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.

by Peter Scherer

This Bank Holiday Monday we are off to Long Eaton, where it has been a tough start for the newly promoted side.

Whereas Mickleover have won all five games to top the the table, Long Eaton have yet to secure a point, having lost all five games so far, going down 0-5 to Halesowen on Saturday.

They had a change in management team just before the start of the season, when Lewis McGugan and Brad Munn came in from Loughborough Dynamo.

Midfielder McGugan was capped by England at Under 17 and 19 level and is best known for his time at Nottingham Forest. But he also played for Sheffield Wednesday, Watford and Northampton.

Munn was a midfielder too, starting off at Burton Albion, before playing for Bedworth and Coalville and starting his partnership with McGugan at Loughborough.

Keeper Ross Durrant started out at Nottingham Forest and was loaned to Ilkeston, before spending a month at Mickleover in 2016.  He made a permanent move to Ilkeston on his release, before moving to Boston Utd, North Ferriby, Alfreton, Matlock and Belper. He came to Long Eaton in March.

Ed Cook is a centre back recently arrived from Loughborough. He started off at Burnley, before joining Hampton & Richmond. He was loaned to Farnborough, then joined Loughborough for his first spell. Kettering, Stamford and Grantham followed, spending a year with the Gingerbreads before returning to Loughborough at the beginning of last season.

Left back Cieron Keane is capped at Under 16 & 19 by the Republic of Ireland. He is an ex Wolves Junior and had a year at Notts Couty, making two first team appearances. He then moved on to Nuneaton, Worcester, Kidderminster, Alfreton, Boston Utd, Basford, Leamington, Bradford Park Avenue and Stafford, before spending two years at Gainsborough before his pre-season arrival with our hosts.

Full back Sam Parker is an ex Derby County Junior, starting his third season at our Grange Park since arriving from Kimberley MW.

Right back Callum Cocks came from Loughborough with the new management team. He has played for Royal Artillery and Army Reserve teams as well as Bemerton Heath Harlequins.

Centre back Callum Minkley has arrived from Gainsborough too, where he spent two years following his release by Derby County.

Keiran Walker has been a key player in the Long Eaton defence, since his arrival in 2019 from Basford. He was previously at Boston Utd, Ilkeston, Matlock, Carlton and Rainworth MW.

Central defender or midfielder Riece Bertram was signed last December, having played for Basford, Belper Town, Carlton and Ilkeston.

Full back Larell King came from Mickleover early last season. He had previously been at Burton Albion and Mansfield Town.

Marley Fearon is a product of Long Eaton’s own youth scheme. A young centre back, he was loaned to Heanor Town last season too.

Central midfielder Curtis Davies recently made his stay permanent, after a spell on loan last season from Mansfield Town. He has previously been at Sheffield Utd, Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham.

Cameron Philp played his early football at West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City, before moving onto Tamworth. Moves to Stratford and Stourport Swifts followed for the wide midfielder, before signing for our hosts pre-season.

Striker Adam Clark is one of a number of pre-season signings, arriving following his release from Rotherham.

Kameron Campbell is an experienced striker. He returned to Long Eaton in pre-season, after playing at Basford. He was also at Nots County and has played for Anstey Nomads and Carlton too.

Micah Jebbison is another striker, starting his third season at the club, having also had spells at Altrincham, Ilkeston and Quorn.

Fellow Alex Hardwick is another new pre-season signing, who was previously at Maltby Main, AFC Mansfield and Parkgate.

Zayn Hakeem is a striker too, currently on loan from Basford. He started out at Nottingham Forest before joining Mansfield. Loans at Corby and Coalville followed, before a permanent move to Bradford Park Avenue. Barwell, Anstey Nomads, Coleshill, Worksop, Stamford and Shepshed followed, before going to Basford in July.

Ben Bowers and Hugo Broughton have yet to make their  debut, while Ben Cassady, Breeyen Grainger,  Alans Voskresenskis and McKenzie Bult have both made one appearance so far.

Kick off at Grange Park is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Peter Else)

It was one of top of the table Mickleover’s toughest challenges so far this season, as they faced third in the table Hitchin Town. But first half goals from Andy Dales and Marcus Barnes sealed another three points.

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, Brandon Ferron, Andre Wright, Dan Bradley.

Mickleover went close after only two minutes, when Barnes received the ball in the box, to set up Beavon, but the following shot was deflected wide.

Although much of the early play was even, both defences were looking strong, with the Delap and Mann partnership in the middle continuing to grow in stature.

Mickleover had two free kicks in the first half hour, Wilson took both, but after the first was easily saved by Keeper Horlock, the second was deflected wide.

