by Peter Scherer

For the first game of 2023 Mickleover we will be hosting local rivals Ilkeston Town. Our visitors are just one point behind us now in seventh place, following their 1-1 draw at home to Basford on Boxing Day.

Five out of the last six games have been at home for Ilkeston, suffering the one defeat 0-2 to Tamworth, having previously had a run of three successive victories.

Their last away game was a 4-1 win at Redditch, having previously lost 0-2 to Nuneaton on November 12^th.

Having come into the league on promotion, it was a difficult start to the season, and on our earlier season visit to the Manor Ground we came away 3-2 winners after an Elliott Reeves double and a goal from Rhys Dolan.

Former Rams and more recently Buxton player Jamie Ward is now in charge and has guided them from the edge of relegation to the edge of the play-offs.

There have been a lot of line-up changes with 18 players starting in the last five matches and only two starting them all.

Ollie Battersby currently has the goalkeeper’s shirt, but has been alternating with Saul Deeney. Battersby is currently on loan from Grimsby Town and is a former Sheffield Utd Junior. He played one game for Mickleover back in 2020, playing the whole game with a broken hand. He has also been loaned to Lincoln Utd, Gateshead and Belper Town.

Former Derby County and Burton goalkeeper Saul Deeney came to the club from Coalville in March 2022. He is now 39 years old and a former Republic of Ireland Under 21 International and started out at Notts County, with Hull City and Burton Albion among his former clubs. He was previously loaned to Ilkeston 20 years ago!

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

Player manager Jamie Ward is another well- known player, who was signed from Buxton in the summer. The Northern Ireland international has over 400 league appearances under his belt scoring over 100 goals.

Apart from his time at Derby, Burton and Forest, he has played for Sheffield Utd, Charlton, Cardiff, Scunthorpe among other teams.

Midfielder Jack Thomas came from Tamworth in March 2022. He was a Mansfield junior and has played for Hednesford, Boston Utd and Basford. It’s his second spell at the club, having left in July 2021.

Striker Remaye Campbell came from Grantham in July 2021, after a junior career at Notts County and is one of the first-choice players in the squad, with a goal scoring touch.

Declan Thompson is a newer arrival from Sheffield Wednesday. The young right back also had a spell at Stocksbridge, before arriving at the Manor Ground at the start of the season.

Striker Chris O’Grady is another vastly experienced player, having played well over 500 league games and scoring 110 goals. A Leicester City Academy player he joined Ilkeston in May, having been out of the game since leaving Bolton in July 2020.

He’s played for Oldham, Chesterfield, Brighton, Burton, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, and both Sheffield United and Wednesday to name but a few. He has been at Ilkeston since May and is Campbell’s regular striking partner.

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

Defender Fin Delap is currently on loan from Burton Albion and is the son if former Rams and Republic of Ireland International Rory and brother of Stoke City’s Liam.

Striker Lee Tomlin is a very recent arrival, following a short break after departing Doncaster Rovers. He started out at Leicester City, before joining Rushden & Diamonds. After a loan at Brackley he signed for Peterborough Utd and then moved on to Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, Bristol City and Cardiff, with further loans at Nottingham Forest and Peterborough again. He started this year at Walsall and went to Doncaster in October and has also played for England C.

Well known to Mickleover fans is striker Dempsey Arlott-John. A pacey young striker and Leicester City graduate, he joined Sports at the beginning of last season, but was unable to force his way into the starting line-up and moved to Shepshed in December 2021. He moved to Ilkeston in September and is a regular goal scorer.

Right back Joe Wilson was an early season signing, coming from Gainsborough in August. He started out at Reading and has progressed via Fleet, Hayes & Yeading and Staines Town.

Silvio Bello is a right back too, signed a few weeks ago after coming from the Nottingham Forest Academy.

Defender Tom Hilton is back in the first team squad after some time at Kimberley MW, he has also played for Heanor Town.

Midfielder Reco Fyfe rejoined our visitors from Long Eaton in October. He joined them towards the end of 20/21 from Basford and has also played for Gainsborough, Heanor and Carlton.

Tyree Wilson is a young winger or midfielder who came to the Manor Ground in November, following his release from the Rams Academy.

Dan Bradley is another recently arrived midfielder. He was an Aston Villa Junior, before moving to Tamworth. He’s moved on fairly rapidly via Kidderminster, Alfreton, Barnet, Fylde and Nuneaton, before a three-month stay back at Tamworth preceded his March 22 move to Ilkeston.

