by Peter Scherer

It’s back on home turf for Mickleover on Saturday, when they welcome Halesowen Town to the Don Amott Arena.

Sports beat the Yeltz 2-1 back in December and they currently lie eighth in the table.

Mickleover will hopefully have a full squad to choose from having not played last weekend, but manager John McGrath may have to choose between a returning Will Tamen and the impressive Kyle Rowley to partner Ethan Mann in the middle of the defence.

Joe Bateman and Lewis Cunningham both came through their return games in the reserves 13-4 victory on Tuesday, where Stuart Beavon and Ethan Fitzhugh both hit hattricks.

Our visitors have recently replaced manager Paul Smith, who gained them promotion last season, with former Kidderminster Harriers boss Russ Penn. A former England C International, Penn played league football with Scunthorpe, Burton Albion, Cheltenham, York City and Carlisle Utd.

They have won their last two away games at Royston and Alvechurch without conceding a goal, after a run of six game without victory.

Dan Platt is their current goalkeeper, now in his third season with the club, after signing from Bromsgrove. He started out at Crewe Alexandra, before moving on to Telford, Nantwich, Stourport and Evesham. He then had three years with Oxford City, before making his first stop at Halesowen in 2015.

Four years later he had a brief spell at Hednesford, before two seasons at Bromsgrove preceded his current stay. He recently made his 100^th consecutive appearance for the club, having made well over 250 in total, and is also the club captain.

Right back Jak Hickman was a Coventry City Junior. He was loaned out to Ashton Utd, Hereford and Bromsgrove, before joining Bolton Wanderers on his release. 

After a further loan at Kings Lynn he went to Ireland with St.Patrick’s Athletic, before returning to England with Stourbridge at the beginning of last year. He then returned to Lynn, before a move to Banbury at the beginning of last season. He came to Halesowen on loan in March, making his stay permanent pre-season.

Left back Reece Mitchell was a pre-season signing from Rushall Olympic, where he had spent four years since arriving from Boldmere. He started at Leamington and has also played for Barwell, Highgate Utd and Sutton Coldfield.

Todd Parker is a young midfielder who came out of the Wolves Academy. He had two years at Hednesford following his release and came to our visitors pre-season.

Centre or right back Luke Redfern came straight from Stoke City’s Under 21’s in pre-season. He had previously been with Burton Albion, who had loaned him to Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield. During his time with the Potters he also went out on loan to Hednesford.

Experienced centre back Tom Taylor came from Bromsgrove in January, where he had captained the side. A former striker who became a defender, Taylor is an ex Shrewsbury junior, but has played much of his football in Wales, with Porthmadog, Caernarfon Town, Pentraeth, Glantraeth, Holyhead Hotspur and Llangefni Town. He left Bromsgrove in April 2021 after his first spell to join Stourbridge, but returned in the December.

Fellow centre back Victor Nirennold only signed for Halesowen at the end of January from Nuneaton. French born, he started his career at Stade Rennais, before going to the US with Miami City.

His first English Club was Fleetwood back in 2015, who also loaned him to Guiseley, before a permanent move to FK Senica in Slovakia.

He then had a year in Vietnam with Da Nang FC, before a two year spell in Malaysia with Uitm FC. After short stop at Motherwell he played for Gloucester City too, before starting this season with Nuneaton. 

Caine Elliott was out on loan at Rugby Town earlier this season, from where he was signed in July.  A young central midfielder. He had previously spent two years at Stratford.

Midfielder Nathan Hayward is in his second season as a Yeltz player, having arrived from Bromsgrove. He started at Kidderminster, before moving on to Malvern and Worcester City. He first joined Bromsgrove in July 2018, but started the following season at Stourbridge. Two years later he returned to Bromsgrove and came to Halesowen in July last year.

Miracle Okafor was another pre-season signing, a striker who came from Scunthorpe’s youth team. He was loaned to Frickley Athletic, before joining Alvechurch on his release. Guiseley and Stourbridge were his next stops, with sixth months at Sporting Khalsa preceding his move to our visitors.

