by Andrew Maddox

Mickleover Sports fell to a disappointing defeat to Long Eaton United to end our Derbyshire Senior Cup campaign, courtesty of a hat-trick from Niall Towle.

The first of his goals came against the run of play. Picking up a loose ball, Towle fired low into the bottom corner in the 32^nd minute. This came 15 minutes after Sports had opened the scoring through Jiri Boula. The best goal of the night, Boula picked up the ball just outside the box and curled a beautiful shot past Long Eaton ‘keeper Jason White. Prior to Towle’s first goal, Sports were dominating the play and the chances, with Stuart Beavon and debutante Patrick Jarrett threatening White’s net. Sports also responded to the equaliser well, with Nathan Modest having a plethora of chances. He also had the ball in the net just before half time, but it was chalked off for offside.

The second half got off to a nightmare start for Sports, giving away a penalty within eight minutes of the restart. This was duly converted by Towle for his second of the night. Sports again dominated possession following the goal, but the win was taken out of their sails following an injury to Jiri Boula in the 63^rd minute. Just seven minutes later, Cameron Hawkes won a second penalty after he was brought down in the box. Towle fired into the top left corner to complete his hat-trick. Sports never bounced back from this and there was a lack of creativity going forward. Nathan Broome did his best to stop the score line getting any worse, but it was Broome that was at fault for the fourth. Being caught out of his box, he opened himself up to be lobbed from range by Towle’s replacement, David Kolodywski. Despite a late push from makeshift striker Pablo Mills, which resulted in a consolation own goal in stoppage time, it wasn’t to be for John McGrath’s men.

Sports are back in the league on Saturday, facing Witton Albion at home.

Mickleover Sports 2-4 Long Eaton United
Tuesday 5^th November
Don Amott Arena

Mickleover XI: 

1. Nathan Broome
2. Karel Tvaroh
3. Jay McGrath
4. Ricky Ravenhill
5. Pablo Mills
6. Durrell Berry
7. Jiri Boula
8. Patrick Jarrett
9. Nathan Modest
10. Stuart Beavon
11. Richard Bachelor

Long Eaton United XI:

1. Jason White
2. Brad Wilson
3. Ryan Mead
4. James Cullingworth
5. Mason Rowley
6. Kieran Walker
7. James Taylor
8. Jude Brittain
9. Niall Towle
10. Cameron Hawkes
11. Rhys Dolan

Today’s game against Matlock Town has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

<em>By Brad Cox</em>

<strong>Mickleover’s FA Trophy campaign comes to an end after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Basford United. </strong>

Liam Hearn bagged himself a double as his side progresses into the second-round qualification stage of the FA Trophy.

The Sports’ started the match positively with high pressure but showed no end product. Basford got onto the scoresheet against the run of play in the 12th minute. Nathan Watson’s drilled cross fell beautifully for Hearn who calmly slotted home his first goal of the day past, Nathan Broome.

Despite being a goal down, The Sports’ continued to dominate in a match which they were expected to be great underdogs based on current form. The Sports’ looked the more likely to grab an equaliser after Stuart Beavon’s strike grazed the post, however, yet again Basford against the run of play doubled their lead. After some questionable defending, Basford’s left-back, Josh Law, built a mountain for The Sports’ to climb and hammered the ball past Broome from the back post. At half-time, The Sports’ will have felt unfortunate to go into the break two goals down.

Early into the second half, an injury to Ben Turner saw John McGrath (junior) join his dad (also John McGrath) on the pitch. Lee Hughes had the best opportunity of the second half to kickstart a comeback when his attempted chip shot kissed the top of the bar. A reoccurring issue presented itself in the second half when The Sports’ struggled to create anything in Basford’s half.

Basford put the game to bed in the 88^th minute when Hearn got his second goal. The Sports’ are now in the worst form of their season with their best result being a 1-1 draw with Morpeth Town in the five fixtures.

The Sports’ next fixture is Matlock Town at home, they will be looking for revenge as they were beaten 3-1 just three matches ago.

