by Peter Scherer

It made not have been a win, but we’re still undefeated, thanks to goals from Ethan Mann and Ben Sault.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Marcus Barnes 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Callum Chettle, Brandon Ferron, Fin Ryder, Joe Bateman.

Early Mickleover pressure saw visiting keeper Harrison tip an early effort around the post, with the following corner resulting in a deflected shot, just flicked away.

Sault then burst through the Redditch defence after eight minutes, but couldn’t get the better of keeper Harrison.

Sports defence were kept on their toes too, when only a minute later, Bosworth managed to save an effort from way out from Flanagan, pushing it away for a corner.

It remained level pegging until 23 minutes, when Alex Cameron latched onto a long ball over the home defence, slotting it past Bosworth, 0-1.

As in last weeks game at Bromsgrove, Mickleover had the possession, but were unable to make it count, which left Redditch looking dangerous on the break.

Mickleover came close again after 27 minutes, when Barnes fed Dales, who managed to get around the defence, before his final shot hit the side netting.

Four minutes later however we were level again, when a Greaves free kick was met precisely with Mann’s head and it was 1-1.

Barnes went in the book after kicking the ball away after being flagged offiside, but a 37^th minute corner almost brought a second for Sports. A short corner then saw a telling cross floated in, with Mann’s header clipping the post.

There were shouts for a penalty too almost on half time, for a foul on Dales. The appeals were quickly ignored and it remained 1-1 as the whistle went.

Visibility started decrease early into the second half, as fog came in. But on the hour Dales went close again, beating the defence to play it across goalwards, just inches away from connecting with the incoming Barnes.

 Redditch continued to look for the break that successfully got them the early lead, but Delap and Mann at the back for Mickleover had it covered, ably supported by Bennett and Wilson.

Bateman came on for Bradley after 65 minutes, but there were penalty appeals from both teams, equally failing to convince the referee.

Greaves had continued to look dangerous in midfield and 74 minutes in, another sprint down the wing found Sault, who made it 2-1.

Redditch sub Rowe then sent in a cross come shot from the left to test Bosworth, who pulled off a great save to claw it back from the right hand corner as it looked like it was heading for the back of the net.

Delap was the second Mickleover player to receive a yellow card, for obstruction, before Chettle replaced Barnes for the closing minutes.

The clock was running down but the referee decided to add on another five minutes, which was to prove critical in the final outcome. Melbourne’s cross found Wollacott on the far post, who headed home to make 2-2 after 93 minutes, before Greaves headed just inches wide in the 95^th and final minute.

So still defeated after 13 matches, but we now take a break from league action, as we face Worksop Town away on Saturday in the FA Trophy.

by Peter Scherer

After two successive away games it’s back to the Don Amott Arena for Tuesday nights visit of Redditch Utd.

Sports depth in the squad has paid dividends of late, with niggling injuries sidelining a few players of late, giving most of the squad match time.

Our visitors are currently challenging in the play-off places, with a successful run of victories following a defeat at Coalville.

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 last December from Worcester City. He is a former Leicester City Junior, who has also played for Bedworth Utd and Tividale.

Right back Brad Burton is a more recent arrival, having come 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.

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 visitors since December 2021.

Former Wolves Junior midfielder Jez Abbey was another summer arrival from Telford, having also been loaned out to Barwell, Rushall and Shifnal.

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.

Fellow 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 month.

Striker Prince Henry is another new arrival, coming from Bromsgrove last month. He has spent most of his career at Bristol City, but had been loaned out to Hungerford, Yate Town, Tiverton and Bromsgrove, before making his last move permanent at the start of this season.

Jenson Cooper is another striker and another pre-season signing. An ex Shrewsbury Junior, he played for Stamford too, before spending last season at Rushden & Diamonds.

Danny King is yet another striker who spent some time at our visitors last season, on loan from Gloucester City, before making his move permanent.

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

Winger Jerell Sellars had made 39 League Two appearances in his career, since starting out as Lincon City and Aston Villa Junior. He was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers, before a move to Cheltenham. He then had a year in Sweden with Ostersund, before joining Redditch on his UK return last November.

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.

Finn Howell is a young defender on loan from Solihull Moors, while reserve keeper Josh Meynell is a product of our visitors own youth scheme, along with Indy Tulwar and Djibril Wallace.

