 minutes, before Gudger almost retrieved the rebound.

Both Dinanga and Armson then made late breaks, but it was Mersin again to the rescue, before the final changes saw Weston and Dales, replaced by Wilson and debutant Nsiah, 

The equaliser was almost there after 82 minutes, with a header from the far post after a Ferron cross, but it wasn’t to be.

Wilson had a late shot wide, but time ran out for Mickleover as their last chance of cup glory disappeared with a 1-2 defeat.

by Peter Scherer

It’s cup tie time again as Mickleover welcome Kevin Wilkin’s Telford to the Don Amott Arena, in the isuzu FA Trophy.

Most of the Telford line-up featured in last seasons Southern Premier League Central defeat and currently lie eighth in the table, after going down 3-1 at Redditch last Saturday. In the last FA Trophy round our visitors were taken to penalties at home to Cleethorpes Town, finally taking the tie 5-4. Club Manager Kevin Wilkin was a striker with Cambridge City, Northampton Town, Nuneaton and Grantham, before becoming Nuneaton’s manager in 2006. Wilkin has been in charge at Telford since October last year.

First choice keeper Brandon Hall started out at Charlton Athletic, before spending seven months at the Nike Academy. His next move was up to Scotland with St.Mirren, but returned south with Hayes & Yeading. Ebbsfleet, Lewes, Woking, Kidderminster and Hereford were his next stops, with a loan spell at Banbury. He came to our visitors at the beginning of last season, after a year with Gloucester City and is an England C International too.

George Scott is Hall’s deputy, having returned to the club last December, after a year without a club and came into the side a few years ago, while Hall was injured. Centre back Fraser Kerr started his career at Motherwell before moving South with Birmingham City. He spent two years with the Blues, before an initial loan back to Motherwell became permanent. He moved on to Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir too, before going to Gateshead, with 54 Scottish Premiership appearances and 45 in League One, plus Europa League Qualifiers too. Stops at Hartlepool, Torquay and Chesterfield followed, before spending last season at York City. He has represented Scotland at Under 16, 17,19 and arrived at Telford at the start of last season.

Jordan Piggott is another centre back. He started out at West Bromwich Albion before heading for Scotland too. He played for Dundee and East Fife, before heading to North Wales with Bangor City. Halesowen was his next stop, moving to Solihull Moors after a year, spending another year before a move to Gloucester City on loan. He spent four months at Telford at the beginning of last year and then returned to our visitors permanently.

Orrin Pendley is a centre back too that also arrived at the start of last season from Hereford. He started at Highgate before joining Redditch. He soon moved on to Kettering and Rushall Olympic, before spending a year at Tamworth. Nathan Fox is a left back who spent his junior career at both Notts County and Derby County. Following his Rams release he joined Corby Town, moving to Rugby Town after a four year stay. Only a month later he moved again, with a very short stay at Coalville, he briefly went back to Corby, before joining Sutton Coldfield.

Redditch, Hednesford, Kings Lynn and Alfreton Town followed by a year at Buxton, preceded starting last season at Peterborough Sports. He was another of Telford’s pre-season signings last year. Jared Hodgkiss played his early football at Wolves and West Bromwich Albion. Right back by choice, he was loaned to Aberdeen and played seven games in the Scottish Premiership. After a further loan at Northampton, he joined Forest Green Rovers on his release, staying almost five years, before spending another two years at Kidderminster, who also loaned him to Torquay. His next move was Macclesfield, before a four year-spell at Hereford preceded his summer 2023 move to Telford.

Right back Ellis Myles is another right back that came from Kettering at the start of last season. He started off at Leicester City. He moved to Brackley Town on his release, before going to Rugby, Stamford, Corby and Boston Utd. He went back to Brackley in 2016 and stayed six years, before moving to Boston Utd and had eight months at Kettering before his Telford move.

Midfielder Remi Walker continues the list of signings having arrived pre-season, following his release from Birmingham City. He spent the last few months of last season on loan at Alvechurch Right midfielder Byron Moore is one of the select retained players from last season, having joined Telford from Torquay February last year. He has over 400 league appearances to his name in Leagues One and Two, having started out at Crewe. He was loaned to Kidsgrove Athletic but joined Port Vale on his release. After two years he moved on to Bristol Rovers and Bury, before spending two years at Plymouth.

Striker Ricardo Dinanga started out at Cork City, before Coventry City brought him across the Irish Sea. He had loans at Hereford and Nuneaton last season, but came to Telford following his release last July. Reece Styche is both an England C and current Gibraltarian International, having scored three goals in 27 games for the latter. He came from Telford in October from Matlock Town, having played for a huge raft of clubs in his 14 year career, including Buxton, Alfreton, Darlington, Macclesfield and Wycombe, having started out at Hednesford.

