By Peter Scherer

Following our league success, it’s now time to focus on the FA Cup, after our home success against Ilkeston.

Our visitors are Spalding Utd, from the Northern Premier Midlands League and they have had a similar start to Mickleover. In the league they have won all four games and currently lie second.

They have already ended Shepshed Dynamo’s FA Cup hopes after a replay and beat Stratford 2-1 in the last round. But last Saturday they went out of the FA Trophy at Sheffield FC, 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

They were in Cup action again too Tuesday night, travelling to Grantham Town for a win in the Lincolnshire Senior Cup.

Manager Elliott Sandy is still a registered player and has been on the bench for a number of games already this season. A striker, he started out at Brackley, but after a loan at Oxford City, he went to Dunstable.

Further moves have taken him to Kettering, Rushden & Diamonds, Stamford, Newport Pagnell, Sileby Rangers and Banbury, before a four-year spell at Corby preceded his arrival at Spalding in July 2022. He has been in charge since March this year.

Goalkeeper Tony Breeden was a pre-season signing from Nuneaton, where he had spent four years. He started at Leamington, before moving on to Kidderminster and Tamworth and then went back to Leamington in 2013 and stayed six years, before a move to Bromsgrove.

Stephen Morley is a pre-season signing too. After starting at Hinckley he had five years at Leamington, before playing for Corby, Brackley, Tamworth and Telford. He then returned to Leamington for another three years in September 2019, before spells at Kettering and Hednesford preceded his move to Spalding.

Centre back Nathan Stanfield has been with the Tulips since July 2021, his third spell with the club. Having started at Spalding he went to Boston Utd in 2011, who also loaned him to Hucknall Town.

He was back at Spalding at the start of the 2013/14 season, but after four years service moved onto Gainsborough, but was out of football for the 20/21 season, before heading back to our guests again.

Sam Cartwright is another centre back and an ex Peterborough Utd junior. He was loaned to Kings Lynn, Leatherhead, St.Ives, Grantham, Kettering, Woking and Oxford City, before joining St.Ives on his release in August last year, but only a week later came to Spalding.

Left back Sam Warburton started out at Northampton Town, before signing for Rugby Town on his release. He quickly moved on to Nuneaton and Kings Lynn, before starting the 2017/18 season at Corby. Four years later he moved to Rushden & Diamonds and came to Spalding from Bedford in March this year.

Kyle Barker is a defensive midfielder, who has spent most of his career in Peterborough. Starting as a Junior at United, he was loaned to Lowestoft and Kings Lynn, but joined Peterborough Sports following his release in July 2022. Two months later he arrived at Spalding.

Lewis Hilliard is another defensive midfielder who started out at Rushden & Diamonds. He had loan spells at Ware, Hemel and Banbury, before being released to join St.Neots in 2010.

St.Albans, Boston Utd, St.Ives and Peterborough Sports followed, with a couple of loan spells at Yaxley. He came to Spalding last November.

Joe Curtis is a central midfielder and pre-season signing from Bromsgrove. He started off at Southampton and after a spell at Brackley, had his first spell at Spalding in 2015.

After one year he moved to Rushden & Diamonds, staying a further three years until he joined Stratford. He had a year each at Corby and Bromsgrove, before coming to Spalding.

James Clifton plays in midfield too and after starting his career with a two-year spell at Brackley, he moved onto Oxford City for another two-years. Nuneaton, Boston Utd, Alfreton, Corby and Basford followed before a return trip to Corby preceded his arrival at Spalding for the start of last season. He is assistant manager too.

Glen Walker’s a midfielder too, a pre-season signing from Brackley, where he had spent 12 years. He has also played for Banbury and Corby.

Portuguese born Wilson Carvalho can play right or left wing and started off at Fulham’s Academy. Loans at Stevenage and North Greenford followed, before a permanent move to Port Vale.

