by Peter Scherer

Having beaten St.Ives on the opening day of the season, Mickleover will be looking to do the double in this Saturday’s return fixture at the Don Amott Arena.

Sports are looking for their third successive league win, but so are our visitors, having beaten Nuneaton and Leiston in their last two home matches, scoring eight goals without reply.

St.Ives are currently 14^th in the table with five wins in the last 10 matches, but lost 2-4 to Stamford in their last away game.

Manager Ricky Marheineke has been in charge at Westwood Road for nine years and apart from a number of changes of goalkeeper, has managed to keep a settle side of late.

Loanee Eddie Brearey had been first choice keeper, but has now returned to Oxford Utd. He has been replaced by another loanee, James Dadge from Northampton Town, who was with the club earlier in the year too, as well as having a spell at Harborough.

But last weekend it was debutant Arber Grosha between the sticks, ex Forest Park and Wolves junior player.

Right back Ben Mensah started out at Aston Villa, but came to St. Ives in November on loan, after just over two years with Peterborough Utd.

Fellow right back George Joyce came from Rushden & Diamonds. He was previously with Kempston, Boreham Wood, Aylesbury Utd , Hitchin Town and Leighton Town.

Centre back Jordan Williams is an ex Cambridge Utd  Junior. He joined Brackley following his release in July 2017, and was at Cambridge City, Stratford and Stourbridge, before returning to Stratford for the 20/21 season, from where St.Ives signed him for the start of last season.

Sam Tessler is a centre back too.  He grew up in the USA playing for LA Galaxy and Pateadores Academy and represented the USA in Israel’s Maccabi Games in 2022. He played for Yaxley against the Ives in last seasons Hunts FA Senior Cup Final and had been a regular with Northern Premier League East side Grantham Town this season before his move to our visitors in October.

Defender Paddy Casey started out at Northampton Town. He arrived at the Saints part way through last season from Harborough Town, but has also played for Rushden & Diamonds, Cogenhoe Utd and Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Captain Michael Richens is a midfielder who started out at Peterborough Utd. During his Posh spell he was loaned to Histon, Nuneaton, Whitehawk, Bishop Stortford, Stevenage, and Farnborough, before a permanent move to Stevenage on his release in 2015, after making two first team appearances at London Road.

After another loan at Farnborough, he moved to Hemel, Bishop Stortford and Biggleswade, before a four year stay at Kettering preceded his St.Ives move in July 2021.

Ed Hottor is a midfielder that has spent most of his career in Italy. AC Milan signed him from Triestina for £1.2 million and loaned him to Virtus Lanciano, ASG Nocerina and Unione Venezia, before his release in 2015.

His next stop was Inter Milan, who loaned him to Atletico CP in Portugal, Olibia in Italy and Fafe in Portugal, before a permanent move to Maltese club Sliema Wanderers. He first arrived in the UK with Kettering and was at Banbury before coming to St.Ives in December 2019.

Striker Jonny Edwards has been with our visitors since the beginning of last season. As a Peterborough Utd Junior he was loaned to Bishop Stortford and St.Albans, before a permanent move to Hull City.

Further loans at Accrington and Woking were followed by a move to Halifax, moving on via Maidstone, Biggleswade, Royston and FC Romania. 

Greg Kaziboni is a midfielder who came from Nuneaton at the start of last season. A former Northampton Town youngster, he has played for Corby, Brackley, Banbury, Tamworth, Rushden and Stratford too.

Defender Aaron Smith was a new arrival for this season  from St.Neots. He started out at Peterborough Utd and also had a spell at Mildenhall.

Striker Khris Oti arrived from Corby Town in November and has played for Whitehawk, Coggeshall Town, Brackley and Colchester Utd.

Midfielders Luke Harris and Myles Cowling spent the second half of last season on loan, Harris from Peterborough Utd, and Cowling from Cambridge Utd, both have now made their moves permanent.

Ives have Dan Barton on loan from Cambridge Utd too, a striker he had also been loaned out previously at Dereham and St.Neots.

Defender Josh Tomlinson and strikers Theo Alexandrou and Torin Ntege are all on loan. Ntege from Peterborough Utd, Alexandrou from Stevenage and Tomlinson from Northampton Town.