<em>Sports XI; Broome, Berry, Turner (John McGrath 48’), McGrath, Mills, Young, Warren, Scott ©(Max Watters 59’), Modest, Beavon, Boula (Lee Hughes 62’)</em>

<em>Basford XI; Preston, Law, Wilson, Thornhill (C), Gascoigne, Galinksi, Richards, Chettle, Hearn, Watson, Reid</em>

<strong>Basford United 3-0 Sports
</strong>Saturday 26th October 2019
Greenwich Avenue

Attendance: 352

Next fixture: Matlock Town (H) Saturday 2^nd November

FA Trophy action returns for Mickleover this Saturday afternoon as The Sports travel to Basford United for the first round qualifier.

Basford currently sit second in the Northern Premier Division having played one less game than The Sports. Basford come into this first round qualifier unbeaten in their last five fixtures, with wins against Gainsborough Trinity, FC United of Manchester and Stafford Rangers. Basford also did the double over Mickleover last year in the league with a 2-1 win on Boxing Day and a 0-1 win at the Don Amott toward the end of the 2018/2019 campaign.

The Sports will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday’s defeat to Lancaster City with a win and advance to the second round qualification stage.

Basford United vs Mickleover Sports FC
Saturday 26^th October 2019 – 3:00pm
Greenwich Avenue, Basford

By Girvane Bila

It was another week to forget for Mickleover Sports as Lancaster City beat them 3-1. This result sees them suffer successive defeats and slip down to 7th in the league. 

A consolation goal from Mickleover substitute Jiri Boula and goals from Lancaster’s Matthew Blinkhorn, David Norris and Charlie Bailey were enough to see off Sports in a deficient performance. 

In the first five minutes, Mickleover were on the front foot showing enthusiasm with the first chance coming when Samuel Ashton saved Lee Hughes’ shot from inside the area. 

Lancaster had a chance of their own when Jack Armer’s great cross was met by an even greater acrobatic strike from Charlie Bailey which Nathan Broome terrifically saved. 

The referee had a big decision to make in the 12th minute when Paul Dawson brought down Captain Jake Scott with a horrific tackle. However, referee R. Richards only gave the midfielder a yellow card. 

The visitors broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Jack Armer’s free kick found their number nine Matthew Blinkhorn who guided it past Broome with his head giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. 

Lancaster could have doubled their lead ten minutes later when Bailey found space to unleash a shot from close range, which was metres away from goal.

The visitors eventually doubled the lead in the 37th minute when David Norris’ curling shot deflected in. 

The second half saw a red card early in the half when Richard Batchelor’s dangerous challenge sparked a mini brawl and resulted in his dismissal.

With Sports down to ten men, the visitors saw this as a chance to further punish them. And they did after Bailey found himself through on goal and sealed the win for the visitors. 

They could have furthered their lead to four when Robert Wilson’s ambitious long-range strike hit the crossbar and the fingertips of Broome saved Samuel Bailey’s fierce shot. 

Mickleover substitute Boula’s teasing cross found midfielder Stuart Beavon who could not firmly head it on goal in the 83rd minute before Lancaster’s Blinkhorn could have doubled his tally but fired over. 

Boula then had a chance to score when Beavon showed composure and found him but could only fire it over the bar. 

He made up for the miss in the 90th minute when Beavon found him with a cutback and slotted it past the keeper.

John McGrath’s men will want to rally after two dismal performances against Matlock last week and now Lancaster at home.

Sports will want to win against Basford United in a FA Trophy qualifying round encounter at Greenwich Avenue next Saturday on the 26th of October.

