by Peter Scherer

Back in September the Mickleover squad had one of their most positive wins of the season, against a fairly poor Rushall Olympic side.

Since then manager Liam McDonald’s side have gone from strength to strength and currently sit fourth in the table, with only two defeats in the last 15 games and beaten just once all season away from home.

McDonald has been in charge for five years, having previously managed Solihull Moors and Hednesford, after ending his playing career as a player coach with Redditch.

With George Nunn back on loan from Derby County, Mickleover will have more choice up front, with Stuart Beavon, Elliott Reeves and Marcus Marshall all available, while hopefully Andy Dales and Mitchell Rose will be fit again after a further weeks rest.

Our visitors goalkeeper Jake Weaver has been receiving excellent reviews this season. A former Birmingham City youth player, he was loaned to Hungerford, Kidderminster, Hednesford and Leamington, before a permanent move to Leamington in August 2020. He arrived at Rushall pre-season.

Right back Kristian Green came from Stourbridge in July 2020, having also played for Halesowen, Solihull Moors and Tamworth.

Sam Whittall is one of the long serving players. A midfielder, he started out as a Wolves Junior, before joining Cambridge Utd. He came to Rushall in July 2016 from Brackley and scored a hattrick in Tuesday’s 5-1 Walsall Senior Cup win over Sutton Coldfield.

Former England Under 17 International Sam Mantom started at Walsall, but spent most of his youth career at West Bromwich Albion. He was loaned out to Haukar in Iceland, Tranmere, Oldham and Walsall, before joining the Saddlers permanently in 2013, where he later became captain. He then moved on to Scunthorpe and Southend, before arriving at Rushall in October 2020, with over 250 league and FA Cup starts under his belt.

After only a month he moved to Hemel, before rejoining our guests again in pre-season.

Left back Reece Mitchell came from Boldmere St Michaels in July 2019, having come through the youth team at Leamington.

After a spell at Hereford he joined Cheltenham Town and has also played for York City, Nuneaton, Macclesfield and Bradford PA in between three spells at Kidderminster, from where he joined our guests pre-season.

Andre Carvalho-Landell is a striker that arrived earlier this season. A former Wolves Junior, he moved to Bath City before joining Rushall in August 2012. After a year he moved to the US with Tiffin Dragons and Michigan Bucks, before returning to our guests in September 2017.

He then moved on via Alvechurch, Stourbridge and Bromsgrove, before a year at Hednesford preceded his third spell with Rushall.

Midfielder Alex Fletcher is another pre-season signing. Starting out as a Shrewsbury Town Junior, he played for Telford and Tividale, before joining Welsh League Newtown. He also played form Southport and Stafford, returning to Newtown in between. He spent a year back at Stafford, before arriving at Rushall.

Callum Coyle is another midfielder who joined the club in August 2021, after spending most of his career with Solihull Moors. He was loaned out to Sutton Coldfield, Romulus, Nuneaton, Halesowen and Grantham, before moving to Stafford on his release in 2020.

Midfielder Richard Batchelor is well known to Mickleover, as he was at the Don Amott Arena before joining Rushall in November 2019.

He started at Romulus, moving on to Chasetown, Leamington, Hednesford, Brackley, Worcester, Stafford, Stourbridge and Highgate, before coming to Mickleover from Redditch in July 2019.

Will Shorrock was another product of Walsall’s youth scheme. A midfielder, he went to Bromsgrove after his release in 2018 and came to Rushall pre-season too.

Another former Bromsgrove midfielder, Jordain Masidi arrived in November 2020, he also played for Littleton.

Jermaine Hylton is primarily a left winger, signed by Birmingham City from Kidderminster as a junior. Following his release he played for local club Continental Star, moving to Redditch after three years.

He then had a spell at Swindon Town, moving to Solihull after a loan spell at Guiseley. Next stop was Motherwell and Ross County, before heading south again with Newport County. He came to Rushall just before Christmas, after 11 months without a club.

Centre back Jordan Brown is a former AFC Wimbledon Junior, who then played for Staines, before trying his luck with VPS in Finland and Floy in Norway.

After two years he was back in the UK with Hayes & Yeading, before heading to the Midlands with Redditch, Stafford and Stourbridge. He came to Rushall in March last year from Tamworth.

Midfielder Owen Parry came in from Boldmere St Michaels in June 2021.

Striker Sam Moore was another pre-season capture. A fairly prolific scorer, he started out at Coalville, before moving to Quorn, Shepshed, Birstall, Barrow Town, Eastwood, Coleshill and Corby.

Kieran Cook is a striker too. He came back to Rushall in 2020, after a couple of spells at Alvechurch and time at Stourbridge too.