He was loaned out again to Hemel, Corby and Ilkeston, before making it permanent again at Corby. Kettering, Oxford City, Stratford, Accrington, Macclesfield, Hampton & Richmond, Hendon, Walton Casuals, Hayes & Yeading and Westfield were next in line, before going to Kings Langley September last year and arrived at Spalding in pre-season. During his time at Accrington he has made nine league appearances.

Striker Jordan Graham came through of the youth schemes at both Leicester City and Oxford Utd. After loans at Didcot and Farnborough he then spent three years at Mansfield Town where he made 10 starts, moving on to Tamworth, Rushden & Diamonds, Kettering and a loan spell at Hednesford, before signing for Spalding pre-season.

Midfielder Danny Draper came from Wisbech in mid 2022, having played for Bedford, Eynesbury Rovers and Corby Town.

Dan Sweeney is another well-travelled striker, who spent his early career at Kidderminster. He had loan spells at Halesowen, Stourport, Rushall Olympic and Sutton Coldfield, before a permanent move to Stourport.

He then joined Solihull Moors who loaned him to Hednesford, Leamington and Bradford Park Avenue, before going to Redditch. After further moves to Hednesford and Redditch came Bromsgrove and Macclesfield, from where he arrived at our visitors pre-season.

Defenders Stacey Freeman and  Connor Peters, striker Mike Taylor have also been in the squad this season.

Kick off as usual is 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, FA CUP ACTION ON YOUR DOORSTEP!!

by Peter Scherer

In what proved to be the toughest test so far this season, Mickleover came away from AFC Telford with another three points, to make it eight successive wins.

Goals in each half from Andy Dales and Andre Wright now gives Sports an eight–point lead at the top of the table.

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-Andre Wright 10-Oli Greaves 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: George Nunn, Jim Pollard, Ben Sault, Stuart Beavon, Joe Bateman.

The hosts earned a corner in the opening minute, which was safely headed away by Delap. But Mickleover soon began to settle on a drizzly night and Dales went on his first run, cutting inside from the right wing, but under pressure from Dinanga, his crossfield ball failed to make progress.

Telford were seeking out leading scorer Gibson at every opportunity, but a long ball after eight minutes then saw his cross cleared before reaching the target.

Dales then found himself with space down the right, cut in to outpace the defence, firing past keeper Hall’s left to make it 1-0. Only a minute later Dales was in the box again, but on this occasion his effort was headed away.

With confidence visibly growing for Mickleover, Wright went close after 13 minutes, with a deflected header just wide of the right hand upright, but no corner was given.

Gibson had a half chance for Telford a minute later, but he was successfully challenged before getting his shot in, butthen Walker managed to dispossess Bradley in the middle, passing to Mitford, whose cross earned a corner.

From the corner Telford seemed to work backwards, as Sports closed ranks with both defence and midfield pushing forward.

Bradley and Atkinson’s solidity in midfield was allowing both Greaves and Dales to make positive breaks, which the home defence seemed to struggle with. Greaves had a 20th minute effort from outside the box blocked and then Dales found Barnes on the right. He couldn’t get any space, but kept possession.

Wright then beat the defence down the left, but his cross just missed everyone’s heads.

Myles tried a long speculative shot for Telford after 22 minutes, but his effort was well wide of Bosworth’s left–hand post.

Barnes was then brought down on the edge of the box, but as Wilson and Greaves stood over the ball for the free kick, Dales had a crack, but straight at keeper Hall.

Wilson was then penalised for bringing down Myles, with Dinanga picking up the rebound from Myles’ initial shot, his effort just wide of Bosworth’s left–hand post.

Telford were trying to force Mickleover back, but it wasn’t working and Greaves got on the end of another break, but his effort was easily held by keeper Hall, as the hosts began to have more possession.

Myles put in a couple of good crosses as Telford pushed for the equaliser, but the best result proved to be a 38th minute header over the bar by Gibson.

Greaves then burst out for another charge. Wright put the ball into the middle and Barnes effort was cleared off the line after bouncing up and hitting the bar. “How did that ball bounce so high,” said Barnes.

