by Peter Scherer

Now sixth in the table, unbeaten in six and including four wins from that, progress has been swift for Mickleover.

Tomorrow evening we faced Sutton Coldfield Town at the Don Amott Arena, currently 13th in the table. They went down 0-1 at Coleshill last Saturday, after two successive home wins against Rushden & Diamonds and Wellingborough.

Manager Jemiah Richards only took charge just over a week ago, having previously managed Sporting Khalsa, Bromsgrove Sporting, Hednesford and Racing Club Warwick.

Goalkeeping duties have been shared by James Wren and James Beeson. Wren started out with Walsall, before joining Burton Albion following his release. He then moved on to Tamworth, who also loaned him to Redditch, before visiting Barwell, Nuneaton and Stafford Rangers.

He first joined our visitors in 2025, moving to Hednesford two years later. Stourbridge, Walsall Wood and Rushall followed, before return to Sutton at the beginning of last season.

Beeson came to the club in pre-season after four years at Lichfield City and is now first choice.

Right back Tom Hurley came through Sutton’s own youth scheme. He made his first team debut at 16 and also had a spell at Wolverhampton Casuals before rejoining our visitors and has recently made his 100th appearance..

Left back Jack Lynch was signed from Shepshed Dynamo at the start of last season. An ex Aston Villa youth player, he has played for Walsall, Coleshill and Spalding Utd too.

Vidal Henrickson is another left back and St.Kitts international. After starting out in his homeland with Newtown Utd, he came to the UK with Sporting Khalsa in 2018. He had played for Redditch and Coleshill Town too, and joined our visitors in pe-season after a return trip to Khalsa.

Ayo Lekuti also plays left back or midfield. He was another pre-season signing from Rugby Town after starting his career at Northampton Town. He’s also played for Bromsgrove Sporting and Lye Town.

Captain and centre back James Beresford is another home produced and long serving player. He has been with the club for 10 years.

Sam Smith is a centre back signed pre-season. He’s played for Solihull Juniors, Darlaston and Studley.

Luke McGinnell is a defender who arrived in July 2024 from Chasetown. He has also played for Loughborough Dynamo.

Remie Birch is a midfielder signed initially in August 2023. He also had a spell at Romulus before returning to our visitors.

Fraser Doyle is a midfielder too and was previously at Walsall Wood and Coleshill.

Isai Marselia is a midfielder who began his career in the Netherlands with NEC Nijmegen and Go Ahead Deventer, before coming to Mickleover in 2018.

He soon moved on to Stamford and Halesowen before joining our visitors in September 2019. After a year he moved to Alvechurch and Boldmere, before returning to Sutton in July 2021. He’s played for Coleshill. Wolverhampton Casuals and Romulus too, spending last season with Sporting Khalsa, before returning to our hosts in pre-season for the third spell.

Pre-season signing Ryan Shaw is in his second spell at Sutton Coldfield. He started out at Bishops Cleve, before moving on to Boldmere and Chasetown and his first spell with our visitors. He made his return after spending last season at Bedworth.

Jayden Campbell is a right sided midfielder who started out at Walsall. He joined Rushall following his release, before spending two years at Chasetown. He joined our visitors in pre-season after spending last season with Sporting Khalsa.

Ryan Edmunds came from Bromsgrove in February 2023. Another midfielder, he started at Alvechurch and played for Rushall, Boldmere and Stafford before joining Sutton initially July 2015. After two seasons he moved to Coleshill, followed by Nuneaton, Redditch and Bromsgrove, preceded his return to Sutton.

Striker Kory Burke was played for our visitors last season, before leaving for Boldmere St.Michaels. He returned last month. He’s played for Bedworth too.

Kyle Byrne is a long serving striker, he had left the club in July though, before returning last month and has also played for Shifnal Town.

Reece Gibson is an experienced and long serving midfielder and often captains the side.

Nehemia Zazi is a more recent signing. He’s played for Stourbridge, Rushall Olympic. Alvechurch, Bromsgrove, Chasetown, OJM Black Country and Tividale .

Finally James McGrady is another midfielder, previously at Sporting Khalsa.

