by Peter Scherer

As Mickleover head to Basford tomorrow night, they will be aiming to make it five unbeaten in a row. 

Sports have given debuts to Cieron Keane and Jahvan-Davidson-Miller in the last two matches and will hopefully have Marcus Barnes back in the squad tomorrow night too.

Mickleover are now 12^th in the table, one place and one point behind our hosts, following their win at FC United last weekend.

Manager Martin Carruthers made over 400 league appearances in his career, scoring 110 goals, for the likes of Aston Villa and Stoke City. He was at Matlock Town last season and took over at Basford at the start of this season.

Goalkeeping duties have been shared so far this season, between Sail Deeney and Kieran Preston. Deeney started his career at Notts County, and after loan spells at Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston and Hull City, he made a permanent move to Burton Albion in 2005.

He then returned to Notts County, for a year, before a short stay at Hucknall Town preceded a return to Burton too. 4 ½ years at Derby County followed, before his first spell at Basford in 2015. Moving on to Coalville and Ilkeston, he joined Matlock in January last year, before returning to Basford pre-season.

Former Scottish Under 19 International Preston had been first-choice until Deeney arrived, having signed from Bristol Rovers, back in December 2019. But he has left the club this week to join Belper Town.

Centre back Victor Nirennold started his career with Stade Rennais in France, before moving to the US with Miami City.

He came to the UK with Fleetwood Town, who loaned him to Guiseley, before a permanent move to FK Senica in Slovakia. SHB Da Nang in Vietnam was his next stop, followed by UiTM United in Malaysia.

After a few months with Motherwell in early 2022, he joined Gloucester and started last season at Nuneaton. He then came to Basford in February, after a brief stay at Halesowen.

Stern Irvine is a centre back in his third season at Basford. A former Notts County player, he came from Ilkeston Town.

Fellow centre back Ethan Stewart is a pre-season signing. He started with Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Billericay and Alfreton, before joining Nuneaton on his release. He then returned to Alfreton, before moving to Stafford Rangers in October 2021.

Henri Wilder is a left back who started off at Brighton, before moving to Mansfield Town. He was loaned to Lewes, before going to Tamworth on his release. He then had a few months at Alfreton, before joining Ilkeston in November 2022, from where he joined our hosts a year later.

Josh Barnes is a former Nottingham Forest Junior defensive midfielder. He was loaned out to Truro City on two occasions, before signing for Basford in July 2022 following his release.

Bermudan International central midfielder Kacy Butterfield is another pre-season signing from Stourbridge. He was a junior at Walsall, and was loaned to Rushall before joining Kidderminster on his release.

After moving on to Chesterfield, he was loaned to Guiseley and then made moves to Alfreton and Nuneaton, before joining Stourbridge last January. 

Right sided midfielder and captain Matt Thornhill started out at Nottingham Forest too. He was loaned to Brighton, Hibernian and Cheltenham, before a permanent moved to Hibs. He then spent three years at Buxton, before moves to Shaw Lane and Gainsborough and has been at Basford since March 2017. He has played in the Championship, League’s One and Two in England and the Scottish Premiership.

Rev James is in his fourth spell with our hosts, after playing his Junior football at Rotherham and Oxford Utd. He first came to Basford in December 2018 on loan, but then joined Tamworth after his release by Oxford.

In November 2019 he came back to Basford, stayed 2  1/2 years and then moved to Nuneaton, initially on loan. But he came back again in February 2023, started last season at Belper Town, but after four months he was back again.

Jordan Hallam is an attacking midfielder, who has spent most his career at Sheffield Utd. With 28 EFL appearances under his belt, he had loans at Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield, before joining Scunthorpe following is release. His next stop was Ilkeston after an initial loan, but after three months he moved to Basford in October 2023.

Midfielder Prince Mancinelli came from Nuneaton in January and has also played for Belper Town, Tamworth and Long Eaton.

Striker Ash Chambers was signed from Coalville pre-season. A former Leicester City Junior, he was loaned to Wycombe Wanderers and Grimsby, before joining York City after an initial loan, following his release.

Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge and a return to Grimsby were his next stops, before making his loan spell at Nuneaton permanent. Stops at Kidderminster, Brackley and Buxton followed, before spending two years at Coalville. He played over 150 games in the Championship and leagues one and two.

Fellow striker Tyrell Waite moved from Mickleover to our hosts in the close season, having joined Sports from Ilkeston last February.