Kick off as usual is 7.45pm, BE THERE!

by Peter Scherer

It’s back on the road again on Saturday as Mickleover continue to build their lead at the top of the table, against a struggling Kettering Town.

It’s not been the easiest of starts for the Poppies since their relegation from the National League North, having won only one league game, at Bromsgrove 2-1. They are currently 20^th in the table.

They weren’t in league action last week though, as they still in the FA Cup, but went down 0-5 at home to Chesterfield.

Manager Andy Leese has been in charge since June, he previously managed Enfield Town for six years and 10 at Chesham United.

He took Enfield to the Isthmian League South Premier play-off semi-final in 2021-22 and ninth in the league last season and has also managed Boreham Wood, Cheshunt, Potters Bar and Somersett Ambury.

Goalkeeper Billy Johnson started out at Norwich City and was loaned out to Lowestoft and Braintree, before joining Stevenage on his release. As well as a number of return trips to Braintree, he has played for Gloucester City and Leiston and came to the Poppies in June.

Josh Blunkett has also been playing in goal, a loanee from Braintree. He has played for Sudbury and Wycombe too.

Right back Owen Cochrane is on loan from Stevenage. He has also had spell on loan last season at Potters Bar.

Ben Toseland is a left back that started out at Northampton Town. He first joined Kettering in 2017 following his release, but moved onto Peterborough Sports after two years. He joined the Poppies in July 2022 after 2 ½ years with St.Ives.

Centre back Kelvin Langmead is one of their most experienced players, having totalled over 500 appearances in the Championship, Leagues One and Two.

He started at Preston North End, who loaned him out to Tamworth, Carlisle and Kidderminster, before he signed for Shrewsbury on his release.

Six years later he moved to Peterborough Utd, before moving on to Northampton, Ebbsfleet, Kidderminster, Nuneaton, Harrogate and Brackley. He came to Kettering in July after three years at Banbury.

Striker Leon Clarke matches Langmead for experience, having played in all four divisions of the football, with again over 500 appearances and 141 goals.

After starting out at Wolves, he spent time at Kidderminster, QPR and Plymouth, before finally leaving Molineux in 2006 to join Sheffield Wednesday.

Southend, QPR again and Preston followed, before a permanent move to Swindon. He was then loaned to Chesterfield before joining Charlton, with loans at Crawley and Scunthorpe following, before joining Coventry.

He then went back to Wolves again in 2014, but soon moved on again with a loan at Wigan, Bury, Sheffield Utd, Bristol Rovers, Rushall and Hartlepool, from where he started this season, until arriving at Kettering a couple of weeks ago.

Gary Stohrer is one of the long serving players, having signed in 2017 from Frickley. The right back has now started his sixth season with the club and previously played for Shaw Lane.

Striker Tyrone Lewthwaite was a junior at Watford and Rotherham, before joining Hampton & Richmond on his release. He played for Chesham, Beaconsfield and Aylesbury Utd, before a three month spell at Bedford preceded his move to Kettering in October 2022.

Left back Rhys Sharpe is a former Northern Ireland Under 21 International, who started out with Derby County. He was loaned to Shrewsbury Town, before going to Notts County on his release. His next stop was Swindon Town, before moving to Matlock, Tamworth and Nuneaton, spending a month at Stratford before coming to Kettering in November 2020.

Midfielder Dan Jarvis was a Stoke City Junior, who went to Wrexham after his release. His next stop was Gateshead, who also loaned him to Hereford, before becoming a Poppy pre-season.

Teenager Huw Dawson is another pre-season signing, a midfielder, signed from St.Albans.

Harry Reilly is a centre back who made his name in the US with Rio Red Storm and Mississippi, before joining Stratford in 2020. He then went to Daventry and spent a year at Banbury, before joining Kettering for the start of last season.

Striker Sam Bennett played his junior football at Cambridge Utd. After a loan spell at Mildenhall, he joined Yaxley following his release, before a short spell at Soham Rangers. He was then at Wisbech for nine months before joining our hosts at the start of last season.

Centre back Lewis White came from Corby Town at the start of last season, having previously been at Shepshed Dynamo.

Winger Kai O’Keeffe arrived at the start of this season. He is a former Northampton Town Junior and was on loan at Daventry at the end of last season.