Come and support Mickleover’s progress, full catering facilities and kick off 7.45.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

MICKLEOVER extended their unbeaten run in the Northern Premier League Midlands to six, after Friday nights 1-0 win over Shepshed Dynamo.

Starting line-up: 1-Olover Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Archie White 4-Will Atkinson 5-Danny Benson 6-Ashton Offer 7-George Wilkinson 8-Ali Mohiuddin 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Harry Wood, Liam Carter, Stanley Holder, Thabang Dube.
It was Shepshed that managed the first shot of the game, when Jesse Friend picked up the ball from a long throw after two minutes, before sending a half volley over the bar.
Bennett then intercepted another Shepshed run a few minutes later, before Atkinson was fouled just outside the box in the seventh minute. White’s free kick was then cleared for a corner and as that started a goal mouth scramble, Dales went close for Sports.
Shepshed then broke again, putting their effort into the side netting, before Dyer started to tease the visiting defence, with some neat holding of the ball on the right wing.
Mickleover continued to push forward fairly regularly, while Bosworth and his defending back three of Benson, Offler and Wilkinson continued to show their strength.
Friend got a shot in for Shepshed after 13 minutes, but it was straight at Bosworth, and then Dales broke down the left, fired in a cross but straight into keeper Wallis’ hands.
Mohiuddin had earned a 16th minute corner, after Dyer did the hard work on the right. But that was taken short, and they soon lost possession again.
Shepshed had started to try a longer through ball, but it still hadn’t troubled the home defence. They had a chance after 21 minutes too, when Mohiuddin was cautioned for a foul, only for our visitors to waste their opportunity.
They attacked again a minute later, but Offler cut out any danger. With Atkinson marshalling midfield, Dyer managed to create another opportunity, when he held the ball for while, before squaring it to for a shot just wide again 30 minutes in.
Mohiuddin then lost possession on the left, the ball falling nicely for a Shepshed striker. Once again though the shot sailed over the bar, with neither goalkeeper having been seriously tested.
The pressure was beginning to build on the visitors defence and when Webb made a 35th minute interception. But Shepshed responded when Friend found Rogers, before a header from Collins fell nicely for Bosworth again.

Some continuous pressure from the home attack finally paid dividends after Benson beat the defence to cut inside on the right, Dyer had a shot blocked, but White buried the rebound into the back of the net 1-0 after 40 minutes and that’s how it stayed until half time.
With no immediate changes for the second half, Shepshed were first to try their luck again, when a Peart cross found Partridge. He got his head to the ball, but lack of direction sent it wide again.
Mickleover continued to look the sharper and when White intercepted a 49th minute Shepshed attack to send Dales on another run, his cross from the left was blocked to earn a corner, from which Dyer’s effort was blocked and cleared.
Our visitors were keen to push for an equaliser, with possession looking more even in the second half, without either side creating any clearcut chances. 56 minutes and Friend layed the ball off to Samples, but his shot from distance was wide of the right-hand post.
Sports first change was just before the hour when Beavon replaced Webb. It triggered a strong finale when Dales cut inside after 66 minutes, after picking up a White throw, forcing keeper Wallis into a good save.
Wood then replaced Mohiuddin a few minutes later, before another Dales run found Dyer in the middle. He couldn’t quite connect, before it fell to Wood, forcing another excellent save from Wallis.
Beavon kept Wallis on his toes again after a further two minutes, as Mickleover got closer and closer to a second goal.
With the home defence remaining rock solid, Shepshed were unable to make any real progress, but 79 minutes and Dyer was through one on one with Wallis, but the Shepshed keeper just got there first to intercept.
Dales was almost through again with eight minutes left on the clock, and the Mickleover skipper went close again, when his curling free kick curled a little too much and went wide.
Wallis again intercepted a combined Beavon Dyer effort almost on time, but it was another clean sheet for Mickleover and an excellent all-round team performance.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to six when they welcome Shepshed Dynamo to the Don Amott Arena on Friday night.

Loan striker Josiah Dyer scored his third goal in last Saturday’s 2-1 win at St.Neots, which puts Sports back into eighth place in the table.

Our visitors had their first win in five games when they secured a 1-0 home win against Boldmere St.Michaels last Saturday, with an 85th minute decider after four successive defeats.