Telford had another couple of attacks before half time, but with Delap and Mann showing aerial domination, they failed to trouble the Mickleover goal, but with two minutes left of the 45, Barnes cut in from the right, Greaves followed up and shot just wide of the left–hand post, so it remained 1-0 as the whistle went.

As the second half got underway Telford had an early shot, easily taken by Bosworth, but then a loose ball by the hosts defence was picked up by Dales, earning another corner.

But 50 minutes in and Delap was pulled up for a foul just outside the right–hand edge of the box, Mitford stepped up to blast home the equaliser into the far corner, giving Bosworth little chance.

It wasn’t level for long however, as a strong attack down the left saw the ball arrive into a crowded goal month, with Wright getting the decisive touch to make it 2-1.

Appeals for a penalty were waved away after Telford claimed the prone Bradley had handled, but followed up with another shot blocked by the Mickleover defence.

Barnes had another good effort blocked, but the hosts were throwing everything into attack as we approached the hour mark.

Hodgkiss and Dinanga both had shots blocked, but the Mickleover back four continued to look solid and repelled each attack, well supported by Atkinson and Bradley,

There was a bit of a scramble on the Mickleover line after 74 minutes which was eventually cleared and seemed to act as a wake–up call for the final 15 minutes.

Bosworth made a couple of saves, but despite the increase in possession, Telford weren’t creating many chances.

Sault, Beavon and Bateman came on as subs for Mickleover, with Barnes, Wright and Dales making way, as all 11 players closed ranks for a fight to the end of the game.

Gibson had a great chance in the final minutes, but his toe poke went over the bar, while a 94th minute corner even brought keeper Hall into the Mickleover box, where he joined the other 21 players!

But the ball was hooked out of defence, heading for the empty Telford goal, but just a couple of feet wide as the final whistle blew.

We now have a break from league action until AFC Sudbury at home on the 23rd, as its FA Cup time this weekend, welcoming Spalding Utd to the Don Amott Arena.

by Peter Scherer

Seven points clear at the top of the table, Mickleover now head to AFC Telford on Tuesday evening to aim for eight in a row.

Our hosts AFC Telford were relegated from the National League North at the end of last season and have had a mixed start this season too.

They started with a 3-0 win over Royston and hammered Nuneaton 7-0, but more recently had 0-0 at home to Halesowen and lost 0-1 in the FA Cup to Coalville Town. A 1-1 at Redditch had been their only point so far away from home, until last Saturdays 3-2 win at St.Ives, moving them up to eighth in the table.

Manager Kevin Wilkin was a striker with Cambridge City, Northampton Town, Nuneaton and Grantham, before becoming Nuneaton’s manager in 2006.

After eight seasons he moved onto Wrexham, but after 18 months of his two-year contract he moved to Brackley Town, winning the 2018 FA Trophy. He has been in charge at Telford since October last year.

First choice keeper Brandon Hall started out at Charlton Athletic, before spending seven months at the Nike Academy. His next move was up to Scotland with St.Mirren, but returned south with Hayes & Yeading.

Ebbsfleet, Lewes, Woking, Kidderminster and Hereford were his next stops, with a loan spell at Banbury. He came to our hosts pre-season, after a year with Gloucester City and is an England C International too.

George Scott is Hall’s deputy, having returned to the club last month, after a year without a club.

Centre back Fraser Kerr started his career at Motherwell before moving South with Birmingham City. He spent two years with the Blues, before an initial loan back to Motherwell became permanent.

He moved on to Cowdenbeath and Stenhousemuir too, before moving to Gateshead, with 54 Scottish Premiership appearances and 45 in League One, plus Europa League Qualifiers too.

Stops at Hartlepool, Torquay and Chesterfield followed, before spending last season at York City. He has represented Scotland at Under 16, 17,19 and 21 levels and was another pre-season arrival at Telford.

Jordan Piggot is another centre back. He started out at West Bromwich Albion before heading for Scotland too. He played for Dundee and East Fife, before heading to North Wales with Bangor City.