James Carvell is a midfielder and another former Derby County Junior. He then moved to Barnsley, but had sixth months in the US at Oregon State before returning to Oakwell. He then moved on to Basford, Ilkeston and Barwell, arriving at Kettering pre-season after sixth months at Ossett Utd.

O’Shane Stewart is a central midfield, a pre-season signing from Kingstonian. He was a junior at Southend United, after they spotted him playing for Wandsworth. He then joined Canvey Island after a loan spell at Welling United,

Central midfielder Tom Scott started at Northampton Town before moving to Sunderland. He was on loan for a few months at Kettering at the end of last season and started this term at Banbury, before returning permanently to the Poppies squad.

Josiah Bridgeman is a winger signed from Burgess Hill. He also played for Haringey Borough and Boreham Wood.

Full back Gedeon Okito was captain of the MK Dons Under 18’s, before joining Dunstable Town. He then moved to Banbury before returning to Dunstable and has also played for Hadley and Stratford.

Defender Luca Purse was another pre-season signing. A Rushden & Diamonds Junior, he has played for Biggleswade , Cogenhoe and Barton Rovers too.

Will Mellors-Blair played some of his youth football at Manchester Utd. A striker, he spent time with Detroit City in the US, as well as playing for Walsall, Kings Lynn, Solihull Moors, Stamford and Loughborough Dynamo.

Luca Miller is a young striker from Kettering’s own youth scheme, who has also played at Desborough, and both goalkeeper Niall Shackleton and striker Freddie Moriarty have also been on the bench this season, Moriarty is a former Watford Junior.

Kick off at Latimer Park is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

After 11 successive wins, the 100% record finally went at Bromsgrove Sporting, when an Oli Greaves penalty made sure Mickleover came home with a point and still undefeated.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Wii Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Andy Dales 8-Joe Bateman 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Ben Sault 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Dan Bradley, Callum Chettle, Rhys Dolan, Fin Ryder, Brandon Ferron.

From the kick off Mickleover quickly eased into their usual possession game, and were on top for the opening 10 minutes, without creating any real opportunity.

But Tee then found Cooper in the visitors attack, but he failed to get his shot in before the danger was eliminated.

Only a minute later Mickleover had their first real attempt on goal, but the final shot blazed over the bar following short corner.

With Greaves, Dales and Sault in midfield, there was no shortage of pace to test the home defence. After 17 minutes there was a Sports break, but a last gasp tackle from Solademi came to the rescue for Bromsgrove.

Despite Mickelover remaining on top in possession, Bromsgrove still looked for the break, and Tee got on the end of one after 28 minutes, only to shoot wide.

Into the final third of the first half Bromsgrove seemed to gain confidence and Bosworth was forced into save low down from another Cooper effort, before a free kick only a minute later saw Cooper slide in to put the ball just past the post.

Cooper did get the ball in the net after 36 minutes but was flagged offside, but as the half fizzled out, it remined 0-0 at the half time whistle.

With both Barnes and Wright missing, Beavon’s hard work up front had failed to trouble the home defence to any consequence, and despite winning hands down in possession, the door was still well open for Bromsgrove to spring a second half surprise.

Another Mickleover corner after 50 minutes, but after being initially cleared, the follow up was just wide. But the push was on to break the deadlock, with Solademi turning away another Mickelover corner, which then set up a Bromsgrove break, which also came to nought,

The deadlock was finally broken 67 minutes in, when Keanu Cooper gave the hosts a 0-1 lead. Their glory was shortlived however, when only five minutes later the referee pointed to the spot and Greaves stepped up to make it 1-1.

Bateman picked up a yellow card after 77 minutes and Bradley came on for Bennett for the last 10 minutes. Bromsgrove had one more chance when Cooper burst through, but Lekuti’s shot was blocked, so it remained 1-1 and our first points of the season were dropped.

We now look to our visit to Kettering on Saturday to return to winning ways.

by Peter Scherer

Its midweek football again when we visit Bromsgrove Sporting for a re-arranged league match on Tuesday night.

Our hosts are currently 10^th in the table, having only managed their first home win against Halesowen on September 26^th, having lost the previous four, despite taking three wins away from home.

They were victors last Saturday though, with a 1-0 win at St.Ives, thanks to Conor Tee’s 4^th minute winner.

Player manager Michael McGrath first arrived at Bromsgrove  in March 2022, having been without a club since leaving Kettering in June 2021. Initially as a player, the centre back  took over as manager part way through last season.