Idiakhoa then went close for the visitors too, having escaped his marker only to shoot wide.

But 38 minutes in and Dales had run and cut in from the wing, firing the ball into the top corner, with Horlock well beaten, 1-0.

There could have been a second for Dales only two minutes later, when he had the beating of the Hitchin defence again, but his shot was saved and earned a corner.

Half time was fast approaching but Sports played a long deep ball out defence, which beat the visitors back line. Barnes collected and rounded the advancing keeper, to slot home number two into the empty net, 2-0 after 43 minutes.

After a fairly even opening 10 minutes in the second half, Greaves got a break in the 55^th minute but was flagged fractionally offside.

Hitchin were breaking out too, but Sports midfield of Atkinson, Sault and Greaves continued to dictate, with Bennett and Wilson still trying to push forward down the wings.

But Hitchin went close with a header just over after 53 minutes, and four minutes later Bosworth pulled off a great save to keep a clean sheet.

Our visitors did manage to pull a goal back after 66 minutes though, when there was a scramble in front of goal, Mann blocked the shot on the line, but Idiakhoa then fired home from a Bell pass to make it 2-1.

Mickleover refused to sit on the one goal lead and continued to play the ball out from midfield. Sault put a telling ball in Greaves’ path, but his fellow midfielder just failed to connect.

But Sault tried his luck himself with a cracking 77^th minute shot, well saved by Horlock, before Saut and Dales combined a minute later, with the final shot just wide.

With five minutes of normal time left, Galliford shot just wide for Hitchin, but it remained 2-1 in Mickleover’s favour, keeping the three-point lead at the top of the table and more importantly the 100% record, as we now head to bottom of the table Long Eaton, for our Bank Holiday Monday game.

by Peter Scherer

As Mickleover seek to consolidate their three-point lead at the top of the table, they face third in the table Hitchin Town at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Hitchin beat St.Ives 3-1 last Saturday, and had wins over Alvechurch and Long Eaton too, but went down 0-2 at Needham Market.

Long serving manager Mark Burke has retained much of his squad from last year, which saw the Canaries do the double over Sports, 1-4 on our visit to Top Field last November and 1-2 on the return in January.

Goalkeeper Charlie Horlock has been at Top Field for four years, since signing from Hastings Utd. He started his junior football at Wycombe Wanderers and Stevenage and was loaned to Hendon and Harrow, before coming to Hitchin on loan too in November 2014. He then made a permanent move to our visitors a year later, before moving to Eastbourne.

Josh Mollison is the second choice keeper and Academy coach. A former Hitchin youth player he had loans at Biggleswade, Barton Rovers, Potton Utd and Eynesbury Rovers too.

Full back Stan Georgiou is a home- grown talent who has been a regular starter since the second half of 22/23 season. He captained the clubs Youth Cup team and also had a loan spell at Letchworth Garden City Eagles.

Kye Tearle is a defender or midfielder who came from the Pro Direct Academy in Baldock. He is in his fourth season with the first team squad, while fellow defender Lewis Barker arrived at the start of the 2019/20 season, after five years at Baldock Town

Toby Syme is s full back in his second spell with the club. He came from one Canaries team to another, after leaving Norwich City in 2017. He moved on to Kings Langley a year later, before spells at Leverstock, Tring Athletic and Harpenden, were followed by his return to Top Field in August 2022.

Defender Layne Eadie came from Harlow Town. He started with Luton Town and Stevenage, moving on to Leighton, Barton Rovers and Biggleswade, before his first spell with St.Albans. In 2013 he joined Harlow and has played at Wingate too, before his first stop at Hitchin in 2019. He had further spells at St Albans and Harlow before coming back to Hitchin.

Centre back Ciaren Jones is an ex Luton Town and Norwich Norwich City Junior too. He started last season at Brackley, having joined them from Gloucester City in July 2022. He also played for South Shields and spent a week at Hitchin in 2020, before his move to Gloucester.

Irish midfielder Stephen Gleeson was spotted by Wolves when he was playing junior football for Chery Orchard FC. He spent a few years on loan at Stockport County before a permanent move to Mk Dons. He then moved on to Birmingham City, Ipswich and Aberdeen, before coming back to England with Solihull Moors. He came to Hitchin in November 2021 after four months at Hemel.

He was capped by the Republic of Ireland at full, Under 17, 18, 19 and 21 levels and has played over 40 league games in the Championship, League One & Two and Scottish Premiership, scoring 27 goals.

Defender or midfielder Malaki Black arrived from MK Dons in July 2021, while fellow midfielder Bradley Bell arrived for his second spell during last summer, from Barton Rovers. He had initially left to join Biggleswade in 2020 and has also played for Royston and Cambridge City, having started at MK Dons.