Alex Cameron is yet another striker that arrived in June last year. He started out at Stourbridge and has played at Dudley Town, Tividale, Sporting Khalsa and Redditch.

Centre back Liam Daly arrived from Ilkeston in October. Vastly experienced, he started at Evesham, before moving rapidly on to Corby, Redditch, Solihull, Halesowen, Leamington, Barwell, Gloucester, Barnet, Stourbridge and Nuneaton.

He started last year at Nuneaton, but moved to Kettering in March and Ilkeston in August.

Declan Riley and Tyreese Hughes have both come through Rushall’s own youth scheme. Riley is a striker, recently added to the Rushall squad, similarly winger Hughes, who has also been selected for England Under 19 Schools.

Teenager Miguel Ngwa recently arrived on loan from Northampton Town. The young midfielder had already been loaned to Rushden.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm as usual, and with the Rams not playing until Monday, why not give Derby’s number two team your support?

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday we visit Stourbridge, who like Mickleover have had a fairly up and down season.

Sports have now gone without a win in the last five games and will be looking for maximum away points for the first time since October.

Andy Dales is still shaking off his groin strain and similarly Mitch Rose with his foot injury, but James Butler will be available again after his one match suspension.

Mickleover are currently ninth in the Southern League Premier Central table, with Stourbridge 11^th, three points behind us, but with three games in hand.

In early November we fought out a 1-1 draw and since then the Glassboys have only lost two games, having beaten Royston 5-1 in their last home game and have made only one change in their line-up in the last four games.

Joint managers Leon Broadhurst and Stuart Pierpoint have been in charge since October 2021 and are both still registered to play.

Centre back Broadhurst is the clubs record appearance holder on 780, spending 10 years at the club before moving to Bromsgrove.

Pierpoint is also a centre back who has also played for Oldbury Utd, Sutton Coldfield, Halesowen, Stafford, Nuneaton, Solihull, Leamington and Brackley before a four-year stay at Stourbridge from July 2015. He was at Coalville before returning to our visitors.

Goalkeeper Charlie Price is in his second spell at the club, having left to join Alvechurch in June 2016, before returning three years later.

Defender Joel Kettle is in his second spell at the club too. He started out with Sutton Coldfield before joining Stourbridge in August 2014. His career then took him to Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Rushall, Solihull, Tamworth and Nuneaton, before joining our hosts pre-season from Bromsgrove.

Striker Darryl Knights was a regular starter early in the season, but has been on the bench of late. A former Ipswich Junior he was capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and was loaned to Yeovil, before joining Kidderminster on his release.

Solihull was his next stop, then Newport and Solihull before returning to Kidderminster. After a spell at Tamworth, he had two years at Telford, before coming to Stourbridge in July 2020.

Full back Jack Wilson was another signing from Bromsgrove back in September 2021. He had made 200 appearances before his move and had a brief loan spell at Lichfield City too.

Jason Cowley is a striker who came from Bromsgrove too in July 2020. He started out at Redditch, before a first spell at Bromsgrove preceded a move to Stevenage. He was loaned to Solihull and on release had a month at Macclesfield, before rejoining Bromsgrove. He scored a hattrick in the recent 5-1win at Royston.

Midfielder Reece King arrived from Buxton in July 2020. He started his career at Malvern Town, before moving on to Gloucester City and Hednesford. After a spell at Leamington, he rejoined Hednesford, before going to Buxton in February 2020.

Joe Hull is another returnee having arrived for his second spell from Alvechurch in December 2020. He started out at Kidderminster, before moving to Redditch in 2010. Further moves took him to Hinckley Utd and Stourport Swifts, before returning to Redditch.

He first came to Stourbridge in February 2016 after just over three years at Halesowen. But after eight months and a loan at Tividale, he moved to Rushall Olympic, Bromsgrove and finally Alvechurch.

Right back Lee Vaughan was an academy player at Birmingham City and Portsmouth, before joining Chelmsley, from where he was spotted by Walsall.

He played over 45 first team games and was loaned to Willenhall, before joining Telford on his release. Moving on to Cheltenham, Tranmere and back to Kidderminster, he came to Stourbridge in July 2020 from Barnet, after a spell at Solihull and a return trip to Telford.

Midfielder Callum Gittings came from Leamington in pre-season. After starting at Alvechurch, he also played for Kidderminster, Solihull and Telford.

Former Walsall Academy midfielder Alex Moore joined Wolverhampton Casuals and Shifnal Town after his release, before stepping back up the ladder to Bromsgrove and Rushall Olympic. He had three years at Rushall before joining Stourbridge pre-season.

Midfielder Harry Lewis made his first team debut last season, after coming through the clubs academy. He has also had a few games for Team Dudley and has made a few starts this season.