Third choice keeper is Harvey Woodward who helped out Kimberley MW earlier this season, while newest signing of all Thabang Dube, was on the bench for the first time against Basford, having come from Farsley Celtic. The young striker has also played for Shepshed Dynamo, Newark and Tamworth, having started with Leicester City.

We will be hoping for our biggest attendance of the season, kick off is 3pm at the Don Amott Arena, but be there early.

by Peter Scherer

It was always going to be a tough game as Mickleover faced title contenders Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way on Boxing Day, but unfortunately some poor refereeing once again played a major part in the outcome.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Scott 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Mitch Rose 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Will Trueman 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Rhys Dolan. Subs: Elliott Reeves, Ethan Mann. Lekan Osideko, Joe Bateman.

Barely had the game got underway when Scott had to have treatment for a right arm injury. But it was Mickleover on the attack first when Dolan got a break on the left, after a midfield interception, but Trueman’s weak shot failed to test Breeden in the host’s goal.

Nuneaton almost broke through the Mickleover defence after six minutes and four minutes later they had a free kick when Rose was alleged to have fouled. 

Hedge’s clearance then found Beavon, whose shot was saved, before Beavon was in the action again finding Trueman in the middle after 14 minutes, only for his shot to be deflected.

The referee had started to give a number of free kicks for legitimate challengers, but the hosts failed to maximise their bonus opportunities, with McManus’ wild shot finally ending a few minutes of pressure on the Mickleover goal, as Butler and Watt stood firm in the middle of the Mickleover defence.

Overall, the play remained fairly even, when the referee allowed the game to flow. But in the 21^st minute there was a chance for Dales. Dolan crossed from the left and it almost fell for a first-time volley from Dales. But a late bobble caused a miscue, and it was a goal kick.

Yet another free-kick soon followed but Beswick’s effort was well off target and then Dales was tripped on the edge of the box, but Wilson’s free-kick sailed over the bar.

After another Nuneaton free-kick the hosts fired in four different shots as they tried to batter the Mickleover defence, before Beswick’s final attempt was so wide it went out for a throw in.

Warren put a telling ball into the box on the half hour, but there was no one to receive, then Waite had a great chance for Nuneaton, in space, but his haste sent his shot well wide of the mark.

A 50/50 tackle just outside the box from Rose was then given in Nuneaton’s favour and brought the first yellow card. But it got worse when Benbow’s free kick that initially looked to be covered by Hedge, bounced and went just inside his left-hand post, 0-1 after 35 minutes.

The goal had come against the run of play but only three minutes later Dales went close having cut in from the right, to shoot just over.

Mickleover continued to push forward but had to be wary of the break. Dales again cut in from the right and almost found Trueman, but the keeper just managed to intercept. Then in time added on Dolan crossed from the left, but Rose’s chip then went out of play, so Sports were very unlucky to go into the break a goal down.

Reeves came on for Dales at the start of the second half, as the midfielder had only come through a late pre-match fitness test.

It was a strong start though and they continued to push for an equaliser, with Reeves making an immediate impact. Scott had crossed from the right to find the striker, but his shot rolled agonisingly just beyond the right-hand post with the keeper beaten and Dolan just inches away after 50 minutes.

Two minutes later Trueman had a shot down the middle which went just wide as Sports continued to dominate. Then another effort by the Sheffield Wednesday loanee was cleared off the line for a corner, with the keeper beaten again.

Warren tried his luck following the corner, but it was over the bar, before once again against the run of play, Dowd made a virtually unchallenged run across the Mickleover box from right to left, to fire home a second goal for the hosts, 0-2 after 58 minutes.

It wasn’t quite the killer blow to Mickleover’s hopes as seven minutes later Benbow scored his second and Nuneaton’s third, as the hosts took charge.

Trueman made a run down the right after 67 minutes and found Reeves again, but his attempt as before rolled out just beyond the left-hand post, but it was the referee’s decision a minute later that became the main talking point. 

There was a tussle between Lathaniel Rowe-Turner and Warren, where the Nuneaton player appeared to have hold of Warren around his neck. As a number of other players arrived on the scene, the referee decided to red card Warren, while his assailant was given a yellow!! 

The decision was reminiscent of George Nunn’s sending off against Bromsgrove, where the referee also failed to apportion fair and even punishment.

So, 22 minutes left and Mickleover were down tom10 men and Greaves came on for Dolan, just before Beavon had a shot over the bar.

But there was some light after 78 minutes, when Reeves broke free down the middle and chipped the keeper to make it 1-3. Bateman then came on for Trueman, but Richards restored the hosts three goal advantage in the 82^nd minute. 1-4.