Halesowen was his next stop, moving to Solihull Moors after a year, spending another year before a move to Gloucester City on loan. He spent four months at Telford at the beginning of last year and then returned to our hosts permanently for the start of last season.

Pre-season signing Orrin Pendley is a centre back too. He started at Highgate before joining Redditch. He soon moved on to Kettering and Rushall Olympic, before spending a year at Tamworth and spent last season at Hereford.

Welsh teenager Steffan Jones is another centre back and pre-season signing too, having come through Bala Town’s youth scheme.

Nathan Fox is a left back who spent his junior career at both Notts County and Derby County. Following his Rams release he joined Corby Town, moving to Rugby Town after a four year stay. Only a month later he moved again, with a very short stay at Coalville, he briefly went back to Corby, before joining Sutton Coldfield.

Redditch, Hednesford, Kings Lynn and Alfreton Town followed by a year at Buxton, preceded starting last season at Peterborough Sports. He is another of Telford’s pre-season signings.

Having graduated through Telford’s own youth scheme, left back Brad Blood is now in his third season with the first team squad.

Club skipper Jared Hodgkiss played his early football at Wolves and West Bromwich Albion. Right back by choice, he was loaned to Aberdeen and played seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

After a further loan at Northampton, he joined Forest Green Rovers on his release, staying almost five years, before spending another two years at Kidderminster, who also loaned him to Torquay. His next move was Macclesfield, before a four year-spell at Hereford preceded his pre-season move to Telford.

Right back Ellis Myles is another right back and pre-season signing, who started off at Leicester City. He moved to Brackley Town on his release, before going to Rugby, Stamford and Corby.

He went back to Brackley in 2016 and stayed six years, before moving to Boston Utd and had eight months at Kettering before his Telford move.

Midfielder James McQuilkin is a Northern Ireland at Under 17, 19 and 21, but began his career in the Czech Republic, with Zlin B and Tescoma Zlin, before returning to the UK with Hereford in 2009.

He joined Walsall in July 2013 and after a year moved onto Hednesford. But he was soon on the move again to Torquay, before a stay at Kidderminster, preceded his first spell at Telford for the start of the 2017/18 season.

After just over two years he returned to Hereford, before stops at Stourbridge and Hednesford were followed by his Telford return in July.

Central midfielder George Forsyth has spent almost his whole career in the West Midlands. Having started at Kidderminster, he was loaned to Halesowen before joining Gloucester City.

Worcester and Stourbridge were followed by a return to Halesowen and Hereford followed by another return visit to

Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, who loaned him to Kettering, from where he joined Telford pre-season.

Midfielder Remi Walker continues the list of new pre-season signings, having arrived following his release from Birmingham City. He spent the last few months of last season on loan at Alvechurch.

Ty Webster is a midfielder too, who arrived last month, after being released by Crewe Alexandra.

Right midfielder Byron Moore is one of the select retained players, having joined Telford from Torquay February last year. He has over 400 league appearances to his name in Leagues One and Two, having started out at Crewe.

He was loaned to Kidsgrove Athletic but joined Port Vale on his release. After two years he moved on to Bristol Rovers and Bury, before spending two years at Plymouth Argyle.

Striker Montel Gibson has six goals under his belt already following his pre-season arrival from Ilkeston. He was a Notts County Junior and was loaned out to Romulus, Barwell, Hednesford and Sutton Coldfield, before going to Ilkeston after his release in 2017, having made 24 League Two appearances, scoring two goals.

Spells at Redditch, Bedworth and Halesowen followed, before joining Grimsby Town. He was the loaned to Altrincham, before a permanent move to Stourbridge, but started 2022 back at Ilkeston. He spent six months on loan at Telford at the end of last season and returned again on a permanent basis pre-season.

Striker Ricardo Dinanga started out at Cork City, before Coventry City brought him across the Irish Sea. He had loans at Hereford and Nuneaton last season, but came to Telford following his release in July.

