by Peter Scherer

Its back on the road again for Mickleover as they try to begin the road recovery and move up the table. Our hosts on New Years Day are Lancaster City, currently ninth in the table, with three wins from their last 10 games.

On Boxing Day they visited Bamber Bridge, taking their first win in five games. Their last home win was in early November against Ilkeston and when they visited the Don Amott Arena back in August, they played out a 0-0 draw.

Manager Chris Willcock has been in charge since January, having previously managed Stalybridge Celtic, Ramsbottom Utd and Workington.

Goalkeeper Aidan Dowling arrived from Cork City a few days before Christmas. A former Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper, he first came to our hosts in October 2021 on loan, after previous loan at Halifax. 

After a further loan at Marine, he crossed the Irish Sea with Larne, following his release, moving on to Cork in January 2024. 

Prior to Dowling’s arrival Andre Mendes had been first choice. AC Marinhense and Benfica in his native Portugal were his junior clubs, before coming to the UK with Morecambe. After loans at Colne and Ashton Utd, he first joined Lancaster in in July 2023 after his release, but after eighth months moved on to Bury.

FC United was his next stop at the start of this season, but after just a month he moved to Prescot Cables and finally our hosts in early November.

Josh Lucas is another keeper, who has been on the bench a number of times. He is the goalkeeping coach too.

Centre back Jamie Mellen came from Holker Old Boys in July last year, after starting his career in Everton’s Academy. He has also played for Workington.

Midfielder Christian Sloan started his career at Barrow and then spent a year at Kendal after his release. He came to Lancaster in September 2020.

Dylan Moonan is another midfielder who started out at as a Burnley Junior. He joined Accrington on his release and was loaned to Stalybridge, before starting last season at Atherton Collieries. He was another pre-season arrival at Lancaster.

Long serving Charlie Bailey is a midfielder too, who spent most of his early career at Morecambe. After a number of loans at Kendal Town, he joined them permanently following his release, but after one further year he came to our hosts at the start of 2016/17. He currently captains the team.

Striker Nic Evangelinos was signed from Workington in July 2022. He started out at Rugby Town, but in a well-travelled career he has played for Banbury, Rushden & Diamonds, West Didsbury, Ashton Utd, Ramsbottom and Stalybridge.

Another midfielder is Sam Bailey. A former Bolton Wanderers Junior, he joined Kendal on his release, staying three years and has now started his eighth season at Lancaster.

Defender Harrison Beeden was a pre-season signing from Whitby Town, where he spent the last two seasons. He came from Rotherham’s Academy and also played for Brighouse.

Former Scotland Under 16, 17 and 19 International Lewis Coulton started out at Preston North End. He was loaned to Bamber Bridge, Warrington, Chester and Bradford Park Avenue, before joining FC United on his release at the start of last season. He has also played for Atherton Collieries and Widnes and came to Lancaster pre-season.

Ed Ipakwu is defensive midfielder that started out at Manchester City. He then moved on to Stoke City and Leicester City, before his first arrival at Lancaster in October 2020. After one year he moved to Hyde Utd, but 10 months later he returned to our hosts. His next stop was Colne before returning for a third spell in early 2023.

Dom Lawson is a striker signed from Thornton Cleveleys for the start of 22/23, becoming a regular starter and frequent scorer last season.

Wales Under 15, 16 and 19 International midfielder Aaron Bennett joined our hosts in August. He started his career at Preston and was loaned to Altrincham, before joining Warrington on his release, and FC United  last December 2023.

Striker Tomas Kilifin came back to the club last season, after a couple of years away at Bury.

Left winger Brayden Shaw arrived from AFC Darwen pre-season. He started out with Bury, before moving on to Bangor City, who loaned him to Accrington Stanley.

Cardiff City was his next stop, before joining Blackburnians a year later. After spells at Bamber Bridge and Telford he moved to FC United, where he spent 10 months before his move to Darwen.

Centre back Dylan Thompson was an Everton Junior, before crossing the Atlantic to join USD San Diego Toreros. He was loaned to Asheville City too before returning to the UK in March 2023 with Nantwich. He moved on to Atherton Collieries seven months later and joined our hosts in September.