Kick off will be 3pm as usual, with all the regular bar and refreshments facilities available.

by Peter Scherer

We are off to Causeway Lane on Tuesday night, taking a break from the league campaign to visit Matlock Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Our hosts are currently 15^th in the Northern Premier League, following last Saturday’s 3-1 win at Atherton Collieries. But it’s been a mixed season so far for Martin Carruthers side, with four wins, one draw and five defeats from the last 10 games.

Former Derby County, Burton Albion and Notts County goalkeeper Saul Deeney is first choice goalkeeper, having arrived from Ilkeston in January last year. A former Republic of Ireland Under 21 International, he has also played for Gresley Rovers, Hull City, Hucknall and Basford.

His deputy is Alex Akers, a former Nottingham Forest Junior who signed for the club in October.

Long serving centre back Adam Yates has spent most of the last 15 years at Matlock, since singing from Shirebrook in 2009. Originally a Chesterfield Junior, he also had a spell at Belper Town.

Former Under 19 and Under 17 Welsh International centre back Ioan Evans came from Stalybridge back in September 2021. He started his career with Sheffield Utd and after a loan at Boston Utd, signing for Gainsborough on his release. He also had a season with Tadcaster before his Stalybridge move.

Left back Joe West was initially with Sheffield Wednesday, before joining Farsley Celtic on his release. Frickley was his next stop before arriving at Matlock pre-season, having spent last season at Gainsborough.

Right back Kornell McDonald started out in Derby Count’s Academy. He moved on to Kettering, before a short stop at Bedford Town preceded a spell at Redditch, where he ended last season. He started this season at Gloucester City and came to Matlock just before Christmas.

Midfielder Finlay Armond came through Boston Utd’s Juniors. He was one of Matlock’s pre-season signings, having spent last season with Queens Knights, a US College team.

Connor Dimiao is a central midfielder, capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under 17, 19 and 21 levels. From starting at Sheffield Utd, he joined Chesterfield and played 47 games in league one and two.

Stockport County, Boston Utd and Curzon Ashton were his next stops, before arriving at Causeway Lane last February.

Captain John Johnston plays on the right side of midfield. He started with Kidsgrove Athletic and is fairly well travelled. He joined Crewe Alexandra after a spell at Leek Town, and has played for Alfreton, Salford City, Nantwich, Altrincham and Chester, before coming to Matlock from Guiseley in October 2022.

Striker Anthony Dwyer came from Alfreton in October. He started as a Mansfield Town Junior and has been mainly Midlands based during his career. He previously played for Matlock in 2016 and spent last season at Basford.

Fellow Jonathan Margetts is another well-travelled player, after starting at Hull City. He had a few months on loan from Boston Utd in 2019, but came on a permanent move from Stamford in pre-season.

Winger Nathaniel Crofts is another pre-season signing from Guiseley, he also spent three years in the US and Canada College football.

Scott Boden has only recently arrived from Buxton and scored on his debut last Saturday. He is another very experienced striker, having also played locally for Chesterfield and Alfreton.

Midfielder Nathan Whitehead returned to Matlock in October from Long Eaton. It’s his third spell at Causeway Lane and has also played for Spalding, Lincoln Utd, Leek, Frickley and Loughborough Dynamo.

Harry Wood was another October returnee, a midfielder who came through the clubs own youth scheme. He has played for Grantham and Stamford too as well as a spell in Malta.

Defender George Wilkinson and winger Alex Duhameau are both on loan from Chesterfield. Michael Williams is another returnee. He originally came from Ilkeston in 2016 and came back just before Christmas from Clay Cross.

Jamie Sharman is another defender and ex Chesterfield Junior and midfielder Ollie Clarke is a pre-season singing from Basford.

Kick as usual is 7.45pm and your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer

A second half strike from Ben Sault gave Mickleover a 1-0 victory at strugglers Berkhamsted, and keeps them on top of the table in alphabetical order from Needham Market.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Matty Bowman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Leon Clarke 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Will Truman, Dan Bradley, Stuart Beavon, Jake Bennett, Fin Ryder.

It was a fairly enthusiastic start from both sides on a sunny but chilly afternoon, with Berkhamsted earning the first corner after three minutes.

But Mickleover were soon piling the pressure on the home defence, with Bowman and Greaves causing havoc on the right wing.

Clarke went close with a header after six minutes and two minutes later a weak back pass from Lawal was almost intercepted by Greaves, before keeper Head managed to clear the danger.

