by Peter Scherer

Having had games at Stalybridge and Stafford postponed over the last week, Mickleover will be hoping to continue their 100% record in 2022, as they face Radcliffe at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Currently 12^th in the NPL after beating Hyde Utd 3-2 at home on Tuesday evening, our visitors are eight points ahead, but we have two games in hand over them.

Back in November we went down 1-3 at Radcliffe, but they have only had three wins out of their last eight, having gone down 1-2 in their last away game at Lancaster.

Cameron Belford is an experienced goalkeeper and has just regained his place after losing out to Sunderland loanee Jack McIntyre. 

Belford started out in Coventry City’s youth team and after a spell on loan at Tamworth, he spent six years with Bury in League’s One and Two making 86 appearances.

Further loans at Worcester City, Southend Utd and Accrington Stanley, then preceded a full time move to Tamworth. 

He then moved on to Mansfield Town, Rushall Olympic, Swindon Town and Wrexham, before a loan spell at Stranraer.

More recently he has played for Forest Green Rovers, Chorley and Nuneaton, before a loan spell at FC United. He came to Radcliffe in July 2020.

Second choice keeper is Joey Oldham, a home grown talent who is learning from Belford’s experience.

Right or centre back Tom Miller is a former Norwich City Youth team player. He moved on to Glasgow Rangers, but didn’t make the first team, but made one appearance for Brechin City during a loan spell.

His next stop was Dundalk in Ireland, where he played 37 games for the League of Ireland side, before moving to Newport County.

He then joined Lincoln City after an initial loan, before going to League Two Carlisle for four years. Spells at Bury and Fylde then came before his arrival at Radcliffe in October 2020.

Centre back Taylor Jones was signed pre-season from Oldham Athletic’s ranks, while fellow centre back Olly Thornley came in from Curzon Ashton, after coming through their youth scheme.

Defender Jo Cummings came through Sheffield United’s Academy and made two senior appearances for the Blades. He then moved to Charlton Athletic and made two appearances in his two seasons there and was also loaned to Guiseley.

He then moved to Scunthorpe but didn’t get the break and came to Radcliffe initially on loan in March 2020, before making it permanent two months later.

Simon Lenighan is a midfielder with vast experience. After starting out with Leeds Utd, he had loans at Bradford PA and Halifax, before joining Harrogate on his release in 2014.

He had a loan at Alfreton before joining Frickley, Rotherham and then Warrington. Further moves have taken him to Altrincham, Shaw Lane and Glossop NE, then Guiseley before a return trip to Halifax.

He was at Mossley and Buxton before arriving at Radcliffe in July 2020.Then after six months at Telford, he returned to Radcliffe pre-season.

Midfielder Jack Baxter is currently on loan to the end of the season from Preston North End. He has previously had loans at Clitheroe, Stalybridge and Cork City.

Midfielder Matty Crothers is one of Radcliffe’s longest serving players, having been part of their 2018/19 promotion side. He was previously at Curzon Ashton having been discovered in the Oldham Sunday League.

Striker Kole Hall is a Bermudan International. He was a youth team player at Tranmere Rovers, before joining City of Liverpool. He joined Radcliffe in 2020 and has also been on loan at Telford Utd.

After coming through Accrington Stanley’s youth scheme, Bobby Grant went on to make 77 appearances and score 19 goals for the League Two side, before moving to Scunthorpe in the Championship and League One, scoring a further 11 goals in 70 games.

He went on loan to Rochdale and Accrington before a permanent move to Rochdale, then spent two seasons at Blackpool, with loans Fleetwood and Shrewsbury, before a permanent move to League One Fleetwood.

He made 139 appearances and scored 24 goals in his four seasons at Fleetwood and was at Wrexham and loaned at Accrington again and Oldham, before arriving at Radcliffe in June last year as player coach.

Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro is a striker who started out with his home town club Toulouse. He made 46 first team appearances and scored five goals, plus a loan spell at Brest followed before a move to FC Brussels.

He came to the UK in December 2008 with Grimsby Town scoring eight goals in 56 games. Over the next few years he was a regular goalscorer at Rochdale, Tranmere and Shrewsbury and was on loan at Bury too, before joining Barnet.

