by Peter Scherer

After another disappointing home draw last Saturday, after dominating the second half, Mickleover will be looking to break the winless in seven games record, as they visit Rushden & Diamonds on Good Friday.

Our hosts aren’t in the best of form either, after three successive defeats, and they currently lie 10th in the table, three places and three points above Mickleover.

Danny Gordon was back from injury last Saturday, but Sports were without Danny Benson. So hopefully he will be back in action for our two games in four days Easter period.

Our hosts manager Elliot Sandy is also a registered player, having joined pre-season from Sileby. A striker, he started his career at Brackley and played for Oxford City, Leamington, Dunstable and Kettering, before first coming to our Rushden in 2016. It was only a short stay before moving on to Stamford, Newport Pagnell, Sileby Rangers, Banbury, Corby and Spalding, starting his managerial career with the latter too.

Dan Jezeph and Szymon Terenowicz have been sharing goalkeeping duties of late. Jezeph was signed from Rushall Olympic in November, having started his career at Walsall. He’s played for Tamworth, Worcester City, Alvechurch and Nuneaton too, and spent most of last season at Kettering.

Terenowicz is on a youth loan from Birmingham City.

Right back Curtis Hartley joined the club at the beginning of this season from Corby Town. He’s played for Eynesbury, Oadby Town, Peterborough Sports, Daventry, Stamford, Real Bedford and Moulton too, after starting off at Corby too.

David Adegbola is also a right back, signed from St.Ives Town in January 2025. He’s also played for Buckingham Utd, Carlton Town and Radford.

Left back Sam Brown is currently on loan from Bedford Town. After starting out at Kempston Rovers, he first joined Rushden in 2012. After an eight year stay he joined Banbury and moved to Bedford in July 2024, after a year at St.Albans City.

Centre back John-Joe O’Toole has played over 500 league games through the Championship and leagues one and two. Having started at Watford, he was loaned to Wealdstone and Sheffield Utd before a permanent move to Colchester. He’s also played for Bristol Rovers, Northampton, Southend Utd, Burton Albion and Mansfield, before joining our hosts from AFC Wimbledon in January.

Tarik Dallas is a centre back too, brought in at the start of the season from Daventry Town. He’s played for Kempston Rovers, St.Neots and Arlesey Town too.

Defensive midfielder Freddie Findlay is on loan from Northampton Town. He’s also played for Sileby Rangers.

Joziah Barnett and Ollie Evans are also Northampton loanees. Barnett has previously been out on loan at Redditch and Wellingborough, while Evans has been part of the Cobblers first team squad.

Joel Nketia is a midfielder too. The current captain, he signed pre-season from Newport Pagnell.

Aidan Webster plays in midfield and came to the club at the beginning of last season, from Bugbrooke St.Michaels.

Fellow midfielder Will Russell joined our hosts from Moulton in November.

Jordan O’Brien plays striker or midfielder. He came from Bourne Town in January, after starting the season at Wellingborough. He’s played for Corby and Spalding too.

Striker Jamal Adams is a recent arrival from Rugby Town. He started his career at Nuneaton, before his first spell at Rugby. He’s had two spells at Coventry Sphinx and one at Coventry Utd and had a previous spell with Rushden too, arriving from Studley in July 2024. He also played for Bedworth, Nuneaton Griff and St.Ives Town.

Defender Tejan Thomas and midfielder Milad Ehsani have both come through Rushden’s own youth scheme. Thomas also spent some time with Moulton. Ewan Evans is also an academy graduate, a young goalkeeper who has been on the bench.

Kick off is 3pm and remember it’s FRIDAY afternoon and NOT SATURDAY, as originally scheduled.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

After a strong second half fightback, Mickleover once again succumbed to concede two late goals and lose two more valuable points.

Starting line-up: 1-Jay Alexander 2-Jake Bennett 3-Danny Gordon 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-George Wilkinson 7-Luke McCormick 8-Cieron Keane 9-Manni Norkett 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Jayden Ogbebor, Jayden Samuels, Will Smith, Josh Carter.

After a fairly even opening five minutes, it was Boldmere with the first shot on goal, when Alexander saved well from Charlie Manners’ sixth minute strike.

A minute later Sports earned a free kick on the right when McCormick was brought down, but Gordon’s free kick went out for a goal kick.

Webb had already started to make his presence known and after 12 minutes he swung in a telling cross from the left, missing the heads of both Norkett and McCormick by inches.

Jus a minute later Webb was desperately close to opening the scoring, when a mistake in the visitors defence allowed him to cut inside to shoot, Brown in the Boldmere goal was beaten, but Pedro Lima managed to clear off the line.

Connor Armstrong then had a punt on goal, but his effort was well wide of the right-hand post, but it showed once again Boldmere’s capacity for a quick break.

