By Peter Scherer

Still seeking that first win of the season, Mickleover host second in the table St Ives Town at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Manager Ricky Marheineke has been in charge for nine years, and has had three wins and one defeat so, at the hands of Needham Market. Last Saturday they were 2-0 winners over Kings Langley at home.

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 another new arrival. The former Southend Utd youth player, moved on to Ebbsfleet, Bishops Stortford and St Neots and had a couple of seasons at Peterborough Sports before arriving at St Ives.

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 last year.

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 guests, 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, pre his St Ives arrival. He scored the winning goal against Kings Langley.

Myles Cowling is a midfielder on loan from Cambridge United. He has made one start this season and was previously loaned to St Neots.

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 earlier this month from Biggleswade.

Nabil Shariff is a striker who has already scored four league goals this season, including 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 visitors 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.

Former Boston Utd junior Owen Sherriff is a young centre back yet to make his league debut, after arriving earlier this month.

Right back Kane Lewis is another new arrival, yet to make a start too. 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.

Midfielder Andrew Osei-Bonsu is another Ghanaian, who started at MK Dons. Corby, Wealdstone, Dunstable and Larne FC came before his first spell at St Ives. He also played for Billericay before moving to East Fife last season and came back to St Ives for a third time in March.

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

Midfielder Tyrone Barker arrived last November too from Basildon, having been at Bowers & Pitsea and Heybridge Swifts previously.

Kick off as usual is at 3pm WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!!!

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC suffered their second successive defeat after travelling to Leiston in Suffolk last Saturday.

One goal down at half-time, there were two more second half goals, with Rhys Dolan pulling one back.

Starting line-up: 1 Fin Bowen 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Callum Chettle 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Marcus Marshall 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Jordan Fankwe, Joe Bateman, Stuart Beavon, Ethan Mann, Jahvan Davidson-Miller.

Only three minutes into the game Chettle went close to giving Mickleover the early lead, but gradually Leiston began to take charge,

After 13 minutes Barnes and Davies combined for the hosts and put Adam Mills through to slot the ball past Bowen, 0-1.

Most of the play seem to be centred around the battle in midfield, before host keeper Donkin sent a long kick downfield, Davies managed to break through the defence but his 27^th minute shot was well saved by Bowen.

Walker sent a free kick just over 10 minutes later, before Warren had a couple of free kicks in the closing minutes of the first half, the last of which was just wide.

Mickleover made one change for the second half with Beavon on for Marshall, but only five minutes into the half and it was 0-2, with Mills netting his second goal in the bottom right-hand corner.

Davies had gone close again a few minutes later, before Sports brought Bateman on for Chettle.

As the hour mark approached Sports defence repelled a Dunbar cross as Davies was poised to receive it, and after 65 minutes Dales had a fine shot well saved by Donkin.

With Mickleover pushing forward more Dolan broke into the area and made it 1-2 and for a while the pressure continued to seek that elusive equaliser.

The home defence held firm and with nine minutes left Davies made it 1-3.

Fankwe came on for Walker with six minutes left, but the score remained the same and Mickleover head home pointless as they slip to 20^th place in the table.

by Peter Scherer

Following our home defeat against Coalville Town, Mickleover will hoping to bounce back on Saturday when they visit Leiston FC in Suffolk.

Having rested both Mason Warren and Elliott Walker onto the bench last Tuesday, both will hopefully be fit for Saturday. Elliott Reeves also hopes that his slight strain will be recovered include him in the squad for Saturday.

Joint Leiston managers Chris Wigger and  Darren Eadie’s squad are currently eighth in the SPL Central Division, with Mickleover in 16^th.

They beat Nuneaton at home 3-2 in first game, thanks to a late winner from Will Davies. After a 2-2 at Ilkeston last Saturday, they drew again 1-1 at Royston on Tuesday evening, with a last minute penalty from Davies again salvaging the point.

Manager Eadie is a former Norwich and Leicester City winger, who has made only one change in his starting line-up over the first three games.

Goalkeeper Sam Donkin was signed from Biggleswade in November 2019, having previously played for Whitehawk and Stamford.

Full back Wyatt Hill is a more recent arrival, having come from Wroxham in June after coming back from US College football.

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

At 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 hosts 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 to returned to previous clubs 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 last month.

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 last month. 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 last year, after spells at Dereham and Stowmarket.

Another midfielder and another former Norwich junior, Zach Dronfield came from Hampton & Richmond last month. 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 over 106 games since his arrival, scoring 34 goals, 19 of which were last season! He has already scored two last minute goals this season.

Joe Marsden is mainly an attacking midfielder who is in his second season with our hosts, since arriving from Needham Market. He was previously at Lowestoft Town. He came back to Leiston in June last year after three years away.

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.

Finally Iuri Fernandes is a midfielder who has been at Leiston for a couple of season.