Right back Josh Ezewele is a former West Bromwich Albion Junior. He went to Yeovil Town following his release and was initially loaned to Kidderminster, before making it permanent. He was at Fylde, Alvechurch, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, before returning to Alvechurch in July 2021 and has been at Halesowen since February 2022.

Ryan Wynter came from Chasetown pre-season, after a three year stay, having made over 250 appearances. Now a centre back he started off as a striker with Stafford Rangers.

Striker Richard Gregory is one of the longer serving players, having come from Bromsgrove in July 2020. He started at Boldmere and has also played for Rugby Town, Stratford, Leamington and Stafford Rangers.

Defender Kieren Donnelly was signed from Redditch in October last 2022. A former Aston Villa Academy player, he has also played for Nuneaton Borough.

Midfielder Jack Holmes started at Burton Albion, before coming to Halesowen. He joined Hereford in September last year on a dual registration, but returned to our visitors last April.

Ryan Boothe was another pre-season signing too, a striker from Anstey Nomads. He has played for Rushall Olympic, Sutton Coldfield and Lye Town and had been at Anstey since September 2020.

Macauley Manning is an attacking midfielder who firstly came from Coventry Utd in November 2019. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Redditch and Alvechurch and returned to Halesowen in March last year, after a spell in New Zealand.

Midfielder Rhys Hilton came from Sutton Coldfield Town in January. An ex Birmingham City youngster, he was loaned to Redditch, before going to Sutton Coldfield on his release in October 2020. He moved on after a year to Bedworth Utd and Coleshill Town, before returning to Sutton Coldfield ’22.

Striker Luke Postle has also been in the squad recently after coming through the clubs own Academy.

Kick off at usual is 3pm, with all catering and bar facilities available.

by Peter Scherer

It was a typical top of the table duel, as second placed Mickleover faced third placed Redditch at the Valley Stadium. But after a superb all round team performance, it was super sub Marcus Barnes with two late goals that cliched al three points for Mickleover.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Kyle Rowley 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Dan Bradley, Marcus Barnes, Ethan Fitzhugh, Rhys Dolan.

The opening 10 minutes were fairly even in bitterly cold conditions, but it was Mickleover that had the first real shot. Wilson picked up the ball after Bennett and Trueman had exchanged on the right, following his own free kick after 12 minutes when Waite had been fouled.

Redditch then shouted for a penalty when Johnston went down, but the pleas were rightly ignored.

But it was Mickleover continuing to apply most of the pressure, with Rowley and Mann looking supreme in the centre of defence.

Mickleover earned a 17th minute free kick when Dales was tripped, Flanagan was booked for the offence and as Bennett prepared to take the kick, he was barged by Cameron who also went into the referee’s book.

Wilson eventually took the kick which fell to Rowley, who shot wide.

Ridd had to palm away a cross come shot from the right a couple of minutes later, before Trueman tried his look from a Sault pass on the left, but he fired wide of the left-hand post.

Sports went so close to opening the scoring when a 24^th minute corner saw the home keeper completely miss a punch. Sault picked up the loose ball and fired at goal, but Fulloway managed to head his effort away off the line, so it remained 0-0.

The pressure continued to build on the hosts, but Ridd had to receive treatment after a knock following a Redditch free kick.

Despite the pressure from Mickleover, Redditch were still dangerous on the break and after 32 minutes Ridd blocked an effort from Soleman and followed up with a save from Concannon before the ball was cleared.

Dales had a shot blocked after 38 minutes following a powerful run and cross from the right from Waite, but as the ball went loose Greaves took a knock from the home keeper.

The chances and possession had both favoured Mickleover, but it was still stalemate as the half time whistle blew.

Redditch started the second half with increased pace and briefly pegged back Mickleover in their own half.  Ridd saved a low shot from Concannon after 46 minutes and two minutes later Cranston put a cross into the box, which missed everyone.

Sault had another powerful shot blocked after 51 minutes to earn a corner, but the initial flourish from Redditch had past and it was back to stalemate.

