by Peter Scherer

Two goals in the last eight minutes for Basford ended Mickleover hopes of further progress in this season’s FA Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ben Lewin 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Alex Morris 7-Andy Dales 15-Kemy Agustien 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs: Josh Satchwell, Ethan Mann, Lee Holmes, Andrew Wright, George Atwal, Mason Warren, Roger Lee.

Agustien won a corner for Mickleover in the opening minute, from which Butler headed just wide.

But play quickly turned from defence to attack for Basford with two quick attempts from Kane Richards, forcing Hawkins into his first save of the match.

Declan Dunn then fouled Beavon, but Agustien’s free kick was wide.

Seven minutes in however and it was 1-0, when Lewin was in just the right place to slot home his first senior goal.

Four minutes later Dales had a shot straight at Collin in the Basford goal, before Aaron O’Connor forced Butler to clear defensive lines after a quick break from the visitors.

Dales tried his luck again with a long range shot from a Beavon pass, well wide, before Basford skipper Matt Thornhill fired over the Mickleover bar in another quick response.

Richards tried a shot from a narrow angle, but it was easily dealt with by Hawkins, but after 25 minutes Beavon had a shot saved after picking up a loose back pass from Thornhill.

The end to end action continued however as O’Connor shot wide, followed by a similar attempt from Richards and another shot over the bar from Thornhill.

Mickleover had to call on an early sub though when Bateman was injured on the half hour and was replaced by Warren.

It was Basford on the attack though, with Thornhill and O’Connor combining before shooting wide, followed by a second volley  just wide from Thornhill  a couple of minutes later.

Bennett then had to make a decisive block, before Basford made it 1-1 after 41 minutes. A long ball from Brad Gascoigne found Rev James, who’s first shot was saved by Hawkins, but the rebound left him with an easy finish.

Just before half time there was another blow for Mickleover when Bennett went off injured to be replaced by Lee. Morris then had to make a goal line clearance in the closing seconds to keep it 1-1 at half time.

As the teams came out for the second half there had been another change, with new signing Holmes on for Battisson.

There was an early free kick for Mickleover when Dunn fouled Beavon, but after 53 minutes a break on the right left Beavon clear for a shot just wide of the post.

But Basford continued to threaten as both sought to take the lead again. Ryan Wilson fed Hawkridge who beat Agustien before Hawkins saved his chip shot.

Beavon received a yellow card for a foul on Richards and on the hour Butler had to make another clearance from an attempt by Betts.

Both sides were lacking that final ball and were being caught in possession, so overall it was till wide open.

But with eight minutes on the clock James and Marshall combined to find Richards, who was left one on one with Hawkins to make it 1-2.

Butler was then in the book too for an unnecessary push, as time was running out for Mickleover.

Into injury time James was on the receiving end of a quick break from Basford as Mickleover tried to push forward. 1-3 and it was game over and the end of the FA Cup hopes for another year.

by Peter Scherer

It’s time to take a break from NPL action as the FA Cup comes to the Don Amott Arena, with a second qualifying round tie against Steve Chettle’s Basford United.

A growing injury list and a slump in recent form will hopefully be overcome as Sports look to forward to the challenge of East Midlands rivalry.

Basford have just hit a run of form in the NPL which has moved them up to eighth place. Having drawn four games and lost two in their first six games, they have now racked up three successive wins, without conceding a goal, including a 1-0 home win over Lancaster.

They knocked out Stourbridge at home in the previous FA Cup round 1-0, so will be arriving at Mickleover brimming with confidence.

Basford have the experience of 36 year old Adam Collin between the posts. A former Newcastle junior, with nearly 400 league appearances under his belt, during his time with Carlisle, Rotherham, Aberdeen and Notts County. He came to Basford this season, after a year at Kettering.

Defender Owen Betts came in from Notts County last season, but had a loan spell at Spalding Utd.

Left back Ryan Wilson is the son of former Rams player Kevin. Ryan started out at Ilkeston and after a move to Gateshead, he has played for a number of clubs in the East Midlands region, notably Alfreton, Coalville and Matlock. He came to Basford in May 2019 after spell at Telford.