Gary Drake has been in charge at Shepshed since October last year, having previously been assistant and managed Rugby Town at the end of last season, He has also coached in the US, Canada and the UK.

Keeper Dan Wallis came from Stamford at the beginning of last season. He’s a former Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest junior and has played for Matlock Town, Gainsborough, Macclesfield and Corby Town too.

Right back Ben Bayliss arrived pre-season from Anstey Nomads, where he had spent the last five years. He previously played in the Leicester City and Mansfield Town Academies.

Dec Peart is a centre back who started his career with Oxford City. He played for Kidlington and North Leigh before starting last season at Racing Club Warwick. He joined our visitors in November 2024.

Jowan Partridge is a centre back too, signed in pre-season from Royal Wootton Bassett Town. He has played for Nottingham Trent University too, where he currently studies.

Chad Timson came from Loughborough Dynamo. A defender, he has also played for Leicester Nirvana, Hinckley AFC, Kettering Town and Corby Town.

Left back Jack Samples was signed in September on a dual registration with Quorn. E started out at Oadby Town, but has played for Coalville Town, Ashby Ivanhoe and Anstey Nomads too.

Central midfielder Kyle Dixon is in his third season at Shepshed, since arriving from Carlton Town. He started at Notts County and was loaned to Boston Utd, and Telford before going back to Boston following his release. He’s played for Basford, North Ferriby, Coalville, Newark Flowserve, Gainsborough and Belper Town too.

Jude Collins is a midfielder who started out Shrewsbury Town. He joined Barwell following his releasee in August last year and came to Shepshed, firstly on a dual registration a month later.

Also in midfield Jesse Friend came from FC Romania October last year, having started out at Cheshunt

Callum Burkey is another midfielder and started his career at Southend Utd. He joined ADC Sudbury following his release and had a spell at Basildon before joining Coalville Town and came to Shepshed in March last year dual registered.

Central midfielder Niall Prendeville is the clubs longest servant, as he is in his 10th season at the club. He was previously with Holwell Sports, Barrow Town and Quorn.

Rajdeep Palit is a central midfielder too. After starting out at Huddersfield and Bradford City he joined Hull, after a loan spell at Tadcaster. He then joined Barwell in October 2024, before coming to our visitors in pre-season.

Midfielder Jack York came in pre-season and is another dual registered player from Quorn. He started at Holwell Sports.

Winger or attacking midfielder Jack Rogers s a former Derby County youngster. He went to Ilkeston Town after his release, before moving to Long Eaton and Barwell. He spent time at Shepshed on loan from Ilkeston, and made his return last January dual registered with Barwell.

Striker Tristan Dunkley is one of numerous players signed from Barwell. He arrived at the end of August 2024, having started his youth career at Birmingham City. Loughborough Dynamo and Worcester City were his next stops, soon followed by Hednesford, Halesowen, Solihull Moors, Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch and a first spell at Barwell. After going to Corby, Bedworth and Bromsgrove, he rejoined Barwell briefly, before coming to Shepshed.

Aaron Korpal is another striker and ex Nottingham Forest junior. He joined Sherwood following his release and has played for Anstey Nomads too, before joining our visitors in September 2024.

Dylan Reason is a striker too, having returned to the club in pre-season after spells with Banbury Utd and Loughborough Students.

Finally Josh Allen is a young striker signed from Barrow Town pre-season, having previously been at Quorn.

Kick off at 7.45 and remember it’s Halloween, so lets Shepshed are the only ones to be scared.

by Peter Scherer

Barnsley’s teenaged central midfielder Stanley Holder has come to the Don Amott Arena initially on a months loan.

A former Everton junior, he had been AFC Fylde’s Under 18’s captain until moving to Oakwell at the start of this season.

He came on as a late sub for Mickleover in last weekends win at St Neots.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Mickleover extended their unbeaten run to five games, with an injury time free kick from Archie White making it decisive.

Starting line up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Archie White 3-Louis Bonser 4-Jake Bennett 5-Ashton Offler 6-George Wilkinson 7-Will Atkinson 8-Ali Mohiuddin 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Thabang Dube. Subs: Stuart Beavon, Paddy Webb. Danny Benson, Stanley Holder, Liam Carter.