Atkinson had been a strong force in both defence and attack and both Bennett and Wilson seemed to be cutting inside, rather than playing their more familiar overlapping wing back role.

Barnes was the first sub on the hour, coming on for Sault and after 68 minutes both he and Waite had shots blocked, before Trueman collected the rebound and tried his luck again.

With 20 minutes left on the clock. Mickleover really began to turn the screw, with continuous bombardment of the home defence.

Dales cut inside to shoot again after 75 minutes, but it was blocked again and led to a Redditch break, again well intercepted by the defence.

But 80 minutes in and Barnes charged out of defence, ran and ran before cutting in from the right, firing in a rocket shot beyond the keepers left hand, to finally give Sports a well deserved lead. 1-0.

Fitzhugh had come on Dales and with six minutes left Beavon came on for Waite. With three minutes to go Beavon headed just wide from a Greaves cross and Redditch had a corner right on the 90 minute mark.

The hosts had to push forward in time added on, but Beavon collected to find Barnes again, who split the defence wide open and charged forward to another superb strike 2-0.

The final whistle soon followed and it was all three points coming back to Mickleover, a third successive win and consolidation of second in the table.

 

 

by Peter Scherer

You could call it a “Six-pointer”, as Mickleover visit Redditch Utd on Saturday in a duel for play-off places. 

It was a 2-2 draw when they visited the Don Amott Arena back in October. Our hosts haven’t played since February 17^th, when they beat Berkhamsted at home 1-0. Six wins out of the last 10 games and only two defeats, it wont be easy.

But two wins in succession with a three goal margin, Sports have hopefully hit form at the right time for the final run in.

Matt Clarke has been in charge at the Trico Stadium since September 2020 and is a former player for the club. He also played for Wolves, West Bromwich Albion and Kidderminster during his playing career.

Centre back Ryan Wollacott started out at Stourport, before spending just over three years in the Welsh Premier League with Aberystwyth. He then moved to Alvechurch, before returning to Stourport, from where Redditch signed him in July 2021.

Left back Calum Flanagan is another ex-Villa Junior. After a loan at Kettering he joined Hinckley on his release, before making his first stop at Redditch in 2015, when he came from Worcester.

Further moves to Hednesford, Solihull, Rushall and Halesowen, with a couple of career breaks in between, preceded his return to Redditch in January 2022.

He isn’t the only Flanagan in the squad though, as brother Reece is a midfielder and former Walsall Junior.

He joined Leamington after his release and had spells at Rushall and Stratford, before Redditch signed him from Hednesford in July 2022.

First choice goalkeeper Adam Harrison was signed in December 2022 from Worcester City. He is a former Leicester City Junior, who has also played for Bedworth Utd and Tividale.

Jack Price and Charlie McNamara are his deputies and both have been on the bench recently. Price was a pre-season signing and is dual registered with Dudley Sports.

Right back Brad Burton came from Alvechurch pre-season, after starting his career at Aston Villa.

Jamie Melbourne is a left back. A former Stoke City youngster, he came from Alvechurch pre-season too. At the start of this season.

Gift Mussa is a central midfielder and another pre-season signing from Tamworth. He started out at Coventry Utd, before moving onto Leamington. He has had spells at Bromsgrove and Nuneaton too.

Aran Soleman is another midfielder and ex West Bromwich Albion Junior. He went to Solihull Moors on his release, before moving on to Coventry Utd, Rushall Olympic, Guiseley, Bromsgrove, Tamworth, Matlock and Hednesford. He has been with our hosts since December 2021.

Experienced midfielder AJ George started his career at Oxford Utd and Mansfield and spent a month on loan at Mickleover back in 2017.

After further loans at Hednesford and North Ferriby he joined Chippenham, before spells at Oxford City, Rushden & Diamonds and Tamworth, and ended last season with North Leigh. He is also an Antigua & Barbuda international.

Striker Alex Cameron is in his third spell at Redditch. He started out at Stourbridge and was at Dudley Town and Tividale before joining Redditch in July 2020.

After one year he moved to Sporting Khalsa, but returned to Redditch three months later for another nine months. He was at Rushall last season and before returning again pre-season.

