By Peter Scherer

Having gone 10 days without a match following the postponement of our visit to Anstey Nomads, Mickleover are back in action on Saturday, as we welcome second placed Basford Utd to the Don Amott Arena.

Back in October we were 2-1 winners in the corresponding away game, with goals from Archie White and Stuart Beavon.
Since then our visitors have gone from strength to strength under Martin Carruthers’ leadership, only ending a fourteen game unbeaten run last Saturday, with a 0-1 defeat at home to Bedworth.

Despite Sports lack of consistency their ninth place is only eight behinds behind Basford and still well in touch with the play-off positions, such is the closeness in the table.
Mickleover should be at full strength with strikers Manni Norkett and Josiah Dyer’s loans now confirmed to the end of the season.
For our visitors first choice goalkeeper is Matt Yates who arrived pre-season from Ilkeston. He spent last season at Ilkeston after joining them from Gainsborough, where he had spent the previous two years. He was a Derby County Junior and was loaned to Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford Utd prior to his release.
In our FA Trophy defeat back In September, he was the difference between us winning and losing and now also captains the side.
Yates’ understudy has been the vastly experienced Saul Deeney. He started his career at Notts County, and after loan spells at Gresley Rovers, Ilkeston and Hull City, he made a permanent move to Burton Albion in 2005.
He then returned to Notts County, for a year, before a short stay at Hucknall Town preceded a return to Burton too. 4 ½ years at Derby County followed, before his first spell at Basford in 2015. Moving on to Coalville and Ilkeston, he joined Matlock in January 2023, before returning to Basford at the beginning of last season.
Harvey Woodward has also been on the bench as sub keeper, a former Ilkeston Town player, who has also played for Gedling, Gresley Rovers and Kimberley MW’s.
Centre back Ethan Stewart was signed at the beginning of last season from Stafford Rangers. He started his career with Nottingham Forest, who loaned him to Billericay and Alfreton, before joining Nuneaton on his release. He then returned to Alfreton, before moving to Stafford Rangers in October 2021.
Left back or centre back captain Henri Wilder has just started his third season with the club, since signing from Ilkeston in November 2023.He played his youth football at Brighton and Mansfield and was loaned out to Lewes. Following his Stags release he went to Tamworth and played for Alfreton too, before a year at Ilkeston.
Right back Osa Soloman came from Grantham in pre-season. He is an ex Nottingham Forest Junior, who was also loaned to Redditch. He joined Grantham following his release in summer 2023.
Lynden Joyce is another defender who returned to the club after starting off in their youth scheme. He started the season with Shepshed Dynamo and has also played for Sherwood Colliery and Eastwood.
Ryan Ebanks was a pre- season arrival. He plays on the right side of the defence and lists Grantham, Newark Flowserve, Newark & Sherwood Utd and Coalville on his CV after playing junior football at Notts County.
Eli Christie is a former Derby County Academy centre back. He joined Ilkeston following his release and played for Grantham to before joining our visitors from Gresley Rovers in pre-season.
Jordy Hallam is an attacking midfielder, who has spent most his career at Sheffield Utd. With 28 EFL appearances under his belt, he had loans at Southport, Viking Stavanger and Chesterfield, before joining Scunthorpe following is release. His next stop was Ilkeston after an initial loan, but after three months he moved to Basford in October 2023.
Connor Dimaio is another experienced midfielder. He has League One and Two experience after starting at Sheffield Utd. Chesterfield was his next stop, followed by Stockport, Boston Utd, Curzon Ashton, Matlock and Bradford Park Avenue, from where joined our hosts in pre-season.
Callum Cocks came from Long Eaton in the summer. A right back or midfielder he was previously with Loughborough Dynamo and has played for the Army and Royal Artillery.
Right sided midfielder Nyle Blake arrived from Eastwood a couple of weeks ago. He is a former Mansfield Town junior, who joined Alfreton following his release. Frickley, Belper Town, Carlton, Hyde, Gainsborough, Stamford, Newark & Sherwood and Anstey are all on his cv before joining Eastwood last November.
Nat Peters is a midfielder that came through Basford’s own scheme, before moving onto Kimberley MW. He returned to our visitors in November.
Fellow midfielder Rev James in his fourth spell with our visitors. He started out at Rotherham and Oxford Utd, before a loan spell at Basford in 2018. After a spell at Tamworth he made his second visit in November 2019, moving on to Nuneaton who laned him back again, before that became permanent. He finally came back in December 2023, after four months oat Belper Town.
Jack Thomas arrived last month. He’s an ex Notts County and Mansfield youngster, who was loaned to Hednesford, Barrow, Boston Utd and Tamworth, before joining Basford at the start of 2018/19. After further spells at Ilkeston and Tamworth he returned to our visitors again in May ’23, moving onto Anstey, Rushall and Tamworth before his latest move.
Strikers Tyler Dacres, Luca Burton and Covarne Leon are three young strikers that have come through the clubs own Academy and is now a regular in the first team squad.
Curtis Durose was signed early into the season, a striker he is an ex Rotherham youngster and he had loans at Gainsborough, Scarborough and Matlock before a permanent move to Matlock at the start of last season, following his release. He came to our hosts after 10 months at Gainsborough.
Oli Wilson is another striker who came from Hednesford in November. He played his junior football at Mansfield Town and has also played for Carlton and Boston Utd.
Dameer Rose and Taylon Cevirir both made their first team debuts earlier this season, having come through the clubs youth scheme.
Kick off is at 3pm, with usual bar and refreshment facilities.