Rackeem Reid is a striker that came from Rushall pre-season. He initially played for Chasetown and Paget Rangers before going to Nottingham University. He moved on to Belper Town and Long Eaton, before joining Quorn for 2019/20.

Centre Back Chris Knight is in his third spell at Stourbridge. He first joined them in July 2012 from Dudley, moved onto Lye Town but returned in July 2017. After going back to Lye and latterly Wulfrunians, he signed for our hosts again in pre-season.

Reece Stryche is both an England C and current Gibralatarian International, having scored three goals in 27 games for the latter.

He came from Hednesford in September in 2020, having played for a huge raft of clubs in his 14 year career, including Buxton, Alfreton, Darlington, Macclesfield and Wycombe, having started out at Hednesford.

Defender Alex Worley is an ex Walsall Junior, who was at Haverfordwest last season. He was another pre-season signing but is struggling to make the starting line-up so far.

Originally a right back, Tyler Lyttle arrived at Stourbridge in November. The former Wolves and Bristol Rovers Junior is the son of ex Forest defender Des and has scored four goals in the last three games.

He made three first team starts at Bristol and was loaned to Nuneaton and Truro, before joining Hednesford on his release. He was at Sutton Coldfield prior to joining Rushall, where he spent the last four years.

Demico Burton is a young left back on loan from Derby County. He played for the Glassboys in a few games last season, before returning this term. He is also an England Schools Under 18 international.

Former Aston Villa junior central midfielder Alex Prosser was a new arrival earlier this season on a joint registration with Leamington. After a loan at Brackley he joined Kidderminster following his release from Villa and spent a year with them until his move to Leamington.

Just over a month ago Norwegian born winger Stanley Anaebenam arrived at Stourbridge from Hednesford and immediately became a first-choice starter. He first came to the UK from IFK Youth and joined Wolverhampton Casuals. After spells at Solihull Moors and Redditch he spent 10 months in Ireland with Shelbourne, before joining Truro City on his return to England.

Dexter Walters is also a winger who spent some time at Mickleover on loan from Tamworth at the end of 2021. He started his career with Romulus, before a couple of seasons at Coventry City, from where he returned to Tamworth on release. Following his Sports loan, he moved onto Stratford, before moving to Stourbridge in November.

Jaiden White has only just joined our hosts on loan from Stafford Rangers. He played junior football at Wolves and Coventry as well as a spell at Kidderminster, before joining Stafford and plays striker or winger.

Lewis Solly is both reserve goalkeeper and coach. An ex Wolves and Bury player, he played for Welshpool and Aberystwyth, before moving back to the midlands with Stafford Rangers.  He was then at Telford and Redditch and first came to Stourbridge in 2005 from Hednesford, and stayed eight years before moving to Rushall. He moved onto Worcester but had time out with an injury and has been back at Stourbridge since the end of last season, having made over 350 appearances.

It’s a grass pitch at the War Memorial Athletic and kick off is due at 3pm, but weather could still play its part.

by Peter Scherer

Saturday will be the first time Hitchin Town will have visited the Don Amott Arena, but it’s time to turn the tables on the Hertfordshire side as they have become a bit of a jinx side for us.

Having been knocked out of the FA Trophy by them a couple of seasons back, we went down 1-4 in November’s League visit, in probably Sports worst performance of the season.

With five points from the last five games, we have now slipped out of the play-off positions down to eighth place, with our visitors ninth, level on points, having played one game more.

Mason Warren will be available again after his suspension, but James Butler is due to start his. It remains to be seen if Andy Dales, Jake Scott and Mitch Rose are fit to play and if Elliott Reeves is available too.

Lets take a look at who we are up against. Their win last Saturday, broke a run of three defeats, all away from home.

Goalkeeper Charlie Horlock has been at Top Field for three 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. He captained the side too in last Saturday’s victory against Bromsgrove.

Reserve keeper Tiernan Parker is a former Northern Ireland Under 15, 16 and 17 International. He started out at Luton Town and was a loanee at Hitchin in 2019 and 2020, before joining Haringey. He returned again last July from Colney Heath and deputised for Horlock in the pre-Christmas defeat at Rushall.

Full back Stan Georgiou is a home- grown talent who has been a regular starter since the second half of last season. He captained the clubs Youth Cup team and also had a loan spell at Letchworth Garden City Eagles, before securing his place as a regular first choice.

Kye Tearle is a defender or midfielder who came from the Pro Direct Academy in Baldock. He is in his third season with the first team squad.

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 2020 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. He is also the first team coach.

Lewis Barker arrived at the start of the 2019/20 season, after five years at Baldock Town and Dempsey Thomas is a young defender having recently broken into the first team squad.

Defender or midfielder Malaki Black arrived from MK Dons in July 2020, while fellow midfielder Bradley Bell came back for his second spell last season, 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.