He has a long list of former clubs from a long career, including Redditch, Kidderminster, Worcester, Sligo Rovers and Galway Utd, plus lengthier stays in the Midlands with Rushall, Stratford and Hereford. His first spell at Bromsgrove was in 2018, for three months, before moving on again to Redditch, Stourbridge and Evesham.

First choice goalkeeper Ollie Taylor was signed from Alvechurch in December 2021 and has also played for Redditch. He is the son of former Birmingham City keeper Maik.

Midfielder Tristan Dunkley started in the Birmingham City Youth team, before joining Loughborough in 2014. He joined Hednesford two years later and then Worcester City, before being loaned to Halesowen, and a permanent move to Solihull Moors.

Stops at Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell and Corby followed, before Bromsgrove signed him from Bedworth Utd towards the end of last season.

Midfielder Conor Tee was signed from Rushden last February. He is an ex Leicester City Junior, who joined Brackley Town following his release. He then spent a year at South Shields before moving to Rushden at the beginning of last season.

Miro Pais is a young winger and has been at Bromsgrove for a couple of years, having come through their own youth scheme, to get his break in the first team squad.

Defender or midfielder Ayo Lekuti came on loan from Northampton last January and returned to our hosts again last month.

Right back Aksum White was one of the pre-season signings. He was a West Bromwich Albion Junior before joining Tamworth in 2021. After a loan to Sporting Khalsa, he moved to Worcester Raiders, and he also played for Coleshill Town, before spending last season at Stratford.

Luke Rowe is a central midfielder and another pre-season acquisition. He started last season at Hednesford, after a move from Redditch, but spent the second half at Telford.

Midfielder Jack Newell is a former Northampton Junior, who joined Barwell on his release. He then came to Bromsgrove in July 2021, but was loaned out to Highgate Utd, before becoming a regular first team member.

Ade Francis started out at Walsall, before spending a year in Gibraltar. On his UK return he joined Stratford, before coming to our hosts pre-season.

Midfielder Callum King-Harmes is a former Wales under 15 International, who started his career with Bolton Wanderers. He made five League One starts and was also loaned out to Bamber Bridge, before going to Hednesford on his release.

He spent most of 20/21 at Sutton Coldfield and came to Bromsgrove at the beginning of last season.

Defender Aaron Roberts returned to Bromsgrove pre-season. The club appearance record holder left in 2019 to join Worcester City, who he captained last season.

Left back Ben O’Hanlon was capped by England at Under 16,17 and 18 levels. A former Wolves Junior, he was loaned to Corby Town, before joining Harrogate. He then joined Darlington who loaned him to Hednesford, before a permanent move to Hednesford preceded a spell at Stourbridge. He spent last season at Ilkeston.

Midfielder Billy Shaw arrived at the beginning of this season from Worcester City and has also played for Halesowen.

Kane Auld is another pre-season signing. The former Stoke City and Mansfield Junior defender has also played for Telford, Quorn and Pinchbeck Utd.

Midfielder Keanu Cooper is a pre-season signing too and lists Shifnal Town, Westfields and Shawbury among his former clubs.

Goodluck Eke is a midfielder or striker signed from Daventry Town last month, and is also joined by fellow striker Keiron Berry who came from Gresley Rovers.

Berry started out at West Brom and Walsall and has played for Rushall Olympic, Walsall Wood and Sporting Khalsa too.

Gustavo Sanches-Macedo is another new signing, who came off the bench to score on his debut.

Blake Kindred is another striker but spent part of last season away on a dual registration. Defenders David Soledemi and Syrus Warren-Paul have also been in the squad. Warren-Paul is an ex Worcester Raiders player and has played for Cadbury Athletic and Littleton too.

Kick off at the Victoria Ground is at 7.45.

by Peter Scherer (Images by Steve Ingers)

And so it goes on. Mickleover’s dominant start to the start to the season continued, with another 2-0 win at home to Royston Town last Saturday. They are now 11 points clear of Halesowen, with a plus 29 goal difference!

Starting line-up: 1-OlIver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Will Atkinson 5-Fin Delap 6-Ethan Mann 7-Ben Sault 8-Dan Bradley 9-Andre Wright 10-Stuart Beavon 1—Oli Greaves. Subs: Andy Dales, Rhys Dolan, Callum Chettle, Fin Ryder, Joe Bateman.