Reeves then battled his way through for a second with pure determination, to make the final score 2-4, in a solid all-round performance in a game marred by poor officials.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC are in for a tough challenge as they end 2022, facing second in the Southern Premier League Table Nuneaton Borough at Liberty Way.

Unbeaten at home so far this season, Jimmy Ginnelly’s team beat Leiston at home last time out 2-1, but suffered one of only four league defeats at the beginning of December, 1-3 at Barwell Town.

Ginnelly has managed to keep changes in his line-up to the minimum and has been in charge at Liberty Way for the last four years, having previously managed Barwell and Atherstone.

Keeper Tony Breeden recently made his 100th appearance for the club, having arrived from Bromsgrove in November 2019. He’s previously played for Leamington, Kidderminster and Tamworth.

Ryan Beswick is a midfielder who started as a Leicester City Junior. After a loan at Redditch, he went to Kettering following his release, before moving to Solihull. He then came to Nuneaton in July 2017, but after one year moved to Tamworth, staying for four years until returning to Liberty Way pre-season.

Aaron Forde is another midfielder, who started out at Walsall. He has spent his career based in the West Midlands, with Romulus, Bedworth, Halesowen, Sutton Coldfield, Rushall and Stourbridge before spending 2 ½ years at Tamworth, prior to joining Nuneaton in February.

Derby born Tyrell Waite is a striker that started out at Ilkeston. Notts County then picked him up in 2012, from when he had his first loan spell at Nuneaton, further loans back at Nuneaton and Ilkeston then preceded a permanent move to Lincoln City and he made nine league appearances before joining Skelleftea in Sweden.

He then came back to the UK with Nuneaton in January 2016, but moved on to Kidderminster, Boston Utd, Matlock and Tamworth, before his third spell at Nuneaton came in July, after eight months at Coalville.

Centre back Scott McManus is the current club captain. He was at Curzon Ashton initially, before joining Crewe Alexandra and making a handful of league appearances. He then had a year at Stranraer, before joining FC United and had seven years at Halifax Town. He came to Nuneaton in December 2020, after a couple of seasons at Coalville.

Luke Benbow is a long-serving striker who was signed from Stourbridge in July 2019. He started off at Solihull Moors and has spent most of his career alternating between Stourbridge and Solihull, interspersed with a short stay at Redditch and one season at Hednesford. He scored in both of their last two matches.

Midfielder Charlie Dowd was a Burton Albion youngster. On his release he spent three-years at Bromsgrove, before joining Alvechurch in July last year. He signed for Nuneaton January and like Benbow, also scoring in the last two matches.

Kane Richards is another Derby born striker, who came from the Derby County Academy. After a loan at Ilkeston, he signed for Matlock on his release, moving onto Chester, with a loan at Gainsborough, before joining Dover Athletic, who loaned him to Telford, before a permanent move to Kidderminster. He then spent three-years at Basford before coming to Nuneaton in July.

Italian born midfielder Prince Mancinelli arrived from Belper Town in June. He has also played for Long Eaton Utd, Radford, Basford and Tamworth.

Centre back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner is an ex-League One and Two player who started at Leicester City. He was loaned to Cheltenham, Redditch and Kings Lynn before a permanent move to Torquay. Two years later he moved to Luton and after an initial loan, moved on to Alfreton Town.

He then joined Kidderminster and was loaned to Nuneaton in January 2016. A return spell at Torquay was followed by spells at Chester, Kettering and Tamworth, before spending a year at Stourbridge prior to his Nuneaton signing in July.

Isaiah Osbourne was an England Under 16 International, who played his junior football with Derby County, until Aston Villa spotted him. The midfielder made 30 starts mostly in the Premiership and was also loaned to Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday. He moved to the Scottish Premiership in 2011 with Hibernian, but after 30 appearances he headed south to Blackpool.

Scunthorpe, Walsall and Forest Green followed, but after almost 300 senior games, he went non-league for the first time with Nuneaton.

Right back Chris Cox was a pre-season signing from Tamworth. He started at Coventry Utd, before moving to Stratford and Tamworth. But after a year break, he was briefly back at Coventry, before almost two years back at Tamworth too.

Midfielder Max Brogan had scored five goals for Barwell this season, before coming to Nuneaton at the end of October. He was previously at Coleshill Town last season and had a spell at Tamworth too.

Former Coventry City junior striker Matty Stenson joined Barwell on his release. He moved on fairly quickly to Leamington, before spending a year with Solihull Moors. He was loaned to Telford before a permanent move to Halifax, but was loaned again to Tamworth and Kidderminster, before joining Nuneaton pre-season after spending two years on Halifax’s books.