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 then made his move to our visitors, making his move permanent following his release during the summer. He is a regular goal scorer. games.

Rio Da Silva is a midfielder who has been at Hitchin for three years, since arriving from Dunstable. He previously played in Luton Town’s Academy, followed by four years in Chelsea’s youth team.

Striker Ashley Hay is a former Luton Junior too. He moved from Baldock Town to Biggleswade at the start of this season and came to Hitchin last September.

Steve Cawley is a striker in his third spell at Top Field, having started out at Chesham. Spells at Bishop Stortford, Concord Rangers and Hemel followed, before he came to Hitchin on loan for eight months in September 2019. He then returned permanently in July 2020, before a two-month spell at Stotfold at the beginning of last season, preceded his current stay.

Jack Snelus came from Rushden & Diamonds last September. He is another ex Luton Junior and has also played for Hemel and St.Ives 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 last August.

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

Josh Coldicott-Stevens is another player who’s been at the club for three years. He is a midfielder, who started at Boreham Wood, before arriving at Hitchin from Kings Langley in December 2019.

Midfielder Leon Chambers-Parillon spent most of career so far with Oxford Utd. He had loans at Biggleswade, Havant & Waterloovile, Gloucester City and Slough, joining Hitchin on his release in August last year.

Defender Alfie Warman was a new signing from Baldock Town last August too. He has also played for Welwyn, Codicote and Potton Utd.

Callum Kane is another summer arrival from Baldock. A full back, he is a product of the Pro-Direct Academy.

Delsin Ackom is another young defender, signed in 2021 after his release from MK Dons two years earlier. In between he played for Potton Utd, MK Gallacticos, Buckingham Athletic and Desborough, as well as having a spell in Spain with Almunecar.

Midfielder Daniel Idiakhoa was a Luton Town Junior, who joined Newport Pagnell on his release. He is a recent signing for Hitchin and now a regular starter.

Midfielder Finley Wilkinson was a summer signing from Histon, after coming through their Youth Scheme.

Striker Johnny Allotey signed pro-forms for our hosts towards the end of last season.

Kick off at the Don Amott Arena is 3pm, the bar will be open and before kick off you can also visit the Rams Heritage Trust, which will be on site from 11am.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover came to Royston seeking their first away points since Barwell in October, but on a wet evening it proved to be a tough encounter.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Rhys Dolan 15-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Will Trueman 8-Joe Bateman 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oliver Greaves. Subs: Pablo Mills, Oliver Bosworth, John McGrath, Fin Ryder, Lekan Osideko.

It was light rain and a swirling wind that greeted kick-off, but the grass pitch had passed it’s afternoon inspection and it was game on.

Beavon had an early lob towards goal, but straight into keeper Chadwick’s hands, before Hedge go this first touch collected a cross from Furlong.

The first 10 minutes were end to end and fairly scrappy, but Chadwick made a couple of week clearance’s which Mickleover failed to maximise.

Wilson had a shot blocked after 14 minutes as he tried to pick a spot through a crowded box and a following corner was then headed away by the home defence.

Dolan managed to get a shot in after 25 minutes, following another corner, but again it was blocked, but it was Mickleover in the ascendancy.

Royston got a break though, but Dolan headed away the cross with no one waiting to receive. But another good build up had the defence on the run, before Marshall found Greaves, who slotted home in the bottom right hand corner 1-0 after 28 minutes.

Sports were showing a bit more controlled aggression and determination than of late as they began to push forward, seeking to add to their tally.

Marshall was yellow carded for a foul on skipper Adam Murray and only a couple of minutes the favour was returned with Murray in the book. Wilson stepped up for the free kick, but it was comfortably over the bar.

Beavon almost beat the keeper to the ball after a chase as half time approached and then Marshall looked clear to, but was pulled back with a late offside flag.

Overall Mickleover just about deserved their half time lead, having gradually gained the upperhand.

The rain had stopped as the teams re-appeared and Furlong was quick to get an early cross in, but well off the mark. But Royston had come back out with all guns blazing.

Watt, Butler and Mann had looked aerially strong in the first half, which had allowed Dolan to virtually join Wilson and Bateman in midfield, as Greaves and Trueman seemed to have more of a roaming role.

Trueman battled through on the right to find Beavon, and his pass to Marshall in the box brought Chadwick racing off his line to save. Royston then had a good spell with  a number of shots fired in, but fortunately none on target.

Greaves chased hard to catch a clearance from one of the hosts attacks, but was just short as the ball sped away on the wet pitch.

Osideko then came on for Trueman, but Sports were having difficulty breaking out of their own half, as Royston kept firing in shots, mostly blocked. We were still holding on as the hour mark passed, but an equaliser was beginning to look more and more likely.