After a loan at Yeovil he joined UAE side Masfout, before returning to the UK with Oldham Athletic in November 2019. He signed for Radcliffe in March 2020 and his Brother Jean Daniel is an Ivory Coast International. He has scored in both of Radcliffe’s last two games.

Striker Luca Navarro started out at a junior at Bolton Wanderers. He came back to Radcliffe this season from Stafford Rangers and has scored four goals since the New Year, and has had spells at Bamber Bridge and Atherton too.

Raheem Hanley can play in defence or midfield and is a St Kitts International. He played for Manchester Utd Under 18’s before joining Blackburn Rovers and then Swansea in 2016.

He had a spell at Northampton following his release and was loaned out to Halifax. In April 20129 he moved to Connah’s Quay for a year, before leaving for Chorley and finally Mossley, from where he joined Radcliffe in January 2020.

Callum Gribbin is another ex Manchester Utd Junior. An attacking midfielder he spent a further year at Sheffield Utd, before a short spell at Barrow before joining Radcliffe in November.

Former Burnley Junior full back Jack Moore is currently on loan from Blackpool, along with midfielder Tayt Trusty.

John Pritchard is our visitors newest signing, have arrived from Matlock two weeks ago. He is an ex Oldham midfielder whose career has been firmly based in the North West, having played at FC United, Trafford, Ashton, Buxton and Chester

Right back Dougie Nyaupembe started his career at Bury, but after loans at Hyde and Stalybridge he joined Prescot Cables in 2019. Moving onto Atherton he then had his first spell at Radcliffe, before returning from Stalybridge on New Years Day.

The kick off as usual is 3pm, BE THERE !!

by Peter Scherer

UPDATE: THIS MATCH HAS SINCE BEEN POSTPONED.

With last Saturday’s visit to Stalybridge a late victim to a waterlogged pitch, Mickleover will be looking forward getting back in action tomorrow night at Stafford Rangers, hoping to extend their unbeaten 2022.

Over the last two seasons Stafford Rangers have been struggling near the bottom of the NPL, but with neither campaign completed, a resurgence of form and some new additions to Matt Hill’s squad has seen them mid table for most of this season.

Following last Saturdays 0-0 at home to Whitby Town, they are currently ninth in the NPL, unbeaten in the last eight games, but having drawn six of them.

Goalkeeper Luke Pilling is a Welsh International at Under, 19 and 21 levels came to the club back in August 2021 from Notts County, having previously spent five years at Tranmere Rovers, making seven first team appearances. 

He also went on loan to Ashton during his spell on the Wirral.

Tyrell Belford is the second choice keeper, a former Coventry and Liverpool junior who joined Swindon Town in 2013.

After loan at Southport he moved on to Oxford City, Nuneaton, Hinckley and Swindon Supermarine, before  a six month career break in 2018.

He returned with a year at Romulus, before second spells at both Hinckley and Nuneaton. In July 2020 he moved to Stratford Town and a year later arrived at Stafford. He was also capped by England at Under 16 and 17 and Father Dale is the clubs assistant manager. 

Right back Andrew Burns came to Stafford from Bala Town in June last year, having started out at Bolton Wanderers.

His next stop was Bradford City, but after only five months and a loan at Harrogate, he joined Dagenham & Redbridge, who loaned him out to Harlow, Bishops Stortford and Margate, before being released in August 2013.

He was at Barrow for two years and Tamworth for three, before his move to the Welsh League.

Young centre back Joe Dunne came from Rochdale on loan, where he made four senior appearances. He first arrived in December for one month, but his loan has been extended to the end of the season.

Alex Ray-Harvey is a midfielder who started his career at Burnley. He had loans at Fleetwood and Barrow before joining Barrow for a permanent five year stay. After two years with Guiseley he joined Hednesford Town, but after six months made his move to Stafford in July 2019.

Ex Nottingham Forest Junior Centre back Ethan Stewart was loaned to Billericay and Alfreton before being released in July 2020. After nine months with Nuneaton he returned for a short stay at Alfreton, before coming to Stafford in October last year.