After a brief respite from attack mode from both sides, Mickleover once again took the reins after 26 minutes, when Webb pushed the ball out to Gordon on the left, but his cross/shot was too close to the keeper.

Webb put another telling ball into the box on the half hour, it was high enough to beat the keeper, but there was no one in the middle to receive.

Keane then found Webb again two minutes later, his shot was on target but Brown made an excellent save with his feet to earn two consecutive corners.

Keane took the first and it was put out by the defence, while McCormick took the second, just missing Wilkinson’s head as he came forward.

McCormick earned another free kick when he was hauled back by his arm, but Gordon’s kick was straight into Brown’s waiting arms.

Brown saved again after McCormick charged through the middle, earning another corner, from which Norkett sent a glancing header just wide of the post.

Boldmere had only had one shot on target, but with a minute left in the first half, Manners picked the ball up on the Mickleover right. Alexander was well out of his goal to the right, where the whole of the defence had ventured too. But the Boldmere player seized his chance and sent a high lob over the keeper into the far corner, 0-1.

Just a minute later Norkett broke clear, he had the advancing keeper beaten to his left, but the ball agonisingly struck the post and rolled out of danger, despite some claims that it had crossed the line.

So a goal down at half time there were no immediate changes and the second period once again started fairly evenly.

Gradually Mickleover started to push forward to threaten the visitors, and after 57 minutes Gordon sent in a cross from the left for McCormick to head home the equaliser, 1-1.

While the Mickleover back four had continued to look fairly solid in the middle with Gascoigne and Wilkinson, Keane, Atkinson and Dales started to press more from midfield, with Bennett, McCormick and Gordon all using the wings well.

Nine minutes after the equaliser Mickleover went ahead when Keane burst through the middle to find Norkett, who stroked it beyond Brown’s reach to make it 2-1.

Four minutes later there was a second for Norkett heading home Keane’s curling corner from the left, 3-1. With Webb then going close again a few minutes later, Mickleover were looking home and dry and not for the first time this season.

Keane tried a random distance shot over the bar after 79 minutes, before McCormick almost broke through, before Brown was quick off his line to stifle any chance of a shot.

With eight minutes of normal time left, Jack Burgess pulled one back for the visitors after a neat build up on their right 3-2 and then Sports made their first changes with Smith and Beavon on for Webb and Norkett.

Five minutes later it was all square again, when Burgess scored his second, with a shot from just outside the box deflected past Alexander 3-3.

So from a solid looking victory it ended as a third successive draw in similar circumstances.

 

by Peter Scherer

After six league games without a win, Mickleover will be hoping to turn the tide as we welcome Boldmere St.Michael’s to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Back in August our visit to Boldmere was our first win of the season, 2-1 with goals from Stuart Beavon and Danny Benson.

Last Saturday it was another late soft goal that lost us the home win over Racing Club Warwick, after a dominant second half. It was a surprise to see Jake Bennett back in action too, as he was expected to be out for the rest of the season. Danny Gordon remains out injured though, but both Jay Alexander and Luke McCormick both made good impressions on their debuts.

Our visitors are level on points with Sports, but behind on goal difference. Their current form is very good though, unbeaten in 2026 apart from visits to Basford and Carlton.

Ben Roberts has been in charge for just over a year, after starting his term as caretaker.

First choice goalkeeper is Jonathan Brown, a vastly experienced player who started his career at Boldmere back in 2014. He spent much of his career at Kidderminster, with various loan spells, before a permanent move to Sutton Coldfield in 2018. Stafford, Alvechurch, Bromsgrove and Hednesford followed, before rejoining Sutton Coldfield, from where he rejoined Boldmere for the start of last season.

Frankie Ealing is a right back who started out at Aston Villa, but following his release he spent last season in the Welsh League with Aberystwyth, until joining our visitors in February 2025.

Centre back Pedro Lima returned to the club in December, after starting the season at Rushall Olympic. He has also played for Sutton Coldfield.

Kye Bilton is another centre back and former Burton Albion Junior, who joined our visitors at the end of last season.

Aris Christophorou was originally signed from Sutton Coldfield in August 2022, but made the return trip 10 months later. An ex Walsall Junior and Cyprus Under 19 international, he’s also played for Nuneaton Borough, Stourbridge, Stafford Rangers and Rushall and rejoined our visitors during the festive period.

Daniel O’Callaghan is a midfielder and club captain, signed in pre-season from Chasetown. He has previously played for Rushall and Sutton Coldfield too.

Central midfielder Jack Burgess started this season at Rushall, before arriving at Boldmere in December. He’s also played for Sutton Coldfield, Stafford Rangers and Walsall Wood.

Kyle Byrne is a winger signed from Shifnal Town in December, while Lewi Burnside only arrived earlier this month. He was a junior at Aston Villa and also played for Lichfield City, before joining our visitors from Chasetown.