Danny King is yet another striker who spent some time with our hosts last season, on loan from Gloucester City, before making his move permanent in November 2022.

Johnny Johnston is a striker too, ex Blackpool youngster, he came from Gloucester pre-season.

Midfielder Musa Ceesay was a pre-season addition, having previously trialled for the club a year earlier. He is now a regular starter and was previously at Lye Town and Wolverhampton Casuals.

Callum Rowe is a midfielder on a dual registration with Rushall. He was an Aston Villa Junior and loaned to Hereford, before moving to Exeter City. He made eight appearances for the Grecians in League Two before being loaned to Chippenham and Bath City.

He then joined Yeovil and quickly moved on to Salisbury and Hereford, before joining Stourbridge earlier this year and started this season at Rushall.

Jordan Cranston is a left back on loan from Hereford Utd until the end of the season. He’s Welsh Under 19 International who started out at Wolves. After a loan at Nuneaton, he signed for Hednesford on his release, before returning to Nuneaton on permanent basis.

He quickly moved on to Notts County and was loaned to Lincoln City, before moving on to Gateshead. Cheltenham, Morecambe, Solihull Moors and Fylde were his next stops, before joining Hereford in January.

Striker Jaiden White was a junior at both Wolves and Coventry City. He moved on to Kidderminster, who loaned him to Stafford Rangers, before that move became permanent. He started this season at Stourbridge, before coming to Redditch last September.

Former Birmingham City Junior midfielder Jack Concannon is a recent arrival on loan from Alvechurch. He was loaned to Sutton Coldfield and Tamworth, before joining the permanently on his release. He then moved to Alvechurch at he start of last season.

Striker Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton arrived just before Christmas, from Rushall Olympic on a dual registration. He started out as a Junior with both Birmingham City and Bournemouth and was loaned out to Salisbury,  and Gosport Borough, before going to Alvechurch on his release. He then joined Telford Utd but was loaned back to Alvechurch, before going back again permanently.

He started this season at Banbury but moved on to Rushall only two months later.

Centre back Matt Fulloway arrived from Sporting Khalsa in early February, where he spent the previous four season, since joining the from Stourport Swifts.

Isaiah Bazeley arrived in February too from Harborough Town. An ex Aston Villa Junior he also had a loan spell at Bradford Park Avenue, before joining Barwell on his release. He soon moved to Peterborough Sports and was loaned out to Yaxley, before starting this season at Harborough.

Academy graduates Henry Smith and Taysian Douglas-Lewis have both been on the bench too recently.

Kick off in this dual for second in the table is at 3pm and YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE WELCOMED!!

by Peter Scherer

Straight off the back of last Saturday’s home win over Kettering, Mickleover were back in promotion form with a comfortable win over last years play-off finalists Leiston.

Gaffer John McGrath not surprisingly went for an unchanged side, 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4- Will Atkinson 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Dan Bradley, Kyle Rowley, Rhys Dolan, Ethan Fitzhugh.

From the opening whistle Mickleover were on the attack, when Greaves got clear down the left and crossed for Dales, whose shot from just outside the box was just over the bar after two minutes.

Home keeper Johnson had to make his first save only four minutes later, from a Sports header, before Greaves fired in another cross headed away by Jackson.

Leiston managed to break out of their half when Manly won the ball in midfield. He sent Crane on a run but his final effort was just wide of the post.

But it was Mickleover creating more of the chances and after 11 minutes Waite forced Johnson into another diving save, with Casement clearing both the original shot and the rebound.

Sports opened the scoring after 17 minutes, when Johnson managed to save Dales original shot, but Sault fired in the rebound and it was 1-0.

It wasn’t all Mickleover as Leiston tried to fight back, when Lavin picked up the ball in midfield, ran forward  until he was intercepted on the edge of the box, leaving Ridd to collect the loose ball.

Ridd was in action again after 28 minutes, diving to push a Dunbar effort over the bar, from Crane’s free kick.

Dunbar then blocked another Mickleover effort five minutes later from the edge of the box and then intercepted a cross from Loza before it reached its target.

