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. 

by Peter Scherer (photo: Leek Town)

For the second successive year Mickleover were drawn away to Leek Town in the FA Cup, but on this occasion it was played Buxton’s Silverlands ground, with Leek’s new pitch not available yet.

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

Within seconds of the kick off it could easily have been 1-0 when Beavon hit the woodwork . But Leek were straight on the attack and Trickett-Smith, Saxon and Clarke all went close too.

A Leek corner after 28 minutes pulled out a fine save from Hawkins, from a Chadwick header. Before a later header hit the woodwork again, but amazingly and despite the chances to both sides, it remained 0-0 at half time.

Just as in the first half Sports had their first chance of the second half within the first minute, but this time Dales put it home, for 1-0 after 46 minutes.

Clarke then had a good run for Leek but was unable to get a shot in and it came to nought. 

Sports skipper Butler was yellow carded after 68 minutes and the first substitution was made after 76 minutes, with Battisson on for Arlott-John. Gowing followed shortly afterwards for Agustien, which was soon followed by Sports second goal, when Bacon made it 2-0 from close range after 86 minutes.

The scorer then came off to make way for Satchwell and the final minutes were played out with Mickleover safely into the second qualifying round draw, with games due to be played  on September 18^th.

by Peter Scherer

For the second successive season it’s Leek Town away in Mickleover’s first FA Cup foray of the season. 

Last season goals from Stuart Beavon and Dec Bacon secured a 2-1 victory for Mickleover.

This year’s match will be played at Buxton, due to Leek’s 3G pitch installation being delayed.

They haven’t had the best of starts to the season and currently lie 14^th in the NPL West, with four points from four games.

Their first win came at Market Drayton last Monday, when despite being reduced to 10 men when Zack Clarke received a straight red, they were 1-0 victors thanks to a Will Saxon goal.

On Tuesday it’s back to NPL League action as we visit Grantham Town.

They have a difficult start to the season again, having struggled over the last two seasons, currently 20th. 

They beat Radcliffe 2-1 away on the first day of the season, but apart from a 1-1 draw at home to Basford on Bank Holiday Monday, they have lost their other four games, including a 7-2 defeat at home to Lancaster.

Their new manager ex England International Carlton Palmer, has just signed two loanees from Alfreton Town before Saturdays FA Cup tie at Nantwich. Striker Harvey Grice, ex Nottingham Forest Academy and winger Rio Molyneaux, a former Mansfield players.

Mickleover have a few injury concerns though, with leading scorer Andy Dales hoping to be fit after taking an ankle knock against Hyde Utd. George Milner is still recovering from his ankle injury and skipper Mason Warren is out for a couple of weeks still with a broken collarbone, but centre back Phil Watt is also a doubt with a tight hamstring.

It might be too early for Vice Captain Andrew Wright to return to the first team though, despite coming through a successful 45 minutes return against Coventry City last night.

by Peter Scherer

Coventry City brought a strong under 23 based line-up to the Don Amott Arena for last nights friendly match, with Sports going down 1-0 to a first half goal.

Starting line-up: 1-Tom Smith 2-Larrel King 3-Alex Morris 4-Roger Lee 5-Pablo Mills 6-Ethan Mann 7-Bobby Battisson 8-Ben Gowing 9-Dec Bacon 10-Josh Satchwell 11-Andrew Wright. Subs: Fin Bowen, Jake Edge-Lucas, Zach Robertson, Luca Moncho, “Trialist.”

Coventry’s pace and skill was evident from the opening minute, firing in their first shot.

But Mickleover were trying to play their normal game and a nice move from Bacon left Battisson’s shot blocked after four minutes.

Mann was having problems with the pacey Fabio Tavares, and having outrun the young Sports defender, he earned the visitors first corner after five minutes, but the following header landed safely in Smith’s hands.

It was end to end for a while, with Battisson firing a chance shot straight at keeper Tyler, before Coventry made another charge downfield with a header just over.

As the visitors piled the pressure on they had another telling cross into the box from the left, but the following shot was again just off target.

As Lee and Gowing played deeper midfield roles, Battisson and Wright continued to be the ones to make the breaks and after 11 minutes Battisson found Bacon, whose forward pass was a fraction short for Satchwell.

Only a minute later Tavares was on the receiving end when the defence was split. He was left with a long run in, and despite Smith charging off his line, he rounded the keeper and it was 0-1.

Five minutes later and Coventry went close again, with Mann losing out to the fiery Tavares. A couple of attempts were blocked, and even a fancy back heel failed to get through.

Mickleover pushed hard to try and come back and Bacon was making progress earning a corner 19minutes in.

Tavares broke free again after 25 minutes though, but as Smith came out to narrow the angle he shot wide.

As half time approached Sports had a positive but long build up through King, Bacon and Battisson, which was initially blocked, before Satchwell collected but just couldn’t create the space to shoot.

Mills came up for the corner just before the stroke of half time, but his header was taken safely by Tyler and it remained 0-1.

Having successfully come through his comeback 45 minutes, Wright was replaced by Edge-Lucas for the second half.