He started out at Notts County and had loans at Nuneaton and Ilkeston before joining Lincoln City on his release. He spent time in Sweden with Skelleftea FF, before returning to Nuneaton the following year. Kidderminster, Matlock, Boston Utd, Tamworth and Coalville all followed, before he signed for Ilkeston in September last year.

Kane Richards is another well-travelled striker, after starting out at the Derby County Academy. He had a loan at Matlock before signing for Ilkeston on his release. Chester was his next stop, with a loan at Gainsborough before heading south to Dover Athletic. After another loan at Telford he joined Kidderminster, before joining our hosts for the first time in July 2019.

Three years later he moved to Nuneaton and then started this year with a very brief stop at Kettering,  before returning to Basford in February.

Striker Tyler Dacres is a young striker that has come through our hosts own Academy and is now a regular starter.

Harvey Ridgley has come through the Academy too, a young defender who was loaned out to Loughborough Dynamo last season too.

Strikers Harry Goddard, Joe Uveges and defender Nelson Aideyan make it five Academy graduates to join the first team squad, Goddard is yet to make his first team debut, while Uveges has made one appearance and Aideyan five.

Kick of as usual is 7.45.

by Peter Scherer

Striker Jahvan Davidson-Miller rejoined Mickleover on the eve of last Saturday’s home win against Matlock.

The former Derby County Junior player had spells at Belper Town and Kettering, before joining Barwell Town. 

After almost four years at the Leicestershire club, he came to Mickleover in November 2021 and was part of the squad until he went back to Barwell in October 2022.

He started this season on a dual registration with Barwell and Shepshed Dynamo.

Defender Brandon Webster has left Mickleover. A pre-signing from Ossett, Brandon had made one league start in the home defeat to Ilkeston and been on the bench for four games.

Everyone at Mickleover wishes him well in his future career.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

A good crowd and a reasonable day were welcome additions, as two late goals secured Mickleover all three points against local rivals Matlock Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Callum Moore 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-George Taft 7-Andy Dales 8-Dan Bradley 9-Jahvan Davidson-Miller 10-Cieron Keane 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: Luke Cox, Charlie Hickingbottom, Lejo Davidson, Stuart Beavon, Fin Ryder.

It was another strong start for Mickleover, with Dales hitting the post after seven minutes, before the  rebound was cleared.

But the visitors had early chances too, with Poole firing over the bar after an 11^th minute corner

Only four minutes later Mickleover went close again, but keeper Ravenhill denied Sports skipper Wilson, before the rebound was flagged offside.

Former Sports favourite George Milner then tested Mersin with a distance shot, which after being parried away, Morris was blocked as he went for the rebound.

Mickleover were playing a  positive game and pushing forward on the wings at every opportunity, and only  a last minute tackle from West stopped Edwards after 25 minutes, before Dales collected and fired his rebound over the bar.

Ndlovu then had a chance too on the half hour, after a momentary slip in the home defence, losing out in a one on one with Mersin, as he fired over the bar too.

Essien then tried his luck for Matlock, but fired over from distance, just before Wood was booked for a foul on Keane, who then went into the book too for pushing his rival.

Some good work from Davidson-Miller then set up Edwards again after 41 minutes, but once again West was on hand to deny the Mickleover striker.

“We went very close a few teams in the first half and our performance was good. We had a lot of the ball, but didn’t take our chances. We were more progressive and showed a quicker route to goal though,” said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

Early into the second half Essien sent Ndlovu on another run, but his cross was straight into Mersin’s hands.

Sports made their first change with Hickingbottom replacing Moore at right back after 52 minutes, but the chances continued to flow too, when after 54 minutes Ravenhill managed to intercept a curling shot from Edwards, before Davidson-Miller shot wide from just outside the box, following a Dales cross.

Beavon then came on for Weston in the 67^th minute, before Ndlovu had another shot saved for Matlock.

Dales was next on the attack for Mickleover, cutting in from the left he curled a shot just wide of the left-hand post five minutes later.

It took until the 78^th minute for the deadlock to finally break, when Taft rose above the defence to head goalwards, with a bit of assistance from a defender on the line and the underside of the bar, to make it 1-0.

Matlock tried to push for an equaliser and Morris had a shot saved by Mersin after 82 minutes. Durose then put the ball in the net, but was declared offside.

Almost on full time Edwards had a free header from a corner and made no mistake in making it 2-0. Cox replaced Bradley for the final minutes, but the first home league win, fifth game unbeaten and third consecutive clean sheet were assured.

