Category: First Team

Jake’s Back For Another Year

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.

Sports Welcome The Brewers and The Mayor to Open New 3G Pitch

BURTON Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and assistant manager Dino Maamria will officially open Mickleover FC’s revamped Don Amott Arena – which includes a brand new 3G pitch – on Thursday, July 29.

Hasselbaink and Maamria, along with Councillor Robin Wood, the Mayor of Derby, will be on hand to officially open the new facility, which has been constructed in time for the upcoming Pitching In NPL Premier Division season, and a Burton Albion XI will play Mickleover in a friendly match on the same night (7.30pm kick-off).

Construction on the project began in April, with the new 3G pitch being installed along with 250 new red seats being implemented in the new main stand and brand new LED floodlights.

The facility will also be open for bookings to the public and other teams – providing a valuable asset to the local community – while helping to prevent league games being called off due to waterlogged pitches.

Tickets for the friendly cost £10 for adults and £6 for concessions, with children under the age of 16 going free.

Mickleover, managed by former Brewers midfielder John McGrath, were top of the NPL Premier Division prior to the 2020/21 season being curtailed.

Mickleover FC Chairman Don Amott said:

We would like to thank Burton Albion and Chairman Ben Robinson for their support and for bringing a Burton Albion XI for a friendly game.

We must also thank Jimmy and Dino for taking time out of their busy schedules to come and open our new facility – which we are delighted to see come to fruition and which will be of a huge benefit I’m sure to the local community.

Burton Albion Chairman Ben Robinson said:

We are delighted to be able to open Mickleover FC’s magnificent new facility, which we are sure will be of massive benefit not just to the club but the local community in Mickleover.

Don Amott has long been a supporter of Burton Albion, including sponsoring our West Stand terrace at the Pirelli Stadium, and we have always looked to support Mickleover where possible. I know Jimmy and Dino are honoured to have been invited to perform the official opening.

With a fantastic manager and chairman, both of whom we know very well, and this new facility in place, we’re sure Mickleover can build on their magnificent start to last season and push on again in the Northern Premier League next term. We wish them every success.

Positive Sports Lose Out To Sheffield

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 13th 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 53rd 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 64th 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 22nd.

First Pre Season Win For Mickleover

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 90th minute.

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

 

Pre-Season Training Steps Up A Pace

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.

Mickleover Go Down To Belper Utd In Poor All Round Performance

by Peter Scherer

Following the comfortable Don Amott Spring Cup semi final win at Heanor, Mickleover once again fielded the majority of their first team for their Cup Final game at Borrowash against Belper United.

Belper were first on the attack, earning a corner in the fifth minute, before George Milner passed to Stuart Beavon, finding Dec Bacon, whose shot was just wide.

Captain for the day Bobby Battisson then had a good run, but ran out of space before managing to fire in a shot. But then the   Mickleover attacks were becoming more and more intense, with Beavon’s attempt just wide after eight minute, followed by a shot from Milner two minutes later.

The Mickleover game wasn’t its usual flowing play however and with Alex Morris in the middle of the defence with James Butler, Jake Bennett was at left back, with Larell King on the right and that familiar look reliability seemed to be lacking.

 But 14 minutes in the Belper keeper missed a cross and it fell nicely for Beavon, who made no mistake from close range with a powerful header 1-0. Belper  came back fighting however, earning another corner four minutes later and their determination was rewarded after 20 minutes, when a cross from Tom Lewis on the left was deflected, finding its way passed Mickleover keeper Fin Bowen’s  far post 1-1.

The usual machine like midfield of Mason Warren, Ben Gowing , Milner and Battisson, were struggling too, and despite some challenging runs, the final ball continually failed to reach the strikers.

Belper were quicker on the break and looked dangerous on a number of occasions. After a couple of near misses they split the Mickleover defence right down the middle in the last five minutes of the first half, before Richard Hanslow slotted it past the advancing Bowen 1-2.

As the team returned for the second half, Academy centre back Will Robinson was on for King, which meant Bennett and Morris reverted to their more familiar right and left back positions. Gowing also made way for Kemy Agustien.

The equaliser almost came in the opening minutes of the second half when Robinson’s effort hit the underside of the bar and bounced out. But the promise didn’t last long, and after 49 minutes Belper had another shot just wide.

There were still very few chances coming Mickleover’s way, even though they began to take more possession.

Belper had a wild shot high and wide in the 56th minute, before Bacon lofted a dangerous ball into the box five minutes later, which was blocked by the defence.

There was a free kick for Mickleover after Morris was fouled and took a knock to the head,  but Agustien’s kick was well off target.

But more danger followed in the  Mickleover defence after Morris lost possession on the left wing. Robinson managed to clear the danger, only for Belper to make an immediate return with a powerful header going close.

Robinson then lost possession himself on the edge of the box, calling on Bowen to race off his line and rescue the situation.

Although there seemed to more input from the Mickleover team, the results were still not there. Bacon put a promising ball in to the area, it was cleared and then Agustien fired the final shot over the bar.

Only two minutes later Belper had shot wide again, before following up with a double attempt, one blocked and one wide again.

Time was running out for the elusive equaliser, but Belper continued to try and make it safe. With four minutes left Bowen pulled off another good save, which was followed by an attempted overhead kick from a Belper striker, who failed to connect.

In the final minutes Beavon headed just over from a build up from Warren and Morris, and with the whistle poised Warren fired a shot into the crowded box, but it was game over and a disappointing defeat, after a lack lustre and uninspiring all round performance.

Basford Take The Non-Elite Cup

by Peter Scherer
Images courtesy of Basford United

Mickleover FC sent a mixture of first team, reserves and academy players to Basford, for the inaugural Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Non Elite Cup.

