by Peter Scherer

Tomorrow night we host Derby County B Team in the Derbyshire Senior Cup quarter final.

Currently lying fourth in the Central League, mainly a mixture of Rams Under 18 and 21’s, they were 4-0 winners at Buxton, with Cruz Allen scoring twice. Mickleover progressed after a 7-0 win over Chesterfield Reserves, Thabang Dube scoring twice too.

Jack Thompson, Cristiano Dzialuk and Harvey Rees are the three goal keepers that could make the line-up. Thompson has played for England at Under 15,16,17 18 and 20 and has recently returned from a loan at Braintree. He’s also had spells on loan at Kettering, Alfreton and Worcester. Dzialuk came Birmingham side CS Colts, while Rees was previously at Swansea City.

Centre back Rio Canoville previously had experience at both Nottingham Forest and Notts County, while fellow centre back Adisa Osayande captained the side in the win at Buxton and Luke Banks plays centre back too.

Billy Gough is a left back, who spent time with Notts County before moving to Derby. AJ Doyle is another defender, who came from Glasgow Celtic in July 2024 and played for the Republic of Ireland Under 15’s.

George Stokes is a left back or midfielder and Darnelle Thomas is a defender.

Defensive midfielder Harry Hawkins has had spells on loan at Telford and Bedford and returned to the Rams recently after another loan at Alfreton.

Charlie Smith is another midfielder and one of the youngest players, he was 17 in November and has recently signed his first professional contract.

Freddie Turley favours defensive midfield. He came from Shamrock Rovers in July 2024 and had a loan at Bray Wanderers, as well as being capped by the Republic of Ireland at Under 16,17,18,19 and 21 levels.

Niall McAndrew is another Republic of Ireland international. A midfielder, he’s been capped at 16,17 and 19 levels.

Kacey Gill, Marsel Tola, Dantel Hodges, Remi Harvey and Kieran Clarke are all midfielders. Tola was previously at Dartford, Cray Wanderers and Kent Utd.

Cruz Allen is an attacking midfielder and scored two of the goals in their win at Buxton. He’s also a Welsh International at Under 16,17,18 and 19.

Jayden Davidson is a pacey left winger. Jerome Richards is Davidson’s his equivalent on the right, but he started out at Enfield.

Midfielder Jamie Wahling played his early football in his native German, with Karlsruhe, and Hoffenheim, before moving to Derby last August.

Former Tottenham Hotspur junior Justin Oguntola became a Ram in January 2023 and is one of the target men, while fellow striker Lennie Wheeldon has just returned from a loan spell at South Shields. Wheeldon started out at Notts County and also went out on loan to Boston Utd.

Cameron Wilson is a right winger too, signed from Aberdeen in pre-season. he also had a spell on loan at Keith FC.

Israel Green and Zayne Blake are both talented strikers, Blake was signed from Gedling Southbank.

Kick off is 7.45 and remember it’s only £6 on the gate and free parking.

by Peter Scherer (Image: Steve Ingers)

Two weeks since our last game, Mickleover hit the ground running at the Don Amott Arena with an early goal against Coleshill Town. But unable to consolidate the advantage, Sports had to settle for a point after a second half equaliser.

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

It was fairly lively start, with Sports outpacing their visitors from the off. Bonser’s overlap on the left provided the first chance after seven minutes, with Norkett sending in a powerful header from the cross. But Coleshill keeper Cameron Belford pulled off a brilliant save to tip it over the bar.

Coleshill then made their first break, comfortably dealt with by the home defence, before Wilkinson lobbed the ball forward. Initially Norkett checked he was onside, but he was in the clear and came out on top of a one on one with Belford, for a wonderful debut goal, 1-1.

It could have been a second just three minutes later when the ball fell to Bonser, after a scramble in the box. But the less than kindly bounce affected his shot and it was over the bar.

Coleshill skipper Carter-Byrne then gave the ball away in midfield, White picked it up crossed and Corden had his shot blocked to earn a corner.

It was 20 minutes in before our visitors got another break, but their cross from the right found no one to receive.

Bonser then got another break down the left and cut inside to shoot, that was saved too for another corner, before a Dales and Corden interplay ended with a fairly tame shot.

Usher-Shipway failed to trouble home keeper McDowell with a weak shot after 25 minutes, but Coleshill had gradually started to push forward more.

Just after the half hour mark some good work between Dales and Derham, saw Dales shot blocked, with another shot from Norkett was blocked too.

Atkinson continued to try and push Sports forward as Coleshill began to pose more of a threat. They hit the post after 37 minutes, but Corden finished the half with a shot just over as Mickleover managed to retain their advantage at the break.

As the second half got underway Coleshill showed new purpose and it was Sports on the back foot, ruing the fact they hadn’t managed a second goal before the break.