Striker Charlie Manners came from Walsall Wood in November 2024, having previously been at Coventry City.

Tolani Omotola is well travelled striker, who joined Boldmere from Bedworth last November. He started out at Tranmere Rovers and among his previous clubs are Coalville, Corby, Barwell, Hyde Utd, Carlton and Long Eaton. Boldmere are his third club this season, having starting it with Rushden & Diamonds.

Fellow striker James Tague joined our visitors in January. He started his junior career with Derby County and Mansfield, before joining Matlock following his release. He’s played for Gainsborough, Basford, Corby, Loughborough Dynamo, Sutton Coldfield and Anstey Nomads too and started this season at Belper Town.

Harry Crook is another returnee striker, and has also played for Chasetown, Dudley Town and Bromsgrove.

Former Walsall winger Jaiy Leydon joined our visitors last month from Coventry Sphinx. He’s also had a loan spell at Redditch.

Midfielders Ben Lund, Connor Armstrong and Fraser Doyle have also been starters in recent weeks and Ben Croot recently made his debut.

The usual bar and catering facilities will be available for our 3pm kick off, and as usual your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

After dominating most of the second half, Mickleover once again gave away a late sloppy goal to hand Racing Club Warwick a point on the road.

Starting line-up: 1-Jason Alexander 2-Danny Benson 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Josh Ashman 7-Luke McCormick 8-Cieron Keane 9-Manni Norkett 10-Andy Dales 11-Will Smith. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Archie White, Paddy Webb, George Wilkinson, Josh Carter.

It was virtual stalemate for the whole of the first half with neither goalkeeper seriously threatened. Mickleover almost created a chance after 13 minutes, when Dales picked up a McCormick corner on the right. His chip into the box then only just missed Ashman’s head.

Six minutes later Norkett and Smith combined well and managed to force mistakes in the Warwick defence, before they regained their composure and cleared the danger.

It was end to end though, but both McCormick and Smith were looking threatening on the wings.

33 minutes and the ball broke kindly for Atkinson, who sent McCormick on another run. As he cut in he tried to find Smith, but that path was cut-off before McCormick’s rebound shot was blocked to earn a corner.

Warwick then made a break a minute later, which was blocked, before they earned a couple of free kicks, Keane headed away Ebbutt first effort, before Ashman did similarly with Hancocks kick.

But with one minute of normal time left, the ball was played straight down the middle, finding Dales, whose strike was just over the bar, but the closest yet from either side. Despite two minutes of added time it remained 0-0 as the half-time whistle went.

In the opening five minutes of the second half Opoku was lucky to stay on the pitch, after an aggressive elbow challenge. But after escaping with just a yellow card, he earned his second a couple of minutes later and the visitors were down to 10 men.

But Ebbutt managed to break through the defence after 52 minutes, Alexander saved his shot, with Benson then clearing the lines.

McCormick was then fouled on the edge of the box, but Keane’s free kick earned a corner, which was easily cleared. Dales then almost broke through in the 58th minute, but the ball didn’t fall nicely for the Mickleover skipper.

Norkett then had a shot blocked after McCormick put him through, before the debutant winger became the first change, being replaced by Carter after an impressive debut.

Carter was soon in action with his pace on the left, he crossed to find Smith, but keeper Allsopp pulled off a good save, before the play swapped ends again with Hamp heading wide from a corner on the left.

Carter, Bennett and Dales then combined to pile the pressure on the visitors defence, but the ball was hooked away before a final shot was made.

Wilkinson replaced Benson, but Sports were looking both stronger and more creative than they had in the first 45.

Carter was about a yard short of going one on one with keeper Allsopp after 67 minutes and then Atkinson was next to be subbed, with Beavon coming on.

Dales was starting to out pace the defence on the left, but as Mickleover took charge, the visitors defence became more aggressive with Dales the target of a bone crunching foul by Moore, going unpunished apart from a free kick.

The dominance finally paid off after 74 minutes, when Beavon took control to nicely drop the ball in Norkett’s path, who bravely sent in a low header passed the keeper to make it 1-0.

Just two minutes later there was scramble in the Mickleover box which could easily have fallen to a Warwick striker, but we survived and went back on the attack again.

Carter shot wide after 79 minutes, following a positive build up by Dales and Bennett and then two minutes later Beavon almost found Norkett’s head again.

But the best chance for a Mickleover second fell to Carter, who had almost an open goal, but put it wide of the right-hand post.

Norkett’s hard work was being blocked and Carter took the ball a bit too far on the right, as his cross was into the side netting. 85 minutes and Smith intercepted, sending Norkett through on goal. It was a good strike but the keeper saved one handed as it went out for a corner.