Mills was on for Beavon after 70 minutes and then Greaves found Osideko whose shot was blocked but earned another corner. It was initially cleared but a toe poke from Watt went just past the post.

Harness then headed a Da Silva cross just wide after 75 minutes and then Murray put his attempt just wide of the mark too.

The rain had just started again as there was just five minutes left for Sports to hold out. 85 minutes and an initial Royston corner was cleared, but only as far as Matt Bateman who made it level from close range 1-1.

From a hopeful three points we were now looking to hold onto one, as Royston continued to push forward strongly, and Mickleover failed to clear their lines.

Hedge made a good save from Tshikuna in the 88^th minute and Williams put another effort just over. But then the ref announced four minutes add on.

Nakatani-Brown’s run ended with a good catch from Hedge and then on a final break Marshall found Osideko, but his shot was over.

With whistle poised Royston went close to snatching winner, when a Harness effort was cleared off the line, before Henry’s final header went over the bar.

Having led for 85 minutes it was a disappointing finale, but on the second half performance Royston more than deserved their point.

by Peter Scherer

Our hosts on Tuesday night are one of the few teams left in the Southern Premier League Central, that we haven’t met so far this year.

They are currently 13^th in the table, four points behind Mickleover, but had recently come into some form, with only one defeat in the last six games, including consecutive wins at home to Bedford and away to St.Ives.

But last Saturday they were trounced 5-1 away to Stourbridge, as Mickleover lost out too at St.Ives.

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

Dimitrios Kyriatzis had been first choice keeper, until he picked up an injury. He was with Brentford after they picked him up at Henley Utd. But after a loan at Stevenage, he joined Inter Leipzig in Germany on his release. After almost two years he returned to the UK with Bedfont Sports and came to Royston in November 2021.

Following Kyriatzis’s injury, Louis Chadwick has taken over the number one spot. He is a loanee from Cambridge Utd, who has also been loaned out to St.Neots, Cambridge City and Brentwood.

Right back Cole Da Silva has represented Wales at every level from Under 16 to Under 21. Originally a Luton Town junior, he passed through Chelsea, Brentford and Leicester City’s youth scheme’s too, before going to Croatia with HNK Sibenik. He returned to the UK after six months and played for Oxford City and Hemel, before coming to Royston in September.

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

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

Midfielder Connor Furlong only arrived from Rushden & Diamonds in October. He was an MK Dons Junior, loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd, before moving to Bedford. He then moved on via St.Ives, Barton Rovers and Biggleswade, before joining Rushden in August ’21.

Striker Fredrik Hinds arrived just before Christmas, after spending a year at Wingate. He had League Two and Championship experience, after starting off at Luton Town. He then joined Bristol City, who also loaned him to Cheltenham, Wrexham and Colchester and a three-month spell at Hemel before joining Wingate.

Right back Shaun Keane came to the club pre-season, from Peterborough Sports. He was previously at Bedford, having started out with Peterborough Utd.

Left back Joel Nakatani-Brown was a pre-season arrival too, from Westfield. He has also played for Hillingdon, Cockfosters and FC Romania.

Former Cambridge Utd midfielder Fernando Bell-Toxtle was signed in September from Rushden & Diamonds. He was loaned to St.Neots and joined Rushden following his release, but moved to Basford while studying in Nottingham, before returning to Rushden.

Midfielder Alfie Williams is on loan from Stevenage until the end of the season. He started at Tottenham’s Academy Under 12’s but since joining Stevenage he has been loaned to Biggleswade, Kings Langley, Hemel and Hayes & Yeading.

Pre-season signing Nathan Shikuna is an attacking midfielder too who started out at MK Dons. His path took him on to Aylesbury, New Bradwell St Peter, Buckingham, Bedford, Kempston Rovers, MK Gallacticos, Barton Rovers and was at Rushden last season.

Home produced striker Kian Harness came into the first team squad last season, but scored a hattrick earlier this season in the home win over Hitchin Town.

Midfielder Spyros Mentis has spent most of his career at Royston. He first arrived from Takeley in 2014, having previously been at St Albans. He has had spells at Soham and Hayes & Yeading too, but has been back at Royston for the last three years.

Young defender Will Hall was signed in October. He’s an ex Watford junior and had a loan spell at Kings Langley last season too.

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

6ft 6in striker Shomari Barnwell arrived in November from Hanwell Town. He started out with Bowers & Pitsea before joining Dagenham & Redbridge. A loan at Bishop Stortford followed, before he moved to Solihull Moors. After a further loan at Lewes he joined Barking, moving on again to Brentwood, Grays, Great Wakering Rovers, Bishop Stortford again, Maldon & Tiptree and started this season at Hanwell.