by Peter Scherer

Following Wednesday nights defeat at Lichfield, its back on the road again for Mickleover, as we travel to promotion chasers Anstey Nomads.

Nomads have only lost five games this season and one was back at the Don Amott Arena, when Michael Hollingsworth’s goal gave us a 1-0 win back in October.

It’s also been a successful season for out hosts in the FA Trophy, recently going out in the fourth round.
Tony Blanchard is the Nomads manager and they are currently in second place, with games in hand.

Mansfield Town loanee and Dominican Republic International Anthony Nunez is the first choice keeper. He was at Basford and Notts County before joining the Stags and has been out on loan at Shepshed Dynamo too.

Centre back Lewis Gibbens started out at Mansfield too. He moved onto Boston Utd after an initial loan, but came to Anstey from Worksop Town after one season, in July 2022.

Kyle Tomlin is another centre back and another former Mansfield Junior, after joining them from Burton Albion. He joined Coalville Town following his release and played for Carlton Town and Eastwood before joining Anstey in February 2024.

Left back Oscar Tonge was signed from Coleshill in August 2024, where he had spent the previous season after being released by Peterborough Utd.

Tristan Thomas is a left back too. A pre-season arrival following his release by Leicester City.
Ben Humphrey’s is a defender signed in pre-season from Hinckley Leicester Road.
Centre back Jordan Annable came from AFC Mansfield in August 2021, after spending seven seasons with the Nottinghamshire club. He is the club captain.

Luke Redfern is a centre back, a pre-season arrival from Stamford. He started at Burton Albion and was loaned to Nuneaton and Sutton Coldfield before joining Stoke City. He had another loan spell at Hednesford before going to Halesowen on his release. He spent the whole of last season at Stamford.
Defender Danny Gordon came from Corby Town in pre season, where he had played for the last three seasons. He has also played for Belper Town and Loughborough Dynamo
Henry Bestwick is a midfielder and a home-grown talent, having joined Anstey as a 16 year old. He had a few seasons away at Long Eaton Utd before returning to our hosts.

Former Leicester City junior Rubyn Gill is a defensive midfielder who went to the US after a spell at Solihull Moors. Starting with UCAS Bears, he played for Belmont Bruins and Brown Ballers before returning to the UK.
Central midfielder Tobias Liversidge arrived in October from Stamford. He started out at Lincoln City and has also played for Spalding Utd and Lincoln Utd.

Ronnie Kokkinos is a defensive midfielder, currently on loan from Mansfield Town.

Attacking midfielder Josh Burniston came from Stamford in pre-season. He had been on a dual registration with Lincoln Utd, but started off at Nottingham Forest. He’s had spells at Cambridge Utd and Gresley Rovers too.
Striker Nyle Blake spent much of last season out injured. He started out at Mansfield Town and had a spell at Alfreton before going to Frickley after an initial loan. He moved on to Belper Town, Carlton, Hyde Utd and Gainsborough before returning to Frickley in November 2021. Further moves to Stamford, Newark & Sherwood preceded his move to our hosts in 2023.

Tendai Chitiza is a striker that started off at Leicester Nirvana. He then had a short spell with Gresley Rovers before going to Serbia with CSK Celarevo and TSC Backa Topola. On his return to the UK he joined Stamford, but after three years he moved on to Coalville. Returning to Stamford again in August 2023 he was there until joining Anstey at the start of this season.

