One of last years new signings and an instant success, Alex Morris is the latest of last seasons stars to commit to another season.

I am delighted to have signed again for the upcoming season. Although last season was curtailed, we managed to get some good momentum as a group so hopefully we can progress again and have a great season.

said Morris.

As a PE teacher in his day life, Alex’s discipline is one of the key features that gaffer John McGrath appreciates about him.

Alex has been superb since joining us and I am delighted to get him signed and secured for the upcoming season. He sets the standards and tempo in training and has a great will and dedication to work hard and be the best.

John McGrath.

by Peter Scherer (Photo: Sarah Middleton)

There is more good news for Mickleover fans, as senior professional and top goalscorer Stuart Beavon is one the latest players to sign on for another season.

Really pleased to have signed again for another season, exciting times ahead with the new pitch and facility and hopefully we can carry on the good form from last season. It is definitely exciting times ahead.

said Beavon.

The gaffer is pleased to have him back too:

Bev is an exceptionally talented footballer and is without doubt still one of the best forwards playing outside the football league. He is a great example to our younger player’s  with his attitude and professionalism to his football.

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.

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 13^th 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 53^rd 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 64^th 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 22^nd.

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 90^th minute.

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

 

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.

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 56^th 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.