Defender or midfielder James O’Neill played his junior football at Telford, before moving into the Welsh League with Newtown. 

He left after one year and was out of the game until signing for Chasetown in July 2017, but returned to Newtown for a second spell in 2020, from where Stafford signed him July last year.

Michael Tait-Moran is an ex Aston Villa Junior striker, who joined Tamworth in September last year. He came to Stafford on loan in November and will be with them until of the season.

Tom Tonks is another midfielder with plenty of experience. Starting out at Tipton Town and Halesowen, he had the first of a number of spells with Stourbridge from July 2015.

He left after three months but was back again only three months later, after a spell at Telford. Further moves to Solihull Moors and Alvechurch were both interspersed with returns to Stourbridge, before arriving at Tamworth in March 2020, from where he joined Stafford July last year.

Striker Kaiman Anderson only arrived at the club a month ago, but is yet to open his scoring account. A former Shrewsbury Junior, he was loaned out to Telford, Halesowen and Oxford City, before joining Southport on his release. He was loaned to Nantwich before joining Stourbridge and spent 18 months there before a two and a half year stay at Leamington preceded his move to Stafford.

Midfielder Alex Fletcher is another ex Shrewsbury Junior in his second spell at Stafford. He had a year with Tividale following his release, before the first of two stays at Welsh League Newtown.

Southport then preceded his arrival at Stafford in October 2017, before a return trip to Newtown after three months.

Stourbridge was the next stop., before a third spell at Newtown in February was followed by his move to Stafford in July.

Joe Cuff was another returnee when he came back to Stafford in July 2020. A winger who originally came to our hosts from Market Drayton in 2018/19, he had a spell back with the Shropshire club before his latest move. He also played for Whitchurch Allport.

Winger Theo Bailey-Jones was at Wrexham as a junior. He was loaned out to Colwyn Bay and joined Macclesfield in 2015. Stays at Stalybridge and Altrincham followed, before his first stop at Stafford in July 2018.

After two years he left for Hyde, from where he returned last October. 

Tre Pemberton is a right sided play anywhere player who played his early football at Blackburn and Stoke. Moving onto FC United, he was loaned to Longridge before joining Stafford in October.

Midfielder Joe Kenton had been at Newtown for two and a half years before coming to Stafford in July 2020. He played his junior football at Wolves and Shrewsbury and also played for Tividale.

Jake Charles is the Grandson of Welsh legend John Charles and has been capped himself at Under 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels.

A left winger he was picked up by Huddersfield Town from Garforth Villa. After a loan at Guiseley, he joined Barnsley and was loaned out again to York City, before joining Stalybridge in 2017.

His first spell at Stafford was in July 2018, when after two years he left for Farsley, only to return a year later.

Centre back Jon Moran was a Crewe Junior, who joined Nantwich after an initial loan. He joined Forest Green in 2017 and was loaned to Halesowen, before joining Chester a year later.

He then spent just under a year at Bradford Park Avenue, before coming to Stafford in November 2019.

Defender Ben Woods is a left sided player, who was signed from Spanish side Lorca in August last year and has also played for Stalybridge Celtic.

French midfielder Louis Malandjou played most of his junior football in Switzerland, but had six months at Nottingham Forest.

He has played for Anagen Derynias and Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus and Salgueiros and Sanjoanense in Portugal, before returning to the UK with Welsh League Bala Town.

 Further stops at Caernarfon and Tamworth followed, before he joined Stafford last November.

Midfielder Tom Carr arrived in July last year from Wythenshawe Amateurs and defender Luis Morrison is on a season long loan from Macclesfield, having previously played at Radcliffe, Nuneaton, Altrincham and Alfreton.

by Peter Scherer

Doncaster Rovers midfielder Liam Ravenhill has returned to Mickleover FC on loan for two months.

Ravenhill is the son of Sports assistant manager Ricky, and has had recent spell in Doncaster’s league one line-up.

by Peter Scherer

This Saturday Stalybridge Celtic are our NPL hosts. The Cheshire side are one of many teams to have endured an up and down season, which sees them currently 15^th in the table.