“Matlock has a good spell of 10-15 minutes in the second half, before we established ourselves control. But Dales on the left and Edwards on the right were very effective, both having chances and nice to see Taft back and getting a goal,” Holmes concluded.

 

by Peter Scherer

After last weekends FA Cup success it’s back to NPL action on Saturday, when we host Matlock Town at the Don Amott Arena.

Sports boss Gareth Holmes is hopeful of having a full squad to select from, following a few knocks in recent matches.

“We have kept a clean sheet in the last two matches, but I want us to dictate the games more, but it’s coming,” he said.

Mickleover, currently 15^th in the table, following the win at Leek and the point at home to Lancaster, our visitors are currently rock bottom, with just two points away from home from their opening six games.

Only a few days ago the Gladiators parted company with manager Nicky Law, who took over in May and brought with him vast experiences both a player and a manager, more recently having been head of recruitment at Burnley.

Matlock were in action too on Tuesday night, when they lost 0-1 in their FA Cup replay at home to Spalding, with captain Shaun Brisley and Under 21 coach James Holmes in charge.

Teenaged goalkeeper Rogan Ravenhill is currently on loan from Barnsley. He is also the clubs joint leading scorer, after heading home the equaliser in their 1-1 draw at Lancaster.

Centre back Shaun Brisley arrived from Alfreton in the summer. He has over 400 senior league appearances under his belt in the Championship, leagues one and two, having started out at Macclesfield. He then moved to Peterborough after a short loan, but was then loaned back to Macclesfield, as well Scunthorpe, Northampton and Leyton Orient.

His next stop was Carlisle Utd, before moving on via Notts County, Port Vale, Wrexham and Buxton. He spent the whole of last season at Alfreton and is currently Matlock team captain.

Connor O’Grady is another pre-season signing and a former Republic of Ireland Under 21 International. A centre back, he began his career at Sheffield Wednesday, before joining Buxton on his release. He joined Stalybridge in July 2021, but spent the following season at Worksop, before returning to Stalybridge last term. He has also captained the side this season.

Another centre back, another ex Sheffield Wednesday junior and another pre-season signing, Joshua Ashman has arrived from Guiseley, where he spent last season.

Danny Benson is a centre back too and started as a Barnsley Junior. He went out on loan to Bradford Park Avenue in February last year and his stay was extended until January 2024, before his release from the Tykes brought him to Causeway Lane pre-season.

Left back Joe West is another former Sheffield Wednesday Junior, who joined Farsley on his release. He moved on to Frickley Athletic and Gainsborough Trinity, spending a year at each, before coming to Matlock at the beginning of last season.

Right or centre back Keenan Ferguson started out at Sheffield Utd, before spending a year with Tottenham Hotspur. Following his release he joined Boston Utd, before moving to Spennymoor Utd at the beginning of last season. He had a loan spell at Bury too before joining the pre-season new signings at Matlock.

Midfielder Jay Glover is yet another ex Sheffield Wednesday player and pre-season arrival. He had loans Belper Town, Gainsborough Trinity and Spennymoor, heading to Matlock following his release.

Sam Essien is a central midfielder that started out at Halifax. After a loan at Golcar Utd, he joined Boston Utd at the start of last season. He is another of the pre-season signings.

Curtis Durose is a midfielder too. Coming from Rotherham in pre-season, he was loaned to Gainsborough and Scarborough, before coming to Matlock at the end of last season. He then made his move permanent, following his release.

Striker Liam Hardy spent seven years at Harrogate Town, after joining them from Armthorpe. Stops at Buxton, Grantham, Hyde Utd, Worksop, Shirebrook and Gainsborough followed. He joined Liversedge last October and came to Matlock at the end of March.

James Morris is a striker that started out at Doncaster Rovers. After a loan at Tamworth he headed for the US and spent 4 ½ years with Seattle Redhawks College team, before returning to the UK with Matlock in pre-season.

Defender Charlie Oglesby came from Stocksbridge in pre-season, having previously played for Staveley MW.

Mason Booth is a midfielder or defender who has come through Rotherham Utd ‘s Juniors. He arrived pre-season too, following his release.

Brothers Charlie and Harry Wood are both midfielders and have both come through Matlock’s home youth scheme. Charlie became part of the first team squad at the end of last season, whereas Harry has returned for his second spell at the club. He’s had a spell in Malta with Lija Athletic and FC Mgarr Utd, but came back to the UK with Grantham in early 2022. He came back to Causeway Lane from Stamford last October, from Stamford.