Striker Lewis Mansell was another signing from Atherton, having arrived pre-season. He was a junior at Blackburn Rovers, who loaned him to FC United, before a permanent move to Partick Thistle.

His next stop was Accrington, who loaned him to Halifax and Southport, before ending the 22/23 season at Ramsbottom. He spent the whole of last season at Atherton, and has played in League One and the Scottish Championship.

Attacking midfielder Josh Abbott completes the squad. He was a Manchester Utd Junior, signed from New Miils in May and also played for Chadderton.

Kick off at the Giant Axe ground is 3pm.

by Peter Scherer

Thickening fog brought a premature end to Mickleover’s Boxing Day fixture against Ashton Utd, just after the visitors had taken a 0-3 lead.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Will Atkinson 5-Stefan Galinski 6-Danny Benson 7-Andy Dales 8-Ryan Wilson 9-Tyreace Palmer 10-Gabby Adebambo 11-Marcus Barnes. Subs: Jamie Soule, Curtis Weston, Stuart Beavon, Cieron Keane, Brandon Ferron.

A misty start but on the field it was fairly even. Seven minutes in and Mickleover created their first chance, when Dales cut in from the left, almost finding Palmer and Barnes in the middle.

Two minutes later Mersin was forced into a diving save  to his left from a distance shot, giving the visitors their first corner. 

Darius Osei hit the post for Ashton after 12 minutes too, with Mersin covering on his right-hand post, but it was out for a goal kick.

Brown had begun to open up the left wing for Sports and after his cross in the 14^th minute, Adebambo and Dales combined, before Dales fired his shot over the bar.

Palmer managed to turn defender Baird in the box, who then hauled him back by his shirt to earn the first yellow card. Wilson’s free kick then bounced around in the box, before a follow up shot from the initial clearance was blocked.

Ashton were on the attack too and Mersin had to race off his line after 23 minutes, to block the visitors at close range.

But just after the hour mark, the ball ran loose just outside the Mickleover area. The defence failed to pick it up and James Hardy struck the opening goal into the bottom corner. 0-1.

A minute later and Barnes created his own space, but his distance shot was wide of the goal.

36 minutes in and some more casual defending handed Ashton a second, with Nathan Lowe finding the far corner of Mersin’s goal from the edge of the box, 0-2.

Mickleover’s first change soon followed, with Soule replacing Galinski, so Wilson went to left back and Brown into the middle.

Soule then earned a free kick, as his legs were taken from under him as he turned the defender. Wilson’s kick had keeper Jordan Eastham and the defensive wall beaten, but the ball was agonisingly the wrong side of the right-hand post.

Mickleover finished the half with a short corner that came to nothing, but after a fairly even game overall, they were 0-2 down after defensive errors.

The fog thickened during the half time break and Weston had replaced Atkinson as the teams came out for the second half.

But only a few minutes into the restart Palmer was down injured. “My shoulder popped out,” he confirmed, as he was forced to off and replaced by Beavon.

Mickleover were still pushing forward, but Ashton looked strong on the break. Dales worked hard on the left again to find Soule in the middle, but his shot was blocked again after 50 minutes.

It was becoming difficult to see from one side of the pitch to the other as the temperature began to fall too. But play continued for a while and after 58 minutes Osei ‘s back heel flick made it 0-3 in the visitors favour from close range.

Shortly afterwards the referee consulted with her assistants and skipper’s Dales and Burke and initially play was suspended, before the decision was made to abandon the game with the fog continuing to thicken well into the night.

 

by Peter Scherer

After two successive local Derby’s on the road, Mickleover return to the Don Amott Arena on Boxing Day to host Ashton Utd.

Although Mickleover’s performance has improved in some of the recent games, they are yet to reap any reward for the behind the scenes efforts made my Gareth, Mick, the rest of their staff and the whole squad.

Let’s take a look at our visitors, Steve Cunningham has been in charge at Hurst Cross since January last year, having previously managed Buxton, Curzon Ashton and Colne.