Midfielder Rev James is a former Oxford Utd junior, who was loaned to Basford, before joining Tamworth on his release. After three years he returned to Basford, but was initially loaned to Nuneaton in March, before a permanent move in July.

Joe Magunda is another Leicester City graduate, who joined Woking on his release. A loan at Redditch followed before he went to Kings Lynn. He then spent two years at Brackley and six years at Leamington, before a three-year stop at Tamworth. Six months at Stratford preceded his move to Nuneaton.

Reserve keeper Liam Castle was another pre-season signing from Barwell, where he spent almost 10 years since arriving from Basingstoke.

Dan Edmonds has come through Boro’s own youth scheme and made his first team debut in the Birmingham Senior Cup a couple of weeks ago.

Hopefully the weather will be kind over Christmas, so the game goes ahead on the grass pitch. Kick-off at Liberty Way is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Weather permitting we visit next to bottom of the table Hednesford Town on Saturday afternoon. But with a grass pitch and freezing temperatures, the game has to be in some doubt.

The Pitmen have been in management turmoil from the start of the season, and having seen Steve Burr and his team depart on Monday, Tuesday it was announced that former Walsall, Tamworth, Sutton Coldfield and Rushall player Graham Deakin, had been appointed as Director of Football.

A team manager has yet to be announced, but Deakin has previously been the club’s assistant manager, and held posts at Romulus and Worcester City.

The club managed to take only their second win of the season at home to Stratford on December 3^rd and drew 1-1 at Redditch last Saturday.

Goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks is currently on loan from Notts County. He has also been loaned out to Lincoln Utd and Coalville, but started out at Sheffield Wednesday before joining the Magpies Academy.

Adam Clayton is second choice keeper, a former Birmingham City Junior, who came from Bromsgrove in September.

Skipper Lewis Ison was a youth player at Bristol Rovers, after they spotted his talent at Coventry Utd. But a UCL injury hampered his progress when he was on the verge of the first team. He then returned to Coventry from where our visitors signed him in January 2021.

Former England Under 21 player and Chelsea Junior Leroy Lita is probably Hednesford’s best known player. After leaving the Blues he had three years at Bristol City, scoring 38 goals in 100 games. Four years at Reading saw another 100 games and 32 goals, plus loan spells at Norwich and Charlton, was followed by a move to Middlesbrough.

He played for Swansea City in the Premiership and after loans at Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday and Brighton, he then continued his travels via Barnsley, Notts County, AO Chania in Crete, Yeovil, Sisaket in the Thai Premier League and finally non-league in the UK at Margate, Salisbury and Chelmsford, before joining our visitors in March from Nuneaton, scoring a hattrick on his debut!

Left back Adam Livingstone was a Motherwell Academy graduate and has spent of his career in Scotland. After loans at East Fife, Morton and Clyde, he joined Cove Rangers on his release, then rejoined Clyde again before a move to Stafford Rangers at the start of this season. He came to Hednesford in September.

Luke Redfern is a young centre back on loan from Stoke City. He has also been loaned out to Nuneaton, Burton Albion and Sutton Coldfield.

Winger Joe Cuff was an early season arrival from Stafford Rangers after four-years service over two spells. He was previously at Market Drayton and Whitchurch.

Midfielder Luke McQuilkin is a former Northern Ireland Under 17,19 and 21 International. After playing for Zlin in the Czech Republic, he joined Hereford Utd in 2009. After a spell at Walsall he first joined our hosts in 2014, but moved to Torquay after a couple of months.

Kidderminster, Telford and a return trip to Hereford followed, before spending a year at Stourbridge, prior to rejoining the Pitmen in September.

Keith Lowe is a very experienced centre back, having played over 400 league games. Initially a Wolves Academy player, he was loaned to Burnley and QPR where he played in the Championship, before, Swansea, Brighton, Cheltenham and Port Vale, joining Kidderminster on his release in 2008.

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 Rushall pre-season and moved to Hednesford in September.

Harvey Portman is young defender, preferably centre back, he came from Stourbridge in February, having come through their youth scheme.

Former Wolves Academy player Todd Parker is a midfielder who arrived in May ’21 after a year out following his Molineux release.

Another former Wolves junior is winger Kyle Bennett. His league career has seen him make over 400 appearances with 30+ goals, for clubs such as Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Swindon, Portsmouth and Doncaster. He came to Hednesford in January and is also an England Under 18 international.

Striker Tom Hewlett is on loan from Burton Albion and has had spells out at Rushall, Belper and Leamington.

Among the more recent signings is former Mickleover midfielder Kemy Agustien. Former Netherlands   Under 19,20 & 21 International and a full International for Curacao, who played Premiership football for Swansea City.