Striker Liam Murphy was another pre-season signing, having played at Bedworth and Boldmere St.Michael’s last season.

Courey Grantham is a striker too, signed from Quorn in pre-season. He spent four years with Basford and as played for Heanor Town and Hednesford too.
Also in our hosts squad are veteran strikers David Nugent and Martyn Waghorn, both ex Derby County players, but neither have seen much game time since their signings.
Kick off is 3pm and your support would be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

On a night when victory was almost expected against a struggling Lichfield side, Mickleover came away pointless after a goal in each half, gave our hosts their first points since mid-December.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Archie Hall 4-Ross Derham 5-George Wilkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Thabang Dube 8-Harry Wood 9-Josiah Dyer 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Manni Norkett, Josh Ashman, Will Atkinson, Fraser Corden, Louis Bonser.

It was a delayed 8pm start after problems getting out of Derby,

As in our last away defeat, Mickleover had the first chance of the game, but Bunn in the Lichfield goal came out on top in a one on one with Dyer in the opening minutes, resulting in a corner.

A few minutes later our hosts earned a corner too, with centre back McMenemy just failing to connect with a header.

Both keepers were kept busy in the opening 15 minutes, with McDowell saving from Footes, just after McMenemy had volleyed over the bar and then Bunn had to make a save low down at his near post.

Mickleover had a free kick after 19 minutes, but Bunn was able to collect as it came off the wall. Although Sports dominated the possession, it continued to be fairly even on chances.

Bennett, Wilkinson, Benson and White had held firm at the back for Mickleover, but pressure began to mount, with Smith hitting the bar for our hosts after 22 minutes.

A succession of corners followed and 27 minutes in McMenemy’s head connected with as corner to open the scoring for Lichfield 0-1.

Mickleover tried to push forward for the equaliser and had a corner cleared on the half hour, but Edwards had two more attempts on the Mickleover goal before the half time whistle, one shot blocked from the edge of the box, followed by a lob over the bar.

Despite Mickleover’s push forward as the second half got underway, any chance of an equaliser continued to elude them.

Just before the hour mark a free kick just outside the box was cleared and succession of corners followed before the home defence finally cleared the danger.

Norkett had come on for Dyer and his low drive in the 74th minute tested keeper Bunn.

A triple substitution then followed with Corden, Atkinson and Bonser on for Derham, Dube and Wood.

Lichfield continued to have their chances too, with Edwards long shot going wide on the 80th minute mark.

But with two minutes of normal time left Footes made it 0-2 , while the game concluded with White trying his luck with a shot over the bar.

 

by Peter Scherer

We travel to Lichfield City on Wednesday night for the rearranged fixture, following it’s postponement on January 10th.

Since the original date, Mickleover have won one game, drawn one and lost one, leaving us eighth in the table and just one point outside the play-offs.

Our hosts are without a single point since their 1-0 home win over Corby Town a week before Christmas and have slipped to 15th place.

Following their dominant win over Corby Town last Saturday, Sports will be looking for another three points, before the tough trip to Anstey Nomads next Saturday.

Ivor Green has been in charge at Lichfield since March 2020, with his assistant Wayne Chapman there for the duration too. Last season they took the team to the Midland League Premiership title and have retained most of their title winning team. Our visit will be the pairs 250th game at the helm.

Goalkeeper Brendon Bunn came in at the end of last season from Studley. He has also played for Highgate Utd, Gresley Rovers, Coventry Utd, Halesowen and Worcester City. After a return trip to Studley, he joined Stratford on a dual registration with Darlaston last season too.

Jordan Clement is a central midfielder who came out of Wolves Academy. He joined Romulus on his release, before moving on to Coleshill. Tamworth was his next stop, but after a loan at Stratford he moved to Alvechurch, before spending the next three years alternating between Redditch and Tamworth. He came to Lichfield in August 2023 from Redditch.

Defender Josh Mansell returned to Lichfield for a second spell at the start of last season from Walsall Wood. He’s also played for Alvechurch and Chasetown and has been captain for much of this season.

Joe Haines is one of the longest serving members of the squad, having returned to the club in June 2021, making his 250th appearance last season. A left back, he’s had spells with Walsall Wood and Gresley Rovers.

Defender Tom Brown has also played over a 100 games for our hosts.

Harry Eden is a left back too signed early into the season from Redditch. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Solihull Utd, Studley, Sutton Coldfield and Rugby Town too.

Centre back Leighton McMeneny is another long server, having just started his fifth season with the club, after signing in June 2021.