Currently fifth in the table after Saturday’s 1-1 draw at home to Warrington Rylands, our visitors had previouslywon fuor of their last five league games, but were on the end of a 1-7 defeat to Macclesfield in the FA Trophy back in October.

Goalkeeper Jordan Eastham is on loan from Blackburn Rovers and also spent some time with Hyde Utd at the end of last season.

Assistant manager and left back Sean Newton came from Buxton in January 2023. He started his career at Chester and was loaned to Southport before a permanent move to Droylsden. After a short spell at Barrow he moved on to Telford, who also loaned him to Stockport.

Lincoln City was his next stop, followed by a loan at Notts County, before moving to Wrexham. After five years at York City he joined Buxton in July 2022 following an initial loan. He has played in Leagues One and Two and is an England C International.

Josh Doherty is a left back, who has played in League Two and the Northern Ireland Premiership. He started off at Watford, but after a loan at Leyton Orient, moved to Northern Ireland with Ards.

On his return to England he joined Crawley Town, who loaned him to Colchester before a move to Barnet. He then crossed the Irish Sea again to join Portadown, before making the return trip to join South Shields. After staying in the North East with Spennymoor, he was loaned to Hyde Utd, making it permanent in November 2023. He arrived at Hurst Cross during pre-season.

Right back Dan Cowan started out at Macclesfield and was loaned to Chorley, before joining Stockport County. Guiseley, Curzon Ashton, Chester and Buxton followed,before he returned to Macclesfield in July 2022. He then came to our visitors at the start of last season.

Defender Sam Baird is Ashton’s longest serving player,having just started his fifth season, since arriving from FC United.

Luke Burke is another right back who started out at Wigan Athletic. He made played in the Championship and was loaned to Barrow and Fylde, before making a permanent move to the latter. After further loans at Buxton and Telford, he came to Ashton at the start of last season too and is now team captain.

Trevon Bryan is a left back that has been on loan from Bolton Wanderers. He started in Burnley’s Academy and has also played for FC United.

Defensive midfielder Louis White arrived at the start of this season from Marine. A former Rochdale Junior, he has played for Radcliffe, Wythenshawe, Glossop North End and Halifax too.

Remi Effunuga came from Mossley just over a month ago. A midfielder, he played for Stalybridge and Matlock and spent last season in Croatia with Zmaj Makarska.

Callum Rowe is on loan from Radcliffe. A central midfielder and graduate of Aston Villa’s Academy. He went out on loan to Hereford before joining Exeter City. After further loans at Chippenham and Bath City he joined Yeovil Town, before rejoining Hereford. Next stop was Stourbridge, followed by Rushall Olympic, Redditch and Radcliffe. He then joined our visitors last month.

Nathan Lowe is a central midfielder too, who started off at Burnley. He joined FC United following his release, moving onto Southport, who loaned him to Spennymoor. South Shields was next, who loaned him to Darlington, before signing for Kidderminster at the start of 22/23. After a loan to Macclesfield he made his first stop at Ashton, again on loan in January 2023. His move then became permanent in the September.

Attacking midfielder James Hardy spent his early career at Oldham Athletic and Manchester City. Following his release he joined Fylde, who loaned him to Halifax, before a permanent move to Walsall.

Telford, Altrincham and Chester were next, before moves to Buxton and Macclesfield. He came to Ashton on loan in September last year and made the move permanent two months later.

Jak McCourt is a striking midfielder and a graduate of Leicester City’s Academy. After loans at Torquay and Port Vale he joined Barnsley, followed by stays at Northampton, Chesterfield, Swindon and Macclesfield. Warrington Rylands and Buxton followed, from where he joined our visitors in pre-season. He is currently on loan at Warrington.

Alex Byrne is an attacking midfielder too. Winsford was his starting point, before moving on to Northwich, Shaw Lane, Gainsborough Trinity, Warrington and Buxton. Prior to joining our visitors in July 2023, he spent three years at Matlock.

Well-travelled left winger James Caton came from Bamber Bridge at the start of last season. He started off at Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, before loans at Accrington and Chester, preceded a move to Shrewsbury. Further loans followed at Southport, Mansfield and Lincoln City, before a permanent move to Southport.