Mickleover Sports: 1. Nathan Broome 2. Durrell Berry 3. Ben Turner 4. Mason Warren (Boula 71’) 5. Pablo Mills 6. Greg Young (Watters 62’) 7. Stuart Beavon, 8. Jake Scott (C) 9. Lee Hughes (Tvaroh 62’) 10. Nathan Modest 11. Richard Batchelor (red card 51’)

Subs; 12. Karel Tvaroh 13. Louis Jones 14. Jiri Boula 15. Ricky Ravenhill 16. Max Watters

Lancaster City: 1. Samuel Ashton 2. Lewis Fensome 3. Matthew Williams 4. Niall Cowperthwaite 5. Green Steel 6. Simon Willis (Bailey 70’) 7. Charlie Bailey 8. Paul Dawson (Wilson 60’) 9. Matthew Blinkhorn 10. David Norris (Roache 68’) 11. Jack Armer 

Subs: 12. Samuel Bailey 13. Maxwell Povey 14. Rowan Roache 15. Bradley Carsley 16. Robert Wilson

by Andrew Maddox

It was a day to forget for Sports as they fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Matlock.

Sports got off to a nightmare start, with an unmarked Dan Bramall heading in after just four minutes. There was an early theme of poor decision making from the visitors, with wasteful long balls and headed passes when they should be controlling the ball marring Sports’ early performances. Chances would come for Hinsley and Marshall before Mickelover woke up in the 20th minute. Max Watters came close with a lobbed effort, which would have been disallowed for offside regardless.

The first big chance came on 25 minutes. Lee Hughes’ close range header forces a brilliant reaction save from Jon Stewart. This would set the tone going forward, with a trademark Pablo Mills free kick clattering the bar in the 28th minute. Six minutes later, Sports levelled, a Richard Bachelor cross being headed in by Hughes. You’d have thought that Mickelover would have pressed on from here, but instead they chose to sit back. Inevitably, Hinsley fired a low shot under Lewis Jones to put the hosts back ahead after just five minutes of Hughes’ goal. Liam Scott was also booked for a reckless challenge before half time.

Mickleover opened the second half well, with another Mills free kick forcing a good save from Stewart, but it wasn’t to be. Sam Scriverns made it 3-1 on 58 minutes, following some smart footwork. After Lee Hughes was brought off, Mickelover looked rather toothless going forward. However, it was the defence that had everyone worried. Greg Young received a booking for what appeared to be a stamp and Berry was also booked for a late challenge. In reality, both should have walked.

For the last half hour, there was a total lack of creativity from Sports, who could have no qualms over the result. All in all, it was a very frustrating day for all connected to Mickelover, and it’s back to the drawing board for the next game.

Matlock Town 3-1 Sports
Saturday 12th October 2019
Causeway Lane

by Brad Cox

Mason Warren and Mickleover Sports salvaged a point against ten-man, Morpeth Town. Quality came in small doses, but passion was portrayed throughout.

The first half lacked clear cut chances, but it was the visitors who took the lead. After 20’ minutes, against the run of play, Liam Henderson steered a header from the front post to the back after a clever cross from Joe Walton. Both sides exploited the wide areas as the primary principle of attack. Morpeth smelt blood and turned up the tempo before halftime but Mickleover’s defence stayed strong.

After the break, Mickleover regrouped and started to dominate, Mason Warren grew in confidence on the ball and started to orchestrate the attacks. Frustration crept into both sets of players as time progressed. Tensions and tempers were raised when a potential career ending tackle resulted in only a yellow card for Chris Reid. Manager, John McGrath, branded the challenge as an “old fashioned leg-breaker”.

It wasn’t until the 73’ minute that Mickleover got what they deserved for their efforts. A penalty was awarded when the captain, Jake Scott, was brought down in the box. Warren slotted away with confidence to equalize. Just nine minutes later,

Morpeth Town were reduced to 10 men, Shabz Mohammed received a straight red card after an unnecessary stamp on Richard Bachelor.

Despite the extra man and dominating possession, Mickleover were unable to find the winner they deserved. They will be disappointed with just the point at home, but they extend their unbeaten run to six matches and have taken 11 points from their last 15.

Sports 1-1 Morpeth Town
Tuesday 8th October 2019
The Don Amott Arena