Kavan Cotter is a defensive midfielder and a former Arsenal, QPR and Luton Town junior. He was loaned to Hitchin in 2017 and Oxford City, but after his release from the Hatters he joined Hemel. He moved on again after one season, joining Wealdstone for a two year spell, arriving at our visitors in March from Wingate FC.

Isaac Galliford is another former Luton Town junior and England C International. He was loaned to St.Neots before his release, but then headed for the US, spending two years with Butler Bulldogs. On his return in 2018 he spent a year at Hitchin, before moving to Hemel, Royston, Hendon and Potters Bar. He came to our visitors pre-season from Kings Langley.

Striker Diogo Freitas-Gouveia originally came to Hitchin on loan from Colchester Utd in 2019/20. He was also loaned to Brightlingsea and Maldon & Tiptree, but made his move to our guests permanent following his release during last summer. 

Jack Snelus arrived from Rushden & Diamonds in September last year. The striker scored one of the goals in their opening win over Alvechurch. He was another ex Luton Junior and has also played for Hemel and St.Ives Town.

Midfielder Finley Wilkinson was signed last summer from Histon, after coming through their Youth Scheme. He scored in their wins against Alvechurch and Long Eaton.

Striker Ashley Hay is another ex Luton Junior. He went to Baldock Town on his release, but came to Hitchin in September last year from Biggleswade. 

Daniel Idiakboa came to Hitchin on loan from Luton last December, having previously been at Newport Pagnall. The young midfielder has now returned on loan again from the seasons start.

Finally Jermiah Luwero is a striker who played for Woodford Town and Staines before joining Hitchin.

Kick as usual is 3pm, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL TEAM!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover retained their 100 per cent record, with another strong performance on their visit to Leamington FC, returning home 1-0 victors after a late second half winner from Stuart Beavon.

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

Sault created Sports first chance of the game after four minutes, but he was forced wide by Jack Lane after reaching the penalty area and fired his shot over the roof of the clubhouse.

But only two minutes later a left wing cross had flashed across the six yard box, Bennett was quickest to the loose ball, and swung it back to the far post where Wright dived to head well over the bar.

Barnes then came very close too when he latched onto a high ball forward, chipping Callum Smith, but the Brakes keeper had done enough to put him off after racing off his line, and the ball dropped just wide.

Leamington managed an immediate counter-attack and Adam Walker’s stabbed cross-shot was pushed away by Bosworth for a corner, from which Tyrone Barnett connected well with a low half volley on the edge of the box which Bosworth saved.

The back four of Bennett, Delap, Mann and Wilson were controlling the line well and seemed to be taking any Leamington efforts comfortably in their stride, aiding Atkinson, Bradley, Sault and Dales to push forward. But the hosts were coping with Sports strikes too as we reached the half hour.

Edwards headed well over from another corner when it looked like Barnett was possibly better placed to try for goal, before Barnett exchanged passes with Cally Stewart who sent a powerful volley whistling past the post.

Leamington began to up the tempo a little before half time, and Stewart came close with two minutes left in the first half, his powerful shot from a yard or so out, found Sports defenders on the goal line, but Mickleover were able to clear. The young striker then rose above everybody in a packed penalty area to head a right-wing corner over the bar, as it remained 0-0 at half time,

Greaves came on for Bradley as the second half got underway and it was a strong and attacking start for Mickleover. Benett and Wilson continued to push down the wings, and having had a couple of shots just off target up to the hour mark, Beavon came on for Wright after 68 minutes. He was just inches from immediate success, after Edwards misjudged a header and allowed the Beavon a chance to lift the ball over keeper Smith, but unfortunately it dropped onto the roof of the net.

Mickleover were pushing hard to break the deadlock and came closer still when they pressed dangerously, Beavon forcing a save from the legs of Smith, before Andrew Dales curled the loose ball against the crossbar and over. Dales then miscued another effort wide, but the pressure continued.

Leamington were struggling to get out of their own half at times, and the ball kept coming back at them as Mickleover probed for the opening goal and Sports decided to bring on Nunn for Dales for the last 11 minutes.

Barnes headed over at the far post from Beavon’s left wing cross, before Greaves’ attempted a cross that was palmed onto the bar by Smith after 82 minutes. But when the ball was played back in it was touched back towards goal by Beavon, whose strike finally broke through and it was 1-0.

There was brief late retaliation from Leamington as Henry Landers forced a right corner, but it came to nothing, with several players left in a heap in the box.