Dover Athletic, Darlington, Nuneaton, Hereford and Nantwich followed, before going to Bamber Bridge in March ’23.

Darius Osei was a pre-season arrival from Stalybridge. A striker with league Two experience, he started his career at Stalybridge, before joining Oldham Athletic. After 18 months he moved to Maidstone, before returning to Stalybridge in 2019. Another move to South Shields preceded his first spell at Ashton, on loan for a month at the end of ’22. After a short spell at Marine he returned to Stalybridge again November last year.

Fellow striker Tom Denton was another pre-season signing. He spent most of his early career with Huddersfield Town, after they signed him from Wakefield. He was loaned to Woking, Cheltenham and back to Wakefield, before rejoining them permanently.

Mossley, Alfreton, Worksop, North Ferriby, Halifax and a return to Alfreton followed. He then had four years at Chesterfield, before going back to Alfreton, but spent last season with Guiseley.

Jason Gilchrist is a another well–travelled striker, since starting out at Manchester City and Burnley. He had loan spells at Droylsden, Accrington and Chester, before a move to FC United. Southport was next, with a loan at Stockport, followed by South Shields and York City. He spent 18 months at Buxton before joining our visitors in January ’23.

George Chmiel is a younger striker, signed from Padiham in pre-season. He had started off with Blackburn Rovers and also played for Barnoldswick.

Ewan Catt is a striker too. He started at Buxton and has played for Litherland and Matlock, before joining Ashton in November last year.

Midfielder Leon Johnson is another pre-season signing, having spent last season at Bradford Park Avenue and has also played for City of Liverpool, Ramsbottom, Prescot Cables, Colne and Witton Albion, after starting out in QPR’s Academy.

Sean Hogan is a young midfielder defender currently on loan from Bolton Wanderers, where he captains theirUnder 18’s.

Fellow midfielder Harry Rimmer is a recent arrival from Burscough. He was previously at Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic.

Kick off is 3pm as usual, with all the usual bar of food facilities.

by Peter Scherer

For 88 minutes it looked as though Mickleover were coming away from Ilkeston’s New Manor Ground with a point, until a late free kick broke the deadlock in the hosts favour.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Jake Bennett 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Will Atkinson 6-Danny Benson 7-Marcus Barnes 8-Gabby Adebambo 9-Stuart Beavon 10-Tyreace Palmer 11-Andy Dales. Subs: Jamie Soule, Curtis Weston, Brandon Ferron, Cieron Keane, Charlie Hickingbottom. 

It was Ilkeston that set the pace from kick off, winning a corner after four minutes. Three minutes later Mersin palmed away a shot from Daniel, after a good build up down the Ilkeston left. 

Mickleover then responded when Atkinson started a move via Brown and Beavon, with Barnes collecting the cross before his shot took a deflection taking it just past the right-hand post.

Brandy then put in a weak shot which failed to test Mersin, but the Mickleover keeper was in action 10 minutes in, palming away Cursons effort for another corner.

Two minutes later Palmer almost caught the home defence napping, after a mix -up when Yates came for the ball with his defenders seemingly unaware.

It had been a fairly even opening 20 minutes, but Ilkeston had started to press forward, pegging Mickleover in their own half. A long ball to Cursons was well intercepted by Atkinson, which was then followed by a succession of corners for the home side, ending with a shot going high and wide after 26 minutes.

There could have been a game changer after 32 minutes, when Adebambo was tripped right on the edge of the box. The referee waved away penalty appeals, but also failed to give a clear free kick.

The Mickleover defence were looking solid, with Atkinson and Benson in the middle, allowing Bennett and Brown to work positively down the wings, while Wilson looked after the defensive midfield role.

36 minutes in and another break from Atkinson set up a run for Beavon, but he was deemed just offside.

It was still end to end though, but Ilkeston wasted a number of crosses, either too long or straight out of play. 

Barnes then forced Yates into a diving save with a powerful distance shot after 39 minutes. The home keeper failed to hold the ball, but was able to recover with no one in the vicinity.