They are four points ahead of Mickleover with a game in hand, having won two of their last eight matches, at home to Atherton on January 11^th and away to Bamber Bridge last Saturday.

For the last two games they have also had the luxury of fielding an unchanged team.

Northern Ireland Under 21 International goalkeeper Liam Hughes is first choice goalkeeper. 

Having been part of Portadown’s first team squad from the age of 15, he joined Glasgow Celtic in 2018, moving  to England in February last year with Liverpool.

He arrived at Stalybridge in January and is on loan from the Reds until the end of the season.

Matthew Liptrott is primarily a midfielder, who can also play in defence. He is on loan from Blackpool, having previously been loaned out to Prescot Cables.

Left back Ashley Smith-Brown was capped by England at Under 16, 17,18,19 and 20, during his time in Manchester City’s Academy, which spanned 17 years.

He was loaned out NAC Breda, Hearts and Oxford Utd, before joining Plymouth Argyle on his release in July 2018.

After a loan spell at Oldham he was released at Plymouth, having played 36 senior games for the Pilgrims.

He arrived at Stalybridge in August 2021, after spells at South Shields and Farsley.

Our hosts  captain is Sam Wedgbury, a central midfielder who started out at Worcester City, before being picked up by Sheffield Utd. After a loan spell at Mansfield, he had a year in Hungary with Ferencvaros, before the Blades released him in July 2010.

He then moved on to Macclesfield, Altrincham, Stevenage, Forest Green, Wrexham and Chesterfield, before arriving at Stalybridge from Buxton in July last year.

Centre back Connor O’Grady is a Republic of Ireland Under 21 International. He was a Sheffield Wednesday Junior until July 2019, when he joined Buxton. He is now in his second season at Stalybridge.

Defender or midfielder Keenan Quansah was another player that arrived at Stalybridge in July 2021. He started his career at Accrington Stanley, before moving to Burscough in 2016.

He soon moved on again spending a year at Mossley, returning after three months with Hyde, finally coming to our hosts after almost three years with Glossop.

Callum Harris is an experienced midfielder, who played in Manchester City and Blackburn’s Academy, before a spell in the Nike Academy at St Georges Park.

He then joined Wolves, before venturing abroad, firstly with Patro Eisden Maasmechelen, returning to the Belgian third tier club again in March 2018 after two months in Trinidad with Central FC.

He came to Stalybridge in September 2020, after a year in Spain with Real Burgos.

Charley Doyle is another centre back who can play midfield. He came straight to Stalybridge in September 2020 from the Blackburn Academy.

With three goals in his five games so far, Angolan born Raul Correia is our hosts top striker. Starting out in local football, he moved on to Cheadle Heath Nomads and Radcliffe, before stepping up with Chorley.

His next move was Trafford, before a return to Radcliffe. He was at Blackpool for a year, after they signed him from Radcliffe, but after loans at Guiseley and York City, he made a permanent move to Barrow in July 2018, having made one senior appearance for the seasiders.

After another year he moved to Southport and then into the Welsh League with Bala Town, before signing for Stalybridge only four weeks ago from Aberystwyth.

Ntumba Massanka is an experienced well striker. Although born in London, he was at Manchester Utd, Manchester City and Burnley’s Academies and was loaned to York City, Morecambe, Wrexham, Dover Athletic and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium before being released in August 2019.

After a brief stop at Chorley, he moved to Angelana in Italy for 18 months, returning to the UK with South Shields last July. Like fellow striker Correia, he only arrived at Stalybridge a few weeks ago on a season long loan, scoring his first goal last Saturday in the win at Bamber Bridge.

Winger Justin Johnson started his career in his native Netherlands, with three years at the Sparta Rotterdam Academy, before coming to the UK with Manchester Utd.

After moving onto FC United, he then moved to Scotland with Dundee Utd, but was released in 2017 after a loan at York City.

He played for Othellos Athienou and Akritas Chlorakas in Cyprus, but then returned to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals, after scoring 24 goals in 37 appearances in Cyprus. He came to Stalybridge last September from Morton.