Luke Childs, Dan Lomas and Jimmy Elkes are all long servers too. Childs made his 200th appearance last season and played in goal for 85 minutes earlier in the season, rather than his usual striker role. Lomas is club captain and a holding midfielder, he made his 150th start for the club last season, while centre back Elkes has been a mainstay of the defence for a number of years.

Midfielder John Mills was signed in January last year, while striker Jack Edwards is another long server, having arrived in July 2021. He is he club top scorer too.

Attacking midfielder Jamie Spiers was signed from Atherstone at the beginning of last season. He started off at Shrewsbury, before joining Alvechurch on his release. He’s played for Racing Club Warwick, Boldmere, Bedworth and Hednesford too.

Lewi Burnside is another midfielder, who has recently returned to the club from Chasetown, after long term injury.

Hishan Chiha is another midfielder on loan from Leamington. He started at West Bromwich Albion’s Academy, before joining Peterborough Utd. He was loaned to Yaxley, before joining Boldmere on his release, where he spent most of last season.

Connor Okereke came through Burton Albion’s Community Trust. A midfielder he joined our hosts pre-season, after a spell in the US with Genessee CL.

Luca Taylor was signed three weeks ago after a stay in the US. A former Sutton Coldfield midfielder and England Schools Under 18 international.

Striker Keiran Francis is another long server, while Jude Taylor is one of the younger members of the squad, a talented striker who has come through the clubs own youth scheme.

Harvey Smith is a striker too, recently arrived from Coventry Sphinx, who he had joined from Studley back in November 2020.

Winger Elliott Hartley has just arrived on a dual registration with Worcester City, where he is the clubs longest serving player, while young striker Charlie Footes is currently on loan from Solihull Moors.

Kick off is 7.45pm and as always your support will be welcomed.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

After a disastrous own goal, Mickleover bounced back to dominate Corby Town, sealing victory with a Paddy Webb double and Manni Norkett’s third in four games for a 3-1 victory.

Starting line-up: 1-Jack McDowell 2-Jake Bennett 3-Louis Bonser 4-Will Atkinson 5-Brad Gascoigne 6-Danny Benson 7-Archie White 8-Ross Derham 9-Manni Norkett 10-Andy Dales 11-Paddy Webb. Subs: Harry Wood, Fraser Corden, Josiah Dyer, George Wilkinson, Thabang Dube.

It was strong start from Mickleover, straight into attack mode and putting the Corby defence under early pressure.
Sports were close to taking the lead after 10 minutes, when a Dales and Norkett one two, saw Norkett strike the post from close range.
Just a minute later there was a free kick to Sports too, which Dales sent curling towards the top corner, but it went out for a corner.
It had been all Mickleover until a bizarre misunderstanding gave Corby the lead. Benson made a back pass, but McDowell clearly wasn’t expecting it, and the ball rolled into an empty net, to give the visitors a 0-1 lead after 18 minutes.
Rather than dropping their heads, there was an immediate and positive fight back from Mickleover, with keeper Avery saving a Webb strike after 21 minutes.
It was all Sports again, with Atkinson, White and Derham dominating midfield to feed Dales, Norkett and Webb up front., while Bennett and Bonser were effective on the overlaps.
The equaliser came from an intercepted cross field ball from Jones. Webb got on the end of it and made it 1-1 25 minutes in.
Just three minutes later Webb sent another great cross over, but Norkett couldn’t quite connect, before the pace slowed for the remaining minutes of the first half, after a dominant Mickleover performance.
Norkett tested Avery again in the first minute of the restart, but Corby were trying to fight back too.
Mickleover made their first change when Dube replaced White after 54 minutes. Three minutes later it was 2-1 to Sports, when Webb brought the ball forward to find Dales, who put Norkett through to seal the chance.
Dyer and Wilkinson then came on for Norkett and Gascoigne, with Sports totally dominant again, which soon led to goal number three. It was Dales making the initial move, after picking up the ball following a Corby corner. The visitors defence was totally outpaced, allowing Webb to score his second of the game and make it 3-1 after 78 minutes.
Dube and Dyer both went close too in the final minutes, before Wood replaced Derham and Mickleover made it a winning double, having won at Corby back in October.

We had a few chances early doors, then conceded a haphazard goal. But the lads dug in and we got what we deserved. We played from the middle and controlled the game from early on and I was particularly pleased for Paddy getting the two goals he deserved.

said Sports manager Gareth Holmes.