Defender Dominic Roma started his professional career at Sheffield United. After loans at Boston Utd, Hinckley and Tamworth, he joined Hinckley on a permanent move. He’s played at Alfreton, Harrogate and Gainsborough, before coming to Basford in 2017.

Centre back Brad Gascoigne was a Birmingham City junior, but since his release in 2012 has travelled widely through the non league world. Having played for 17 clubs over his career he came to Basford in 2019 from Barwell.

Declan Dunn is another former Notts County junior. The young Centre Back also had a spell on loan at Grantham before joining Basford last season.

Winger Terry Hawkridge played junior football at Barnsley and Tranmere, before returning to Nottinghamshire with Carlton Town. Spells at Hucknall and Gainsboroough followed before he joined Scunthorpe Utd. Three seasons with the Irons preceded loans at Mansfield and Lincoln, before a permanent move to Lincoln.

Stays at Notts County, Solihull and Boston Utd followed before arriving at Basford this season.

Skipper Matt Thornhill is an attacking midfielder and ex Nottingham Forest junior. He went on loan to Brighton and Cheltenham, making 70 first team appearances, before a spell with Hibernian.

He returned to England with Buxton in 2012, and has also played for Shaw Lane and Gainsborough before signing for Basford in Match 2017.

Veteran striker Aaron O’Connor started off at Ilkeston before joining Scunthorpe Utd. After a brief stop at Nuneaton, he returned to Ilkeston, before a three year spell at Gresley Rovers.

After heading south to Grays Athletic he joined Mansfield in the Conference, moving on via Rushden, Luton, Forest Green Rovers, Stevenage, Kettering and Tamworth, joining Basford last month.

Striker Kane Richards is Derby born and a former Rams Junior. He had a loan spell at Matlock before his release, seeing him move on to Ilkeston, Chester, Gainsborough, Dover and Telford, before arriving at Basford from Kidderminster July last year.

Alex Howes is another to come from the Notts County Academy. The young midfielder made 41 first team appearances for the Magpies, before loans at Coalville and Tamworth preceded his release and a move to Basford in August last year.

Striker Reco Fyfe came in from Gainsborough, having previously played for Ilkeston.

Stef Galinski is a centre back that played junior football  at both Derby County and Stoke City. He had a loan at Corby before joining Boston Utd in 2013. He has since moved on via Stalybridge, Alfreton, Grantham and Hednesford, before joining Basford in November 2018.

Wing back James Clifton started at Aston Villa, before joining Oxford City. Moving on to Kettering, Brackley and Sutton Coldfield, he later joined Nuneaton and came to Basford from Corby last summer.

Originally a Hartlepool Junior, striker Josh Scott was at Mansfield prior to joining Basford, originally on loan last summer.

Rev James is a midfielder who started out as a Rotherham and Oxford Junior. He was on loan at Basford in 2018, but came on a permanent from Tamworth in November 2019.

Former Heanor town keeper Jordan Pierpoint is Collin’s current understudy.

The kick off as usual is 3pm…………. be there!!

by Peter Scherer

The days rain finally came to an end as the teams lined up for kick off, but a fairly scrappy  90 minutes failed to provide any real positivity from either side.

Starting line-up: 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ben Lewin 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Alex Morris 7-Andy Dales 15-Kemy Agustien 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs: Andrew Wright, Josh Satchwell, Roger Lee, Ben Gowing, Ethan Mann.

After some end to end play for the first 10 minutes, Bennett’s overlap provided Battisson with a first attempt on goal.

It continued to be a fairly scrappy game, with both teams giving the ball away at regular intervals.

Bennett had another good run after 15 minutes, but tried to take it too far and lost possession. Two minutes later Sports had what was to be rare chance, when Lewin had found Dales, whose cross set up a Beavon header, tipped out for a corner by Nantwich keeper Terry. 

From Agustien’s resulting corner Bateman stretched and  put the ball just wide of the post, with a certain amount of panic in the Nantwich box.