There were three minutes added on before the half time whistle went and Leiston were awarded a penalty. Loza’s effort hit the bar and sent Mickleover straight into attack, with Waite shooting just wide of Johnson’s right-hand post, in the final kick of the half.

The Sports back four of Bennett, Tamen, Mann and Wilson had looked solid in the first half and were able to help midfield take control again early into the second half. 

Greaves had another shot blocked after 52 minutes, and Dunbar tried his luck for our hosts, before Johnson saved again from close range six minutes later.

But 70 minutes in and it was 2-0 to Mickleover when a Greaves cross on the left found Bennett on the back post, who scored number two from close range.

Six minutes more and it was 3-0, when Waite struck the foot of the post and Greaves had side footed in. 

Far from surrendering, Leiston had a couple of late chances. Ridd punched away after Crane corner and saved a 30 yard strike from Lavin.

But Sports almost got a fourth too, as Dales hit the post after 87 minutes and sub Fitzhugh shot just over in time added on.

The points were invaluable as they take Mickleover back into second place, two points ahead of Redditch Utd, but they have a game in hand. Who do we play on Saturday, Redditch!!

by Peter Scherer

Our hosts on Tuesday night were in the play-offs last season, but currently lie ninth in the table, after two successive wins had followed a 0-6 at Needham Market earlier this month. But last Saturday they drew 2-2 at home to Alvechurch.

It was a 5-0 win to Sports when they visited us in September, but both sides have had had erratic success since the New Year.

Following last Saturday’s 41- home win, Mickleover will be hoping to keep the form going into the final 10 games of the season and secure that valuable play-off place.

Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger are joint managers. Eadie was a former Leicester City and Norwich midfielder and has been in charge since March 2020.

Sam Donkin is first choice goalkeeper, he was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford. He made his 100^th appearance for our hosts last season.

But last Saturday Donkin’s run of 119 consecutive games ended due to injury and he was replaced by Billy Johnson, signed from Kettering a few days earlier.

Johnson went to Kettering Braintree pre-season. A former Norwich City Junior, he was loaned to Lowestoft and Braintree, before a permanent move to Stevenage on his release. He has returned to Braintree on numerous occasions, after spells at Gloucester City and this is his second spell at Leiston too.

Club Captain and left back Seb Dunbar came from Stowmarket in July 2021. He was an Ipswich Town Junior and also played for Maldon/Tiptree, Bishop Stortford and Bury Town. It’s his third spell at Leiston.

Centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis has 13 years experience under his belt. He started at Aveley, before moving to Bury Town. His path then took him via  Bromley, Bishop Stortford, Hemel and Chelmsford, before joining our visitors in October 2020.

Midfielder Ryan Jarvis has England caps as an under 16, 17 and 19. He started at Norwich City too and was loaned to Colchester, Leyton Orient, Kilmarnock and Notts County, before joining Orient on his release.

After many more moves he settled back in East Anglia with Lowestoft in 2015. Then after a move to Kings Lynn he returned to Lowestoft, from where Leiston signed him in July 2022. He played in every division of the football league and the Scottish Premier, with well over 300 appearances.

Another midfielder and another former Norwich junior, Zach Dronfield came from Hampton & Richmond in July 2022. He had previously been at Wealdstone.

Joe Marsden is mainly an attacking midfielder who is in his second season with our visitors, since arriving from Needham Market. He was previously at Lowestoft Town and came back to Leiston in June 2021 after three years away, and passed his 100^th club appearance milestone last season too.

Jamaican International striker Jamar Loza is a former Norwich City youngster, he had loans at Coventry City, Orient, Southend, Yeovil Town and Stevenage, before being released in 2016, with 30 league appearances under his belt spread over all four divisions.

His next club was Maidstone, before being loaned to Woking. Billericay, Chelmsford, Kings Lynn, Barnet and Cheshunt followed, before he arrived at Leiston pre-season.

Centre back Chris Casement has represented Northern Ireland at Under 19,19,20,21 and Full International level. A massively experienced player who started at Ipswich and made 242 Premiership appearances and played in the Championship, League two and Champions League.