Barnes then saw his ninth minute effort bounce off the top of the bar after another Greaves set up, before Ridd was called into action to collect a Lawal cross or shot after a counter attack.

Mickleover were on top for possession and kept the home side well back in their own half, but again luck wasn’t on Sports side, when a Dales chip after 15 minutes had the keeper beaten, only for Dan Newton to clear off the line at the far post.

Skipper Bateman had a shot saved by Ridd after 18 minutes and became the driving force for the hosts as they attempted to break from their own half.

Sault had been playing a deeper midfield role than his norm, but he left fly with a shot just wide on the left after 20 minutes, after a slow but precise build up.

Dales and Clarke both had shots blocked on the edge of the box, before Clarke almost set Greaves free. But Dolan began to work more on the left-hand overlap, sending in a precision cross, met by Greaves with a glancing header.

Barnes was pulled back on the edge of the box to earn a free kick, but that came to nought and Dales cut inside from the left 39 minutes in to try his luck, but was just off target.

Delap went in the book for a clumsy challenge on Bateman, before the first half was completed with another Mickleover corner as it remained 0-0.

No sooner was the second half underway and Mickleover went close to opening the scoring again. Dales effort was saved, but as Barnes went for the rebound, the ball took a nasty bobble and he failed to connect with the goal at his mercy.

After the hosts had managed to put a free kick into the adjoining woodland, they began to grow in confidence and gave Mann and Delap more action in the centre of the Sports defence, as the pushed forward.

After 51 minutes a nice lay off from Clarke set up Sault, who’s blast was palmed away by Head for a corner. A free kick soon followed, but Greaves’ effort found platform one of the adjoining station.

With Greaves and Sault both pushing forward more with Atkinson in support, Berkhamsted had a couple of dangerous looking breaks, but just before the hour mark the deadlock was finally broken. There had been some close passing in the box, before the ball came back to Sault from Clarke, his strike burst into the top right-hand corner and at last it was 1-0.

Trueman was the first sub to come on for Barnes, but Dales was able to snatch the ball from Lackey after 63 minutes, only to have his shot blocked by Massingham.

Another Clarke lay off a couple of minutes later saw Greaves shot well over the bar, before Clarke then came off to make way for Beavon.

Far from demoralised, the hosts continued to push forward and went close themselves when Ridd had to make a diving save from Newton after 79 minutes.

Bradley came on for Greaves for the last six minutes and Trueman went close in the final minute of normal time. Bateman had the final shot of the game though in time added on, but a solid performance from the hosts belied their lowly position in the table.

It’s cup football again on Tuesday as we visit Matlock Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup, before returning to league action at home to St.Ives on Saturday.

 

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday we visit newcomers Berkhamsted, who like our neighbours Long Eaton Utd, have struggled this season after promotion into the Southern Premier League Central Division.

Mickleover are back at the top of the league, only just, and will be looking to maximise their points tally against one of the struggling teams.

Manager Steve Heath and his backroom team have recently left the club and they have started the New Year with Chris Devane back in the hot seat. Having secured promotion with a league and cup double for the Comrades last season.

 They ended 2023 with a 3-1 win at Hitchin Town, only their second win of the season so far, the first being the opening day of the season at home to Nuneaton.

They visited the Don Amott Arena back in August and went down 0-4, with Marcus Barnes and Ben Sault each scoring twice and currently lie 21^st in the table.

Goalkeeper Jamie Head has spent much of his career at Dunstable Town, having started out in 2012. Stops at Cambridge City, Hemel Hempstead and Biggleswade preceded his second spell at Dunstable, before another spell at Cambridge City. Bedford was his next stop for almost three years, before playing at Dunstable again in 21/22.

He joined Berkhamsted pre-season and was captain until recently.

Centre back Sam McClelland started with Crawley Green, before moving to Dunstable Town where he had spent the last three years. He was another pre-season signing.

Midfielder Aaron Austin was the next of the players to follow  Steve Heath from Dunstable in pre-season. He was originally with St.Albans City, before going to Dunstable in August ’21. He joined  Biggleswade a year later, before returning to Dunstable last season.

Another player to arrive pre-season from Dunstable is striker Max Bustamente, in his second spell at Berkhamsted. He made a couple appearances in 20/21 during his time with Kings Langley, then had brief stops at Biggleswade and Bedford. He started last season at Royston, before going to Beaconsfield and ended the season with a move to Dunstable last February. 