He started his career in the Netherlands, making his name with AZ Alkmaar, before coming to the UK for the first time with Birmingham City. A year later he joined Swansea and also played for Crystal Palace and Brighton, before spells in Denmark and at Hamilton Academicals, preceded a return to the Netherlands with Dordrehct. 

Global Cebu in the Philippines  followed by Tec in the Netherlands, came before he went non league in the UK, firstly with Nuneaton, then Barrow, Wrexham and Bradford Park Avenue, before coming to Mickleover in January 2020, until the end of last season. He joined Kettering last month, and moved to Hednesford two weeks ago.

Former Shrewsbury Town Junior right back Zac Hartley was signed in early October from Bromsgrove. He has also played for Frickley Athletic and was at Truro City last season.

Right back Levi Andoh arrived from Buxton last month, a former Aston Villa Junior, he moved on to Cradley Town, Worcester City and Solihull, before Ipswich picked him up.

He was loaned out to Hereford and then joined Buxton at the beginning of this season.

Attacking full back Akanni Akinwe is a former West Bromwich Albion Junior, signed a couple of weeks ago, having left Shrewsbury Town in the summer.

Jack Broome is another recently arrived full back too. An Ex Wolves Junior, he moved on to Watford and is now making his way back after a long injury.

Midfielder Samir Nabi is duel registered with Sutton Coldfield. He started at Delhi Dynamo’s and is a Pakistan International. He has also played for Carlisle, Torquay, Halesowen, Kidderminster and Hereford.

Recently arrived winger Niah Payne is on a two-month loan from Spennymoor. A former Bradford City Junior, he joined Shaw Lane on his release, moving onto Garforth, Goole and Bridlington, before spending 18 months in Scotland with Peterhead and finally joining Spennymoor in August.

Mark Derricott is another loanee, from Hereford, having come through the Bulls own Academy.

Kick off is scheduled for 3pm, but keep a look out for pre-match updates on social media.

by Peter Scherer

Three home points against strugglers Kings Langley has put Mickleover back into the play-off zone, but it was far from easy.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Scott 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Mitchell Rose 5-Ethan Mann 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Mason Warren, Oliver Bosworth, James Butler, Will Trueman, Lekan Osideko.

It was a good strong start to the game for Mickleover on a bright, but bitterly cold afternoon, with Dolan ending a positive first run with a shot just wide.

Sports had their first free kick after four minutes, when Dales was fouled, but the free kick came to nought.

Rose just missed connecting with a corner at the edge of the box a few minutes later, before our visitors had their first break when Cain Keller crossed from his left, but there was no one to receive.

After 14 minutes Reeves cut in from the right with a powerful run, but ran out of time and space for a final pass or shot. But two minutes later a similar attack almost found Beavon, who was just beaten to the ball by the defence as he slid in to earn a corner.

Mickleover had been in charge from the start and when Beavon collected on the left-hand edge of the box, he fired home the opening goal 1-0.

For the next 20 minutes or so the game went very flat, with neither team making any positive moves, until Greaves’ hard work all over the field saw him put a dangerous cross in from the right after 37 minutes. It was so close to connecting with  a couple of Mickleover players.

But Kings Langley started to push forward finally as half-time approached, and Jacob Gardiner-Smith put a cross in from Sports left, which Greaves header over for a corner, before Keller’s final shot headed for the Club House roof.

Beavon then found Dales on the left, but his return cross was a couple of inches too high for Beavon to collect the return., and then almost on the half time whistle Ryan Case tried a long shot for the visitors, sailing just over the bar.

As seems to be so often with visitors to Mickleover, Kings Langley came out for the second half with all guns blazing.

There had been an early long ball through to Beavon, but keeper Jack Berman just beat him to the chase. It was a quick response from Kings Langley though, when the combination of Watt and Mann dealt with a dangerous cross from Alex Lafleur.

47 minutes in and Watt had to head away another telling cross, before the pressure was relieved with a shot well wide. But the visitors were quicker and more accurate than Sports and after a couple of corners Hedge had to make a diving save to his left to keep a Keller effort out.

A clash of heads between Reeves and Kings Langley skipper Jorell Johnson then brought a hold-up in play as both received treatment, before Mickleover had only their second attack of the half after 57 minutes, with Dales breaking on the left from a Hedge clearance.

Dales final shot was straight at keeper Berman, who then found Bradley Wadkins with a rapid clearance, heading just over Hedge’s bar.

It was starting to look as if an equaliser was imminent, as Mickleover were failing to get out of their own half. Scott cleared another attack on the hour and tried to bring the ball out and then a minute later the ball hit Hedge’s right- hand post with the defence beaten.

