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.

By Peter Scherer

In a break from their Southern Premier League Central campaign, Mickleover visit Long Eaton United’s Grange Park on Tuesday evening, for a Derbyshire Senior Cup tie.

It could be a changed side for Sports following a few knocks in the match against Leiston last Saturday and an opportunity for some fringe players to get a start.

Long Eaton are currently eighth in the Northern Premier League Division One East, one step below Mickleover, following a 2-1 win at Stockton last Saturday.

Manager Ian Deakin is a former Forest and Mansfield goalkeeper, who is also Mansfield Town’s commercial manager. He played for Eastwood, Retford, Hinckley, Buxton and Heanor too.

They are undefeated in their last four games, and beat Pontefract Collieries 2-1 in their last home game.

Goalkeeper Sam Wilson is a former Mansfield Town Academy player, who is also the clubs goalkeeping coach. He has played for Wisbech too and has a reputation as a penalty saver.

Full back Larell King is well known to Mickleover after starting last season at the Don Amott Arena, captaining the reserves side. He was previously at Mansfield too, having started out at the Burton Albion Academy.

Sam Parker is a left back that began his career as a Derby County Junior. He was signed from Kimberley MW at the start of last season.

Midfielder Tom Marshall is in his second spell at the club. He left to join Ilkeston during the 2016/17 season. In three seasons he made over 100 appearances, before returning to Long Eaton early in 20/21.

Keiran Walker is a centre back in his third season at Grange Park, having learned his craft at Carlton Town. He recently made his 100^th appearance.

Fellow centre back Luke Cox was a Sheffield Wednesday graduate, who joined Redditch on his release. He moved on to Chasetown in March this year and is one of the more recent signings. He has scored three goals in his 13 appearances so far.

Canadian born striker Micah Jebbison arrived prior to the 21/22 season. He was on trial at Sheffield Utd before joining Ilkeston and Quorn. His younger brothers are both footballers too,  Daniel plays for Sheffield Utd and Jonathan has played for Quorn and Heanor. He has scored four goals this season.

Striker Ben Hutchinson is probably one of the clubs most experienced player. His football league career started at Middlesbrough, after he joined them from Arnold Town. He then joined Celtic and was sent out on loan to Swindon Town, Dundee and Lincoln City before a permanent move to Kilmarnock.

He came back to the Midlands in 2012 with Mansfield, moving on to Nuneaton, Basford, Belper Town, Carlton, Newark and Eastwood, before joining our hosts at the start of last season and has played in the English and Scottish Premiership and the Champions League.

Tom Cursons is a recent signing from Gainsborough Trinity. A talented striker who has already scored four goals in four games and was a regular scorer at Gainsborough too.

Midfielder Jamie Walker came from Basford in 2020, back for a second spell at the club. He was a regular goalscorer during a spell at Ilkeston and has played at Eastwood and Carlton too. He scored 20 goals last season and already has six to his name this term.

Defensive midfielder Danny Gordon is another former Mickleover player. He came from Belper for the start of 20/21 season. As well as Sports, he has also played for Ilkeston and Heanor.

Tyreece Robinson is a former Rams junior who was at Mickleover until January 2020 when he moved to Gresley Rovers.  After six months he moved to Belper Town for a year and was then at Frickley before his arrival at Grange Park in June. He also had a short spell at Loughborough Dynamo.

Midfielder Jamie McGuire was a team mate of Jamie Vardy’s at Fleetwood Town. He started as a Junior with Tranmere Rovers and was loaned to Northwich, before joining Cammell on his release. He played for Droylsden before joining Fleetwood in 2009 and four years later moved to Mansfield Town, making over 130 league appearances.

Boston Utd and AFC Mansfield followed before to coming to Long Eaton last season.

 Jack Rogers is another former Rams Academy player. A striker with six goals so far this season. He joined Ilkeston last August following his release and completed the season on an extended loan at Shepshed, before moving to Grange Park.

There is yet another Ex Mickleover player with Ben Gowing having recently arrived at our hosts. He came to Mickleover at the start of the 2020/21 season, having previously played for our junior side.

A former Dunkirk and Belper Town and Utd player, he came to us from Eastwood and left early last season. His first spell at Long Eaton was when he signed from Quorn in 2017 and he arrived back recently, after another spell at Quorn and Anstey Nomads.

Striker Alex Marshall is Tom’s elder brother and in his second spell at Long Eaton too. He left in 2017 to join Ilkeston and returned in February 2020, continuing his reputation as a prolific goalscorer. He once scored a 16 minute hattrick for Ilkeston at Loughborough.

When Rod Orlando-Young was signed in August, the attacking midfielder brought a vast career of experience with him. A former Exeter and Norwich City youngster, he was loaned to Bishop Stortford, before joining Welling Utd on his release.