Louie Collier is a striker or midfielder. He started at Kings Langley before coming to our hosts in 2018/19. But after a spell back at Kings Langley he was at Tring and Leighton Town, before starting last season at Dunstable and ending it back at Leighton.

The last of the six pre-season signings from Dunstable is midfielder Jordan Frederick, he first arrived at Berkhamsted in March 2012 from Leverstock Green and stayed for three years before a move to Aylesbury. Then after a short spell at Dunstable he returned to Berkhamsted in January 2016.

As well as a return trip to Aylesbury, he had also played for Egham Town and had spent four years at Leighton Town, plus two more spells with Berkhamsted in 2018 and 2021. He spent the whole of last season at Dunstable again.

Right back Anthony Ball arrived from Aylesbury Vale Dynamo in August. He was at Berkhamsted in 2018 too and has also played for Luton Town Cedars and Aylesbury FC.

Adam Martin is a midfielder and early season signing from Potters Bar. He started at Watford and was loaned to Slough Town before joining AFC Wimbledon on his release. Further moves have taken him to St.Albans, Bohemians in Ireland, Wealdstone, Cambridge City, Chesham, Enfield, Farnborough and Beaconsfield, before joining Potters Bar last September.

Striker Sam Meakes started with St.Albans City, before moving on via Hitchin and Dunstable, arriving at our hosts pre-season from Frome Town.

Dan Newton was another early season signing, a centre back from Biggleswade, who was at Barton Rovers and Northwood, before a two-year spell with Hitchin Town. He joined Biggleswade last November.

Former Watford Junior striker Edu Toiny-Pendred came from Hertford last  summer. He had previous spell at Berkhamsted and has played for Kings Langley and in the US with St.Mary’s Rattlers. 

After spells at London Colney and Chesham, midfielder Mark Riddick spent a couple of seasons with Tring Athletic, before staying over three years at Aylesbury. He was another pre-season signing for our hosts.

Another former Watford Junior striker is Kyal Williams. He spent last season at Gosport and has played at Northwood and Kings Langley too.

Midfielder or defender Connor Toomey is one of the few players remaining from last season. He started at Berkhamsted in 2012 and has played at Kings Langley, Hemel, Hayes & Yeading, Chesham and Leighton. He is now in his fourth spell with the club.

Former Berkhamsted winger Tom Silford returned to the club in August 2022 from Dunstable. He has had numerous spells at Dunstable before, and has also played for Bedford, London Colney, Welwyn, Leighton Town, Leverstock, Crawley Green and Totternhoe.

Charlie Smith was an MK Dons Junior and had a spell on loan with Biggleswade. He made his move to our hosts in the summer.

Centre back Luke Massingham came from Rushden & Diamonds in October. He started off at Wealdstone and has played for Rayners Lane, Kempston Rovers and Thame Utd too.

Sami Bessadi was an October arrival too, a midfielder from Enfield Town. After starting off at Haringey, he moved on via Maldon/Tiptree, Braintree and Weymouth.

Winger Lewis Johnson is an ex Aston Villa youngster, who arrived pre-season after being released by MK Dons. He had loan spells at Banbury and Concorde Rangers too, during his time with the Dons.

Striker Matt Bateman is in his second spell at the club and was recently made captain. Having left originally in 2019 to join Royston, he had a spell at Hemel, before returning to Royston in August 2021. He rejoined our hosts in November.

Right back or right winger Lynford Sackey has recently arrived following his release from Bolton Wanderers. He was previously at Reading and had a brief stay recently at Sholing FC.

Lesley Duru is a left back and another new arrival. Fulham signed him from Whyteleafe, but after less than a year he was released to join Glebe FC. Chesham, Sevenoaks, Maldon/Tiptree and Hungerford were his next stops, before starting this season with Corinthian Casuals.

Hamilton Bunga is a well-travelled centre back who started out Kingstonian. Staines, Arlesey Town, Thurrock, Royston, Northwood and Bedford Sports followed, before moving to Leiston in October 2019.

Basildon, Three Bridges, Hemel and Marlow followed in close succession, before arriving at Rushden & Diamonds. Stratford and Harrow Borough were his next visits, before spending a couple of months with Basingstoke prior to his recent arrival at Berkhamsted.