Warren was the first sub to come on for Reeves, but it was still continuous pressure from the visitors, with Mann next to clear the lines. A number of shots were being fired in but the defence just managed to hold on, with most attempts just missing the target.

Then after 69 minutes Dolan worked himself down the left but was almost pinned in the corner. Somehow he got a cross in and Greaves fired in home for 2-0 totally against the run of play.

Debutant Trueman came on for Dolan after 72 minutes, and shortly afterwards Warren tried a cracking long shot, which was collected by Berman.

The second goal had taken the wind out of Kings Langley’s sales and Berman was in action again making a couple of saves and collecting some more telling crosses.

Hedge had a couple of interceptions to make, but it was Sports on top again, with Dales leading a break on the left after 77 minutes, cutting inside to have hit shot blocked, before Greaves had his rebound shot blocked too.

Both Wilson and Rose had fairly quiet games, but Greaves continued to be in the thick of it, with good positive and threatening runs.

Beavon had an 80^th minute shot saved, after Greaves came in from the right again, before Osideko then came on for Dales.

Keller had another shot high over the bar for the visitors, but as the whistle went it was three points for Mickleover with a 2-0 win, but Kings Langley can count themselves very unlucky to go home pointless.

by Peter Scherer

Despite having recently lost our unbeaten run, seventh in the Southern Premier League Central table still leaves Mickleover vying for a play-off position.

Our visitors this weekend are 20^th placed Kings Langley, who have had a very up and down season so far. Five wins and 12 defeats and they have secured more points away than at home.

They had their first points and first win in six games when they beat Basford away 1-0 on Tuesday night, their previous success was 2-1 at home to Hednesford on November 12^th.

When Mickleover played the reverse fixture in August, it was a 2-2 draw, with goals from Elliott Reeves and James Butler.

Interim manager Chris Winton only took charge a week ago and is a former player for the club and was also assistant at St Albans.

Hafed Al-Droubi has been first choice keeper. He is a former Luton Academy player, who went to Besiktas in Turkey on his release. He moved to Gibraltar with Manchester 62, before coming back to the UK with Chesham.

Further moves have taken him to Harrow Borough, Beaconsfield and Northwood, before joining our visitors from Potters Bar in July this year.

Previous reserve keeper Jack Berman played in Tuesday night’s win, he’s been with the club since July last year, follow his release from Stevenage.

Defensive midfielder Jacob Gardiner-Smith played his early football in Russian junior leagues, with PFK ZSKA Moscow and Zenit II St Petersburg, before coming to St Albans in 2018.

He has played for Hendon, Wycombe, Braintree and Hemel too, before coming to Kings Langley in October after a couple of months at Cheshunt.

Jorell Johnson is captain, centre back and the clubs longest serving player, having arrived from Watford in August 2016. He had previously been loaned to Hemel and St Albans prior to his release.

Fellow centre back James Kaloczi is a newer arrival having signed from Hemel in July. He joined St Albans in 2014, after playing for Harvesters and Boreham Wood, and was then loaned to Wingate, before a permanent move to Hemel. He then alternated between St Albans and Hemel until coming to Kings Langley in pre-season.

Ryan Case is another centre back that started his career at Dorchester. Stops at Basingstoke, Staines and Poole followed, before his travels continued via Eastbourne, Bath City, Gosport Borough, Oxford City, Dulwich Hamlet and Chippenham, before coming to Kings Langley in July, after a year at Hartley Wintney.

Right back Samuel Okoye-Ahaneku was a pre-season signing too from Hitchin Town, while winger Wilson Carvalho is even more recent, having come from Westfield in September.

Carvalho has had a fairly long career which started as a Fulham Junior, before joining Stevenage on his release. Two years later he went to Greenford, but a further year brought a move to Port Vale, where he made eight League One appearances and was loaned to Hemel, Corby and Ilkeston. 

His journey then continued from Corby to Kettering, Oxford City, Stratford, Accrington, Macclesfield, Hampton & Richmond, Hendon, Walton Casuals and Hayes & Yeading.

Striker Bradley Wadkins arrived in July last year from Chesham, having previously been at Enfield and Slough.

Fellow striker James Ewington only arrived a few weeks ago, after 15 months at Harrow Borough. He has had shortish stays at a host of clubs, starting with Harpenden and moving on to London Colney, Hertford, Welwyn Garden City, Colney Heath, Northwood, Walton Casuals, St Albans, Hampton & Richmond, Wingate and Beaconsfield.