Tre Mitford is another new signing, having come from Boston Utd. The striker started off at Aylesbury Utd, and has played at Bedford, Kettering, Brackley and Gloucester City too.

Another recent arrival from Brackley Twariq Yusuf can play as a striker or midfielder.

Finally full back Ellis Myles-Tebbutt is another former Brackley player who arrived pre-season. He has also played for Rugby Town, Stamford, Corby and Boston Utd, having spent last season at Kettering.

by Peter Scherer

Another second half goal blitz made it seven league wins in a row, as Mickleover sunk Leiston 5-0, one of last seasons play off losers.

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-Ben Sault 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: George Nunn, Jim Pollard, Dan Bradley, Andre Wright, Joe Bateman,

After a fairly even opening 15 minutes, Mickleover began to take charge. Leading scorer Barnes added to his tally 22 minutes in, with a close-range shot, following a slight deflection 1-0.

As Sports continued to push forward there were penalty appeals waved away after 37 minutes, when Dales appeared to have been tripped in the area. Only two minutes later Barnes burst through again, but as he cut inside his final shot was just over the bar, taking us to half time with a one goal lead.

Leiston had a penalty appeal waved away early into the second half, but with Bosworth not seriously tested and the ever solid back four of Bennett, Delap, Mann and Wilson, helping the push forward, the attacks gained momentum again.

After 56 minutes a long ball out of defence found Greaves, who spotted keeper Donkin off his line, and lobbed home number two from the edge of the box, 2-0.

We only had to wait four minutes for goal number three, when Barnes outpaced the visiting defence, took the ball around the back and slotted home past the advancing Donkin, 3-0 on the hour.

The combination of Bennett and Wilson on the overlaps, with Atkinson controlling central midfield, to set up Greaves, Dales and Sault, Mickleover were totally dominant.

After 75 minutes Dales cut inside from the charge down the wing, gave a deft flick to Atkinson in support, who ably cracked home number four in the left-hand corner, 4-0.

With the game secured, Bateman, Wright and Nunn came on for Dales, Beavon and Barnes, but four minutes later we had number five. Greaves had attacked down the right, then layed the ball back to Bennett, who placed a powerful strike into the bottom right-hand corner. 5-0.

It was another magnificent team effort that consolidates Sports lead at the top of the table, as we now go to AFC Telford on Tuesday evening, before next weeks home Cup Tie against Spalding Utd.

by Peter Scherer

With six wins out of six in the league and last week’s FA Cup success, Mickleover are riding high at the top of the league.

We have a really good squad and can swap players around. Apart from a couple of players I don’t expect everyone to play every game, but we now have options, with Rhys Dolan and Will Trueman still to get fit again and Joe Bateman only just back too.

said gaffer John McGrath.

Having just missed out on promotion last year, Leiston haven’t had the best of starts to this season. At home they have beaten Telford taking four points from a possible nine, but beat Stratford away and knocked St.Ives out of the FA Cup last weekend.

We drew 2-2 with them at home last December, having lost 1-3 on the opening day of the season.

Currently 12^th in the table joint managers Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger have retained the majority of last seasons squad.

Goalkeeper Sam Donkin was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford. He made his 100^th appearance for our visitors last season.

Oliver Dawson is the reserve keeper and a product of their own youth scheme, but yet to make his first team debut.

Full back Wyatt Hill was a pre-season 22/23 arrival, having come from Wroxham in June following a spell in US College football.

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 Rossi Jarvis was capped at under 18 and under 19 by England and was a Norwich City junior. He was loaned to Torquay and Rotherham, before joining Luton Town on his release and netted almost 100 appearances as a league player.

Spells at Barnet, Cambridge Utd and Lowestoft followed, before joining Leiston from Dereham Town at the beginning of last season.

Brother Ryan 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.

Left back Ollie Saunders came from Braintree in November 2019. He started as a Norwich junior too, before moving on to Grimsby Town. He is captained the side of late in Dunbar’s absence.

Midfielder Jake Spooner arrived at the beginning of last season from Harleston Town and has played for Beccles Town too.