Striker Nathan Frater scored both goals in the win over Hitchin, he has spent most of his career in and out of the Dunstable squad over the last 14 years, having arrived at our hosts again pre-season. In between he has had short spells with Barton Rovers, Royston and St.Neots, having started at Arlesey Town.

Olu Lawal was signed from St.Albans City in October. He started out with Drogheda Utd and Shelbourne in Ireland, before moving to England with Chippenham. An attacking midfielder he then joined Scottish League Falkirk in August 2022.

Callum Ismail came from London Colney and has made one substitute appearance so far.

Defender James Towell is another returnee, having left the club originally to join Leighton Town. He came back for the 2018/19 season and went back to Leighton again, until starting this season at Bedford Town. But after three games he made his third move to the Comrades.

Midfielder Danny Green came from Walthamstow in December. After starting out at Harpenden, he went to St.Albans, with stops at Hertford, Potters Bar and Hitchin following before a return to St.Albans.

Dunstable and Chesham, before a four-year stay at Royston. He has played for Arlesey Town too.

Defender Luke Warner-Ely is yet another well-travelled player. From starting out at Leverstock Green, he played for Potters Bar, Hemel, Royston, Barton Rovers, Uxbridge, St.Ives, Chesham, Dartford, Harow, St.Albans, Billericay, Peterborough Sports, Cheshunt and Concord Rangers, before coming to Berkhamsted in December from Hayes/Yeading.

Alex Stelmach is a young striker who has come through the clubs youth scheme and recently joined the first team and finally another returnee is attacking midfielder Josh Chamberlain. He has spent most of his career at our hosts making well over 300 appearances, scoring 135 goals.

He had a spell at Hayes & Yeading in between and went to Tring Athletic in December 2022, before returning again almost exactly a year later.

Kick off will be 3pm as usual, your support would be more than welcome.

by Peter Scherer

After a fairly scrappy first half at the Don Amott Arena, Mickleover took charge in the second half with two goals, returning them to top of the table, on alphabetical order!

It was revenge time for Mickleover, as the Glassboys from Stourbridge knocked them out of the FA Cup earlier this season.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Matty Bowman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Dan Bradley, Will Trueman, Leon Clarke, Jake Bennet, Fin Ryder.

Stourbridge managed to earn a free kick in the first minute, but it came to nought. But it was Mickleover that went closest first, when a 10^th minute cross from the right by Barnes, just missed connecting with an unmarked Beavon.

It was a fairly scrappy start to the game, with both sides sending passes awry. A through ball from Atkinson almost found Barnes after 15 minutes, but that was intercepted, while two minutes later Mann lost possession and the ball fell free to Brendon Daniels. His shot was straight at Ridd, who palmed it away for a corner.

Beavon went close to opening the scoring after 21 minutes, but his powerful long-range shot was tipped over by keeper Charlie Price.

Bowman and Dolan were doing their best to push forward down the wings, but Greaves and Sault were failing to make their usual impression as the game continued to ebb and flow.

Barnes crossed from the left 29 minutes in, but a combination of deflection and saving tackle on Dales left the Stourbridge defence intact still.

Beavon was wrestled to ground after 36 minutes, it was in the box, and although penalties have been given for less, play carried on.

But three minutes later and Sports had the ball in the net, after Dales broke free and chipped the advancing keeper. It was given offside, despite the visitors Brad Bood appearing to play him onside.

As half time approached Stourbridge had a series of corner, but failed to create anything as a consequence and then Dales dispossessed Joel Kettle, only for Barnes’ following chase to be intercepted.

With the whistle poised on the 45-minute mark another Dales and Barnes combination saw the ball come in from the right. The keeper and defence were beaten, but the ball ran agonisingly across the face of the goal, with no contact as it rolled clear and it remained 0-0.

Mickleover started the second half with verve and determination and only four minutes in to the second period, a good break down the left from Greaves, saw Dales cut in and force a good save from Price.

The pressure was on and the visitors were pegged back in their own half, with Greaves forcing another finger tip save from Price after 53 minutes.

It was just as the hour mark was approaching that the deadlock was finally broken, when Beavon received the ball in the box, made a lovely swift turn and fired it home to make it 1-0 after 59 minutes.

Daniels tried a wild long distance shot for the visitors shortly afterwards, before Mickleover came surging forward again. Dales was almost through but his shot was deflected out and then Beavon went down in the box after a goal mouth scramble, but looks for a penalty were ignored.