Cursons put another shot over the bar for the hosts and in time added on Brown dropped a challenging cross into the box on the left, Yates managed to collect it though with Beavon closing in, and so it remained 0-0 after the first 45.

There were no immediate changes for the second half, but after an early flurry from the restart by Ilkeston, Mickleover started to push forward again.

Palmer fired a shot just over the bar from a Barnes cross after 50 minutes and a minute later a strong run from Dales on the left almost found Beavon in the middle.

But Mickleover had been strong in attack again, and almost the whole team were involved in a move, before Palmer’s 54^th minute effort was finally cleared.

The referee had already cautioned Wilkinson and Cursons for Ilkeston in the first half and after 57 minutes Adebambo and the visitors Brandy joined them, after a touchline scuffle.

Brown became yellow car number five, before Ilkeston had another succession of corners, with no real threat following, before Eratt-Thompson was the sixth name in the book.

Weston came on for Adebambo after 63 minutes, but it was Ilkeston’s turn to attack, with Mersin saving a follow up after the initial effort was blocked.

Mickleover responded again but Dales break was halted when he was fouled on the half way line and again barely a minute later.

Mersin was then in action to punch clear a 65^th minute cross, before a scramble in the Mickleover box took a while to clear, following a free kick.

The hosts won another free kick which cleared the stand, but with Mickleover pushing forward, Ilkeston skipper Marshall’s hefty clearance from their box after 70 minutes, kept Mersin on his toes.

With both sides having made changes, it was still a very even game and Minkley earned another Ilkeston corner after his shot went close to the left-hand post.

Dales was fouled yet again, but Wilson’s free kick came to nought and then after 81 minutes Keane came on for Beavon.

A strong attack down the right ended with Bennett’s shot just wide of the left-hand post, but then Benson joined the ever filling ref’s notebook.

Ilkeston had won a free kick on the edge of the box, which initially Mersin had saved, but Cursons was first to react and slotted in the rebound, so after 88 minutes it was 0-1. “The free kick took a slight deflection, but I still just managed to get to it with my feet, then they got the rebound,” said Sports keeper Mersin.

With just minutes on the clock it was a cruel conclusion to a strong performance from Sports, against play-off contenders. Soule replaced Bennett in final seconds but the damage was done and Mickleover were left on the wrong end of a late goal again.

 

by Peter Scherer

Back in August we hosted Ilkeston Town in the NPL and went down 0-2. Our hosts had already started the season well under Ian Deakin’s guidance and have gone on to build on those early foundations.

Deakin took over the reins in September 2023 and are fourth in the table and undefeated at home. They beat Worksop 3-0 in their last home game have won five from their last 10.

It was good to see Gabby Adebambo back in action last Saturday at Matlock, where we also saw debutant defenders Keiran Brown and Stefan Galinski. Although a number of players took knocks in that game, manager Gareth Holmes expects them all to be fit for this weekend.

Matt Yates is currently first choice goalkeeper for our hosts, having come from Gainsborough at the beginning of last season, after a two-year spell in Lincolnshire.

He was a Derby County Junior and was loaned to Gloucester City, Hereford and Telford Utd prior to his release.

Centre back Callum Minkley is another former Rams Academy player. He went to Gainsborough too on his release and after two years there made the move to Ilkeston in September 2023.

Club captain Tom Marshall came back to the Robins in November 2023, having left in October 2020. He started his career at Hednesford, moving onto Eastwood, Chasetown, Tamworth, Kidderminster, Stafford, Altrincham and Kettering.

Dec Eratt-Thompson is a right back who came from Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy. He had left in 2016 to join Stocksbridge, but returned to the owls after a two year absence. He was then released again in August 2022 and came to Ilkeston.

Sam Parker came from Long Eaton in September 2023, where he captained their promotion side. He started at the Derby County Academy too.

Midfielder Connor Dixon is another former Rams graduate. He spent a month on loan at Ilkeston early last year and after another loan at Farsley Celtic. He returned to the New Manor Ground permanently at the beginning of last season.

Jamie Walker is another midfielder who came from Alfreton for the start of last season. He had previously spent three years at Long Eaton Utd, after joining them from Basford Utd.