Ethan Padden is a midfielder who came to Stalybridge from Buxton last summer. A former Chesterfield youth team player who has played for Glossop North End too.

Defender Shane Killock started out at Ossett before joining Huddersfield Town. He made one first team appearance for the Terriers, before being loaned to Hyde and Harrogate. He then had another loan at Oxford Utd, before a permanent move in 2009.

Moving onto Telford Utd, where he made over 130 appearances he also captained the side. Loans at Harrogate Guiseley followed before moves to Hyde, Bradford PA and Boston Utd. He then had a season at Alfreton before joining Buxton, arriving at Stalybridge in June last year. 

Midfielder Gedeao Varela has recently arrived from Kendal Town, he also played at St Helens and Glossop.

Striker Scott Bakkor originally came from Skelmersdale in 2018, but has also played for Colwyn Bay, Marine, Warrington, Witton Albion and Curzon Ashton.

He returned to Stalybridge in May last year after scoring five goals in 10 games back at Witton.

Young winger Aaron Grewal is another new arrival, coming from West Didsbury and Chorlton. He has also played for Curzon Ashton.

Midfielder Matty Jones is a product of their own youth scheme and made his first team debut in October.

Assistant to manager Simon Haworth, Republic of Ireland International Stephen O’Halloran is massively experienced. He started at Aston Villa, and played for Wycombe, Southampton, Leeds, Swansea, Coventry and Carlisle until moving into non-league with Nuneaton in 2012.

He also played for Stockport, Salford and FC United, before coming to Stalybridge in July 2019.

Kick off at Bower Fold is at 3pm and John McGrath and the team would be delighted to see as many Mickleover fans as possible.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover visited fellow strugglers Nantwich Town last night, seeking a third successive NPL victory. 

After a dour and fairly one-sided first half, Sports came out fighting and returned home with another win under their belt, thanks to a scorching goal from Stuart Beavon.

Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Joe Bateman 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Phil Watt 5-Pablo Mills 6-Kemy Agustien 7-Ben Radcliffe 8-Mason Warren 9-Shaquille McDonald 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Andrew Wright, Jahvan Davidson-Miller, James Butler, Callum Niven, George Milner.

It was a bright opening five minutes for Mickleover, with McDonald straight into a challenge, which gave Beavon the ball on the edge of the box. A quick turn and a low shot was fired goal wards, but debutant loanee keeper McMillan had it covered.

Warren got a shot just wide too, before Miller burst through the defence for the hosts, shooting low to his right, forcing Hedge to palm the ball away for a corner.

Miller was soon through again, but it was charging wing back Devine who fired in the next shot, just wide of Hedge’s left hand post.

After eight minutes Miller and Devine combined again, with the latters final shot fired over the perimeter wall.

Dales managed to escape from his own half and send Bateman on a run, but his shot was blocked. But Bateman was soon on another run when he was brought down, but Warren’s free kick went straight to the keeper.

But it was the Mickleover goal coming under increasing pressure, with debutant winger Raffie giving Dolan a hard time.

Nantwich hit the post after 11 minutes, but it was proving ever more difficult for Mickleover to clear their lines.

Another Warren free kick bounced off a few heads in the box, before being cleared and after 16 minutes Radcliffe had pushed forward but his cross was safely taken by keeper McMillan.

Mills and Agustien tried to play long balls out from the back and into the Nantwich half, but it kept coming back after the midfield struggled to take any control.

Nantwich went close again after 27 minutes, when after a corner was initially cleared, Bourne found Miller again whose fierce shot was well saved by Hedge.

Dales had another bursting run a minute later, but was adjudged to have fouled.

But it was still Nantwich piling on the pressure with Mitchell trying a long shot, capably held by Hedge.

As the Mickleover strikers went deeper to try and get the ball, some nice play from Beavon on the right fed Warren, but barely into his stride he was fouled.

Skipper Watt headed away a telling cross from Raffie, before a second cross beat Hedge but also the target strikers too.

Chances for Mickleover had been few, but they were close to going into the half time break a goal up. After 41 minutes Radcliffe found McDonald but the shot was saved and only a minute later the striker smashed another attempt against the bar, with McMillan finger tipping it away for a corner.