The push for a second goal continued, with Mann and Delap joining in too from the back. But it finally came after 67 minutes, after a positive run down the left from Dolan. As the ball came in, Beavon stepped aside and Barnes hit it firmly into the back of the net, 2-0.

Atkinson and Greaves then combined as the barrage continued and although Beavon was ready to receive in the box again, his path was blocked.

Stourbridge managed to make the occasional break but rarely challenged Ridd in the Sports goal. New signing Kobe Arthur managed to earn them a corner after 73 minutes, but that was easily cleared.

Dales, Greaves, Sault and Dolan were all teasing the defence with direct jinking runs and after 79 minutes it was a Dales and Dolan move earning another corner.

With 10 minutes on the clock Dales broke through again, but a last-minute tackle as he was about to shoot cleared the danger.

Clarke came on for Beavon and Trueman for Barnes, but  some late and dubious offside decisions went against the Mickleover strike force, after encouragement from and over vociferous Price in the Stourbridge goal.

With two minutes of normal time left there was a shoulder on shoulder challenge just inside the Mickleover box, but Connor Stanley went down as if hit by a sniper and the referee fell for his dramatics.

Daniels stepped up to score the penalty, 2-1 and in the final seconds Arthur had another chance which sailed over the bar.

“It’s been the same story, starting poorly, but we gave them a rollicking at half time,” said gaffer John McGrath, after a dominant second half show.

So with Needham Market’s game against Redditch postponed only minutes before kick off due, Mickleover are back on top, but equal on both points and goal difference.

We now look forward to visiting Berkhamsted on Saturday.

by Peter Scherer

Following Saturday’s first home defeat in the league, Mickleover will be looking to get straight back into the points, when Stourbridge visit the Don Amott Arena on Tuesday night.

We haven’t played Stourbridge in the league so far this season, but the Glassboys ended Mickleover’s FA Cup run with a two- goal victory back in September.

Where Mickleover have been flying high at the top, our visitors have struggled and are currently 17^th in the table. With three successive defeats 0-1 defeats, they will keen to points some points on the board.

Our visitors Joint managers Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint have been in charge since October 2021 and are both still registered to play.

Former Centre back Broadhurst is the clubs record appearance holder on 780, spending 10 years at the club before moving to Bromsgrove.

Pierpoint was also a centre back who has also played for Oldbury Utd, Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen, Stafford, Nuneaton, Solihull, Leamington and Brackley before a four-year stay at Stourbridge from July 2015. He was at Coalville before returning to The Glassboys.

Goalkeeper Charlie Price is in his second spell at the club, having left to join Alvechurch in June 2016, before returning three years later. 

Defender Joel Kettle is in his second spell at the club too. He started out with Sutton Coldfield before joining Stourbridge in August 2014. His career then took him to Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Rushall, Solihull, Tamworth and Nuneaton, before joining our visitors at the start of last season from Bromsgrove.

Darryl Knights is a former Ipswich Junior, who was capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and was loaned to Yeovil, before joining Kidderminster on his release.

Solihull was his next stop, then Newport and Solihull before returning to Kidderminster. After a spell at Tamworth, he had two years at Telford, before coming to Stourbridge in July 2020. He also looks after the clubs Academy.

Full back Jack Wilson was another signing from Bromsgrove back in September 2021. He had made 200 appearances before his move and had a brief loan spell at Lichfield City too.

Midfielder Reece King arrived from Buxton in July 2021. He started his career at Malvern Town, before moving on to Gloucester City and Hednesford. After a spell at Leamington, he rejoined Hednesford, before going to Buxton in February 2020. He is currently club captain.

Alex Prosser is another ex Aston Villa Junior. A midfielder, he was loaned to Brackley before a permanent move to Kidderminster. He started last season at Leamington, before joining the Glassboys on loan for the majority of 22/23. His move became permanent in July.

Lewis Solly is both reserve goalkeeper and coach. An ex Wolves and Bury player, he played for Welshpool and Aberystwyth, before moving back to the Midlands with Stafford Rangers.

 He was then at Telford and Redditch and first came to Stourbridge in 2005 from Hednesford, staying eight years before moving to Rushall. He moved onto Worcester but had time out with an injury and has been back at Stourbridge since March 2021, having made over 350 appearances.