Joining Dixon and Walker in midfield is Jonathan Wafula. After his release from Chesterfield’s Academy, he joined Worksop Town, staying for four years before a move to Shaw Lane. Next stop was Gainsborough, followed by Boston Utd, Guiseley, Matlock Town, Grantham and Basford. He was also loaned back to Grantham, and moved to Ilkeston in February.

Striker L’Varn Brandy arrived from Long Eaton in September 2023, having previously been in Sheffield Wednesday’s Academy.

Fellow Striker Tom Cursons came from Barwell. He began with the Metropolitan Police and was loaned to Badshot Lea. He moved to Hartley Whitney in December 2021 and to Gainsborough only a month later. A further move to Long Eaton in December 2022 preceded his move to Barwell. His prolific scoring has attracted the attention of a number of clubs.

Striker Ben Hutchinson is probably one of the clubs most experienced player. His football league career started at Middlesbrough, after he joined them from Arnold Town. He then joined Celtic and was sent out on loan to Swindon Town, Dundee and Lincoln City before a permanent move to Kilmarnock.
He came back to the Midlands in 2012 with Mansfield, moving on to Nuneaton, Basford, Belper Town, Carlton, Newark and Eastwood, before joining our hosts at the start of last season and has played in the English and Scottish Premiership and the Champions League.
Central midfielder Lindon Meikle is a former England C International and a pre-season arrival. From starting out at Eastwood Town. He had three years at Mansfield, before moving to York City. Stops at Macclesfield, Alfreton and Barrow followed, before a three year spell at Kettering. He then joined Tamworth, before going to Buxton a year later and being loaned back to Tamworth, before rejoining them permanently at the beginning of last season. He first came to Ilkeston on loan in January and made his stay permanent at the start of this season.

Harvey Kirby-Moore is a young striker, who had been on trial pre-season, having been released by Shrewsbury Town. He was signed fully in August.

Colin Daniel is an experienced defender, with almost 30 appearances under his belt in Leagues One and Two. Having started at Eastwood he joined Crewe Alexandra and was loaned out to Leek Town, Grays Athletic and Macclesfield, before a permanent move to the latter.

He was then loaned back to Crewe before a move to Mansfield. He has played for Port Vale, Blackpool, Peterborough, Burton Albion, Exeter City and Aldershot too and started 22/23 at Scunthorpe, before spending last season with Worksop.

Centre back George Wilkinson is a former Chesterfield junior. He went out on loan to Matlock for the whole of last season and joined Rushall Olympic at the start of this term, following his release. But after just nine weeks he made his move to our hosts in September.

Midfielder Jordan Stevens was another September addition to the squad. An ex Nottingham Forest and Leeds Utd youngster, he was loaned to Swindon and Bradford City before joining Barrow on his release. He finished last season with Yeovil Town and has experience at Championship, League One and Two level.

Casey Johnson was a September signing too. A midfielder, he came through the Long Eaton Academy into their first team and is also the son of ex Rams star Seth Johnson.

Striker Alex Hardwick joined the Robins last month from Stockbridge Park Steels. He was previously at Carlton Town and Maltby Main.

Reserve keeper is Mitchell Leivers who came through Long Eaton Utd’s Academy, making his first team debut in October 2022. After spells at Hucknall and Heanor Town, he joined Ilkeston last November and also had a short loan spell at Kimberley MW last season and is on a dual registration with Radford.

Mitchell Robinson is a centre back and came to the club in May from Loughborough Dynamo. He was previously captain at Long Eaton and is currently out injured.
Also out injured too is striker Alex Marshall. He came through the Ilkeston Academy, but returned to the club in October 2023 from Loughborough Dynamo. He has had a couple of spells at Long Eaton and he also spent part of last season away with Heanor Town on a dual registration.

Arriving just before last Saturday’s game at Whitby, Mansfield Under 18’s captain and defender Cormac Maher arrived on a months loan too.

Kick off is at 3pm and a large crowd is expected again.

by Peter Scherer

After going behind in the first half at Matlock to a disputed goal, Mickleover’s hopes of a comeback ended with a late winner for the Gladiators to seal the points.