Jamaican International striker Jamar Loza has scored four of Leiston’s 11 league goals this season, but missed last weekends cup win. A former Norwich City youngster, he had loans at Coventry City, Orent, 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 visitors 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.

Winger Kieran Higgs was playing for Hungate Rovers when Norwich City spotted him. After a loan at Solihull Moors he was released and joined Lowestoft, who loaned him to St.Ives. He came to Leiston last month.

Jack Manly s a young midfielder currently on loan from Ipswich until the end of the season.

Fellow midfielder Camerom Rayworth and strikers Joe McNeil and Charlie Atkin are home produced players, who have come through the ranks. Rayworth recently made his league debut.

Right back Eddie Jackson is a former Norwich City Junior and been one of the ever present players this season.

Kick off 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, BE THERE!!

by Peter Scherer (Images: Captured Moments Photography Derby)

Mickleover march on to the next round of the FA Cup, after three second half goals sealed a 3-0 victory over neighbours Ilkeston Town.

Starting line-up: 1-James Pollard 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ryan Wilson 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: George Nunn, Oliver Bosworth, Joe Bateman, Dan Bradley, Brandon Ferron, Andre Wright, Fin Ryder.

After an even opening five minutes Dales fired in Mickleover’s first shot from the edge of the box, just over the bar seven minutes in.

But Ilkeston were doing their best to push forward too, attempting to test Delap and Mann in the middle of the Sports defence. Walker and Waite combined for the visitors, but Hallam’s chip over the home defence found Waite offside.

But with Bennett and Wilson pressing forward down the wings and the solid looking midfield of Atkinson, Sault and Greaves, Mickleover were starting pile the pressure on.

Approaching the half hour mark Dales tried another long shot to test keeper Yates and only a minute later Greaves forced another save low down to the near post.

The Ilkeston defence had withstood the pressure and Pollard had to save a Hallam effort too at near post, following a 36^th minute free kick.

The visitors tried their luck again three minutes later, having spotted Pollard off his line, but the shot was over the bar. There were a couple of late breaks from Sports as the first half  drew to a close, but as the whistle went it remained 0-0.

Delap found himself yellow carded after 51 minutes, but the deadlock was finally broken just a minute later, with a well taken goal by Beavon 1-0.

Bradley was the first of the Mickleover subs to come on when he replaced Sault after 71 minutes, but with Ilkeston trying to seek an equaliser, there were appeals for a penalty for handball, waved away by the referee.

Barely a minute later there was a penalty, but it was Mickleover on the receiving end, with Greaves stepping up to beat Yates, 2-0 after 75 minutes.

Sports made a double substitution with nine minutes left, as Wright and Nunn came on for Beavon and Barnes. But with Delap up with the attack, he made it 3-0 after 86 minutes, to secure Mickleover’s name in the gat for the next round of the FA Cup.

 

by Peter Scherer

It’s FA Cup time and we welcome near neighbours Ilkeston Town to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Compared to the side we played in the league last season, there are only three players left, including skipper Kieran Fenton.

We took three points off them in the league last season, winning 3-2 away and drawing 1-1 at home, and had a 1-1 draw at the Manor in pre-season too.

While Mickleover are riding the crest of wave at the top of the Southern Premier League Central Division, it’s not been plain sailing for our visitors.

At the beginning of August former Buxton manager Gary Hayward was put in charge replacing Jamie Ward and having moved from the Southern to the Northern Premier League, they started the season with three successive wins.

With 13 goals for and only two against, they were riding high too, but the tide has turned with three consecutive defeats, leaving them ninth in the table.

First choice keeper is former Derby County Junior Matt Yates. He was signed pre-season from Gainsborough, where he spent two years following his Rams release. He also had spells on loan at Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford.

Reserve keeper is Harvey Woodward who helped out Kimberley MW last season and is yet to make his first team debut.