Centre back Harvey Portman started off at the War Memorial Ground, before leaving our hosts for Hednesford at the beginning of last year. After a few weeks at Bromsgrove he returned to Hednesford, but had planned to start this season at Stratford, until his return to Stourbridge came off.

Jessy Bavanganga is another centre back who came in pre-season from Leek Town. A former Stoke City Junior, he also had spell on loan at Abbey Hulton Utd.

Winger Nial Flint started his career at Shrewsbury Town, before going  to Telford on his release. After stays at Scarborough and Matlock he spent the next few years in the Welsh League, firstly at Newtown and latterly at Cefn Druids and Aberystwyth, from where he joined our hosts pre-season.

Midfielder Brendon Daniels is an experienced midfielder who started out at the Academies of Crewe Alexandra, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers.

His next club was Chester, moving on to Tamworth, Harrogate, Fylde and Alfreton, before being spotted by Port Vale. He was loaned to Altrincham and Telford, preceded a permanent move to the latter. He came to the Glassboys in August and has seven League One appearances on his CV.

Originally a Walsall Junior, Midfielder Aaron Forde at Stourbridge for the second time in pre-season. He joined Romulus after his Walsall release, moving on to Bedworth, Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield and Rushall, before joining the Glassboys in 2017.

After three years he moved to Nuneaton, being loaned to Sutton Coldfield, before his Stourbridge return.

Midfielder Jack Fletcher arrived in June from Tividale, after just one impressive season in senior football.

Norwegian born winger Stanley Anaebonam started out with IK Start Youth, before moving to the UK to join Wolverhampton Casuals in 2016. He then spent two years with Solihull Moors, before moving to Redditch, then returned to Solihull before a spell in Ireland with Shelbourne.

He returned to England in 2022 with Truro City and had two months at Hednesford, before coming to Stourbridge last December 

Midfielder Dexter Walters started at Romulus, he then moved on to Tamworth, and returned there after a short spell at Coventry City.

During his time at Tamworth he was loaned to Mickleover, but had three months at Stratford last year before arriving at Stourbridge in November.

Striker Luke Benbow has spent most of his career in the West Midlands, starting out at Solihull. After a spell at Redditch he made his first stop at Stourbridge in 2012 and stayed three years before moving to Hednesford.

A year later he came back for one season, before returning to Solihull, who loaned him back to Stourbridge. He came back permanently in July 2018, before a year at Nuneaton preceded his latest return to our hosts. But he is currently out injured with a spinal stress fracture.

Left back Brad Bood is currently on loan from Telford Utd, having come through the Shropshire clubs youth scheme. West Bromwich Albion midfielder Matt Richards has also arrived recently on loan too.

Striker Ethan Freemantle is on loan too from Kidderminster. He has also been loaned to Gloucester City and Hereford and is a former Walsall Junior.

Midfielder Connor Stanley is a new arrival too. The ex Birmingham City and Manchester Utd junior arrived two weeks ago from Hereford. During his early career he was also loaned to Atlanta Utd in the US, before joining Bolton Wanderers on his release from Man Utd. 

He was then loaned to Bamber Bridge and FC United, before joining Hereford at the start of this season.

Charlie Dowd is another midfielder signed from Stratford in September. He started out at Burton Albion, before joining Bromsgrove on his release. He has also played for Alvechurch and Nuneaton.

Alfie Steward is a young striker recently graduated from the clubs own youth scheme.

Kick off is 7.45pm and WEE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover went into Saturday’s game at home to Telford Utd, top of the table on goal difference, but an early goal saw them fall to their first home defeat of the season.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8- Dan Bradley 9-Styart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Will Trueman, Ben Sault, Leon Clarke, Matty Bowman, Fin Ryder.

Both sides showed their attacking intentions from the kick-off  and after strong build up down the right between Bennett and Greaves, Dales put a shot just wide of the left hand post after eight minutes.

Telford then made their first real attack, with Bennett heading out Ellis Myles’ cross for a corner. As the ball came in from the right, Mickleover failed to clear and then ball fell to the visitors captain and centre back, who had opened the scoring when his effort went in off the far post. Ridd looked unprepared for the strike and stayed rooted to the centre of his goal, while the far post had been left undefended, 0-1 after 10 minutes.