It was a cautious but positive start from Mickleover, with much of the play in midfield. 19 minutes in and Greaves forced the first save from the visitors keeper, after telling pass from Sault. Six minutes later Wright had a shot deflected out for a corner, after a free kick was delivered wide into the box.

Sports defence had to be on their toes too as Royston’s Matt Bateman had a header just wide after 29 minutes, and connected with a dangerous ball into the middle four minutes later, but couldn’t beat Bosworth in the Mickleover goal.

Royston were down to 10 men though after 41 minutes, when Wilson-Braithwaite was the last defender and brought down Wright who was in the clear. It was an immediate red card, but Wright had to go off injured too, replaced by Dales on his return from injury.

Greaves had an attempt well saved in time added on, but as the whistle went for half time it remained 0-0.

Bennett, Delap, Mann and Wilson had continued to look solid throughout the first half, but two minutes in to the second half, Delap had to block a close range shot from Murray.

While Bradley continued the more defensive midfield role, Atkinson and Sault began to push forward more, aiding the pace of Dales and Greaves. It was Greaves and Sault combining that brought Sports first shot of the second half, but Sault’s effort was high and wide.

Skipper Wilson went in the book after a mistimed tackle, but the pressure was beginning to build on the visitors defence. Greaves was clear after 56 minutes, but couldn’t make it count, but on the hour the deadlock was finally broken, when Atkinson headed home a Sault cross to make it 1-0 on his birthday.

Sault had a shot just over the bar after 75 minutes too and Greaves headed wide from a Dales cross. But with four minutes left Greaves latched on to another Dales cross and buried it in the bottom to seal a 2-0 victory.

by Peter Scherer

After two weeks of Cup Ties, it’s back to league action this weekend for Mickleover, as Royston FC, currently sixth in the table, visit the Don Amott Arena.

Our visitors started the season with a 0-3 and 0-4 defeat, before taking their first win at Long Eaton. They have since suffered only one further defeat, 0-1 at Nuneaton. 

Royston manager Steve Castle was a midfielder who started as a Tottenham junior, but also played for Leyton Orient, Birmingham and Plymouth among others, before retiring in 2004. He has been in charge at Garden Walk since 2013 and previously managed Talkeley and St Albans and was assistant at Cambridge Utd.

Having ended last season on loan from Cambridge Utd, goalkeeper Luke Chadwick is back on a season long loan. He has also been loaned to St.Neots, Cambridge City and Brentwood.

But Noah Phillips made his debut in goal last Saturday, in their FA Trophy defeat. He is currently on loan from Leyton Orient and was previously loaned to Bishop Stortford and Hornhurch too.

Left back James Brighton is an ex Birmingham City Junior. He joined Cambridge Utd on his release, and was loaned to Hemel and Cambridge City before a permanent move to the latter. He joined our visitors in November 2019 after four years at Kettering.

Experienced defender and captain Adam Murray had played for Cambridge City before arriving at Royston, but well over 200 hundred appearances later he is still a main stay of the side.

Ronnie Henry was a Tottenham youth team player, who was loaned to Southend before making a permanent move to Dublin City in 2004.He then spent seven years at Stevenage, before joining Luton Town, only to return again two years later. Another five years on he joined Billericay, from where Royston signed him in May ’21. He is also Grandson of ex Tottenham double winning defender Ron Henry.

Midfielder Alfie Williams was on loan from Stevenage until the end of last season, before making his stay permanent in July. He started at Tottenham’s Academy Under 12’s but since joining Stevenage he was loaned to Biggleswade, Kings Langley, Hemel and Hayes & Yeading too.

Centre back Mackye Townsend-West was on loan from Stevenage, having previously been loaned  to St.Albans. Like Williams, he made the permanent move in July too.

Tom Newman is a striker or midfielder who has also spent time at Soham on a dual registration, during his five year stay at Royston.

Striker Matt Bateman is in his second spell at Garden Walk. He arrived originally from Berkhamsted in 2019, but moved onto Hemel after one year, before making the return trip again in August ’21.

Striker Flo Tsaguim was a pre-season arrival from Corby Town. He started at Kings Lynn and was loaned to St.Neots and Wisbech, before spending a year at Corby.

Fellow striker Samson Esan came in pre-season too, from Maidenhead. He started out at Enfield and signed for Maidenhead July 2022, after a spell at Potters Bar. He was also loaned to Chelmsford and back to Potters Bar before his release. 