Skipper and centre back Kieran Fenton is a former England Under 19 International, who started his career with Nottingham Forest. He was loaned to Tamworth before joining Worksop. He then moved to Basford and Coalville, before signing for Ilkeston from Quorn in November 2019.

Left back Henri Wilder came from Alfreton late last year. He started at Brighton before joining Mansfield Town. After a loan at Lewes, he joined Tamworth in 2019, moving to Alfreton three years later.

Ross Barrows is a centre back on loan from Scunthorpe Utd. He started out at Halifax Town and was loaned to Frickley Athletic and North Ferriby, before a permanent move to Grantham. After spells at Kings Lynn and Alfreton, he signed for Scunthorpe in July this year.

Luke Cox is a centre back too, who started his career with Sheffield Wednesday. He joined Redditch following his release and was at Chasetown, before a six-month spell with Long Eaton preceded his pre-season arrival at the Manor Ground.

Right back Declan Eratt-Thompson is another Sheffield Wednesday Junior. He was at Stocksbridge in between two spells with the Owls and came to Ilkeston in August ’22 following his release.

Jamie Hanson is a defensive midfielder, a former England Under 20 International and Rams Junior. After a loan at Wigan Athletic, he joined Oxford Utd, racking up well over 100 games in the Championship and League One. He was without a club for a year, until joining Ilkeston pre-season.

An attacking midfielder or winger, Jordy Hallam was a pre-season singing from Scunthorpe, having spent part of last season on loan too.

A former Sheffield Utd Junior, he was loaned to Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield before joining Scunthorpe in 2019. He made 28 league appearances, scoring four goals.

With five goals already this season Jamie Walker can play striker or attacking midfielder. He has played for Basford, Long Eaton and Alfreton, before coming to Ilkeston a month ago.

Teenaged winger Jack Tolley was a pre-season arrival from Kidderminster, who he joined in 2020 after being released by Shrewsbury Town. He also had a loan spell at Bromsgrove last season.

Striker Nathan Tyson now 41 years of age, has over 20 years of experience behind him. The ex England Under 20 International has made over 500 appearances in every division of the football league and scored more than 100 goals.

He started at Reading and after loans at Maidenhead, Swansea and Cheltenham, he moved to Wycombe Wanderers. A £1 million pound striker when he moved to Nottingham Forest in 2005, he stayed six years before moving to Derby County.

Blackpool, Fleetwood, Notts County and Doncaster were his next stops, before a spell in Scotland with Kilmarnock. He then returned to Wycombe and Notts County, before joining Chesterfield and spent last season at Grantham before coming to Ilkeston pre-season.

Basile Zottos is a pre-season signing too from Sheffield FC. Striker or winger, he impressed in our pre-season friendly. He was a Sheffield Wednesday Junior and also played for Ossett Town.

Striker Declan Howe is the newest signing, having come from Alfreton last week. He has previously been with Staveley MW, Darlington and Cleethorpes.

Mitchell Woakes is a midfielder signed in February and is on a dual registration with Heather St.John’s. He previously played for Hednesford Town.

Former Rams Junior midfielder Connor Dixon was on loan with the Robins for a few months last season too, but following a further loan at Farsley Celtic, he was released in the summer and is back at the Manor Ground permanently.

Defender Eli Christie impressed over the pre-season, primarily a full back, he is another Rams Junior, yet to make his Ilkeston debut.

Tao Alexander-Tucker is a pacey winger, recently arrived from Lincoln City, having started off at Nottingham Forest.

Ethan Hill has also arrived over the last week, a midfielder who started to Mansfield Town and played for Kettering and Telford too.

It’s 3pm kick-off as usual and fans are requested to arrive early.

by Peter Scherer

It was top of the table Mickleover against bottom of the table Long Eaton at Grange Park, with four second half goals sealing it for Mickleover 5-0.

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

After a fairly even start, Mickleover had their first shot on goal after eight minutes, when Nunn got on the end of a slow but precise build up, but his shot failed to trouble keeper Durrant.

Two minutes later another patient build up ended when Bradley lofted a ball into the box, but it was too close to the keeper.