Centre back Mackye Townsend-West has recently arrived on loan too from Stevenage, having previously been to St.Albans.

Matthew Crowther, Freddie Brown and Archie Cane have also been in the squad this season, having come through the clubs own junior scheme.

Mickleover will be hoping firstly for an efficient referee, while concerns over Mitch Rose and Jake Scott’s injuries, plus Mason Warren’s suspension, Elliott Reeves unavailability and less than fit Andy Dales, are all concerns for gaffer John McGrath and his team.

Kick off is 7.45, but with more rain forecast and a grass pitch, keep an eye on Social Media.

by Peter Scherer

For the third successive Mickleover match, the standard of refereeing dominated the proceedings at St.Ives, with both of the hosts goals coming off the back of questionable decisions.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Ethan Mann 3-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 15-Jake Scott 7-Joe Bateman 12-Rhys Dolan 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Will Trueman. Subs: Pablo Mills, Mitch Rose, Oliver Bosworth, Oliver Greaves, Andy Dales.

Rose was originally in the starting line-up but had drop to the bench with a foot injury after the warm-up and was replaced by Dolan.

Tyrone Baker and Michael Richens made an early break for St.Ives but failed to get a final shot in. Four minutes later Kieran Higgs had a good run but was fouled just outside the box, but Richens free kick was well off target.

It had been a fairly even opening few minutes, but was clear that the hosts preferred the long ball and reliability on breaks, rather than Mickleover’s more strategic approach and clashes were inevitable.

Marshall was tripped on the edge of the box after 12 minutes and then Scott was the first yellow card, after a foul on Kellan Hickinson. But only a few minutes later Marshall was tripped again, after a Butler free kick had been crossed by Mann.

St. Ives then got a break, but the cross was initially headed away by Mann, before Richens came in with a shot over the bar again.

It was 24 minutes before either side had a shot on target, when Scott came down the right, found Beavon in the middle, but his shot was straight into keeper James Dadge’s hands.

Ed Hottor was the first of the hosts to go in the book for a foul on Beavon, but a few minutes later Beavon put a lovely ball across the box to Marshall, but the striker just couldn’t get enough space to turn and shoot. Higgs then led another St.Ives break but his effort was well wide again.

Watt was then adjudged to have fouled Hickinson on the edge of the box. Richens 32nd minute free kick was well saved by a diving Hedge, and was St.Ives first shot on target.

The resulting corner then gave Hottor a long rage shooting opportunity, through a crowded area, but Hedge had it covered.

Richens then joined the refs yellow card collection, with Scott needing treatment for the foul on him. Wilson’s free-kick found Beavon, but his header was off the mark.

It was in the closing eight minutes of the first half that Mickleover had their best chances, in an overall poor show. Trueman and Beavon had a nice one-two cutting in from the right, only for a late interception stopping Beavon in the box.

Trueman then cut through again from the right, pushed the ball across the face of the goal, with Marshall just a whisker away from connecting and a certain goal.

0-0 was probably a fair reflection on the first half, which was interrupted far too often by free kicks, which combined with the hosts kick and run style, stifled Mickleover’s attempts at creativity.

Despite being not fully fit, Dales replaced Scott as they came out for the second half.

St.Ives went straight on the attack and almost immediately earned a corner. Johnny Herd put the cross in but Jordan Williams’ header was over the bar.

As Dales attempted his first run he was brought down knee height by Paddy Casey, who joined the yellow carders for his efforts. But even a half fit Dales was causing problems, as he beat the defence with a 49^th minute run, only to shoot over the bar.

Following a string of corners for the hosts, Watt was then yellow carded for a totally innocuous challenge. Fortunately the free kick was wide again.

Baker led the next St.Ives break on the left, but his effort was into the side netting and although they continued to try random shots, none were on target.

Dales cut through the defence after 63 minutes, strolling past three defenders, before shooting straight at the keeper, but the poor standard of refereeing was soon to reach new heights.

“I was defending and the ball bounced and hit the my shoulder, but I don’t think the ref actually saw it himself,” said Butler. “For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit. IFAB

But the referee reacted to the appeals, gave a penalty and a red card, despite the more than justified appeals from the Mickleover players.

Jonny Edwards stepped up take the kick and planted it firmly to Hedge’s right, to give the hosts a totally undeserved 0-1 lead.

Dales broke through again but fired over after 74 minutes, following a Dolan pass, but there was worse to come when only people in black and white saw Watt foul Edwards. But again the referee gave the free kick which Toseland fired home 0-2 after 77 minutes.

The referee seemed to blowing his whistle at nearly every tackle as we entered the last 10 minutes and Sports pushed hard for a consolation. Dales looked to be free again, but having taken the ball on his chest and rounded a defender, he was then unbelievably given offside!