In the seven minutes of additional time Landers had another shot deflected behind for a corner, but the Mickleover were relatively untroubled other than a brief penalty shout and eased their way to a deserved three points and a three-point lead at the top of the table.

by Peter Scherer

With three successive wins to start the season, Mickleover have managed to take a two-point lead in the Southern Premier League Central Division.

This weekends hosts Leamington FC were relegated last season from the National League North.

The Brakes started this season with an opening 2-1 win at home to Long Eaton, before going down 2-5 at Coalville, and drawing 0-0 at Halesowen on Tuesday night, leaving them13th in the table.

Manager Paul Holleran will have been in charge for 14 years this November. A former Birmingham City player, he also played for Alvechurch and Solihull before turning to management. He has also been in charge at Solihull, Halesowen and Rushall.

With a squad of almost 20, only six are new signings and they had fielded the same starting team in the first two league games, but made two changes on Tuesday, with Quayer and Stewart in for Edwards and Usher-Shipway

First choice keeper is Callum Smith, recently signed from Walsall Wood, having also been at Nuneaton and Wolverhampton Sporting. Luke Slater is the deputy a young home-grown talent.

Right back Dan Meredith is a former Scottish Under 17 International, that started out at West Bromwich Albion. He was loaned to Maidstone and then to Leamington, before his stay was made permanent in September 2020.

Jack Lane is a centre back who has been with our hosts for five years. He started at Macclesfield Town and was loaned out to Newcastle Town and Stockport Sports, before a permanent move to Hinckley Utd.

Ben Usher-Shipway has spent most of his career with Solihull. The young right back was loaned to Alvechurch, Sutton Coldfield and Stourbridge, joining Leamington a year ago following his release.

Junior English is another right back who has been with the Brakes for six years, since arriving from Worcester City. He had previously spent almost 12 years with Solihull.

Left back Jiah Medrano is a pre-season signing from Shepshed Dynamo and was previously with Kirby Muxloe after starting off as a Yeovil Junior.

He spent just over a year in the US with Ventura County and Sacramento, then joined Ilkeston on his UK return. He then moved to Nuneaton and Tamworth, before arriving at Alfreton in July 2018, but only stayed a month before his move to Leamington.

Central midfielder Joe Clarke has been with the Brakes for six years since arriving from Tamworth. He started with Redditch, but has played for Solihull, Darlington, Wrexham Kidderminster and Brackley too.

Ex Rams centre back Theo Streete was loaned to Doncaster Rovers, before joining Rotherham on his release. He moved onto Solihull Moors, Alfreton and Nuneaton, before returning to Solihull in 2015. After being out of the game for a couple of seasons, he signed for Telford, moving to Leamington in July 2022 after four years service.

Midfielder Jack Edwards has spent almost nine years with our hosts, only leaving for a brief three-month spell at Solihull in 2017. He was originally at Studley, moving on to Coventry Sphinx and Barwell, joining Leamington in July 2014.

Captain and central midfielder Adam Walker started as a Coventry City Junior. He was initially loaned to Nuneaton, before a permanent move and has played at Solihull and Brackley, before a 2 ½ year stay spell at Telford preceded his Leamington arrival in January 2022.

Devon Kelly-Evans is a right sided midfielder, and Coventry City Academy graduate. He played 14 first team games for the Sky Blues, scoring one goal and was also loaned out to Nuneaton, before making his move there permanent and has been at Leamington two years.

Left sided midfielder Josh Quayer is a recent arrival from Halesowen, having previously been at Cheltenham, Redditch, Stourbridge, Coleshill and Bromsgrove.

Toby Nicholl has also come into the squad more recently, having been a home-produced midfielder.

Experienced striker Tyrone Barnett started his career at West Bromwich Albion, moving on via Rushall Olympic, Telford, Willenhall, Hednesford, Macclesfield and Crawley.

He then joined Peterborough Utd in June 2012, and was also loaned to Ipswich Town, Crawley, Bristol City and Oxford Utd, before a move to Shrewsbury. AFC Wimbledon, Port Vale and Cheltenham were his next stops, before three years at Eastleigh. He spent least season at Hereford before joining the Brakes last month. He has scored 70 goals in 329 appearances through the football league and FA Cup.

Fellow striker Henry Landers was another new arrival last month from Banbury, where he spent the last three years. He previously played for North Leigh and Maidenhead.

Connor Taylor was a striker with Coventry Spinx until Aston Villa picked him up. After a move to Walsall he went to Nuneaton and Tamworth, before joining Leamington in July 2018. Three years later he moved to Bromsgrove, before returning to Leamington in March last year.

Callum Stewart is another pre-season signing, arriving from Coventry Spinx.