20 minutes in and Mickleover started to put more pressure on the Nantwich defence, but a promising move between Agustien and Battisson broke down.

Lewin put a challenging cross right into the middle of the visitors box, it was blocked by Ben Harrison though, as Bennett was about to connect.

Agustien’s trickery then got another ball through, with Bacon almost on the receiving end. A minute later Agustien tried himself, but his effort was well off target.

Dales had had little opportunity to show his pace, but on the half hour his run ended when he was fouled just outside the box. The free kick was blocked and it triggered a dangerous break for Nantwich, which ended with Casper Hughes firing his shot straight at Hawkins.

As Mickleover went on the attack again, Battisson worked his way through, but his final pass came to nought with Bacon flagged offside.

Sean Cooke then fired a shot well over Hawkins’ bar, after a promising build up by the visitors.

Bateman had shown good distribution from defence and after 39 minutes decided to go it alone, with a long run into the opponents box. Dales picked it up but couldn’t find the space to get a shot in.

Nantwich then had a free kick, which Cooke yet again sent straight at Hawkins.

As half time beckoned Mickleover had their second real chance of the game, when Dales was clear on the right. His cross was perfection and right at Bacon’s feet, but keeper Terry was quick off his line and took the ball from the strikers feet.

There were no immediate changes from either side as the second half got underway and disappointingly it started to follow a similar pattern to the first half.

Theo Stair put in an early weak shot straight at Hawkins, but then a defensive mix up could have spelled disaster for Mickleover.

Lewin’s pass failed to carry on the wet surface and Lawrie almost intercepted as Hawkins raced off his line.

Only a minute later Dales earned another corner and the resulting cross just missed bandaged Butler’s head, as  the end to end play continued.

56 minutes and Nantwich had a dangerous cross, but a foul earned Sports a free kick.

Nantwich were looking for the breaks at every opportunity and it was only their lack of finishing that stopped them taking the lead.

Mickleover showed a glimpse of their normal style on the hour, when an all round team attack allowed Battisson to let go from well outside the area. It was on target but held by the keeper.

Bacon then had a shot saved by the keeper after a Bennett cross as the deadlock continued.

Nantwich had a shot well off target after 69 minutes, before Cooke sent a free kick way over the bar for the visitors too.

Mickleover made the first change when Wright came on for Agustien, but further attempts for Nantwich went high or wide of the target.

Battisson went on another long run after a 77^th minute corner for Nantwich broke down. He found Bacon in the middle but the keeper came off best again.

There were more wasted opportunities for the visitors, but Mickleover opted to swap Satchwell for Bacon for the last eight minutes.

Five minutes later Dales beat the defence and his cross just missed Satchwell’s head, before Beavon went close again with a header two minutes later from a corner.

Sports pushed forward again in the closing minutes and both Dales and Satchwell were manhandled earning a late free kick.

Into time added on and Beavon found Dales on the left, but his cross fell just short of Satchwell in the middle and it was game over at 0-0.

by Peter Scherer (Photos: Captured Moments Derby)

Following their first away point at Grantham on Tuesday, there was disappointment at Mickleover FC, suffering their first home defeat of the season against Whitby Town.

Starting line-up 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-Andy dales 8-Kemy Agustien 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Bobby Battisson. Subs: Andrew Wright, Ben Lewin, Ben Gowing, Josh Satchwell, Roger Lee.

Not for the first time this season Sports made a magnificent start, when Andy Dales volleyed over Whitby keeper Shane Bland to make it 1-0 in the opening minute.

Eight minutes later it could so easily have been two, when Priestley Griffiths’ failed clearance almost fell for Bacon, before the midfielder recovered.

The visitors first chance came when Jameel Ible shot wide from long range after 10 minutes, but Butler and Watt both were dealing comfortably with the long balls pumped in by the visitors, with commanding headers.

Dales had a shot wide after 20 minutes, but a few minutes later Mickleover were forced to make a substitution when Watt went down injured.