But with eight minutes on the clock Beavon broke in space and had Herd as the one defender to challenge him. He decided to hack Beavon’s legs from under him, but as the last defender before goal, it wasn’t the expected red car but a yellow?

So Mickleover returned home pointless, after a poor advert for football and even poorer one for refereeing. With the winners failing to have one shot on target from open play in the whole game.

by Peter Scherer

Manager Ricky Marheineke has been in charge at St Ives for nine years, but this season has been a struggle for our hosts, suffering their third successive defeat at Rushden on Bank Holiday Monday.

They went down 0-2 in their last home game again Royston and have only had two wins in the last 10 games, dropping them to 16^th in the table.

Sports will be without Andy Dales again due to his groin strain, and Mason Warren serves the second game in his three-match suspension, in addition to the long standing injuries.

Lets take a look at our hosts line-up. Keeper James Goff came from Lincoln Utd in October 2021, having started as a Northampton Town junior. He’s played for Banbury, Wisbech and Spalding too.

Right back Julien Saka was a pre-season signing from Soham Rangers, who was previously at Tooting & Mitcham.

Left back Johnny Herd is a former Southend Utd youth player, who moved on to Ebbsfleet, Bishops Stortford and St Neots and had a couple of seasons at Peterborough Sports before arriving at St Ives pre-season.

Michael Richens is a midfielder and team captain. He was originally at Peterborough Utd but spent much of his time out on loan. He made a couple of first team starts and joined Stevenage on his release. He then moved on via Farnborough, Hemel, Bishops Stortford and Biggleswade, before joining St Ives from Kettering in July 2021.

Jordan Williams plays centre back and began his career at Cambridge Utd. Moves to Brackley, Cambridge City, Stratford and Stourbridge followed, before a return trip to Stratford preceded his move to St Ives pre-season.

Defender Callum Milne is in his second season with our hosts, having arrived from Harborough Town. He started as an Aston Villa junior and has also played for Kettering, Wisbech, Eynesbury and Bedford.

Zimbabwean born midfielder Greg Kaziboni started out at Northampton Town. He’s played for Corby, Brackley, Tamworth, Rushden, Banbury and Stratford, before two years at Nuneaton, preceded  his St Ives arrival in July. 

Myles Cowling is a midfielder who has recently returned on another loan spell from Cambridge United. He has also been loaned to St Neots and Braintree.

Striker Jonny Edwards was another summer singing from FC Romania. He started at Peterborough but has had experience in Leagues One and Two during his various moves. He was loaned to Bishop Stortford and St Albans before moving to Hull City, where further loans at Accrington and Woking following, before a move to Halifax. 

He has since played for Maidstone, Biggleswade and Royston, before spending last season with Romania.

Dylan Williams is another midfielder who started out at Cambridge Utd. St Neots, Biggleswade and Lowestoft followed, before a return trip to Biggleswade preceded his St Ives move two years ago.

Midfielder Enoch Andoh is a Ghanian international at Under 17 and 20 levels. Much of his early career was spent abroad, with FC Porto and Limassol, before a spell with Port Vale, where he played in League One. He then played for Whitehawk, Nuneaton, Macclesfield, Hednesford and Stratford, arriving at St Ives in early August from Biggleswade.

Nabil Shariff is a striker who hit a hattrick against Stratford. He started at Rushden & Diamonds, moving to Banbury, Tamworth, Oxford City, Kettering, Banbury, Corby, Stamford, Alfreton, St Neots and Stratford. He came to our hosts in July 2020 after a third spell at Rushden.

Edmund Hottor is another Ghanaian midfielder. Most of his early football was spent in Italy, which included spells at both AC and Inter Milan. He came to the UK with Kettering in July 2018 from Sliema Wanderers in Malta and was at Banbury before coming to St Ives in December 2019.

Right back Kane Lewis was signed in early August. He was with Brentford and Liverpool, before playing in the Welsh League with The New Saints and Cefn Druids, where he gained Champions League and Europa League experience.

Ethan Johnston is a striker signed from Banbury in November 2020, after starting out at Northampton Town.

Midfielder Tyrone Baker arrived in November 2020 too from Basildon, having been at Bowers & Pitsea and Heybridge Swifts previously.

Centre back Charlie Johnson first played for St Ives during the aborted 2019/20 season.  He started out at Cambridge United featuring in their U18 team and has played for Yaxley and St Neots Town since his first spell with the Ives and re-signed at the beginning of this season from Bury Town. Division.

Defender Paddy Casey is a recent arrival, dual registered with Harborough Town. He has also played for Rushden & Diamonds.