Noyan Tajbakhsh is a striker who has spent most of his career in his native Turkey. Having played for Fenerbahce, Sariyer and Tepecik Sport, he came to the UK with Uxbridge in 2017, before arriving at our visitors pre-season.

Brother Aryan Tajbakhsh is a midfielder, who came from Potters Bar in February. He started at Kentish Town and Northwood before joining Barnet. He then a spell at Maidenhead before moving to Turkey with Antalyaspor, Yolavaspor and Pendikspor, before joining Braintree in 2011.

He has also played for Billericay, Harrow Borough, Farnborough, Maidenhead, Walton & Hersham, Potters Bar, St Albans, Aveley, Cheshunt, Ware, VCD Athletic, Enfield, Hendon, Cray Wanderers, Crawley, Wealdstone, Dover Athletic, Maidstone and Dulwich.

Centre back Udoka Chima came from Burnley’s Under 18’s. On his release he spent a year with Queen of the South, and came to Kings Langley in October, after a year at Harrow Borough.

Winger James Mulley has many of years of experience, including League Two level. He started with Hayes & Yeading and moved on to Chelmsford before signing for AFC Wimbledon. After a couple of loans back to Hayes and Wealdstone, he went to Braintree. Further moves to Maidenhead, Bracknell and Uxbridge followed, before spending a year at Ware, prior to signing for our visitors in August.

Defender Alex Lafleur is in his second season with our visitors, since arriving from Beaconsfield. He has played for Moneyfields, Salisbury, Gosport Borough, Chalfont St Peter, Edgware Town and Wealdstone.

Midfielder Cain Keller scored the winning goal against Basford on Tuesday night. He is a former Stevenage junior and has played for Hendon, before arriving at Kings Langley from Biggleswade in February.

Deago Dunbar-Bonnie is a left back and former Orient junior. He joined Maldon & Tiptree on his release in September 2021 and was a pre-season signing.

Midfielder Finlay Macnab started out as a Brentford Junior, before joining AFC Wimbledon. After loans at Leatherhead he was released in October last year and came to Kings Langley after a brief spell at Welwyn.

Will Hoskins came to our visitors in January 2020 after a couple of years out of the game. After starting at Rotherham he has over 150 league games under his belt, with 50 plus goals, having played for Watford, Millwall, Nottingham Forest, Bristol Rovers, Brighton, Sheffield Utd, Oxford Utd and Exeter, before going non-league at Hemel and a spell in Australia with Northcote City. He was capped by England at Under 18,19 and 20 too.

Midfielder Jordan Parkes is a player coach having arrived  from Billericay in November 2019. He started at Watford and after loans at Brentford, Barnet and Stevenage, he moved permanently to Barnet, making over 50 League Two appearances.

After loan at Farnborough he then joined Chelmsford and has also played for Hemel and Ebbsfleet, and is an England Under 18 and 20 International. 

Alex Tokarczyk is another goalkeeper who has been in the squad this season, he has had spells Scottish League with Montrose and Falkirk. He also spent time at Crystal Palace, after starting out at Hayes & Yeading. 

Moving on he went to Farnborough, Maidenhead, Hungerford, Hemel, Harrow, Arlesey, Hanwell, Aylesbury, Basingstoke, Whitehawk, Chesham and then joined Kings Langley in 2018/19.

He moved on again to Walton Casuals and St Albans, then briefly returned, before going to Beaconsfield and St Albans and returning again this season.

Striker Joseph Chidyausku has played for Bradford Park Avenue, Chelmsford, Havant & Waterlooville and St Albans. He then moved to Beaconsfield and Barton Rovers before coming to Kings Langley this season.

Midfielder Matthew Taylor has recently joined the starting line-up and both Giuseppe Delgaudo and Leo Farruch have been on the bench, after time at Tring Athletic.

It’s back to 3pm kick off at the Don Amott Arena for this Keith Loring Memorial match, so if you haven’t got a ticket for Burton Albion v Derby County, come and watch us!

by Peter Scherer

It was a short trip down the road to visit Long Eaton Utd last night for Mickleover, as they contested the third round of the Derbyshire Senior Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Lucas Yeomans 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ethan Mann 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Fin Barker 8-Mitchell Rose 9-Kai Moore 10-Lekan Osideko 11-Oli Greaves. Subs: Ben Horleston, Andy Dales, Brandon Ferron, Stuart Beavon.

It was a fairly bright start from Mickleover on a bitterly cold evening at Grange Park. Only four minutes in and keeper Sam Wilson failed to hold Greaves’ shot, before Moore’s rebound effort was blocked to earn the first corner.

