by Peter Scherer

A regular goalscorer, ice captain and unsurpassed enthusiasm, just some of the attributes that have made Andrew Wright a fans favourite.

A recent knee operation will see him miss the first month of the season, but he is already keen to start playing again.

Delighted to have committed to the club for another year, I’m enjoying every minute at Mickleover & we have a really good group of lads & staff. It was an easy decision for me and looking forward to getting back out there with the boys and picking up from where we left off last season.

Wright been a key team players since being signed by John McGrath back in 2019.

Another really important player for us who is a vital cog in what we are trying achieve here at Mickleover.

said the gaffer.

by Peter Scherer

Most of the Mickleover first team squad were in action last night, for the penultimate pre-season friendly at Loughborough Dynamo.

The starting line-up was 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Ben Lewin 4-Roger Lee 5-Joe Bateman; 6-Phil Watt 7-George Atwal 8-Bobby Battisson 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Fin Bowen, James Butler, Will Robinson, Josh Satchwell, Mason Warren, George Milner, Paddy Webb.

Mickleover had an early chance when Lee cleared from the defence to find Beavon, whose sent Dales on a run with his first shot saved.

The attacks seem to come fairly quickly in succession, after Bennett’s eighth minute overlap, sent a telling ball into the box, for Bacon to try a spectacular miscue, before his rebound was saved.

Three minutes later it was Dales for Beavon, before the final shot brought a diving save from the Dynamo keeper.

As Bennett and Lewin relished the attacking opportunities from wing back, Lee, Battisson and Atwal kept the front three well supplied. But after 14 minutes another attack started with Hawkins in the Mickleover goal. His clearance had worked through almost half the team, before the final ball was just too long for Battisson.

Mickleover had more of the play and opened their goal account after 15 minutes, with Dales sending Beavon through, before Bacon was brought down in the box and scored from the penalty spot, 1-0.

There was another chance  only a couple of minutes later, when Atwal sent a long ball to Bennett. His cross allowed Beavon to set up Lee, whose weak shot failed to trouble the keeper.

Loughborough had few relatively few attacks, and a rare corner for the home side, was intercepted and set up another Mickleover attack. Beavon charged out and sent Dales on another run, before Bacon had a clear shot saved by the keeper again.

On the half hour Beavon made a lovely switch of play from the left, to find Bennett on the right stretching the home defence, but against the run of play it was suddenly 1-1 three minutes later. A long throw hadn’t been cleared by the Mickleover defence, and with Hawkins unsighted in a crowded box, he had little chance.

But Mickleover came back fighting, and a 36th minute attack from Beavon found Bennett again, before Battisson’s shot was straight at the keeper.

The closing minutes of the first half were more even, and Loughborough could have taken the lead, but Hawkins legs intervened .

Loughborough had a defender booked after a knee high challenge on Beavon, after the referee initially played on for Bennett’s shot to be blocked by a defender, before Dales had a positive run as the whistle was poised, leaping several tackles before the keeper collected his cross.

As the teams came out for the second half, Lewin, Battisson and Atwal had been replaced by Milner, Satchwell and Warren, shortly followed by Butler on for Watt.

Mickleover were showing strong pace and Beavon headed just over from a Dales cross after 47 mins, before Dales fired one home in the left corner to make it 2-1 

Hawkins then had to make a double save, the first from a free kick on the edge off the box and the second from the follow up before  Beavon then had a shot just wide after 61 mins.

But Loughborough started to have a few more attacks, which Butler easily dealt with, before Bennett charged through to make it 3-1 after 70 mins, beating the keeper on his near post.

Four minutes later Dales scored his second, with a precise chip over the advancing keeper, 4-1 and with Robinson now in defence for Bateman, the Mickleover defence continued to look solid.

Paddy Webb made it 5-1 after 80 mins, then had another chance which went high and wide, before the consolation of a second goal for the hosts a minute from time made the final score 5-2.

One of last years new signings and an instant success, Alex Morris is the latest of last seasons stars to commit to another season.

I am delighted to have signed again for the upcoming season. Although last season was curtailed, we managed to get some good momentum as a group so hopefully we can progress again and have a great season.

said Morris.

As a PE teacher in his day life, Alex’s discipline is one of the key features that gaffer John McGrath appreciates about him.

Alex has been superb since joining us and I am delighted to get him signed and secured for the upcoming season. He sets the standards and tempo in training and has a great will and dedication to work hard and be the best.

John McGrath.

by Peter Scherer (Photo: Sarah Middleton)

There is more good news for Mickleover fans, as senior professional and top goalscorer Stuart Beavon is one the latest players to sign on for another season.

Really pleased to have signed again for another season, exciting times ahead with the new pitch and facility and hopefully we can carry on the good form from last season. It is definitely exciting times ahead.

said Beavon.

The gaffer is pleased to have him back too:

Bev is an exceptionally talented footballer and is without doubt still one of the best forwards playing outside the football league. He is a great example to our younger player’s  with his attitude and professionalism to his football.

by Peter Scherer

Having returned to the Don Amott Arena last season for his second spell, Jake Bennett has now re-signed for the new campaign.

Last season was my first one back at the club since I left for Sheffield United 4 years ago and realistically it could not have gone any better. We showed our potential to win this league and that is why my decision to re-sign was a simple one. I am looking forward to seeing where we can go as a group with hopefully a full season ahead.

So how does the gaffer John McGrath rate him?

