SPORTS SETTLE ON 1-1 AFTER EARLY LEAD AT WHITBY

by Peter Scherer

A partly fiery and sometimes ill-tempered game saw Mickleover Sports back in Northern Premier League action, with a visit to Whitby Town.

Whitby had a chance within the opening minutes, but fired a free-kick straight into the Sports wall.

It had become fairly even for a while before Jordan Hickey put the across face of the Sports goal, with Kieran Weledji just failing to connect for Whitby.

But two minutes later and the tide was turned in Sports favour. Stuart Beavon was given space and played the ball to the edge of the box, where Aman Verma sent the ball firmly into the bottom left hand corner of Shane Bland’s net, for a 12th minute lead.

Soon afterwards Sports were forced to swap Karel Tvaroh for Pablo Mills, causing a reshuffle at the back.

Andy Wright then went close with a free header at close range, as it whistled inches wide of the left hand top corner.

Patrick Webb then had a chance as Sports began to dominate. But a short scuff gave Bland a relatively easy save.

Whitby found their feet again for the last 15 minutes of the first half, with Sunderland loanee Jake Hackett going close, before Weledji forced Nathan Broome into a save.

Sports still had the lead as they went in for the half time break, but both Kemy Agustien and Whitby’s Alex White were yellow carded before the whistle went.

It was a strong start to the second half again for Sports, with Webb firing just over the bar from a Beavon pass, and a corner five minutes later cleared.

But on 59 minutes Whitby were level. Hackett managedto place a corner perfectly for Daniel Rowe to meet, putting his header wide of Broome into the right hand corner.

The equaliser triggered more pressure from Whitby, as Luke Bythway went just wide from a Matty Dixon free kick, before Dixon put his own left foot shot just wide.

With Ryan Nesbitt on for Wright, Sports were holding on, but shortly after Dixon was booked, Whitby brought Brad Mills on for Andre Bennett.

Barely a minute later Mills was heading back for the dressing room after a wild tackle was followed by a scuffle, which saw him straight red carded, along with Sports skipper Greg Young.

Although Rowe went close to snatching a late winner when Broome tipped his effort over the bar, Sports returned south with a secure point, ready to fight again on Saturday, when they face United FC at the Don Amott Arena.

Is The Weather Going To Be Kind?

by Peter Scherer

Following five postponements in the last six matches, Mickleover Sports will be hoping to kick start their Northern Premier League campaign on Tuesday with an away match at Whitby Town.

Ironically Whitby at home was one of only two Sports games to survive during February, when they were defeated 2-1.

Whitby are currently seventh in the table and unbeaten in their last six games, after drawing at home with Ashton Utd last Saturday.

A number of Whitby’s players are in their second or even third spell with the club, including goalkeeper Shane Bland. The former Middlesbrough and Spennymoor player rejoined from West Auckland.

Defender Jassem Sukar has been at the club for about 2 ½ years after starting out at Sunderland, while Alex White is another returnee. He came back two ago, but has also seen action as a Hartlepool Junior, before moving on via Gretna, Stranraer and Blyth Spartans.

Fellow defender Daniel Rowe came in from Frickley Athletic and is an ex Rotherham, Wycombe Wanders and York City player.

Last weekend Matthew Dixon and Evan Horwood played wing back. Dixon started with Hull City, but came to Whitby from Scarborough in July last year.

Horwood is vastly experienced, having started out at Sheffield Utd in 2004, he made over 315 league starts, as far afield as Gretna and Bala Town. He came to Whitby in January this year.

In midfield they played Jordan Hickey, Adam Gell and Callum Patton against Ashton. 

Hickey is a loanee and ex Sunderland and Hull City junior, while Gell returned for his second spell at the club from Shildon in August 2018.

Patton is an attacking midfielder, in his second spell too. The ex English Colleges player came in from Bishop Auckland in November 2018, but has played for numerous North Eastern clubs too.

Bradley Fewster scored Whitby’s goal last weekend and along with Nathan Tymon are a strong force. Tymon came back to Whitby just over three years ago for the third time and is ex Hartlepool, Workington and West Auckland, whereas Fewster came in from Blyth Spartans just over a year ago and is an ex England Under 19 international, having started at Middlesbrough, before moving to listing Preston North End, York, Hartlepool and Spennymoor among his ex clubs.

With 16 games left to play, Sports will not only be hoping to reverse their recent defeat against Whitby, but get in some much needed match practice before the home game against United FC on March 7^th.

This Weekend at High Flying Nantwich
by Peter Scherer

Since Sports took a 2-1 win over Nantwich Town in early January, the Cheshire side have had a six week unbeaten run, which included a 4-1 over table toppers South Shields.

But on Tuesday night their run came to an end at the hands of FC United, losing 1-0 at home. They are still fifth in the Northern Premier League, with Sports down in 14^th with two games in hand.

Most of the Nantwich line-up is expected to be the same at we saw at the Don Amott Arena in January, with a few notable changes.

Having graduated from Youth Team, Troy Bourne has come back into the defence, having been on the bench in January. Similarly David Webb has come into midfield, having joined the club this season, after playing for Marine and the RAF.

They have also taken on two more strikers, Ethon Varian on loan from Stoke and Prince Haywood signed from Radcliffe.