Four minutes later Jamie Walker put in a telling cross for Long Eaton, but there was no one on the receiving end.

But it was Mickleover looking the more dangerous, with Osideko jinking his way through the defence after 10 minutes, following a good build up down the left, but Brad Wilson blocked the final shot.

Long Eaton then went on the attack with down the Mickleover right, before the following cross was cut out. Debutant Riley Phillips then broke clear and fired in a long range shot, intercepted by Dolan just inside the box.

The hosts confidence began to grow as they started to restrict Mickleover’s attack. Tom Cursons was then on the end of a good build up, but his shot was high and wide of Bosworth’s left-hand post.

Only a minute later Bosworth cut out a Long Eaton cross into the box, before Sports earned another corner, following a quick break and Greaves had his shot blocked again.

Cursons went close after 19 minutes, shooting just wide of the left-hand post, and managed to free himself from the shackles of the Sports defence again, shortly afterwards.

But after 21 minutes Ben Hutchinson picked up the ball outside the box, weighed up his options and fired in a rocket shot into Bosworth’s top left-hand corner, 0-1.

Osideko led a Sports attack a couple of minutes later, he got space and found Barker, but the final shot was wide of the left-hand upright.

Mickleover’s best chance of the whole game came after 28 minutes, when Barker had done the hard work, had his head down and heading for goal after being set up by Moore. A goal looked almost a certainty, but the shot was over the bar again.

Three minutes later Long Eaton went close again from a Rogers free kick, as the hosts were moving the ball quicker and more accurately than Mickleover.

Barker was close in on goal again just after the half hour, but the advancing keeper Wilson just got there first and then Parker, Hutchinson and Walker combined with Walker’s effort well over the bar following a cross from the right.

Moore tried to send Osideko on a run, but Greaves was then scythed down by Tyreece Robinson just outside the box, but directly in front of goal. The defender was yellow carded, while Greaves took the free kick himself, putting it wide of the left-hand post.

The first half finished with the hosts on the attack again, Wilson found Cursons, but Hutchinson’s effort failed to trouble Bosworth again.

Mickleover made two half time changes, as Beavon and Dales came on for Yeomans and Moore.

Dales had a couple of early runs, but had his route cut off by some uncompromising defending, but after a couple of less direct attacks by the hosts, Barker almost broke through after 51 minutes, but took it a yard too far and lost out.

As Beavon attempted to shield the ball, Cox started kicking lumps out of the strikers ankles, despite being directly in front of the assistant referee, he never saw it!

The officials did however see a shoulder to shoulder charge by Butler on the burly Cussons and awarded a free kick. Marshall’s kick was on target and brought out an excellent diving save to his right from Bosworth.

There was little being created from midfield by Mickleover, despite Greaves being busy all over the field, while Rose sometimes seemed to be deeper than the defence.

The strikers were having to try and make long runs, and after 55 minutes Barker almost got Osideko through, while at the other end Bosworth was looking safe and reliable after coping with the hosts free kicks and corners relatively easily.

Almost on the hour Greaves sent in a short pass from the right, which was whipped off Beavon’s toes at the last minute and then Greaves found Mann on the right again. Beavon was on the receiving end but he just missed out on his first touch shot.

Phillips led another Long Eaton break, but Bosworth took the cross cleanly to his right. But Sports had started to push forward more with time running out. Dales found Barker on the right, his cross found Osideko, whose header was off target.

Butler had a header just over from a Greaves free kick and with 15 minutes left, Horleston came on for Barker.

Dales had a shot blocked after 80 minutes and then Bertram tried his luck from long distance for Long Eaton, but was high and wide again.

Horleston, Beavon and Dales created a chance on the edge of the box, but the final shot was too close to keeper Wilson. There was then a succession of corners, with the final one headed over by Watt.

In the final minutes Dales tried to lead an attack, passed inside to Rose whose shot was blocked, and then tried himself with the same result.

Apart from the one goal which was out of the blue, Long Eaton’s threat was fairly comfortably dealt with by Yeomans, Dolan, Butler, Mann and skipper Watt. It was midfield though that looked out of balance and failed to provide for the strikers.

It was good to see both Barker and Moore get again, as well as debutant keeper Bosworth. 

By Peter Scherer

There were more donations to the auction for the Fin Bowen tribute, prior to Sports home draw against Leiston last Saturday.

Mickleover goalkeeping coach Jonah Jones and family and led the presentation of goalkeeping gloves, joined by Leiston keeper Sam Donkin and coach Nigel Ling.

Former Mickleover keeper Lewis King also called in pre-match with a donation too, before heading off to play for Loughborough Dynamo against Sporting Khalsa.