Lee came on and Bateman moved into the centre back position.

Just before the first half hour was up Beavon shot wide from a Morris cross, but with 10 minutes left before half time, the referee was busy with his notebook. Ible had brought Dales down heavily, but as Butler and Whitby’s Lewis Ritson joined in, all three were yellow carded.

Beavon had another half chance after 36 mins, but Bland easily held his shot, while Josh MacDonald had a shot from outside the box for the visitors, again just wide.

Jassen Sukar was next in the book for a foul on Battisson, but Agustien’s kick was deflected out for a corner, which came to nought.

The second half kicked off again with Mickleover quickly into attack. Bacon fired a shot over the bar from long range and Battisson followed suit two minutes later.

Hawkins was then called into action with a great save from Jonathan Burn, as the ball looked to be heading for the top corner.

Sub Gowing then hit a shot on target on the hour but was blocked, before Jacob Hazel missed an easy chance to equalise, right in front of goal.

Dales was proving quick on the break again and he found Lee in space. The Bermudan International managed to get his shot in from the edge of the box, but just wide of the mark.

Hazel made up for his earlier miss when after 68 mins he flicked the ball onto Marcus Giles who made it 1-1 with a shot just out of Hawkins reach.

 

Whitby were on the attack again and looking for the winner, so the Sports defence came under continuous pressure.

72 minutes and Hazel made it 2-1, his close range effort beating Hawkins from a tight angle.

Satchwell then came on for Battisson, but it was Whitby on the charge still, with a MacDonald cross into the box, finding the head of an unmarked Hazel, putting it just wide.

Whitby’s Burn and Griffiths went in the book too, before Wright made his first appearance since his knee operation, coming on for Gowing.

Six minutes from time Beavon shot just over from outside the area and then Wright smashed it against the cross bar from well out  in the final minute, so close to taking a point.

Mickleover will be hoping to return to winning ways on Tuesday at 7.45, when they face Nantwich Town at home, fresh from their 3-1 defeat at Radcliffe last Saturday, leaving them two places behind us in the table in 14^th.

by Peter Scherer

It’s  Mickleover’s turn to host their next two NPL matches, with Whitby Town on Saturday and Nantwich on Tuesday.

Whitby are currently fifth in the table having beaten Nantwich and Morpeth at home and Lancaster and Ashton away, suffering the one defeat at Gainsborough, when they went down 1-0.

They are currently without skipper Daniel Rowe, after he broke his nose in the win against Morpeth.

Former Mickleover striker Jacob Rowe has been finding the net for Whitby, having signed last year from Frickley. He was a Chesterfield Academy player and ahs also played in Norway.

His co striker Bradley Fewster is yet to find the net this season, having come from Blyth Spartans back in 2019. He was capped at under 19 level by England and played at Preston, York and Spennymoor.

Their newest singing is midfielder Jake Hackett, recently released by Sunderland, he was previously on loan at Whitby.

Tuesday’s opponents Nantwich Town have had a similar start to the season as Mickleover, with three wins and four defeats, placing them 12^th in the league.

They lost at home to Hyde on Tuesday evening, but are still in the FA Cup.

Let’s take a look at their squad.

CAMERON TERRY (Goalkeeper)

He joined the Dabbers this summer after a season with Widnes. After a
very promising pre-season he was awarded the number 1 shirt for
the start of the season.

TROY BOURNE (Defender)
A graduate from the Dabbers’ youth team, having impressed former manager Phil
Parkinson in 2015/16 pre-season training. 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.

JOSH LANGLEY (Defender)
A summer of 2019 signing and a defender who is great with the ball at his feet and has an excellent reading of the game, and as a former captain in a higher division,.

BEN HARRISON (Defender)
He re-joined the club in the summer of 2019 after a two-year stint with Altrincham, where he not only won the Northern Premier Division in 2017-18, but helped the Robins reach the National League North play-offs the following season. 