Right back Greg Sandiford is on loan from Cambridge Utd. He also had a spell on loan at Biggleswade at the end of last season.

Striker Joe Boachie only arrived two weeks ago, on a dual registration with Tonbridge. He started out at Concord Rangers and has played for Potters Bar, Braintree and Hungerford too.

Australian born Ben De Lacy-Turner is another new signing. A left winger he was at AFC Wimbledon before a move to Aldershot. He then joined Basingstoke after loans at Harrow Borough, Beaconsfield and Kings Langley and started this season at Redbridge. He played for England at Under 17 level too.

Midfielder Cain Keller arrived from Kings Langley at the start of this season. He was previously at Biggleswade and Hendon.

Josh Coldicott-Stevens was at Hitchin for over three years, before coming to our visitors at the start of the season. Another midfielder, he has also played for Boreham Wood and Kings Langley.

Striker Juwon Akintunde came from Northwood at the beginning of August. He started as a Junior at Queens Park Rangers, Brentford and Barnet. But after a spell at Maidenhead he went across the Atlantic, playing for Cincinnati State College, West Virginia Wesleyan and GPS Portland Phoenix. He has also played for East Grinstead, Harrow Borough, Chalfont St.Peter and Aylesbury Utd.

Defender Ange Djadja came in pre-season too from Farnham Town, having previously been at Walton & Hersham.

Dequane Wilson-Braithwaite is a young defender who started out at Tottenham Hotspur, before moving to Luton. He has played for Potton Utd, Carshalton, Potters Bar, Welling and Maldon & Tiptree too.

Defender Harry Beckett is on loan from Cambridge Utd and has also had spells out on loan at Concord Rangers and St.Neots too.

Goalkeeper Ethan Gannon, Midfielder Franco Ciuffa and defender Lewis Williams have also been on the bench recently, having come through Royston’s own youth scheme.

Kick off 3pm at the Don Amott as usual, as Sports try and make it 11 straight league wins this season and to consolidate the top spot in the table.

by Peter Scherer (Images by Steve Ingers)

An injury time equaliser from Barwell, following two earlier goals by Stuart Beavon, led to a dramatic penalty shoot out and 4-2 win!

Starting line-up: 1 Jim Pollard 2 Jake Bennett 3 Rhys Dolan 4 Will Atkinson 5 Fin Delap 6 Ethan Mann 7 Callum Chettle 8 Joe Bateman 9 Andre Wright 10 Stuart Beavon 11 Oliver Greaves. Subs: Dan Bradley, Oliver Bosworth, Ben Sault, Fin Ryder, Zac Sandhu, Ryan Wilson.

Barwell were first on the attack when Flanagan fired over the bar after picking up a second minute corner, before Hill shot wide seven minutes later.

But only 15 minutes in Ward put his own keeper Griffiths under pressure, with a short back pass. Beavon managed to intercept and slotted the ball past the advancing keeper, 1-0.

Both sides had a fairly even amount of possession, but as the half hour mark approached Hill put a low cross for the hosts and Hickey fired home the equaliser, 1-1.

Barwell kept pushing in their quest to go in at half time with a lead, but 37 minutes in and Enoru beat the defence, but his cross found Hickey whose effort was blocked on the line.

Pollard saved another Hickey effort after 40 minutes, before Edwards found Holman whose shot was just over the bar, so it remained 1-1 as the half time whistle went.

Barwell made a pacy start to the second half, but Holman’s long range attempt after 47 minutes was well off target. Having withstood the initial barrage Mickleover began to hold firm and after Hickey went close for our hosts after 69 minutes, Beavon made it 2-1 a couple of minutes later.

With Mickleover continuing to defend well, the game was five minutes into injury time when Holman was in space and fired into the roof of the net to make it 2-2, so time ran out and it was down penalties.

Memories of Stowmarket last year must have come flooding back, but as Hickey stepped up for the first penalty, his shot missed the target.

Wright put Mickleover’s in before Brown-Hill scored for Barwell. Greaves then hit the back of the net before Pollard managed to save Holman’s effort.

Atkinson made it 3-2 for Mickleover before Master scored for Barwell. So it came down to Bradley’s kick to deserve the tie, which he duly put away 4-2, with Mickleover safely into the next round draw.