In the opening minutes Mickleover could have taken the lead, when a through ball was cut off by Brad Gascoigne, as it was about to land at Paddy Webb’s feet.

Although Basford got the lead through Ryan Wilson in the eighth minute, there were few chances created by either side for much of the first half.

Basford sprung back to life for the final third though, when after a long run by Callum Chettle, left Kane Richards shooting wide, before Richards made amends a minute later to make it 0-2.

Webb and Will Monteiro up front for Mickleover had few chances, but wing backs Jake Edge-Lucas and Ben Lewin, supported by Ethan Mann in the middle of the defence, restricted Basford’s efforts somewhat too.

Hawkins had little to do again in the Mickleover goal, but after taking a relatively easy save from Niall Towle, the striker was on the receiving end when Hawkins punched away a James Clifton effort, making it 0-3 to the hosts.

First teamer Aman Verma, Josh Waldram and reserve pairing Lopes Massampo and Surafel Tefera combined well with the Academy’s Sam Pipes, and second half subs Tom Eccleshall, Devon Smith and Ash Elliott, but on the day the experience of the virtual Basford first team lifted the trophy, even though a three goal success may have flattered to deceive.

Beavon Doubles Sinks Heanor Hopes

by Peter Scherer

Three second half goals for Mickleover ended any hopes Heanor Town had of a comeback in the Don Amott Spring Cup semi final.

It was a full strength side from Mickleover on this occasion, 1-Fin Bowen 2-Larell King 3-Jake Bennett 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Alex Morris 7-George Milner 8-Mason Warren 9-Paddy Webb 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Declan Bacon. Subs – Josh Waldram, Ethan Mann, Will Monteiro, Ben Gowing.

Mickleover won a corner in the first minute, which was played out to Warren whose shot was just wide.

But Heanor responded similarly a few minutes later, before there was a brief scare when Bowen came off his line and a Heanor striker tried to chip over him.

Mickleover soon started to settle into the precise interplay that took them to the top of the Northern Premier League, with King playing a through ball on the overlap to Agustien, finding Webb who just missed out with a header.

Beavon almost got Webb through too, before Adam Jablonski in the Heanor goal intercepted.

Heanor kept trying to push forward, and after one of their attacks broke down, Webb burst clear but was fouled as his progress ceased.

On the 15 minute mark Mickleover struck, when a cross from the left found Beavon’s head, beating the keeper on his left side. 1-0.

Five minutes later Heanor could have equalised, after a high bouncing ball caught Bowen out, only for the pursuing Heanor player to go down.

Possession became more and more in Mickleover’s favour, with King and Bennett both overlapping, while Agustien and Warren alternating between staying deep and joining the attack.

After a 21st minute cross from Milner, followed a long ball from Agustien. The keeper came out but from a scramble, Beavon had the ball with his back to goal, from where the host defence cleared.

There was another chance for Heanor after 33 minutes, when a telling cross from Joe Nice on the left found Kyle Daley, whose shot was well over the top.

Jordan Ball had another shot for Heanor, so high it went out of the ground, but Mickleover were keen for a second goal before half time.

King had a shot well saved by the keeper after 40 minutes, before Heanor’s Lewis Weaver followed up his weak initial effort, with a more precise shot, stretching Bowen to his limit with a good diving save.

Bacon managed another shot from a Webb cross for Mickleover, saved in the final minutes of the first half, so it remained 1-0 at the break.

Heanor started the started the second strongly with Daley shooting straight at Bowen, plus two more shots well off target.

Butler also caused some concern with a short back pass, forcing Bowen to race off his line.

Beavon and Bacon both had shots saved after six minutes, before the substitution was made with Gowing on for Agustien.

After 15 minutes Bennett’s run into the area was thwarted when he was brought down, but penalty appeals were waved away.

Five minutes later Milner had a point black shot saved from a Beavon cross, before the rebound hit the bar.

Monteiro came on as the second sub, and made an immediate impact. His 25th shot came out and Bennett smashed the rebound high into the Heanor net, 2-0.

Waldram then came on for Webb and Mann for King, but apart from an occasional random shot the last 10 minutes were all Mickleover, with Morris and Butler continuing to look solid at the back.

With five minutes left Warren’s shot was deflected passed Jablonski, 3-0 and almost on the full time whistle Beavon made it 4-0, as Mickleover now move in to Saturday’s final.

First Two Players Re-Sign For 21/22 Season

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC are proud to announce the first two re-signings from last years aborted but very successful season.

Club captain Mason Warren will be back to orchestrate the midfield, as well as being the dead ball tactician,

For me it was a no-brainer to re-sign again for the coming season. Everything about the club is moving forward both on and off the pitch and like many others players in the squad I want to be a part of the journey. The group is raring to go and show what we can do and kick on again from last season.

Gaffer John McGrath has always valued Warren’s input in all his capacities within the club and it was important for him to make his captain the first to sign up for the forthcoming campaign.

Mason fits the bill of exactly what I look for in a player and a captain. He is a talented footballer who leads by example and is a massive influence both on and off the pitch for the football club. I am delighted that he has committed to continue his own progression and development with us here at Mickleover FC.

Centre back James Butler has also pledged himself for another season, having only joined the club last summer. But his life has been football, following on the footsteps of his father Tony,

I am delighted to sign a new deal with the club. I have loved my time here and I am looking forward to seeing where we can go as a football club. We will aim for the same performances as last season and I am sure we will be fighting again at the top of the table.

explained James.

Butts is a rare find in non-league. For someone so young he has all the ability and know-how you would associate with a seasoned professional footballer. He is a highly competitive footballer and he drives our standards on the pitch and in the changing room. In my opinion will be a future football league player and I am excited to play a part in his journey as he will no doubt develop into the player, we all know he can be.

added gaffer McGrath.