It was even for the first 10 minutes again, but Mickleover were pushing harder and earned a couple of corners, with Mills heading just wide of the post from the second.

One of the Coventry Players was booked for a foul on Battisson, but as Satchwell and Bacon piled in from the free kick, the visitors had to clear off the line.

Both sides continued with quick breaks from defence, through midfield, with Edge-Lucas playing a positive role.

On the hour Moncho came on for Bacon, but it Coventry going closer again with some random shots.

As Morris started to push forward more in the second half, Sports added a new dimension to their attack and after 65 minutes he earned a corner, with Mann’s header just wide.

Mills came off after 20 minutes to make way for Robertson, after a solid if unexpected performance. Morris was then subbed to make way for a trialist.

A few minutes later and Mickleover were unlucky not to be on level terms. Gowing started the move and put Battisson clear down the right. He was away but his shot just glanced the right hand post, with Keeper Tyler well beaten.

Moncho then started to settle down and with eight minutes on the clock he ran through, found Satchwell on the right, but his attempts to cut inside were blocked.

Two minutes later there was a penalty appeal waved away after Battisson was tripped, and the young midfielder went on a late charge too, after picking up a long defensive clearance. Head down he was going for it, but the keeper made the critical interception.

Although  a one goal defeat it was a good performance against a strong, well drilled Coventry team and bodes well for the future.

by Peter Scherer

The opening round of the FA Youth Cup can always throw up an upset of two, but despite some aggressive tackling and dubious officialdom, Mickleover won through as 2-0 winners over Lincoln United.

Starting line-up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Jake Edge-Lucas 3-Will Robinson 4-George Atwal 5-Ethan Mann 6-Ronnie Bonser 7-Bobby Battisson 8-Ben Horleston 9- Kai Moore 10-Freddie Murphy 11-Fin Barker. Subs: Luca Moncha, Jack Tucker, Zach Robertson, Declan Brown.

Lincoln pushed forward from the start and gave Bowen an early touch with a weak header

The visitors had a good chance too after eight minutes, but the visiting striker placed his shot straight at Bowen.

Mickleover’s first real attack came a couple of minutes later, with Barker and Moore combining down the right, before Barker was fouled on the edge of the box.

The initial free kick was blocked, before Battisson picked up the rebound and shot just over.

Sports began to push forward, with short interpassing moves, Edge-Lucas and Robinson were on the overlap, but the final ball either wasn’t happening, or was blocked.

Barker charged through the defence after 18 minutes, with a good shot just wide of the post and two minutes he was brought down by the visiting keeper as he headed for goal. 

The penalty was awarded, but not even a yellow card for the offending keeper, who then celebrated after Atwal penalty went wide of the left hand post.

Lincoln got through for another shot after 27 minutes, again straight at Bowen, before Battisson put one wide  at the opposite end a couple of minutes later.

Mickleover had taken charge and Barker had another shot just wide on the half hour, before Robinson charge down the left just before time, found no one in the box to receive his cross.

Lincoln appealed for a penalty too in the final minute of the first half, before a scramble in their goal mouth after a charge down field, provided a half chance, but it remained 0-0.

Mickleover came out fighting for the second half and Atwal had a good try in the opening minute.

Barker then got through, but couldn’t get space for his shot initially, before his second attempt went wide.

50 minutes in Lincoln had a chance right in front of goal, but failed to deliver.

The deadlock began to seem never ending despite Mickleover’s domination, with Mann and Bonser strong at the back Horleston and Murphy working had in the middle

After 53 minutes Edge-Lucas came charging down the wing , to feed Barker, who shot just over.

Finally it was 56 minutes gone when Atwal set off a move to Barker, who found Robinson charging in from defence again, firing past the Lincoln keeper to open the scoring, 1-0.

It was so nearly a second goal when another Robinson move came across the Lincoln goal, Moore slid in and missed connecting by inches.

Moore had a header just over from a Barker cross, but they both had a part to play in the second goal. Barker had put the ball in and Moore followed up, but in the melee, Lincoln’s centre back managed to out it passed his own keeper, 2-0.

Moore was somehow given a yellow card when the Lincoln keeper challenged him head first, one a number of strange refereeing decisions. 

Mickleover continued to push forward and Barker found the busy Murphy in space, his shot wasn’t far off too.

The Lincoln side began to show more aggression as they lost out to the skilful approach from Mickleover. Moore broke out of a mistimed tackle to shoot just over after 82 minutes.

 

The referee’s inconsistency was highlighted when he gave Bonser a straight red card, for a challenge no worse than those from the visitors minutes earlier, which escaped without a word.

Robertson came on for Moore and Moncho for Murphy, but Lincoln had a late free kick, which brought the best out of Bowen as he made a diving save.

Almost on time the Lincoln keeper was lucky to stay on the pitch, after he charged off his line and clattered Battisson to the ground, but the referee didn’t appear to see it. Battisson went close again in the excessive amount of time added on.

Overall it was a strong performance from the Mickleover boys, against their excessively aggressive visitors. To say the refereeing was poor would be an understatement, and it was odd that Mickleover finished with 10 men, yet Lincoln’s keeper alone could have been red carded twice!!