The hosts had one more chance before the half time whistle, with Malkin missing a header from a good cross.

So despite Nantwich’s overall dominance, it remained 0-0.

Mickleover made one change for the second half kick off with Milner on for Agustien.

After Dolan lost out on the wing again, Mickleover began to take the game by the scruff of the neck, with a combination of skill and more importantly determination.

48 minutes in and Bateman’s neat turn found Warren who shot just over.

Robbins and Miller both had shots blocked before Bateman cleared the danger for Mickleover, but it was far more end to end than the first half.

Dolan and Milner both went in the refs book, but the fight was real as Mickleover started to push forward.

On the hour McDonald had his attempt blocked and only a minute later another Bateman burst found McDonald again whose shot was just wide.

Wright then came on for McDonald and in the 63^rd minute the deadlock was finally broke. A midfield ball had managed to clear the defence and fall nicely for Beavon, but his final shot was perfection in power and accuracy and gave McMillan no chance as it hot the top corner, 1-0.

“I just thought it was about time,” said Beavon, his third goal of the season and his first since October.

Robbins tried a long shot for Nantwich, but was well wide of the goal. But the hosts continued to push forward with Raffie finding the side netting after beating Dolan again.

Malkin fired a chance well over the bar from a Raffie cross, while Mickleover added to their defence for closing minutes with Butler on for Warren.

Radcliffe had far more freedom in the second half and with three minutes left, his cross went across the face of the goal and out danger.

Nantwich may have felt aggrieved at not getting at least a point, but they had their chances and failed to deliver. So how would Sports skipper Phil Watt sum up the game, “Just brilliant.”

So it’s three out of three now for Mickleover, with a visit to Stalybridge Celtic next on February 5^th.

Super-sub Niven grabs late goal as Mickleover beat Witton 2-1

by Sports’ Junior Journos

An 88^th minute winner from substitute Callum Niven earned Mickleover a late victory against Witton Albion in front of 312 fans at the Don Amott Arena.

Niven’s goal gave Mickleover their 7^th win of the season to move them onto 27 points.

The home side started brightly with a couple of early efforts from long range. Witton goalkeeper Greg Hall saved Mason Warren’s long-range chip before getting fingertips on Stuart Beavon’s excellent curling effort from the edge of the box a few minutes later. 

In the 22^nd minute, Mickleover made their early dominance count by breaking the deadlock. Rhys Dolan cut inside from left-back, before beating his man and arrowing a pinpoint pass to the feet of Beavon. The former Burton Albion forward set up debutant Shaquille McDonald who hit a fantastic half-volley that curled into the far top corner from 20 yards, before pulling out a spectacular backflip in celebration.

Just a minute later, Mickleover were on the attack again, with Beavon cutting in from the right and firing a low shot on goal that was well held by Hall in the Witton Albion goal.

Three minutes later, Beavon came close once more when he met Joe Bateman’s long, floated free kick, however the header sailed agonisingly wide of the far post.

Witton managed to withstand the Mickleover onslaught and settled down again in the last 20 minutes of the half, with neither side creating much as they headed into the break.

Witton began the second half strongly, with right-back Joe Ferguson driving from deep to the edge of the Mickleover box, before drilling a shot just wide of the far post.

Despite the away side’s strong start to the half, Mickleover looked dangerous on the counter-attack, as McDonald picked the ball up on the halfway line before beating his man and hitting a powerful strike against the crossbar. Beavon smashed home the rebound, but the linesman quickly raised his flag to disallow the goal for offside.

Mickleover were pushing hard for a second goal, as centre-back Phil Watt came close twice in three minutes. The captain met an Andy Dales cross with a looping header that hit the top of the crossbar, before having a shot blocked on the line following a corner just moments later.

Mickleover’s failure to double their lead inspired Witton to push forward and, in the 62^rd minute, they came close as Rob Hopley rose highest to meet Isaac Baldwin’s long ball, but the effort sailed over the crossbar.

Just one minute later, Hopley had another chance, and this time he made the most of it. Callum Saunders flicked on a long ball to Hopley who poked the ball past Jonathan Hedges and into the back of the net to equalise for Witton.