JOEL STAIR (Defender)
Cam to the Dabbers in 2016 after impressing at North-West Counties Football League side Hanley Town. A warrior in defence, winning the club’s Player of the Season in 2017-18 and captaining the club on several occasions. Hel can play across the back four, with his main strength being at centre-half, but also  fill in at right-

 
MATTY DEVINE (Defender)
Matty switched Cheshire allegiances in the summer of 2019 as he joined the Dabbers from Witton Albion. An attacking full-back, Matty offers a huge threat going forward but is equally as effective at the back. 

Jack HATTON (Defender)
Jack joined the Dabbers from Widnes in the summer. The young full back has good pedigree spending his youth at Bury FC and is able to play both left and right back. He had hoped to play for Ytterhogdal in Sweden, however due to the pandemic despite moving and training there didn’t play. He returned to England and signed for Widnes in August 2020.

CASPAR HUGHES (Midfielder) Caspar 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. While Caspar is an excellent ball-winner in midfield, the skipper can also play at full-back. He started at Crewe Alexandra youth academy before joining
Nantwich, where he spent two solid seasons before moving on to Fylde. The midfielder
helped Fylde gain promotion from both the Northern Premier League and the National
League North.

SEAN COOKE (Midfielder)
A productive attacking midfielder, Sean is the son of manager Dave and is a dynamic threat from his number ten role. A danger from set-pieces – especially free-kicks – Sean has a keen eye for goal and has proved that not only with Nantwich but at other clubs higher up the non-league pyramid. He played witn Caspar Hughes, at the AFC Fylde
side that won promotion from the Northern Premier Division, butd has also played for FC
United of Manchester. 

DAVID WEBB (Midfielder)
David joined the club after impressing in 2019-20 pre-season. A midfielder
capable of filling in across the pitch. He also has Northern Premier League
experience withr Marine, and has also played for the Royal Air Force’s side. 

CARLOS “THOMMY” MONTEFIORI (Midfielder)
The young Argentinian winger signed for Nantwich 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.

.
PRINCE HAYWOOD (Midfielder)
A signing from fellow Premier Division club Radcliffe in January 2020. Ghanaian born,
Prince previously played in Italy and has had spells with several different clubs in the North West at the non-league level, having played for Stalybridge Celtic, Colwyn Bay and Witton Albion.

JOE MWASILE (Midfielder)
A powerful winger with pace to match anyone in the league, He joined the club in 2016-17 originally after starting the campaign with Marine. He left at the end of that season to join fellow Cheshire outfit Warrington Town but re-joined the Dabbers in October 2017. A former Morecambe Academy Graduate.

LUKE WALSH (Midfielder)
He joined the club in the winter of 2018-19 after impressing for Eccleshall in the North-West Counties Football League and made a solid step up to the Dabbers’ level, holding his own against EFL League Two outfit Crewe Alexandra in his debut. A wide player who can also play through the middle, Walsh is another product of the Crewe Alex academy.

SHAUN MILLER (Forward)
Her 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 in a 4–0
FA Cup loss to Bradford City at Valley Parade. Shaun was with Bolton Wanderers recently scoring his 100th career goal and achieved promotion with the Trotters last season. He signs for Nantwich Town with a vast amount of league experience and a scoring threat.

JOE MALKIN (Forward)
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 enjoyed an exciting first season, where he won the Northern Premier League Young Player of the Season. 

CONNOR HEATH (Forward)
A new signing in the summer after being released from Crewe Alexandra,
after impressing during his 2-year scholarship period with a number of goals he signed a
professional contract in the summer of 2019.

 IBRAHIMA SY (Midfield)
Loan signing from Stoke City, he moved to the Potters from Stade Reims in France and
has playing in the Under 23’s for Stoke. A tall defensive midfielder  looking to impress his parent club during his loan spell here at Nantwich.

It was back to NPL duty for Mickleover with a visit to Grantham Town.

Starting line-up. 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Roger Lee 5-James Butler 6-Joe Bateman 7-Andy Dales 15-Kemy Agustien 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Josh Satchwell. Subs: Ben Gowing, Ethan Mann, Ben Lewin, George Atwal, Phil Watt.