He was loaned to Millwall, Hamilton Academicals and Wycombe Wanderers, before a permanent move to Dundee. After a loan at Linfield in Northern Ireland, he joined them on a permanent basis. He also played for Portadown before returning to East Anglia with Stowmarket, from where he joined our hosts pre-season.

Midfielder Ross Crane played for Colchester Utd and AFC Sudbury, before being picked up by Ipswich Town. Loans at Concord Rangers and Bury Town followed, before a loan at Needham Market became permanent. He is another pre-season signing for Leiston.

Jack Manly, Michael Lavin and Ashley Boatswain are on loan from Ipswich, Manly is a young midfielder staying to the end of the season, while Boatswain is a striker on loan for a month, who has already found the back of the net. Lavin is a right back and due to see the season out with our hosts too.

Fellow midfielder Cameron Rayworth and striker Charlie Atkin are home produced players, who have come through the ranks a d joined the first team squad earlier this season.

Right back Eddie Jackson is a former Norwich City Junior and another pre-season signing.

Albie Armin was an Ipswich junior centre back, who came Leiston after his release last July. He had previously been loaned to Braintree.

Midfielder George Quantrell returned from Braintree in November, having only left four months, after an initial two year stay. He’s an ex Norwich City Junior too and has also played for Dereham Town and Stowmarket.

Midfielder Mitchell Jackson, striker Joe McNeil, defender Ben Batho and goalkeeper Marcus Mehew have all come through Leiston’s own scheme to join the first team recently.

Kick off is at 7.45 and although it’s a four hour plus journey each way, any support would be much appreciated.

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

It’s been a tough few weeks for both the Mickleover players and supporters. But after a suffering a defeat at Kettering back in November, it was the Poppies on the receiving end this weekend, with an Oli Greaves hattrick securing a 4-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Lewis Ridd 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Will Tamen 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Will Trueman 9-Tyrell Waite 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Dan Bradley, Kyle Rowley, Rhys Dolan, Ethan Fitzhugh.

Sports were fired up from the start and this time there was no sign of the casual defending that gave way to early goals.

Kettering keeper Dan Jezeph had to save a seventh minute effort from Greaves, after he collected on the edge of the box, earning an early corner.

Five minutes later Bennet charged down the right wing, his cross found Greaves again, who couldn’t quite get purchase on the ball and fired just wide of the of the post from fairly close range.

Ridd was then called into action to save a shot from Kobe Chong. It earned the visitors a corner, before Rhys Sharpe’s effort went out of play. Only two minutes later Ridd was forced to make a diving save, with a ball destined for the top corner and suddenly it was Mickleover’s defence under pressure.

27 minutes in and it was Kettering that opened the scoring, catching Sports on the back foot, 0-1.

It prompted Mickleover to push forward again to seek an equaliser and just after the half hour mark, Dales cut inside from the wing, fired in his cross as Sault collected and shot just wide.

Atkinson then had a shot well saved by Jezeph, but it was in time added on as the half time whistle approached, that Greaves hit the back of the net, with the whistle finally blowing at 1-1.

Barely had the second half started and Waite almost got a second for Mickleover. He collected the cross and fired the ball goalwards, only to hit the bar. Dales had another shot saved a minute later, with Sault’s effort from the rebound blocked.

But Kettering got a break after 55 minutes and after good decisive build up, Ridd made another good save from Jarvis’ shot.

It was all about to change in Sports favour though, with Greaves making it 2-1 after 59 minutes. The attacks continued to flow, with the defence looking far more solid. 72 minutes gone and it was 3-1, after Dales cut in from the left wing again, firing home into far right hand corner.

Only three minutes further on and Sports were then awarded a penalty. Greaves strode forward to make it 4-1 and to secure his hattrick too.

Fitzhugh came for Sault after 77 minutes and Beavon for Waite after 80. But the score remained the same and keeps Mickleover in a solid third place and still in the play-off positions, as we now look forward to long visit to Leiston on Tuesday night.