He was then loaned to Grays, before a permanent move to Ware, but then headed north to Sheffield FC two years later. Newcastle Town, Ilkeston, Buxton, Gainsborough, Radcliffe and Grantham followed, before going to Frickley in January.

Jermaine Hollis is another experienced player, a former Jamaica Under 20 International, he spent much of his early career at Kidderminster, including a loan at Alvechurch, after being picked up from Eastwood.

He joined Hucknall Town following his release but rapidly moved on to Gresley Rovers, Rainworth, Eastwood, Carlton, Shepshed and Basford, before his first spell at Long Eaton in 2014/15.

Belper, Grantham, Coalville, Hednesford, Ilkeston, Newark Flowserve and Eastwood followed, before he came back to Long Eaton this year.

Brad Wilson is a full back who arrived pre-season 2019/20 and James Taylor is a midfielder, who has come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Riley Phillips has recently broken into the first team squad from the youth team, while Riece Bertram is the clubs newest signing. He has come from Basford, but has played for Matlock, Belper, Ilkeston and Carlton too.

Kick off is 7.45pm.

by Peter Scherer

Following two consecutive 1-4 defeats, Mickleover were keen to add to their points tally to stay in contention for a play-off place. But no one could have anticipated how the game against title challengers Leiston would start.

Line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Jake Scott 3-Ryan Wilson 4-Mitchell Rose 5-Ethan Mann 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy Dales 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Ollie Greaves. Subs: Lekan Osideko, James Butler, Lucas Yeomans, John McGrath.

Only 20 seconds on the clock and a long ball over the Leiston defence, found Dales on the right, whose chip had the beating of keeper Donkin, 1-0. Three minutes in, and against the best defence in the league, it was 2-0 with Beavon firing home.

The visitors then showed their grit when George Quantrell pulled one back after a cross from Ollie Saunders. So it was 2-1 and still only four minutes into the game.

There was another slight chance for Mickleover after 11 minutes when the keeper came well out of his goal, the ball was past him with Reeves chasing, but just too much pace on it to follow through.

Then two minutes later it was the visitors on the attack, with a ball from Mickleover’s right. The first shot from Joe Marsden was well saved by Hedge, before he then had to block the follow up from Seb Dunbar.

Leiston had started to gain the upperhand and were putting Mann and Watt under pressure in the middle of the Mickleover defence. Hedge made a fine diving save to his right to fend off a shot from Finlay Barnes after 16 minutes, before a Beavon cross was just out of Reeves’ reach at the other end.

But Hedge was soon busy again, with a great save from a Ben Fowkes effort 22 minutes in, before Barnes’ rebound shot was blocked and the danger cleared.

The home defence was finally breached again one minute later, when Quantrell set up Fowkes after Sports lost midfield possession, firing past Hedge, 2-2.

The equaliser triggered more activity from the Mickleover midfield, as Warren and Rose began to push forward, with Greaves and Dales starting to take the defence on.

Greaves tried his luck after 29 minutes, but his curling shot was held by Donkin, then Dales crossed from the left two minutes later, Beavon miskicked as Saunders tried to block him and Warren’s follow up shot was blocked.

Reeves then went close with a cross cum shot from the left, which almost rolled along the goal line, with no one there to put it home. Wilson then collected and sent a powerful shot just over the bar, earning a corner after a slight deflection.

Scott then put a dangerous cross in from the right after 39 minutes. Beavon managed to connect just, but he was unable to direct the ball and it went just over.

With two minutes left on the clock before half time Barnes had another shot saved by Hedge. Rose almost put Greaves in the clear too before Donkin intercepted and then Dales had the ball in the net but was deemed offside.

Osideko started the second half in place of Reeves, but Mickleover had come out positively and after 50 minutes Marsden had to clear off the line, before Greaves saw his header bounce off the cross bar.

After Hedge had easily dealt with a Marsden free kick, the Mickleover keeper was busy again, after saving Will Davies’ shot from a cross by Dunbar.

Just after the hour mark Dales got a cross in from the left, Osideko’s effort was just wide, with Beavon trying to connect too.

Warren had started to struggle after going over on his ankle and after 70 minutes he was replaced by Butler, and Wilson was pushed forward into midfield.

Leiston were pressing again however and four minutes later a Barnes cross put over the bar by the Mickleover defence, before Hedge punched the resulting corner clear.

Hutchings then headed wide from a Quantrell corner for the visitors, before Rose was tripped on the edge of the box. Wilson stepped up to take the free kick, beat the wall but his shot hit the bar with a slight deflection.

Adam Mills fired a late free kick straight at Hedge, but then there was one last chance for Mickleover. Greaves had a shot following a corner, then Wilson came in with the keeper intercepting with just inches to spare.