Dales was the first to give Durrant a real test 12 minutes in, cutting in from the left wing, his curling ball was palmed away for a corner. He was in full flow again two minutes but was hacked down by Bertran.

Sault then started to come forward more on the right wing, and was given freedom to cross the ball in, but it proved to be slightly too long for everyone in the box.

The screw was beginning to turn on the Long Eaton defence, with Sault and Greaves on the right, and Wilson and Dales on the left, with increasing determination.

Greaves got the ball into the box after 16 minutes, but no one made contact. But on the 20 minute mark Greaves found Nunn, who was tripped on the edge of the box. The free kick was on target, but bounced off the wall and out of danger.

It was Greaves on the attack again only a minute later that opened the scoring. As he crossed right to let just outside the box, he suddenly turned to his right and fired into the roof of the net, with the keeper well beaten, 2-0.

Soon after the restart Dales floated a lovely ball into the middle, but Nunn’s shot was blocked. There was almost a third after 28 minutes though, when some clever holding play on the right from Wright, found Dales, who tried a back heel just inches wide of the left and post.

Bradley then picked up a loose ball to fire his shot over the bar, but on the half hour Dales was pushed and pulled by full back Cocks, who then received a yellow card after Dales finally hit the deck. The following free kick was headed away for a corner and danger cleared for the moment.

Durrant had to save another Dales attempt after 34 minutes, before Greaves was clean through only to be obstructed at the critical moment.

Sports were being given so much time to play out of defence, but were unable to turn it into more goals. Nunn had a 40^th minute shot blocked and a minute later a Wright and Dales one two, saw Dales just lose control at the final moment.

It was even close when Wright set up Dales with a minute of normal time left in the first half, as he cut inside he fired past Durrant, but agonisingly watched his shot bounce off the post.

Wilson almost got through, but was just offside, while right on the 45 Dales beat four defenders for pace. He couldn’t get space to shoot, but Greaves picked it up and had his shot tipped over.

Delap then headed just over from the corner, after a cross from Nunn, then Bradley found himself in space on the left. His cross was perfection and landed for Wright, whose effort had the keeper beaten again, only to trickle wide of the right hand post, but to his own disgust.

Long Eaton had an early and random shot early into the second half, but it was well over the bar. But Mickleover were soon calling the shots and after Dales had tormented the defence again, he cut in to find Greaves who fired home his second to make if 2-0.

Barely a minute later Sports made it 3-0. Although Greaves was on hand, it was Durrant’s attempted clearance that found it’s way into the net, after scything across the ball with his right foot.

Nyahwema put in a good shot for the hosts after 54 minutes, ably saved by Bosworth, but Mickleover continued to charge forward.

Sault then went on a long run down the right, cut inside and layed it off to Greaves who shot just wide. There was a free kick for Sports just after the hour mark and right in front of goal, but Dales effort was just over.

There were more goals to come though, when Greaves cut in from the left after 63 minutes. His pass landed nicely for Wright, who was right in front of goal and willingly side footed home for 4-0 and his first goal in Mickleover colours.

After a wild and random effort from Long Eaton, Sports first sub was Ferron on for Atkinson. But goal number five soon arrived after 66 minutes. There were appeals for offside but Wright played to the whistle, and with head down ran in to fire home his second and make it 5-0.

Bennett then came on for Dales, but a loose back pass almost handed Mickleover a sixth, when it almost found Greaves.

Nunn then fired another shot just past the post and Hakeem’s attempt for Long Eaton was kept out by a combination of Delap and Bosworth.

Beavon was the third sub, on for the last 15minutes as Greaves departed. But Wright headed just wide after 83 minutes from a Nunn cross and then Delap tried his luck but fired over.

Ferron’s pace was testing the hosts right back and following a free kick, his cross gave Beavon a half chance. With three minutes left another excellent Ferron cross just missed Nunn’s head, so it remained 5-0 and consolidated our lead at the table to five points, after Stourbridge drew.