It was a fairly lively start from both sides trying to gain the upperhand. Mickleover had their first real chance when Dales cut in from the left after 10 minutes, sending a curling ball towards the far post. Keeper Goff made a save, before White followed up with a rebound shot just wide.

But four minutes later Bosworth made a low save as our hosts had their first shot on target.

Sports had penalty appeals waved away in the 24th minute, when Dube went down in the box after cutting in from the right.

As Mickleover continued to push forward with plenty of creativity from the midfield, Dyer fired in the opening goal on the half hour, a powerful strike in the bottom corner, with keeper Goff well beaten. 1-0.

The rest of the half was fairly even until half time approached. White had created enough space to fire the ball into the middle, where Dyer went so close to hitting his and Mickleover’s second.

There were no immediate changes for the second half, but after Dube had outpaced the defence on the right five minutes into the restart, his following shot went just wide of the near post.
Stainsby levelled for St. Neots three minutes later, but on the hour Mickleover made their first change, with Benson back from injury replacing Dube, followed by Webb on for Dyer seven minutes later.

Our hosts had a few opportunities, but Sports defence held tight, as chances went begging.
Dales led a 77th minute break to go close himself, firing his shot in from a tight angle, before debutant loanee Holder came on for Mohiuddin.

Dales glanced the bar with an 86th minute free kick, before the referee indicated five minutes of added time. The time proved decisive for Mickleover, when White scored from a free kick as the final whistle was poised. 2-1.

by Peter Scherer

It’s our furthest trip of the season tis Saturday, when we visit St.Neots Town, the reigning United Counties League Premier Division South Champions.

With four matches unbeaten after Saturday’s 2-2 draw, we now lie 11th in the table, one point ahead of our hosts, but with a game in hand.

Danny Benson is still fighting to get fit to rejoin the Mickleover squad, but with a weeks break everyone else should to be fit and raring to extend our run.

Our hosts lost 0-1 at home to Lichfield City last Saturday, their third defeat I the last five games.

Manager Cameron Mawer has been in charge at St.Neots since May 2023. A former defender in his playing days, he was a junior at Watford and Peterborough Utd and also played for Grays, Weymouth, Arlesey Town, Biggleswade and Boreham Wood. He then became assistant manager at Hendon and Boreham Wood and had run Academies at Kempston Rovers and Wealdstone.

Goalkeeper James Goff started out at Northampton Town. He was loaned to Banbury before joining Wisbech on his release. After a two year stay he moved on to Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd, before joining our hosts in July 2023 from St.Ives Town.

Centre back Murphy Culkin was signed from Biggleswade Town in December 2023. St.Ives, Redditch, Barton Rovers and Biggleswade Utd are among his former teams.

Fellow centre back and captain Robbie Parker started out at Bedford Town, before moving onto Biggleswade Town and St.Ives. He came to our hosts towards the end of last season after a three- year spell back at Biggleswade.

Eniola Agamah-Davies is a right back who started out at Cambridge City. He has since played for Rushden & Diamonds and Wellingborough and started this year at Real Bedford, from where he joined our hosts last month.

Central midfielder Connor Furlong was an MK Dons junior. He was loaned to Oxford City and Aylesbury Utd, before going to Bedford Town on his release. St.Ives, Barton Rovers, Biggleswade, Rushden & Diamonds, Royston Town, a return trip to Bedford then Nuneaton followed, before coming to St.Neots in October 2023 from Daventry Town.

Charlie Bowen is a centre back, who has spent the last few seasons with our hosts. He had a long spell at Godmanchester Rovers too, with a 16 month break at Newmarket in between.

Defender Harvey Henderson was another pre-season signing, having come from March Town.

Sammy Willis is a midfielder signed from Biggleswade in May 2024. He has also played for Potton Utd.

Fellow midfielder Andrian Ankrah came from Daventry Town in pre-season. he’s played for Long Buckby too.

Michael Amaeshike is another midfielder, signed at the beginning of last season from Leighton Town. He’s also played for Old Bradwell Utd and Cranfield Utd.

Midfielder Kieran Barnes arrived at the start of last season too. He famously scored Newport Pagnell Town’s opening goal in their FA Vase win over Littlehampton at Wembley.