Kick as usual is 3pm and the game can be followed via Leiston’s own twitter feed.

by Peter Scherer

Two second half goals finally put pay to Mickleover hopes of a first win of the season, as table topping Coalville Town returned home as 4-2 victors.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Joe Bateman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Callum Chettle 8-Jordan Fankwe 9-Marcus Marshall 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Elliott Walker, Mason Warren, Ethan Mann. Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Ben Horleston.

Mickleover opened the game fairly strongly with Dales on his first run down the left, before his pass just failed to connect with Marshall, as keeper Paul White intercepted after three minutes.

Elliot Putnam then ran in from the left to fire a shot over the Mickleover bar, before Tom McGlinchey followed up for the visitors a minute later.

Dales was tripped just outside the box on another run after eight minutes, but he was soon on the attack again with another cross intercepted before it reached Marshall.

The 13^th minute proved to be unlucky for Mickleover though, when Hedge saved a McGlinchey shot, only for the rebound to hit Butler and it was into the net, 0-1.

Fankwe was trying to be creative in midfield and managed to set Dolan on a run, but the visitors defence had it covered.

There was some positive play from Mickleover down the right and as the ball came into the box, Chettle couldn’t quite connect for a shot on goal.

Doyle-Charles had another shot blocked, but Coalville were looking much the stronger as Mickleover seemed to be lacking ideas, particularly in midfield.

Wilson shot wide for Coalville after 24 minutes and Dolan had another long solo run, which ended with Chettle firing a shot over the bar.

Mickleover skipper Watt was in the firing line with referee after pulling back Chambers, having already been booked earlier.

The resulting free kick stopped hopes of a comeback when after 32 minutes Andi Thanoj put his kick beyond Hedge’s reach into his top left-hand corner. 0-2.

Five minutes later and the fight back started with Marshall charging down the right to get a cross in. The keeper almost collected but it was just out of reach and Dolan fired in from close range 1-2.

Marshall was on another charge within minutes, firing another cross from the right, Dolan was there again too but just failed to connect.

Almost on half time Dales brought it back to 2-2, when he collected from a mix up on the left, outpacing the remaining defender he then cut in to shoot past White.

There were no changes for Mickleover as the second half got under way, and Marshall had an early chance, but his shot was straight at the keeper after a good build up down the left.

Putnam then responded with a wild shot over the bar, before Coalville made it 2-3 after 55 minutes.  Fankwe had lost possession in the middle and Berridge got a telling break, making no mistake has he homed in on goal.

Mickleover made their first change when Warren came on for Fankwe and his silky skills soon became apparent. Dales fired high and wide after 58 minutes and there was as slight chance five minutes later, when Marshall back healed into space in the box, but no one was there.

Butler came up for a corner and headed just wide and then another positive charge from Dolan down the left, found Dales, both could have shot but it was passed to Warren and the chance had gone.

McGlinchey tried a chip over the bar for Coalville after 73 minutes, but it was Mickleover pushing forward in their best period of the game.

Davidson-Miller then came on for Beavon and at the other end Hedge then held a cross from Shaw.

Hedge was in action when he collected a long-range effort from Chambers and with everyone pushing forward, Watt nearly found himself clear on goal after a free kick.

With six minutes left Dolan forced a diving save from White, before Coalville got another break against the run of play. With Shaw out running the remaining defence, he found Chambers unmarked and it was sealed at 2-4.

Three minutes from time the ball fell nicely for Davidson-Miller, but he didn’t get a shot in. Then a scramble following a corner could easily have broken in Mickleover’s favour.

Dolan had another opportunity with virtually a free header on the left, but that came to nought, and it was game over.

by Peter Scherer

Tomorrow night we host table toppers Coalville Town at the Don Amott Arena, whhave have made it two wins out of two after last Saturdya’s 4-1 win over Alvechurch.

Manager Adam Stevens had some new signings making their league debuts against Rushall on the opening day of the season too. Keeper Paul White came from Peterborough Sports last month, having started out with Cork City in his native Ireland.

His first English club was Forest Green, who also loaned him to Gloucester, before joining Boreham Wood following his release. He has also played for Accrington, Kettering, Hereford and St Ives.

Former Grimsby junior midfielder Andi Thanoj was also a July signing, from Boston Utd. He has also played for Alfreton, Harrogate and Redditch.

Midfielder Tendai Chitiza is a newcomer too, he started at Leicester Nirvana, before moving onto Gresley Rovers, before a year in Serbia with CSK Celarevo and FK TSC. He returned to the UK with Stamford in July 2019, from where Coalville picked him up.

Striker Ashley Chambers was the fourth debutant against Rushall. He was a Leicester City youth player, with over 200 league appearances under his belt, with the likes of Wycombe, Grimsby, York, Cambridge Utd, Dagenham & Redbridge, before non league spells at Nuneaton, Kidderminster and Brackley. He came to Coalville after a year at Buxton and was on the scoresheet against Alvechurch.

Midfielder George Wilson arrived in July too. A former Blackburn junior, he played for Loughborough University after his release and had a spell in Sweden with Ljungskile SK before arriving at Coalville. He hasn’t made s start for the club yet.

Second choice keeper Jake Laban is he final new signing, having arrived from Burton Albion.