In my opinion Jake is the best right back playing at this level. He can easily go and play alot higher and I am delighted to re-sign him for the upcoming season. He fits my mould in what I want from our attacking full-backs.

by Peter Scherer

Most of the Mickleover first team squad were in action at Sheffield & Hallam University last night, when they faced NPL Division One East side Sheffield FC.

The main absentees were Paddy Webb, Alex Morris, Joe Slinn, Phil Watt, Andrew Wright and Louis Pennington, the last four recovering from injury.

Starting line-up

Fin Bowen 2-Jake Bennett 3-Josh Satchwell 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Charlie Curtis 7-Ben Gowing 8-Mason Warreb 9-Dec Bacon 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Andy Dales. Subs: George Milner, Bobby Battisson. Fin Barker, Jake Edge-Lucas, George Atwal, Ethan Mann

It was a lively start from Sheffield, who had a shot on target in the opening minute, before the play began to even out.

Mickleover had a strong attack in the 13^th minute when Bennett attacked down the right, with Bacon just failing to connect before it was out for a corner, from where Beavon’s header was collected by the Sheffield keeper.

Both sides had their share of positive attacks, but 19 minutes in a Sheffield break forced Bowen to come charging off his line to clear the danger.

The clearance soon became an attack with another strong run from midfield ending when Dales was tackled and then cleared by the Sheffield defence.

It was only a minute later that the solid looking Sheffield defence were split. The ball was loose in space and as the keeper charged out, Beavon picked up the ball and lofted it over the keeper into the empty net 1-0.

With Butler and Curtis looking solid at the back for Mickleover, Bennett and Satchwell were both able to revel in the overlaps, fed by Warren, Agustien and Gowing.

After 22 mins Dales had another telling run to earn a corner, before Butler snuffed out a threatening Sheffield attack with relative ease.

Bacon was then fouled on the edge of the Sheffield box, but Warren’s free kick was dealt with.

Mickleover went close again however after 28 mins. Another Bennett overlap and cross, with Bacon almost on the end of it, before Satchwell’s final shot was saved.

There was another chance for Sheffield when a handball just outside the box earned them a free kick. The initial shot rebounded off the wall, before the follow up disappeared into the surrounding woodlands. 

Warren was almost on the end of a weak back pass too, but the Sheffield keeper came to his defences rescue, before the play switched ends again when a Sheffield striker had space on the left, but fired his shot straight at Bowen.

It continued end to end for the rest of the half, 36 mins and a cross/shot from Gowing on the right, forced the keeper to tip it over, but four minutes later it was level.

Zach Walker picked up the ball in a charge forward, came in close and fired his shot low to Bowen’s right  1-1.

Beavon had a shot wide after some positive work from Bacon and Dales, before Bowen had to make a point blank save right on half time.

The first of the substitutions were made as the second half was ready to kick off, with Atwal and Milner on for Gowing and Agustien.

It was a strong start for Mickleover as Bacon’s head was just inches wide of connecting with a Bennett cross from the right, before another attempt from Dales landed on the roof of the net.

Sheffield started to come back into the game and earned 53^rd minute corner after a scramble in the goal mouth.

Battisson had just come on for Dales, when Milner came charging through, only to be thwarted as he prepared to shoot. It fell to Battisson, who found Beavon, with the final shot blocked.

On the hour Bennett’s run almost took him right through the defence, before he was finally blocked.

Two minutes later and Mickleover were awarded a penalty after Bacon was tripped. Warren stepped up, but the Sheffield keeper did well to dive to his right and make a save.

More subs followed with Barker, Edge-Lucas and Mann on for Butler, Bennett and Bacon, but shortly afterwards Sheffield made it 1-2 with another close range shot low in the corner, giving Bowen no chance.

A strong run from Barker five minutes later could have been the equaliser, but after finding Atwal in front of goal, the young midfielder completely miskicked and the chance had gone.

Beavon shot just over from well out in the 64^th minute and Barker went close to earn a corner, Beavon then got a dangerous cross in, just short of Gowing’s head.

Edge-Lucas put a couple of good runs in on the overlap, but found no one running in and Atwal had a another shot but straight at the keeper.

It ended in a 1-2 defeat but everyone got a good amount of pitch time, and even during the substitutions the pattern of play remained mainly unaffected, which bodes well for the forthcoming season.

The next game is next week, away to Belper Utd on July 22^nd.

by Peter Scherer

Images by Your Best Shot Photography/Clipstone FC

With the planned game against Stapenhill postponed last week, Mickleover had their first pre-season game away to East Midlands Counties League side Clipstone FC,

Clipstone took a surprise lead after 11 minutes, when the Mickleover defence failed to clear a corner and Will Heather made it 1-0 to the hosts.

It only took two minutes before it was level however with Andy Dales scoring his first of two.

A Mason Warren free kick after 34 minutes, made sure that Mickleover went in for the half time break with a 2-1 lead.

Although Clipstone continued try and push forward, Dales netted his second after 53 minutes, before Larrel King made it 4-1 in the 90^th minute.

Sports are back in action again playing Sheffield FC tomorrow night.

 

by Peter Scherer

With five weeks to go before the Northern Premier League kicks off its 2021/22 season, Mickleover boss John McGrath and his coaching staff have been putting the first team squad through their paces, prior to their first friendly on Saturday at Clipstone.

Keeper Joe Slinn and midfield sharp shooter Andrew Wright are both recovering from operations, Slinn on a wrist injury and Wright with a cartilage repair. 

Slinn hopes to be fit for the start of the season, with Wright setting a target of September for his comeback.