Despite having led, it was a good solid point against a strong team and now we look forward to Tuesday night’s Derbyshire Senior Cup game at Long Eaton, before we face Kings Langley at the Don Amott Arena next Saturday.

By Peter Scherer

Looking to get back to winning ways after two defeats on the road, Mickleover host title contenders Leiston on Saturday afternoon.

Currently second in the table, one point from top and with two games in hand, Darren Eadie and Chris Wigger’s side beat Sports 1-3 back in August.

They lost at home to Kings Langley on August 29^th and at Basford two days previous, but have been undefeated ever since, having beat Redditch 2-1 at home last Saturday.

Mickleover’s defence will have to tighten up considerably too, having conceded 11 goals in the last three matches, with the visitors strike force the most successful in the league.

Joint Manager Eadie is a former Norwich City, Leicester City and England Under 21 midfielder and has been in joint charge with Wigger since March 2020.

Goalkeeper Sam Donkin was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford. He has recently made his 100^th appearance for our visitors.

Full back Wyatt Hill was a pre-season arrival, having come from Wroxham in June following a spell in US College football.

Captain and left back Seb Dunbar came from Stowmarket in July 2021. He was an Ipswich Town Junior and also played for Maldon/Tiptree, Bishop Stortford and Bury Town. It’s his third spell at Leiston.

Centre back Adam Bailey-Dennis has 12 years experience under his belt. He started at Aveley, before moving to Bury Town. His path then took him via  Bromley, Bishop Stortford, Hemel and Chelmsford, before joining our visitors in October 2020.

Fellow centre back Jake Hutchings has travelled far and wide since starting out at as a junior with Leyton and Torquay. 

Grays, Weymouth and Frome preceded a spell at Hearts, returning south of the border with Enfield. He then moved on again before arriving at Leiston for his first spell in 2016. He left after a year but came back in December 2019, from Braintree and finally came back again for the third time from Kingstonian in May 2021.

Midfielder Rossi Jarvis was capped at under 18 and under 19 by England and was a Norwich City junior. He was loaned to Torquay and Rotherham, before joining Luton Town on his release and netted almost 100 appearances as a league player.

Spells at Barnet, Cambridge Utd and Lowestoft followed, before joining Leiston from Dereham Town pre-season.

Brother Ryan has England caps as an under 16, 17 and 19. He started at Norwich City too and was loaned to Colchester, Leyton Orient, Kilmarnock and Notts County, before joining Orient on his release.

After many more moves he settled back in East Anglia with Lowestoft in 2015. Then after a move to Kings Lynn he returned to Lowestoft, from where Leiston signed him in July. He played in every division of the football league and the Scottish Premier, with well over 300 appearances.

Another former Norwich junior is midfielder George Quantrill. He arrived at Leiston in May 2021, after spells at Dereham and Stowmarket.

Another midfielder and another former Norwich junior, Zach Dronfield came from Hampton & Richmond in July. He had previously been at Wealdstone.

Fellow midfielder Finley Barnes has followed a similar path too, but he came straight to Leiston in July 2020 on his release from Norwich.

Striker Will Davies is a prolific goal scorer, having arrived at Leiston in 2018. He has played well over 100 games since his arrival, scoring 50 goals, 19 of which were last season! He has already scored 12 goals this season and is the leagues second highest scorer.

Joe Marsden is mainly an attacking midfielder who is in his second season with our visitors, since arriving from Needham Market. He was previously at Lowestoft Town and came back to Leiston in June last year after three years away, recently making his 100^th club appearance.

Another midfielder, Adam Mills was signed in July last year from Needham Market. He has also played for Maldon/Tiptree and Sudbury Town.

Left back Ollie Saunders came from Braintree in November 2019. He started as a Norwich junior too, before moving on to Grimsby Town.

Just for a change midfielder Nya Mesuria started out at Ipswich Town. He was released in July last year and came to Leiston in December, after a short spell at Billericay.

Another former Norwich youngster, striker Jamie Eaton-Collins came from Sudbury in July 2020 and has played for Concord Rangers too.

Oliver Godbold is a young midfielder that came through their own youth. He is currently recovering from a knee operation.

Ben Fowkes was signed initially on loan from Braintree in September and has quickly become another prolific scorer. A talented striker who was previously at Needham Market too

Centre back Josh Okopolkpo arrived in September too. His yet to make his first start and was previously a Huddersfield Town junior.

Midfielder Jake Spooner was a pre-season arrival from Harleston Town and has played for Beccles Town too.

Reserve keeper Sonny Wright is a former Rushden & Diamonds player and finally Iuri Mendes-Fernandes is a midfielder who has been at Leiston for a couple of season.

Kick off 12:30pm at the Don Amott Arena, so there’s plenty of time to get from the Pride Park early kick off.