Skipper Joe Doyle-Charles has been Coalville for four years. The midfielder started out as a Burton Albion Youth player and joined Ilkeston on his release in 2015. He has also played for Alfreton and came to Coalville from Matlock Town.

Midfield partner Tom McGlinchey can go one better, as he arrived from Leicester Road five years ago. He also scored last Saturday.

Striker Tim Berridge is another longer serving player, since arriving from Dunkirk in 2018 and has scored 66 goals since his arrival, 22 of them last season.

Defender Elliott Putman came in from Barwell last September.  He started out at Leicester City and has also played for Stamford and Oadby.

Alex Dean is the longest serving of al the squad, having rejoined our visitors for the second time in 2014. He back from Solihull Moors, but has also played at Nuneaton Town alongside his twin brother and Bedworth Utd.

Right back Jake Eggleton was a West Ham youth player, who joined Hendon on his release in 2018. After a short spell at Hampton & Richmond he went to Loughborough University, arriving at Coalville in August 2020.

Veteran centre back Chris Robertson has had a long and varied career, which kicked off as a Sheffield Utd Junior. After loans at Chester and Torquay he had 18 months at Preston North End, moving on via Port Vale, Ross County, AFC Wimbledon, Swindon, Havant & Waterlooville and Ilkeston. 

He came to Coalville in July 2020 after six months at Grantham and has played over 300 league games in his career with 16 goals.

Midfielder Connor Smith came from Loughborough University in 2020, after being a Nottingham Forest Youth team player.

Luke Shaw is another midfielder who favours the wing. He was signed from Grantham in 2018 and scored 12 goals last season and hit two against Alvechurch.

The oldest player in the squad at 37 is midfielder Steve Towers, now starting his sixth year with the club since singing from Brackley. He started at Corby and has played for Rothwell, Stamford and Grantham too.

Having started out at Coalville, defender Kian Taylor was picked up by Leicester City, before spending three years with Shrewsbury Town. During this period he came on loan back to Coalville, with the move becoming permanent in August 2020.

Striker Ronnie Morley is a product od Coalville’s own youth programme and has also had a loan spell at Anstey Nomad’s. He made his league debut with two appearances last season.

Prince Ogunmekan is another midfielder signed from Loughborough University and is yet to make his first team debut.

Sports hope to have a full squad to choose from as we seek our first win of the year, having had the same starting line-up for both games so far.

by Peter Scherer (Photo: Sarah Middleton)

Mickleover recorded their second score draw of the season on Saturday with a 1-1 draw at home to Hednesford Town.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan; 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Joe Bateman 8-Mason Warren 9-Elliott Reeves 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Callum Chettle, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, Marcus Marshall, Jordan Fankwe, Ethan Mann.

It couldn’t have started better for Sports, when a poor clearance from keeper Gwilliams was picked up by Warren, he found Beavon who left the Hednesford defender flat footed and fired into the roof of the net, 1-0 after only two minutes.

Mickleover continued to push forward and looked much the stronger of the two sides in the first half.

Hednesford managed to get a ball into the area for Ebbutt, but Watt soon cleared any danger and the combined strength with Butler at the back continued to keep any threat under control.

After 10 minutes Dales sought out Warren, who sent Dolan on a telling run down the left. He was close to shooting himself, but Dales final effort went out for a corner.

Hednesford’s one real chance came when a Kyle Bennett free kick found Nathan Cameron’s head, but he just failed to make 100% connection.

It could have been a second for Mickleover after 15 minutes, when a Beavon cross found Reeves effort saved on the line by Gwilliams.

A Warren cross then just failed to connect with Dales on the far post and after 21 minutes Reeves took the ball around the keeper, but the angle proved too tight and his shot hit the side netting.

Warren seemed to be controlling midfield, ably supported by Bateman and Wilson, but Hednesford did manage the occasional break through with Lita and Wilding combining after 25 minutes, but failing to get a final shot in.

A dangerous cross from Dolan was headed away, before Portman got a break for the visitors before his charge was thwarted by Butler.

Walker went into the referees book after 33 minutes for a tackle on Portman, which preceded a late half push from the visitors.

Mickleover had two corners in time added on, with a Butler header going close, but it remained 1-0 at half-time.

Hednesford were more into the game in the second half, with Sports unable to add to their goal tally.

Hedge had a busier time in the second half too, making a couple of saves to keep Mickleover ahead.

But after 69 minutes Todd Parker sent Riley O’Sullivan on a run, he had Walker beaten as the cross was met in the middle by Leroy Lita 1-1.

In the final kick of the game Warren went close with a long range shot just over the bar.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover gaffer John McGrath has completed the signing of Cameroon born midfielder Jordan Mbakop Fankwe in time for him to be added to the squad for this weekends home game against Hednesford Town.

Fankwe comes to the Don Amott Arena after a five-year spell at Nottingham Forest’s Academy and a successful trial at Mickleover.

Thank you to Dan Mather and JKE Fire and Security for Jordan’s Sponsorship.