Attacking midfielder Ravi Shamsi was signed earlier this season from Rushden & Diamonds. A former Fulham and Oxford Utd Junior, he has played Banbury, Chesham, Stratford and Nuneaton too, as well as in the National League with Maidenhead.

Winger Lewis Lembikisa was a pre-season signing from Chester Le Street. A former Wolves Junior, he has played for Harlow Town too.

Winger Kieran Higgs is a fairly new arrival. He’s a former Norwich City Junior, who was also loaned to Solihull Moors. On his release he joined Lowestoft, where he spent four years before his move to St Ives.

Kick off as usual is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Having taken all three points on our visit to Ilkeston earlier this season, hopes were high of completing the double.

Mickleover were without Andy Dales with a groin strain and Mason Warren, serving the first of his three-match suspension.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Scott 3-Rhys Dolan 5-Ethan Mann 6-Phil Wat 7-Will Trueman 8-Mitch Rose 15-Ryan Wilson 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oliver Greaves. Subs: Joe Bateman, Oliver Bosworth, Lekan Osideko, James Butler, Pablo Mills.

In the opening couple of minutes Trueman put a cross in from the right, just missing Reeves head, before Campbell had a shot deflected wide for the visitors after six minutes.

Scott then sent Reeves on a run down the right, but although the cross found Beavon, his attempt to move forward was thwarted.

Ilkeston’s threat began to grow and Campbell managed to find Ward, who then unsuccessfully tried to chip Hedge. But Tomlin managed to jink his way through to the edge of the box, before he was stopped.

Mickleover had a free kick after 12 minutes and the ball seemed to bounce around the Ilkeston area for a while. There were lots of slight touches, but no one managed to get a shot in.

Ward then earned a free kick for the visitors after an ankle tap almost sent him into orbit. It came to nought but it was all Ilkeston. Scott was yellow carded for fouling Arlott-John, and fouled the same player immediately from the free kick.

Only a minute later Tomlin followed up an Ilkeston corner, but his header was headed way from goal by Wilson for another corner

Tomlin had a 23^rd minute shot blocked by Mann, before Mickleover got a break to earn a corner too. The short kick found Wilson, but his cross had too much pace for the chasing strikers.

Despite Ilkeston’s growing dominance it was still goalless on the half hour, but Dolan at last broke free on the left, cut inside and fired a shot just over the bar from range. But the visitors responded and Mann managed to clear a challenging cross from Delap.

Reeves went close after 32 minutes, as he cut in from the right past skipper Fenton, he got closer and closer relatively unchallenged, until Battersby in the Ilkeston goal, ran out to make a last-minute interception for a corner. Watt came up for the kick, but his header was off target. 

Rose was yellow carded for an innocuous challenge and then became the victim himself. As he hit the ground after being felled in the box, the referee allowed play to continue and Ward chased through to score a heavily disputed goal for Ilkeston 0-1.

Only minutes later Scott was fouled on the touchline, already yellow carded Scott was showing red, until the ref’s assistant made her presence felt. Not only was the card rescinded, it was a free kick to Mickleover, with this time protestations from Ilkeston, led mainly by the visitors player manager Ward, who seemed to spend most of the game bending the ref’s ear.

Finally play continued and Reeves almost picked up a long ball, then Campbell latched onto a good cross, but Hedge flew off his line to save at the strikers feet.

Arlott-John then found Campbell again on the Mickleover right, but his shot was just over, before a Sports counter saw Reeves outpace the defence, swing the ball in tight, but as Greaves went for a header, both he and the defender required treatment. The first half finished with Wilson creating space for a weak finish.

Bateman was on for Greaves as they re-appeared for the second half and apart from a 47^th minute run from Trueman and Reeves, with keeper Battersby saving, Mickleover began to struggle to break out of their own half.

Bello got free down the right after 55 minutes, but his cross was pushed away by Hedge. The pressure continued with O’Grady finding Arlott-John, but Hedge had it covered gain.

Possession was still in Ilkeston’s favour, but they too struggled to make progress, which allowed Mickleover to finally get back into the game.

Reeves hit the post following corner and the rebound attempt went close too, and after 77 minutes Battersby saved with his feet from another Reeves effort.

Dolan had started to find space on the left apart from an off target header from Fenton, suddenly it was all Mickleover. Arlott-John did manage to beat Scott on a late run, but shot wide, and with five minutes of normal time left, Butler came on for Scott.

Dolan in particular was finishing strongly, having had a run of almost half the pitch before being intercepted on the edge of the box with five minutes left.

It was Dolan again a minute later that crossed from the left. To find an unmarked Bateman, who eagerly smashed home the equaliser,1-1.

Ilkeston had a couple of late corners and a free kick in the five minutes added on, but it was a well-earned point in the end, from what had begun to look a lost cause.