In the opening minutes Bennett was pushed from behind, no foul was given, but it was only four minutes in when Grantham went ahead with opportunistic opening goal.

Michael Williams managed to dispossess Butler wide to the right and had a player in the clear to his right. But rather than make the pass, he spotted Hawkins off his line and lobbed the ball over the Mickleover keepers head for 0-1.

Mickleover were quick to try and retaliate, with Dales finding Beavon who earned a corner, but it came to nought.

Bacon almost made it through the home defence with a long run after eight minutes, which was then turned into a Grantham break with Hawkins saving.

Bateman was starting to play the ball out nicely from defence, with some creativity from Lee and Agustien trying to feed the strikefore.

Mickleover had two good tries on goal consecutively, as Satchwell had his attempt blocked, similarly Dales too after a pass from Beavon.

A minute later Dales crossed to find Bacon in the middle, who was fouled by Finley Shrimpton. No free kick was given, but they did win another corner.

While Mickleover’s build up was precise and gradual, Grantham were more on the break, but when Nathan Modest had a chance for the hosts after 17 minutes, he fired his shot straight at Hawkins.

 

Bennett was finding the overlap route he often favours blocked on the right, but Morris had more freedom down the left and put in a nice 20^th minute cross, just out of reach of Bacon.

Lee’s attempt to start a run was thwarted by a heavily mistimed tackle, which did earn a free kick, but the hosts again had it covered.

Shrimpton was then booked for a late tackle on Agustien, before another gradual build up started by Lee, was blocked and became yet another Grantham break.

Dales then crossed from a corner after 28 minutes and found Butler, who headed just wide, but he then ran almost half of the field before being intercepted, with Morris tying to follow up being blocked too.

Into the last 15 minutes of the first half it was still fairly even, despite Grantham’s lead. 33 minutes and another Dales run was blocked, but two minutes later and there was success.

Dales put the ball out onto the wing for Morris, whose cross found Beavon in the middle and there was no mistake on this occasion, 1-1.

Three minutes later Beavon created his own space outside the box, turned and fired just over the bar. He had another half chance too before the half time whistle, when a Morris cross just missed connecting.

Grantham started the second half with an immediate attack too, but Williams shot was well over and from the goal kick Dales cross found Agustien, but his shot was blocked and earned another corner.

Agustien sized himself for a shot on goal from a free kick after Shrimpton fouled Dales again. The shot was easily saved by James Pollard in the Grantham goal though.

While Butler and Bateman were coping with the Grantham breaks, Agustien was yellow carded after 52 minutes after he appeared to have been obstructed.

Dales and Bacon then combined positively, before Dales attempt was just wide of the post. Beavon then spotted Pollard slightly off his line and tried his luck too.

The Mickleover strike force were starting to look more threatening and after 56 minutes, Satchwell, Beavon and Bacon combined to give Dales an opening, but again his path was blocked.

Grantham broke after the Mickleover charge was blocked, but Shrimpton’s attempt on goal managed to clear the boundary fence.

Probably the best chance of the second half came just before the hour, when Beavon’s cross met with Dales, whose shot was tipped over by Pollard.

Gowing then came on for Satchwell and Hawkins was called into action again, when a scramble in the Sports area ended when he safely gathered the ball.

There were various heads trying to connect from a telling ball from Dales into the area after 69 minutes and then Grantham sub Many Kianga earned a free kick and a yellow card for Bacon, after a theatrical conclusion to the strikers tackle.

Gowing had a shot over from a Lee pass after 79 minutes and then Butler went in the book too.

Mickleover went for a final push, but still wary of a Grantham break. Beavon shot wide after collecting from a short corner and with two minutes on the clock, Bacon was fouled right on the edge of the Grantham box. 

Bacon had a final attempt almost on time, but was blocked and a final Grantham effort went across the face of the goal, but wasn’t collected.

So it was a first away point earned in a tough match, with Grantham managing to stifle some of the Mickleover style, while relying on positive and often dangerous breaks themselves.