Two minutes later it could have been a second for Telford, when Montel Gibson’s cross got past Ridd and the keeper then had to block a low shot from Nathan Fox.

Both Dolan and Bennett were doing their best to attack down the wings, but Mickleover were losing possession in midfield and after 18 minutes Telford went close again. Fox crossed from the right and Reece Styche’s shot struck the bar from the edge of the box.

But only a minute later Dales had a chance to equalise. Beavon had sent him clear, as he outpaced the defence and with keeper Brandon Hall out of position too, his shot was put well wide of the right-hand post.

Telford continued to make dangerous breaks, but on the whole Delap and Mann had them covered. But Dales tried his luck again after 22 minutes, having latched onto Bennett’s cross, his header lacked any power and was an easy catch for Hall.

Mann put a header over the bar from a Greaves free kick and then Dales, Bennett and Beavon combined to earn a corner. But with Mickleover continuing to play out from the back, Telford went for the longer ball and the break.

Greaves had a shot blocked just after the half hour mark and then a long ball from Mann saw Barnes latch on to it. He created space for a shot but his effort was over the bar again.

Styche then got a break at the other end, but the advancing Ridd forced him to shoot early and that was over the bar too.

But after 34 minutes there was another golden chance for Sports to equalise. Dales had brought the ball forward and as he cut inside he found Barnes and only a fingertip save at full stretch from Hall denied the equaliser.

For the final 10 minutes of the half, Mickleover were full on attack, with Dales firing an effort over the bar again from a 36^th minute corner. Sam Whittall got a shot in for the visitors after Sports lost possession in midfield, he earned a corner and Kerr had another shot palmed away by Ridd.

The half ended with a cross or shot from Barnes which failed to trouble Hall, so it remained 0-1 as the whistle went.

Mickleover replaced Bradley with Sault for the second and there seemed to be immediate upsurge in pace from the home midfield. 46 minutes and Dales crossed from the left, but Greaves shot was blocked and then Sault ran down the middle, his shot was blocked too, but he earned a corner.

It led to a strong possession dominating spell from Mickleover, but with Telford’s defence and midfield well drilled, they remained solid.

Hall had to palm away a Dales curling shot after 53 minutes and Sports won a succession of corners. He tried again on the hour after a good build up, but the Telford defence continued to fend away the growing pressure from Mickleover.

Clarke replaced Beavon after 63 minutes, but Ellis Brown then made a break, fortunately Sault hunted him down and cleared the danger. But Ridd was then in action again, after Bennet lost out to Walker, tipping over the follow up header for a corner.

Greaves and Sault had started to push the midfield further forward for Sports, with Atkinson in support, but it was still the overlaps from Bennett and Dolan that looked the most dangerous.

In the 71^st minute Bennett outpaced the defence on the right, placed a prefect cross to the far post but Clarke couldn’t put it in.

Delap then played a nice long ball, allowing Dales to collect and cut inside from the left again, but his shot was over as he came under challenge from a defender.

Shortly afterwards Sault tried his luck with a distance shot and then Dales broke through again after 77 minutes. He found Clarke, but the striker couldn’t make it count, after Whittall managed to block.

It was almost a 10-man defence by Telford, but time was running out for Mickleover, and despite the continuing advantage in possession, they couldn’t make it count.

Sault had a cross in the box after 82 minutes cleared and both Greaves and Dolan had more efforts blocked too, but Hall had one scare when defender Orrin Pendley almost deflected into his own net but the keeper came to his rescue.

Gibson had a chance to seal it for the visitors, but his rushed 86^th minute effort sailed over the bar.

Ryder came on for Barnes for the closing minutes, and immediately impressed with his holding capabilities. Dales had another shot blocked two minutes later and in time added on Hall was able to catch another Dales strike, despite its deflection.

Kerr put another shot over the bar, but with Delap trying to stride out of defence too, Mickleover kept pushing right to the final whistle. 

In the sixth minute of injury time Ricardo Dinanga wasted Telford’s final chance with a poor effort well wide, but time was up and it was a first home defeat of the season for Mickleover.

“We lost out to a bit f a freak early goal. We had the possession and dominated the second half, but just couldn’t score,” said Sports manager John McGrath.

“We should have put the game to bed after that early goal, but Mickleover play an open game and they had chances. We would have liked to have pressed more ourselves in the second half,” replied Telford boss Kevin Wilkin.