Just one minute into the second half and Theo Rowe had a good chance for the equaliser, but he fired over the bar.

Both Gascoigne and Wilkinson at the back were having to show their mettle, as the creativity had waned and Coleshiil were pressing.

Dales had a run down the right after 51 minutes, but there was no one to meet his cross, but then White and Sweeney were yellow carded, after the Mickleover player responded to the initial foul.

On the hour Sweeney and Rowe then combined to cross from the left, but Usher-Shipway’s shot was saved by McDowell’s feet, as the threat of the equaliser seemed to be getting closer.

Sports then made three changes, with Dube, Dyer and Webb on for White, Norkett and Corden.

But the pressure on the home defence continued, with Rowe putting an effort across the face of the goal, with fortunately no one on hand to receive. Sweeney then put a cross in which Wilkinson headed away, before Jack Hallahan’s shot hit the post again.

Dales made a solo break again after 70 minutes, but was fouled. The free kick came to nought, but Coleshill came straight back with McDowell making a good save from Usher-Shipway, before Rowe followed up to make it 1-1.

For a while it could have gone either way, with Sports failing to maximise a corner after 75 minutes, before Rowe followed up with another shot straight at McDowell.

Webb almost broke through too on the left, his shot was blocked and it was another corner, but Wilkinson’s header was an easy catch for Belford.

Benson then came on for Derham for the final nine minutes and with eight minutes added on, Sports suddenly came to life and again.

Dyer put a cross in that just missed out and then Belford’s feet thwarted Dube, before Dales, Dube and Dyer combined again, only for Belford to block with his feet yet again.

Bonser was fouled as he tried to make the final break, but that winning strike continued to elude at the death, just as it had in the first half, thanks mainly to a heroic performance from Belford in the Coleshill goal.

by Peter Scherer

With last Saturday’s game at Lichfield postponed, it will be over two weeks since Mickleover were in action, in their 3-2 win over Loughborough Students.

Sports are sixth in the table, with our visitors seventh, equal on both points and goal difference, but they have a game in hand.

We should see new signing Manni Norkett making his Mickleover debut, while Harry Wood will be available too after serving a two- match suspension.

Our visitors were briefly in action last Saturday. Having deemed the pitch at Loughborough playable, the referee then changed his mind at half time and abandoned it at 1-=1.

When we visited Coleshill in October it proved to one of our worst performances of the season, going down 1-3, before going unbeaten in the next seven.

On recent form our visitors had three successive wins until New Years Day, when they lost 0-1 at home to Boldmere St.Michaels.

Manager Harry Harris took over as manager at the start of this season, having previously been in charge at Walsall Wood and briefly at Hednesford. Sam Heath has recently been announced as his assistant too, having previously been in charge at Smethwick Rangers.

Goalkeeper Cameron Belford is vastly experienced, having played over 200 Leagues One and Two in England and Scotland. He started at Coventry City and was loaned to Tamworth before moving to Bury. He was then loaned to Worcester City, Southend Utd and Accrington, before returning to Tamworth in July 2013.

Mansfield, Swindon, Stranraer and Forest Green are among his later stays and three years at Stafford Rangers before joining our visitors in pre-season.

Bermudan International Dale Eve has also deputised for Belford, having signed in November of a dual registration with Stratford Town. He first came to the UK with Derby County, before moving to Stoke City. He was loaned to Fleetwood, Newcastle Town and Congleton, before joining Forest Green following his release.

After a spell back in Bermuda with Dandy Town Hornets, he has played for Ilkeston, Rushall, Kidderminster, Robin Hood in Bermuda, Spennymoor, Hereford, Alvechurch and Walsall Wood too,.

Right back Ben Usher-Shipway arrived from Boldmere St.Michael’s at the start of last season. He started at Boldmere before a spell at Solihull Moors, who then loaned him to Alvechurch, Sutton Coldfield and Stourbridge. He then returned to Boldmere September 2023 after a year at Leamington.

Defender Taylor Carter-Byrne is the club captain in his second spell with the club. He left to join Hednesford in June 2022, but returned after a few months.

Defender Dan Brookes arrived at the beginning of last season from Lye Town and took the Players Player of the Year, supporters and managers player of the season awards last season.

Pre-season signing Tyreace Brown started as defender in the Northampton Academy. He moved on to play for Rushden & Diamonds, Alvechurch, Barwell, Highgate Utd, Lye Town, Romulus, Atherstone, Walsall Wood and Worcester City.

Harry Sweeney is a defender that became part of our visitors squad last season.

Experienced centre back George Cleet was initially a West Bromwich Albion junior. After loans at Worcester and Hednesford, he went to Halesowen on his release. Sutton Coldfield was his next stop, followed by Highgate Utd and he started this season at Boldmere, until joining our visitors in November.

Jack Hallahan is a central midfielder, signed from Walsall Wood last October. He’s previously played for Alvechurch and Evesham.