It had all been going Mickleover’s way, but the chances hadn’t gone in, and once again it proved costly. Poor defending on the left allowed Coyle to break through, but Alexander saved the initial shot, only for Hamp to be first to react to hit home the equaliser, 1-1.

With time running out to try and restore a lead, Keane found space and sent Norkett on a run, his cross was met by Beavon’s head but it was just over the bar.

But virtually on full time Warwick earned a free kick on the edge of the box, which fortunately saw Harding hit the final shot of the game over the bar.

It’s now seven games without a win for Mickleover and four without a point, as we prepare to face Boldmere St.Michaels at the Don Amott Arena next Saturday.

 

by Peter Scherer

After three successive defeats on the road, Mickleover’s hopes of a play-off place are all but over, as we now hope to regain a place in the top half of the table.

This weekend we welcome Racing Club Warwick to the Don Amott Arena. Our visitors are currently eighth in the table, four points ahead of Sports, after a 1-0 win at Coventry Sphinx on Tuesday night, with a game in hand. Mickleover have slipped to 12th after the 1-3 defeat at Carlton.

Back in November Warwick were 1-0 winners when we visited them, and Tuesday’s success was their second successive victory after going seven matches without, having recently changing management.

Jack Edwards and Chris Knott are now jointly in charge. Knott was previously in charge, before becoming interim manager at Leamington, while Edwards is still part of the first choice playing line-up after spending 11 years at Leamington.

Tom Allsopp is the current first choice goalkeeper, signed from Quorn last November. He started out at Solihull Moors and has also played for Darlaston.

Ryan Moore is a right back and ex Birmingham City youngster. He joined Redditch after his release, before spending two years at Sutton Coldfield. He joined our visitors in pre-season after four years at Bedworth.

Archie Hamp is in his fourth season with our hosts. A right back he previously played for Easington.

Jasper Tetlow was signed from Quorn in January. A tall centre back, he started his career at Lincoln City and has played for Loughborough Students and East Grinstead too.

Centre back and captain Kyle Barnett was signed from Bedworth in June 2023. He was previously with Daventry Town.

Kieron Dawes is another defender who came from Rushden & Diamonds in January. A Birmingham City youngster, he was loaned to Sutton Coldfield and Hednesford, before going to Coleshill following his release. He’s played for Stafford Rangers, Redditch, Bromsgrove, Stratford, Kettering, Spalding and Bedford Town too, before starting this season with City.

Dylan Barkers a central midfielder, who started his career with Solihull Moors. His next stops were Guiseley, Alvechurch and Cheltenham, where he stayed for two years and was loaned to Alvechurch, Leamington, Gloucester and Maidstone. He then moved to Hereford and Stratford, before starting last season at Stafford. He joined our visitors pre-season after brief stops at Rushall and another return to Alvechurch.

Joint manager Jack Edwards is a central midfielder too who came from Leamington in pre-season. He started out at Studley and played for Coventry Sphinx and Barwell before a three-year spell at Leamington. He had a brief stay at Solihull, but had spent the last eight years back at Leamington.

Callum Coyle is right sided midfielder too and has spent most of his career at Solihull Moors. He had loan spells at Sutton Coldfield, Romulus, Nuneaton, Halesowen and Grantham, before joining Stafford Rangers in a permanent move. He’s played for Rushall, Stratford and Stourbridge, before returning to Stafford in November 2024, moving to Warwick a month later.

Left sided midfielder James Hancocks came from Rugby Town in July 2022. He started out at Walsall, before moving onto Daventry Town, Cheltenham, Halesowen, Kidderminster and Stratford. He initially went to Rugby on loan before making his move permanent in July 2020.

Reece Blackmore is a midfielder, signed in October, but spent his first month at Atherstone Town to gain match fitness after an ACL injury. He previously spent seven seasons with Bedworth Utd.

Having arrived from Hednesford in September 2023, Ryan Andrews is midfielder too.

Striker Connor Taylor started out at Walsall too. He joined Nuneaton on his release and played for Tamworth, Leamington and Bromsgrove, before joining our visitors at the start of last season.

James Harding is another striker, signed in pre-season from Swindon Supermarine. He started at Hungerford and has played for Yate Town, and Bishops Cleeve too.

Aaron Opoku is a pre-season signing too, a striker from Eastwood. He’s also played for Stafford Rangers and Leek Town.

Fellow striker Cameron Ebbutt started at Birmingham City before moving to Bristol Rovers. He was loaned to Dorchester, Evesham and Yate Town before joining Hereford following his release. He then moved to Gloucester, Bromsgrove and Hednesford, before joining Warwick in October 2022 from Worcester.

Jordan Hayward is another striker who came from Coventry Sphinx in January. He had previously been at Malvern Town, Rugby Town, Pershore and Long Buckby.

Youngsters Ben Nash and Ben and Josh Flynn have also been in the squad this season, all graduates of our visitors own youth scheme.

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