Witton now had the momentum as they looked to make it a quickfire double. James Lawrie’s curling effort went just wide of the post before Saunders and Baldwin had close-range efforts blocked well by the Mickleover defence. 

The 73^rd minute introduction of Andrew Wright almost paid off immediately for Mickleover as he met a fantastic long ball by Germaine Agustien and put the ball back across the face of goal. Unfortunately for the home side nobody was there to score an easy tap-in. 

Beavon should have put Mickleover back in front in 77^th minute as he brought down a superb McDonald cross but fired the ball wide of the left-hand post from 12 yards out.

Just as it looked like it could be a frustrating day for the home side, substitute Callum Niven, who had only been on the pitch for four minutes, found a late winner in the 88^th minute. The super-sub picked up the ball on the edge of the area, before cutting onto his left foot and drilling a low shot across the face of goal that Witton goalkeeper Hall couldn’t keep out. 

Despite two late penalty appeals from Witton that were ultimately waved away by the referee, Mickleover survived injury time to secure all three points. 

Starting Line-ups:

Mickleover: Hedges, Bateman, Watt ©, Mills, Dolan, Agustien, Radcliffe, Warren (Wright 74), McDonald (Niven 85), Beavon (90), Dales

Witton: Hall, Ferguson, Baldwin, Wardle ©, Hopley, Agboza, Owens, Lawrie, Jones (Jebrin 62), Saunders, Foley (McKenna 56)

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover will be looking for their third successive win on Tuesday evening, when they visit Nantwich Town in the re-arranged fixture.

At present the Dabbers are four points behind Mickleover in 20^th place, following their defeat at Basford last Saturday and have been struggling to find form.

Our hosts have still have three games in hand, so it’s another critical double pointer as we try to pull clear of the drop zone, so with Nantwich only an hour down the road travelling support would be more than welcomed by John McGrath and the boys.

Let’s take a look at our hosts.

Having used three goalkeepers this season, Matty Gould holds the number one shirt at present, on loan from Altrincham until later this month.

He started out in New Zealand with Hawke’s Bay and Maycenvale Utd, before coming to the UK with Cheltenham in 2014. He was loaned out to Bishop Cleeve before moving to Scotland with Livingston. 

Further loans at Stenhousemuir and Stourbridge followed, before he went to Spennymoor in 2018, moving on again to Altrincham after two years. He is the third generation of footballer, with father Jonathan an ex Celtic keeper, and Grandad Bobby the former Coventry City legend.

Troy Bourne is one of the main stays of the Nantwich defence, now in his seventh season at the club. A graduate from the Dabbers’ youth team, he spent much of the 16/17 campaign on loan at Alsager Town but did make a couple of first-team appearances for the Dabbers. Now a regular in the centre back position but can also play at right back when required.

Defender Josh Langley was a summer 2019 signing from Southport. He started out a Junior at Wigan Athletic, then had four years at Fylde before joining Southport. Loans at Altrincham and Guiseley followed before arriving at Nantwich. 

Matty Devine is a left back who switched Cheshire allegiances in the summer of 2019 as he joined the Dabbers from Witton Albion. An attacking full-back, he was previously at Marine and Burscough.

Joel Stair is another long serving player in his sixth season at the club. Primarily a right or centre back he was signed from Hanley Town in 2016.

Former Welsh under 15, 16 and 17 International Jacob Edwards is a right back, signed in September 2021 after serving his apprenticeship at Swansea.

Callum Huxley is a defender or winger signed just before Christmas from Caernarfon Town. He started out at Wrexham, before joining Sheffield Wednesday in 2020.

Midfielder Caspar Hughes re-joined the Dabbers from AFC Fylde at the start of the 2017-18 season, before being named captain in January 2018 after the departure of Sam Hall. He started at Crewe Alexandra youth academy and had a loan at Chasetown before starting his long association with Nantwich, first as a loanee, before it was permanent from July 2012.

Moving on to Fylde a year later, he helped them gain promotion from both the Northern Premier League and the National League North, before returning to Nantwich.