Theo Rowe is a right sided midfielder and former Stoke City junior, who arrived pre-season. After his Potters release he joined Banbury and first arrived at Coleshill in July 2023 from Redditch. After three months he moved to Alvechurch, followed by Boldmere and Anstey Nomads.

Midfielder Gio Dainty is a Coleshill stalwart. He started at Coventry Sphinx and played for Alvis, Atherstone and Bedworth before joining our visitors. He made his debut for the club back in August 2015.

Joe Fitzpatrick is a midfielder, pre-season arrival and ex Wolves youngster. He joined Mansfield Town on his release, where he made three first team appearances and was loaned to Sutton Coldfield. He then moved on to Worcester City, Telford, Boston Utd, Hednesford, Halesowen and Walsall Wood and spent last season at Cradley Town.

Midfielder Louie Webb is currently on loan from Walsall.

Lewis Allison is a midfielder too, signed in October from Boldemere St.Michaels, while fellow midfielder Bassit Mandey joined the club in November 2024.

Alex McSkeane is a striker signed from Sutton Coldfield in September 2024. He started out at Walsall and has also played for Boldmere.

Joe Morley is a pre-season signing from Stafford Rangers and another striker or midfielder. He’s played for Hednesford and Chasetown too.

Daniel Gyasi is a former Stourbridge and Redditch striker in his second season at Coleshill. He has also played for Boldmere and Sutton Coldfield.

Striker Tristan Dunkley was signed from Shepshed Dynamo in October. A junior at Birmingham City, he moved onto Loughborough Dynamo, Hednesford and Halesowen, before arriving at Solihull Moors. He soon moved on again to Rushall, Tamworth, Alvechurch, Barwell, Corby and Bedworth, before joining Shepshed at the start of last season.

Fellow striker Marvelous Onabirekhanlen came from Quron in November. He has spent most of his career at Walsall, who loaned him to Worcester, Stourbridge and Chasetown, before singing for Sporting Khalsa on his release. He’s played for Redditch and Alvechurch too.

Kick off is 3pm at Don Amott Arena, as we try to make it three successive wins.

by Peter Scherer

21 year old striker Manni Norkett has joined Mickleover from National League Boston Utd.

He started his career back as an under five at Collingham and played for Newark Town and RHP Colts before being spotted by Manchester Utd as a 14 year old.

He went out on loan to Gainsborough Trinity, before moving to Nottingham Forest in June 2023, after five years at Man Utd. A further loan followed where he scored one goal in five games for Cheltenham Town in League Two, before joining Boston at the beginning of this term after his Forest release.

The lads have done well over the Christmas period, it’s positive and we have a good squad, but we have to look at adding to it and that’s my job. We have to make sure we get the right person and Manni fits that bill, he’s quick and has a good eye for goal

said Mickleover boss Gareth Holmes.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover centre back Ashton Offler has moved to Northern Premier League Gainsborough Trinity.

Having arrived from Stamford in pre-season, he has made 19 starts and been on the bench for four games, notably scoring our New Years Day winner, his one and only goal in Sports colours.

Ashton has been excellent for our club as a person and as a player. Despite limited game time of late, his character and personality have been great. When the club made him an attractive offer and they are chasing promotion, it would have been difficult for him to turn down and we wish him all the best for the future

said Sports boss Gareth Holmes.

by Peter Scherer

For our first away trip of 2026 we take a short trip down the A38 to Lichfield City.

Now sixth in the table Sports will be looking for a third win in a row and a fourth undefeated, against our hosts who currently lie 10th in the table.

Danny Benson should be fit after coming off at half time on New Years Day and Thabang Dube will be available again too.

We went down 0-1 to Ivor Green’s team back in August, but like so many teams, they have had an up and down season. They have had three wins from their last 10 games, all at home, but have lost their last three games without scoring a goal.

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.

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.

Right back James Wilcock started out at Tamworth, but has spent much of his career with Highgate Utd. He has played for Alvechurch and Coton Green too, and came to our hosts in July2024 after his second spell at Highgate.

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.

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.

Central midfielder Max Beech arrived in October from Rugby Town, having previously been at Peterborough Utd.

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.

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.

Striker Kieron Berry was a West Bromwich Albion Junior, signed a few months ago from Darlaston Town. He’s played for Rushall, Gresley Rovers, Chasetown, Bromsgrove, Boldmere, Stafford Rangers, Barwell and Rugby Town too.

Fellow 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.

Striker George Lycett is a former England Schools Under 18 international, who has also played for AFC Wulfranians and AFC Wolverhampton.

Sonny Sheasby is another young striker, signed from Ellistown last season, and Tom Brown, Joe Danby, Kev Hemajou, Tony Simkiss and Jack Bostock have also made starts this season.

Kick off usual is 3pm.