 

by Peter Scherer

After ending their four-game unbeaten run at Sutton Coldfield last Saturday, Mickleover will hoping to return to winning ways, as Corby Town visit the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Back in October we were 1-0 victor at Corby, with Josiah Dyer scoring the winner, his first goal for the club.

Apart from Jake Bennett, everyone else came through last weekends game unscathed, so manager Gareth Holmes will hopefully have a full squad to chose from.

Currently ninth in the table, with Mickleover 11th, Corby have had four wins from their last 10 games, but all away from home, including a 2-1 win over Belper Town two weeks ago.

Leon Mettam took over as manager in December following Gary Setchell’s resignation. He was previously player manager at Wisbech Town a couple of years ago.

Northampton Town loanee Theo Avery has been in goal for the last two games. He was previously at Mansfield Town and Nottingham Forest.

Former Nottingham Forest youngster Nykah Liburd-Hines has also played in goal. After spells at Hereford, Chippenham, Lincoln Utd, Carlton, Rugby Town, Aylestone Park and Newark & Sherwood, he joined Stamford at the start of this season. He has also been loaned back to Carlton and Harrowby Utd’

Kalern Thomas is a right back and one of the longest serving players, signed from Ilkeston in July 2023, having previously been on loan. He started out at Quorn, and has played for Loughborough Dynamo, Boston Utd, Solihull Moors, Halesowen, Kettering, Kings Lynn and Coalville too.

Jack Keeble is a centre back who started out at Grimsby Town. He joined St.Neots following his release, before moving on to Stamford and Wisbech. He came to our visitors in July 2023 from Bedford.

Martin Tsvetkov is another right back or wide midfielder on loan from Harborough Town and defender Theo Braham has played for Wisbech and Histon too.

Full back Freddie Allen arrived from Stamford in November. He was loaned to Bourne to, having started his career at Doncaster Rovers.

On loan from Boston Utd, Sam Waburton made his debut on New Years Day. A former Northampton Town junior, he played for Rugby Town and Nuneaton before first joining Corby in 2017 from Kings Lynn. He’s also played for Wellingborough, Rushden & Diamond, Grantham, Spalding and Quorn too.

Alfie Wren left our visitors to join Wellingborough in the close season, but returned and debuted on New Years Day. Another midfielder, he’s played for Cambridge City, Biggleswade and Spalding too.

Former Peterborough Utd midfielder Ben Challinor joined Barwell on his release. He then spent six months at Peterborough Sports, before joining our visitors pre-season.

Jordan Crawford currently captains the side. A midfielder, signed from Harborough Town in October. He left Corby in 2021 to join Kettering and has since played for Boston Utd, Peterborough Sports and Brackley too.

Already known to Mickleover fans is midfielder James Matthews, as he started this season as a Sports player. A former Mansfield Town youngster, he’s also played for Carlton, Frickley, AFC Mansfield, Sherwood Colliery and Hallam too and joined our visitors three weeks ago. He is also a triathlete and International Ironman competitor.

Attacking midfielder Brad Gothard is a recent signing, having arrived from St.Neots a couple of weeks ago. He’s recently played for Bourne Town and Welwyn Garden City too.

Midfielder Abdul Koroma has recently returned to our visitors after a spell out of the game. He was previously at Shepshed, Spalding and Rushden & Diamonds.

Leon Johnson is a winger who started this season at Kettering Town and Desborough, before joining our visitors. Most of his career has been spent in the north west, with Altrincham, Chorley, Ashton Utd and Warrington.

Striker Connor Tomlinson was another pre-season signing. His career started with Luton Town and moved to Bedford after a loan spell with Hemel. His next stops were Bedford and Nuneaton, before a four- month loan at Corby in September 1993, which then became permanent. After a return trip to Bedford, he joined Spalding and latterly Berkhamsted.

Fran Obiagwu is a striker currently on loan from Northampton Town, where he has made two League One appearances.

Striker Matteo Perkins is another recent arrival. He was at Shepshed Dynamo last season and has also played for Eynesbury Rovers, St Neots Town, Wisbech Town, Yaxley, and Newark Town.

Dennis Halliday is another recent arrival from Welwyn. A striker, he was previously Wolverhampton Casuals, Market Drayton and Welsh League Newtown.

Defenders Jack Noble, Ben Smith, Ryan Martindalle and midfielder Harison Jones have also been in squad over the last 10 matches, which saw eight changes in the starting line-up for their visit to Rushden three weeks ago.

Kick off is 3pm as usual.