Midfielder Tomas Pole is in his second spell too, having returned from Stocksbridge pre-season. He has also played for Staveley MW.

Benni Ndlovu is a striker and yet another pre-season arrival, after coming from Sheffield FC.

Fellow striker Harrison Poulter came from Scunthorpe in pre-season. He was also loaned out to Spalding, Gainsborough, Sheffield and Cleethorpes before his release.

Finally George Milner needs no introduction to Mickleover supports, having spent a couple of seasons at the Don Amott Arena. A fierce competitive midfielder with an eye for goal, he was a Chesterfield Junior.

He had a spell in Norway with Valdres and played for Frickley and Belper Town before coming to Mickleover. He moved on to Ashton Utd and played for Stafford and Nantwich too, before joining the pre-season influx at Matlock.

Kick off is 3pm as Mickleover go for the second successive home win of the season and a third successive clean sheet.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover started their FA Cup campaign in fine style with a 5-0 win over Northern Premier Midlands Division Coleshill Town, at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Calum Moore 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Curtis Weston 5-Will Atkinson 6-Charlie Hickingbottom 7-Andy Dales 8-Cieron Keane 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Marcus Barnes 11-Dylan Edwards. Subs: George Taft, Brandon Ferron, Fin Ryder, Luke Cox, Dan Bradley.

Just 1m4secs into the game and a long clearance from Mersin found Edwards clear on the right. He found Beavon, who layed it off to his left, allowing Keane to fire  it home and crown a sensational debut 1-0.

But the visitors had a half chance only a minute later when a Josh Hesson effort, went across the face of Mersin’s goal and out for a goal kick.

Mickleover were looking exceptionally strong in attack in attack, but just before the 10 minute mark, a couple of casual giveaways in defence, were ably recovered.

Sports were straight back on the attack when a positive break from Dales, was layed off to Beavon again. He then found Edwards before the path was blocked.

Joe Palmer battled his way through a minute later for the visitors before his shot was blocked and then Dales floated in an 11th minute cross from the left, but it was straight into keeper Ben Newey’s hands.

Moore then charged down the right on the overlap, he found Beavon who earned a corner. But there was an early sub for Mickleover when Barnes was replaced by Ryder after 17 minutes. “I had tweaked my hamstring, so safer to come off,” said Barnes.

Mickleover were playing with style and confidence and after 20 minutes Keane set up Ryder. His initial shot was saved, before Edwards hit the rebound just over the bar.

With Moore and Edwards working down the right, Weston in the middle and Wilson with Dales on the left, Keane was playing more of roaming midfield role, sharing time in attack and defence.

Keane won a 21^st minute corner but it came to nought and then Nathan Kabeya managed a shot just inside the box, after a Coleshill free kick, but failed to trouble Mersin again.

Dales almost set up Edwards on the half hour, but a last ditch tackle spared the Coleshill defence. Just two minutes later it was Dales again, this time setting up Ryder, whose shot was blocked.

Hesson put in a random distance shot for the visitors but was well wide, but shortly afterwards Ben Usher-Shipway and Demico Brown combined, but wanted too much time and failed to get a shot in.

Wilson then tried his luck from distance after a cross field ball from Moore, but it was an easy save for Newey. It triggered another late half onslaught from Mickleover however.

36 minutes in and Edwads crossed from the right, Beavon shot and then Ryder struck the rebound, but it was a double save from Newey.

One minute on and it was 2-0, with another positive build up down the right finding Ryder, who beat the keeper with a fine close range strike.

Sports earned a free kick when Beavon was pushed over and then Edwards looked set for number three with four minutes left, but his shot was just outside the left-hand post.

Wilson sent Dales on another run down the left, but the cross went out and Sports finished a fine opening half with a corner.

There were no changes in the Mickleover line-up for the second half, but it was another amazing start. Just 24 seconds had gone when Dales latched onto a break, he ran in and rounded the keeper to make it 3-0.

The Sports attacks were coming thick and fast, with Coleshill’s response more random and blocked, as they started to look demoralised.

55 minutes in and Edwards missed a good chance at the left hand post following a free kick, but the visitors made a break a couple of minutes later. Palmer failed to get a shot in again, but as he turned away from goal, he managed to earn a corner.

While Atkinson and Hickingbottom had looked solid at the back, Keane was having an outstanding debut, which ended prematurely after 67 minutes. “I headed the back of someone’s head,” he explained, as his eye began to swell rapidly.