Midfielder David Vaughan came through the ranks at Crewe Alexandra, playing 209 matches and scoring 20 goals over eight seasons.

But in 2007 he ventured to Spain with Real Sociedad, scoring one goal in nine games before returning to the UK with Blackpool. He had three years at Bloomfield Road before moving to Sunderland for £1.8 million and then spent five years at Nottingham Forest, making over 100 appearances.

 He then crossed the Trent for a spell at Notts County, which brought an end to his league career of over 500 games. He turned to Crewe to coach the Academy and after two years out, started playing again at Nantwich last September.

 

Having already been capped by Wales at under 19 and 21 levels, he went on to play 42 games for the full Welsh side and was part of the successful 2016 Euros squad.

Sean Cooke is an attacking midfielder and is the son of manager Dave. He played with Caspar Hughes, at the AFC Fylde side that won promotion from the Northern Premier, but played his junior football at Crewe and Blackburn Rovers.

He first came to Nantwich in 2011, before moving to Fylde after five months.  Moving on to Telford Utd, where they loaned him back to Fylde and FC United, from where Nantwich signed him again in 2015.

Carlos “Thommy” Montefiori is a young Argentinian winger who was signed in February 2021 after turning 18. He has been a local resident with his family in Chester for the last couple of years and was spotted and invited to Nantwich and subsequently signed. He started at the famous All Boys FC in Buenos Aires.

Joe Mwasile has spent recent games on the bench, but a midfielder or pacey winger he joined the club in October 2017. A former Morecambe Academy Graduate, he had loans at Workington, Altrincham and Barrow before being released in 2014.

He then joined Workington permanently, moving on via Salford City, Marine and Warrington, before arriving at Nantwich.

Midfielder Luke Nock is currently on loan from Stockport. He started as a Rochdale youth team player and also played for Sunderland on trial.

Ethan Mitchell is another loanee, having arrived from Plymouth on January 10^th. The defensive midfielder started out at Tranmere, before moving to Plymoth in June 2020.

Striker Shaun Miller hasn’t been in the starting line-up of late. He started his career with Crewe Alexandra’s youth system, and he signed a professional contract with the club in July 2006. He made his first-team debut in November 2006.

After a loan at Witton he joined Sheffield Utd, after making 179 appearances and scoring 43 goals at Gresty Road.

After nine goals in 35 games for the Blades in League One and a loan Shrewsbury, he joined Coventry City, but was soon loaned out again to Crawley and York City.

Further moves to Morecambe and Carlisle preceded his return to Crewe in 2018. He then joined Bolton Wanderers in 2020, before coming to Nantwich at the beginning of this season and scored on his debut.

Striker Joe Malkin is the son of former Tranmere Rovers striker Chris. He joined the club at the beginning of the 2018-19 season from North-West Counties Football League side Cammell Laird 1907 and won the Northern Premier League Young Player of the Season. 

Connor Heath was a signing in the summer after being released from Crewe Alexandra, where he had impressed during his 2-year scholarship period with a number of goals, he signed a professional contract in the summer of 2019.

He had previously been loaned to Witton Albion and Colwyn Bay and is currently dual registered with Farsley Celtic.

Dan Cockerline came through the ranks as a Sheffield Utd junior. He had loans at Grantham. Marine, Matlock and Curzon Ashton before being released in July 2016 to join Northwich Vics.

Further moves to Barrow and Southport soon followed plus a loan at Stalybridge, before he had three months in Australia with Adelaide. 

On his UK return he joined AFC Liverpool, then FC United, Aberystwyth and back to Liverpool, finally coming to Nantwich September last year.

Joe Robbins is a central midfielder currently on loan from Crewe. He previously had a spell on loan at Altrincham too.

Midfielder Matt Bell came back to the club last month. The former Port Vale graduate moved onto Mansfield, and after loans at Stafford, Solihull Moors, Leek Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, he first came to Nantwich in May 2015.After 21 goals in 199 games in moved back to Leek in October 2019, before arriving back at Nantwich again.

He is also a full international too, having been caped twice by the British Virgin Islands in 2015.