Pharrell Anderson plays striker or midfield and came from Biggleswade Town last month. He’s also played for Cambridge City, Histon and Rushden & Diamonds.

Striker Rhys Thorpe arrived from Eynesbury Rovers in November 2023 and was last seasons top scorer.

Winger Harvey Williams was a fringe squad player over the last two seasons, but has become a regular starter and scorer this term.

James Stainsby was a prolific scorer in St.Neots Under 18 side and returned to hosts last month from Deeping Rangers.

Remell Stirling is a striker too. Among his previous teams are Dunstable Town, Baldock, Stotfold, Kempston Rovers, Oxley Jets and Virginia Water.

Jessi Obeng, Josh Francis, Chris Tavernier and Brandon Jessop have also been regular squad members of late.

Kick off at the Premier Plus Stadium is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover dug deep in an outstanding second half comeback, to earn a home point in a 2-2 draw against former table toppers Rugby Borough.

Starting line-up: 1-Oliver Bosworth 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-George Wilkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Ashton Offler 7-Ali Mohiuddin 8-Wil Atkinson 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Andy Dales 11-Archie White. Subs: Michael Holingsworth, Paddy Webb, Harry Wood, Josiah Dyer, Thabang Dube.

Rugby were first try their luck on goal, with a shot well over the bar in the opening minute. It was fairly even opening 10 minutes, with Dales tending to look for any breaks for Mickleover.

Most of the play became settled around the middle of the pitch, with an excess of passing back and forth without any real progress.

White had a shot after 24 minutes from distance, which was the first shot of the game for Sports and it came after a positive few minutes of possession.

Bosworth was called into action three minutes later though, when a Wilkinson clearance rebounded back, forcing a dive to the keepers right.

Dales outstripped the visitors defence on the left on the half hour, but no one had managed to break with him and shortly afterwards another Dales run almost found Wood, but the through ball was just too long.

Rugby tried another shot after 34 minutes, but with no pace on it, it failed to trouble Bosworth.

The home defence had looked solid and well drilled under Gascoigne’s guidance until a 38th minute disaster. Under no real pressure Offler went to push the ball back to Bosworth, but the keeper had already come of his line, and the ball agonisingly rolled over the line and into the net, 0-1.

With two minutes left on the clock Rugby won a corner on the right. It was taken short and found Cristofaro on the edge of the box, one touch and he fired home their second, making it 0-2 at half time.

Mickleover made three changes for the second half, with Hollingsworth, Dyer and Webb on for Beavon, White and Atkinson.

Two minutes in and Bosworth made another save, but although a more open game than the frustrating first half, it was still a very even game.

On the hour Rugby had the ball in the net again, but were ruled offside, but for Mickleover the introduction of Dyer and Webb was certainly causing more issues for the visiting defence, which also allowed Bennett and Bonser more freedom on the wings.

64 minutes and Webb had an effort blocked, Bennett then created space. He could have shot, but set up Webb, but his shot was just wide f the right-hand post.

Rugby were now relying on breaks rather than a composed build-up, but tested Bosworth again from the edge of the box after 65 minutes.

Dube then replaced Offler and Wood came on for Mohiuddin.

The pressure had begun to build from Mickleover and after 69 minutes they got their reward. Bonser crossed from the left, rather than trying a shot himself, he found Webb, who tapped it into Dyer’s path to hit home 1-2.

Rugby came straight back with a dangerous shot from outside the box, Bosworth had it covered though as it skimmed just wide of his left-hand post.

Only four minutes after our first goal, Sports were back level. Bosworth had made a long clearance, Webb layed it off for Dales who couldn’t get a shot in. It was then pushed out to the right wing, where Dube sent in a perfect cross for Webb to head home 2-2.

Sports then had a couple of corners which failed to create any threat and Rugby wasted a free kick too, putting well wide of the target.

Dales and Bonser then worked together on the left, before the referee gave a non- existent foul. But it was Mickleover with a scent of victory that kept piling pressure on the visitors, until there was a lengthy stop after Gascoigne had a head injury.

In the final minutes Dales was hacked down on the halfway line, before Bonser broke. This time he tried a shot himself, but it was well wide f the far post.

So it was shared points at 2-2 after an impressive recovery, which in the end could easily been another victory.