Starting line-up: 1-Yusuf Mersin 2-Kieran Brown 3-Callum Moore 4-Ryan Wilson 5-Will Atkinson 6-Stefan Galinski 7-Andy Dales 8-Charlie Hickingbottom 9-Tyreace Palmer 10-Gabby Adebambo 11-Jake Bennett. Subs: Josh Carter, Dylan Edwards, Marcus Barnes, Toby Smith, Stuart Beavon.

Matlock earned the first corner after four minutes, when Oglesby shot over, after Atkinson had initially headed it clear. Two minutes later they had another, as they continued to push forward and test the Mickleover defence.

Following another succession of attacks, Gibson broke through for the hosts, but his cross was cleared too, as debutants Brown and Galinski settled into their roles.

Mickleover’s first real push came after 13 minutes when Adebambo found Dales on the left, but as he cut inside his shot was blocked.

Brown was looking comfortable in defence for Sports and after another Matlock attack 17 minutes in, played the ball out of the box with confidence.

But a minute later it was Mickleover that had the first real chance, when Bennett outpaced the defence on the left, sent in a superb cross to find Palmer. All that was needed was a tap, but the strike appeared to slip and failed to connect for a certain goal.

The chance seemed to instill more confidence across the Mickleover team, who had more possession and positivity, while still mindful of Matlock breaks.

Milambo battled his way into the Mickleover box after 27 minutes, but his final shot was a weak effort, easily collected by Mersin in the Mickleover goal.

There was another attack from the Gladiators two minutes later, with Atkinson heading away a dangerous cross. The ball then broke for Thompson on the left, but as he crossed there were two Matlock players standing offside in the box, directly in front of Mersin. Campbell put the ball in the back of the net, and even Matlock supporters expected the goal to be disallowed. But despite most of the Mickleover team disputing the assistant’s decision, the goal stood 0-1.

Mickleover were visibly shaken by the gifted goal and began to look vulnerable. They won a free kick but Wilson’s kick came to nought and then Atkinson was pushed over in the Sports box, but the final shot was an easy catch for Mersin.

39 minutes gone and a good cross from Thompson almost found Milambo, but it was another opportunity missed.

With the half time whistle poised Matlock had a free kick prompting a scramble in the box, before Mersin punched clear and then Thomspon got a break, but instead of crossing, was greedy and shot wide.

So half time arrived with just the disputed goal splitting the two sides.

Barnes replaced Moore at half time, but Mickleover started the second half with some positive and ferocious attacking.

Only one minute into the restart Palmer had a shot blocked and as it came back into play off keeper Oram’s leg, Adebambo and Barnes both followed up, but it was just wide of the near post.

Three minutes later it was Barnes and Palmer again, with the keeper bravely diving at Palmer’s feet to save, as it was desperately close again.

It had been a great restart for Mickleover who were unlucky not to be on level terms, but the tide soon began to turn again.

Mersin was called into action after 51 minutes, saving a Gibson effort with his feet and they went close again a minute later following a corner, before an Oglesby header was cleared off the line.

Beavon was the first Mickleover sub, coming on for Galinski just before the hour mark. Soon after Mickleover had their first real attack for over 10 minutes, when Dales crossed from the left, only to find Palmer’s path in the box blocked.

Matlock began to make substitutions and had a couple of random shots off target, but after 73 minutes they almost scored a second, with Milambo forcing a close range save from Mersin.

Smith came on for Adebambo after 74 minutes, but Sports were struggling for possession or to break from their own half.

There was another scramble in the box following a corner and Oglesby had another shot cleared off the Mickleover line.

With six minutes of normal time left Matlock did get their second, when sub and debutant Zottos layed the ball back to Clayton, who blasted the ball into the roof of the net, with a rocket shot, 0-2.

Tere were five minutes to be added on and on the 90 minute mark Edwards and Carter came on for Dales and Brown and with Bennett also limping off, Sports played the final couple of minutes with 10 men.

It’s Ilkeston away next on Saturday, before we return to the Don Amott Arena on Boxing Day for the visit of Ashton Utd.

 

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