With Taft on for Keane, Atkinson was able to move back into midfield, but it was all Mickleover again, with Ryder rounding the keeper again after 69 minutes, only for his shot to hit the right-hand post. The ball then rolled goalwards, before a goal line clearance appeared to be a possible hand ball.

Brown had a shot on target for the visitors after 76 minutes, safely gathered by Mersin by his right-hand post and then Mickleover made a double substitution, with Ferron on Beavon and Cox for Weston.

Just after Edwards had been fouled, Dales made it 4-0 after 80 minutes, after creating his own space in the middle and firing it in from just outside the box.

They hadn’t finished yet though and a Ferron cross from the left saw Newey make a point blank save from Ryder, before a similar cross from Ferron with two minutes left, was collected by Edwards who sealed the win at a convincing 5-0.

We now look forward to Monday’s FA Cup draw, before it’s back to NPL action next Saturday, with a visit to neighbours Matlock Town.

 

by Peter Scherer

The road to Wembley starts again this weekend, when Mickleover face Northern Premier Midlands Division side Coleshill Town.

Our visitors have already come through two rounds, having beaten Eastwood 3-1 away after a replay and the Brocton 1-0 away too. It will be the first time the two clubs have ever met too.

Currently 10^th in the table Coleshill have won both of their home games, but lost both away from home.

They are now managed by ex Lye Town boss Grant Joshua, who replaced Craig Nicholls in May, with Nicholls moving in the opposite direction.

Keeper Ben Newey is an ex Birmingham City and Burton Albion Junior. He has had experience in the US too and was previously at Leamington and had spells at Lye Town, Rugby Town and Rushall Olympic.

Centre back Niall Rowe returned from Bedworth last October, after only three months away. He started out at Cheltenham and after a loan at Cirencester, he went to Barwell in 2018.

Atherstone, Coventry Utd, Heather St.John, Romulus, Hinckley and Atherstone followed, before his first spell at Coleshill in July 2021. He stayed two years before his brief spell at Bedworth.

Gianluca Bucci is another centre back. A former Lincoln City Junior, he joined Spalding on his release, and after spending last year at Loughborough, he was a pre-season arrival at Coleshill.

Left back Demico Burton was a Derby County Junior, after they signed him from Stourbridge. He returned to his former club on loan, before joining Rugby Town last November on his release. He soon moved to Lye Town where he completed the season with manager Joshua, making the move with him to Coleshill pre-season.

Ben Usher-Shipway is a right back, who had spent his whole career in the West Midlands. From starting out at Boldmere, he joined Solihull Moors, who loaned him to Alvechurch, Sutton Coldfield and Stourbridge, before a permanent move to Leamington in July 2022. He returned to Boldmere last September and was another pre-season signing for our visitors.

Nathan Kabaya is a right back too and a former Wolves and Lincoln City Junior. He had a loan Bromsgrove, before joining Northwich on his release. He then joined Lye last September and is another player to follow manager Joseph pre-season.

Long serving centre back Harry Higginson has started his fifth season at Coleshil, since arriving from Kidderminster.

Current team captain Taylor Carter-Byrne is a defender too. He left the club in June 2022 to join Hednesford, but after just three months he made his return.

Mikkel Hirst is a left back and St.Kitts and Nevis International.  He started at Solihull Moors and moved to Atherstone after a loan with Romulus. He has played for Hinckley and Hednesford too, along with a number of spells back at Romulus. He was signed from Melton, where he spent the whole of last season.

Sam Fitzgerald is a midfielder signed from Sutton Coldfield last October. He started off at Atherstone and moved on via Walsall Wood, Rushall Olympic, Alvechurch and Lichfield, before a loan at Hereford. He started last season at Sutton.

Midfielder Gio Dainty is a Coleshill stalwart. He started at Coventry Sphinx and played for Alvis, Atherstone and Bedworth before joining our visitors. He made his debut for the club back in August 2015.

Striker Josh Hesson is another pre-season arrival and another ex Wolves Junior. After a spell at Hull City, he went to the US with Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens, a University side, returning to the UK with Lye Town three years later. He spent last season with Shifnal Town.

Fellow striker Ben Billingham has followed manager Joshua from Lye too, after spending the last two seasons their. He started out at Stourbridge and has played for Littleton too.

Joe Palmer is another striker to come from Lye Town pre-season, as are midfielders Max Ngbeken and Sam Tye and defender Dan Brookes. Ngebeken  also played for Alvechurch. 

Bassit Mandey, Freddie Cockerell and Laim Ceesay have also been in the squad this season.

Kick off of course is 3pm, BE THERE!!