Centre back Sam Whittall came from Rushall in October. He is an ex Wolves Junior and played at Cambridge Utd and Brackley, before his seven year spell at Rushall. Fellow centre back George Burroughs was a Coventry City Junior, first loaned to our visitors in September 2022. He joined Altrincham on his release and has played for Redditch and Stafford too, before joining Telford in August. Alex Gudger is another centre back on loan from Brackley. He’s also played for Bedworth Utd, Rugby Town, Worcester City and Solihull Moors. Centre back Steffan Jones came from Cefn Druids in July 2023 and has also played for Bala Town.

Rhys Hilton was a Birmingham City youngster who had been playing for Copeswood FC. A right sided midfielder, he was signed from Stamford and has played for Bedworth, Sutton Coldfield, Redditch, Colesill and Halesowen. Midfielder Ellis Brown just after Christmas, having been without a club for a while, after a year in Scotland with Hamilton Academicals. He started out at Boreham Wood.

Striker Matty Stenson came from Nuneaton at the end of January. He started out at Hinckley Utd and after spells at Leicester Road and Barwell, signed for Leamington in 2018. He then moved to Solihull Moors, from where he came on loan to Telford for six months. His next stop was Halifax, who also loaned him out to Tamworth and Kidderminster, before his 18 month spell at Nuneaton.

Kyle Storer is an experienced midfielder who managed Nuneaton until they dropped out of the league in late January. He was a Leicester City Junior, who joined Bedworth following his release. Twariq Yusuf came from Brackley early last season and can play as a striker or midfielder. He has also played for FC Kidlington. Also Billy West captained our visitors under 18 side, following his release from Shrewsbury Town and in his fourth season with the first team too.

Finally striker Harvey Solley made his debut earlier last season, having come through the clubs youth scheme.

Kick off is 3pm BE THERE

by Peter Scherer

An early goal from the hosts and two more before half time left the points settled in Stockton’s favour.

Starting line-up: 1 Yusuf Mersin 2 Jake Bennett 3 Brandon Ferron 4 Curtis Weston 5 Danny Benson 6 George Taft 7 Ryan Wilson 8 Will Atkinson 9 Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10 Andy Dales 11 Ceiron Keane. Subs: Charlie Hickingbottom, Louis Carter, Callum Moore, Dylan Edwards, Josh Carter.

With Stockton straight on the attack from the kick off, Josh Scott’s pressure forced Taft into a mistake after seven minutes. The ball fell straight to Michael Sweet’s feet, who buried in the top left corner from close range. 0-1.

Three minutes later Tom Coulthard had a header deflected away by Benson, following a Stockton free kick.

There soon followed a sequence of corners for the hosts, after Atkinson had cleared the original, before finally going for a goal kick.
14 minutes in and Sports were forced to swap Taft for Hickingbottom as the Stockton onslaught continued.
Only four minutes later the hosts went close again when a Roberts header bounced off the bar.
Mersin then made a tremendous save, palming away King’s low drive for a corner.
Mickleover finally managed an attack after 23 minutes, when Dales put a ball over the defence, only to find Davidson-Miller offside.
But King then put in a great cross for Stockton before Sweet’ s
header landed safely in Mersin ‘s hands.
But 28 minutes and it was 0-2, when Mersin saved Nicholson’s header on the line, before Coulthard tapped home the rebound.
Nine minutes later Stockton hit their third, when Roberts headed home from a perfect Butterworth corner 0-3.
A poor clearance from Mersin was then intercepted by Thompson, but fortunately his spectacular shot went wide.
An injury time rally from Mickleover was the first time keeper Harker was tested, Dales cut inside before his effort was well saved. So it remained 0-3 at half time.
There were no immediate changes at half time, but Hickingbottom then put a header just wide of the right hand post from a Wilson header, after 51 minutes.

But Stockton continued to threaten, with a Gallacher shot after 58 minutes just wide, followed by a Purewal header from a free kick, which bounced before Mersin collected.
Baggs then charged down the left before cutting inside, firing his 63rd minute effort just over.
Edwards replaced Wilson after 65 minutes as Sports defence continued to fend off the home attack.
Painter put another effort just wide of the right hand post from a 69th minute corner, but two minutes later Mickleover went close again. A lob over the top had Harker beaten, only for Coulthard to clear off the line with a spectacular overhead kick.
Scott and Birtles both had shots saved by Mersin in the last 15 minutes, during which time twins Josh and Louis Carter came on for Keane and Dales, making their first team debuts.
With 12 minutes on the clock Mickleover should have opened their account. Ferron showed his pace with a terrific run down the left, fed it into Davidson-Miller only for his shot to go skywards.

So another disapointing result 0-3 after a slightly improved second half.