With Sports having only played four league games since the win in January to Nantwich’s eight, it’s going to take a big effort to secure the double. But weather permitting the game will go ahead we eagerly await the outcome.

If you are not travelling to Nantwich, the reserves are at home to Bakewell Town in the Central Midlands League Division South.

Sports reserves are currently lying second, with Bakewell sixth, but when they met a few weeks ago it was Bakewell that came out 2-1 winners.

The game is due to kick off at 2pm at Derby University’s Kedleston Road pitch.

Unfortunately, tonight’s match against Matlock Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitched.

Revenge Of The Gladiators – If It Stops Raining!
by Peter Scherer

The local Derbyshire rivalry adds extra bite to Tuesday nights duel with Matlock Town, not to mention the 3-1 defeat to the Gladiators earlier this season at Causeway Lane.

Although Sports’ game at home Gainsborough was called off, Matlock did manage to play, going down 2-0 at home at Whitby Town.

Long serving defender Adam Yates captains the Matlock side in his 10^th year with the club. He started his career at Chesterfield, before moving to Belper Town and latterly Shirebrook from where he was signed in 2009.

Currently an injury doubt goalkeeper Jon Stewart is also vastly experienced, the former Swindon Town player, has also played at Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Burnley, Alfreton, Worksop, Bradford PA and Boston, before joining Matlock from Gainsborough last summer. So Barnsley junior Jake Greatorex could be between the sticks.

The visiting defence should also include former sports plater Dwayne Wiley, who has been at Matlock for three years, via Heanor Town and Buxton.

Midfielder Luke Dean joined from Scarborough, after starting his career with Bradford City. He has seen service with Ossett, Hinckley, Harrogate and Bradford PA too.

Bailey Gooda is a young defender, but Matlock are already his fourth club. He was signed from Hyde, having previously played at Harrogate, Frickley and Scarborough, while experienced defender Ben Gordon lists both Leeds Utd and Chelsea among his former clubs, having joined from Gainsborough last summer.

The strike force sees Nigerian Chib Chilaka, ex Notts County junior, who played for England Universities and numerous clubs, which included Bradford PA, Harrogate and Hyde, before he joined Matlock from Grantham last year.

Marcus Marshall had spells with Blackburn Rovers, Rotherham and Bury before going no league and came in from Alfreton, while winger Dan Brammall came out of the Everton Academy.

Piteu Crosz was originally a Leeds Utd junior but the speedy Cameroon winger arrived at Causeway Lane, via Goole, Tadcaster and Belper.

Attacking midfielder Nathan Valentine has been a regular scorer since joining on loan from Stalybridge. He’s head of a Sports Academy and has also played for Scarborough, Wakefield, AFC Liverpool, Radcliffe and Frickley, as well as being a male model.

Newly arrived at Causeway Lane is winger Jude Oyibo, making his debut last Saturday against Whitby, he’s on loan from Alfreton. 

Ellis Roberts is also a new loanee, the defender has come in from Southport, having played much of his football in the US.

Others to look out for are midfielders Tomas Poole and Sam Scrivens, the latter coming in on loan from Guiseley.

James Tague, another midfielder has been through both Derby and Mansfield’s Academies before joining Matlock, Kick-off is at 7.45, there’s a licensed bar and hot food, can you afford to miss it?

Unfortunately, today’s match against Gainsborough Trinity has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitched.

TRINITY NEXT, WEATHER PERMITTING?
by Peter Scherer

With two postponements in the last week or so, Mickleover Sports are keen to get back in Northern Premier League action, with Gainsborough Trinity due to visit the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Trinity are currently 16^th in the league, after ending a run of 11 games undefeated, went they went down 3-1 at home to Stalybridge Celtic.

They also lost to Kidsgrove Athletic last night in the League Cup on penalties too.

Centre back Nathan Stainfield captains the side, the ex Boston Utd player signed from Spalding.

Like Sports keeper Nathan Broome, Trinity’s George Willis also represented England up to under 19, having come through the Sheffield Utd ranks. He is currently on loan from Boston.

Striker Jordan Adebayo-Smith is also a loanee from Lincoln City. The youngster has previously be loaned to Grantham and Boston.

Defender Jamie Green and Midfielder Alex Wiles both started their careers at Rotherham. Green was signed from Handsworth Paramore, but also played for Grimsby, Buxton and Boston and is a qualified physiotherapist, while Wiles in his second spell with the club, having signed from Tadcaster Albion.

Will Thornton is also in the defence, on loan from Guiseley, along with James Williamson, an ex North Ferriby, Scarborough and Matlock player.

Gregg Smith is one of the main strikers, having seen service with Boston, Tamworth, Grantham, Corby and Stamford, before joining Trinity from Newark.

Leon Howarth is another striker and one of the youngest players in the squad, signed from Handsworth.

Other players include defender Nuno Perreira, former England C representative Kingsley James, who started his career at Sheffield Utd.

Midfielder Simon Russell rejoined the club in 2018, having played for North Ferriby, Kidderminster and Cambridge Utd, striker Declan Bacon from Bottesford and Shane Clarke, ex Lincoln, Boston, Tamworth and Worksop midfielder, who is also on the coaching staff.

Kick-off is 3pm as usual, so get along and help Sports to another three points!!

The Mickleover Sports Coach leaves at 10am on Saturday for our fixture against Lancaster.