Mickleover Sports face an extremely difficult test on Tuesday night as they travel to the North West to take on top of the table Warrington Town. The Yellows moved to the top of the Evo Stik Northern Premier League over the weekend and will be chomping at the bit to keep their good run of form going. Sports will have to be resolute, patient and work very hard for each other if they are to get anything from this tricky away match. But John McGrath will certainly be expecting a reaction from his players after the defeat at the weekend so don’t write Sports off just yet. With Sports sitting dangerously close to the drop zone at this early stage in the season it will be important to start picking up the points required to climb away from danger.

LAST TIME OUT
The Yellows of Warrington went top of the Evo Stik Premier Division table on Saturday as they leapfrogged former leaders South Shields with a dominant 3-0 win over the side from Newcastle. Goals from Bohan Dixon, Jake Kirby and Joshua Amis secured the three points for Warrington. Sports however were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat across the other side of Manchester at Hyde United. Luke Porritt and Tom Greaves netting in the first half for the hosts before Ben Turner grabbed a goal back for Sports who couldn’t find an equaliser. Warrington have only lost one game all season so far after nine matches, with Sports still looking for their first away win of the season after two draws and four defeats so far on their travels. Sports sit 18th in the table after 10 games, three points off the drop zone.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Tom Burgin suffered a slight back injury which led to his half time substitution on Saturday at Hyde United, however all being well should be available. Sports are still without Kevin Grocott and Niall Dorran but it won’t be long before the former is back from his recent injury. Everybody else is presumed fit and available should they be selected.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is taking place at Warrington Town’s Winner Recruitment Stadium, Common Lane, Warrington, WA4 2RS on Tuesday 2nd October at 7:45pm. Admission prices are £10 for Adults, £6 Concessions and £2 for Under 16’s. Match day programmes as well as hot and cold food and drink will as always be available inside the ground with alcoholic beverages available inside the clubhouse. Car Parking is also available on a first come, first served basis.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

Mickleover travelled to Ewen Fields on Saturday afternoon for their match against Hyde United. Sports boss John McGrath put out a strong team sticking with a 4-4-2 formation of Lewis King in goal, the back four consisting of Jake Scott on the left wing and Mason Warren on the right wing and Ben Turner joining Tom Burgin in centre defence, the middle four consisting of Oli Roberts on the left and new Sports signing Ted Cribley on the right and central midfield consisting of Ricky Ravenhill and John McGrath and Isa Marselia and Evan Garnett making the two front strikers. On the bench consisted of Jimmy Phillips, Curtis Burrows, Pablo mills, Tyreece Robinson and Nathan Jarman.

First half was disappointing for Sports as Hyde produced chance after chance but it was the excellent work of Sports goalkeeper Lewis King. On the 11th minute, Hyde almost made it 1-0 and King nearly got lobbed but his effort kept the ball out and kept the score at 0-0. On the 16th minute, Hyde had another chance but took a deflection from Sports defender Tom Burgin and went out for a corner.

Hyde eventually got on the scoreboard on the 21st minute. Tom Greaves played it to Like Porritt and Porritt fired it past Lewis King to give Hyde the lead. On the 34th minute, a huge chance came for sports to equalise. Evan Garnett has the ball and was running towards goal but cut inside on both occasions and the ball was cleared by Hyde’s goalkeeper. Garnett has another chance of goal on the 42nd minute but is saved by the keeper. Hyde doubled their lead in added time from a corner. Hyde player Grant Roberts passed the ball to Tom Greaves and struck the ball in the net. Half Time, Hyde United 2-0 Mickleover Sports.

At half time, Sports boss John McGrath made all three subs with Tom Burgin, Isa Marselia and Oli Roberts coming off and Jimmy Phillips, Nathan Jarman and Pablo Mills coming on. During the second half, sports started to fight for a goal. In the 51st minute, a cross comes to an unmarked Nathan Jarman and headers the ball to goal but is saved by the keeper. A minute later, Hyde take their opportunity to bag in another goal from a corner but goes out wide of the left hand post.

A goal did come for sports in the 59th minute. A corner is awarded for sports and sports boss John McGrath took the corner. Cribley had the ball and passed to Ben Turner and headers it into the bottom left corner. Sports continued to fight for an equaliser throughout the remaining time of the second half. On the 64th minute, sports were awarded a free kick. John McGrath took the free kick and is headed on by Pablo Mills whose shot was saved by the keeper lobbing it over the bar. On the 67th minute, Jimmy Phillips could have equaliser but his strike was saved by the keeper.

On the 86th minute. Sports had another opportunity. Jimmy Phillips struck the ball from outside the box to goal but the ball goes over the bar. Referee blew his whistle. FT Hyde United 2-1 Mickleover Sports.

Written by Kerry Goldsworthy.

Sports go on the hunt for their first league away win and look to build on Tuesday nights good performance as they travel up to Manchester to take on former National League Premier side Hyde United. The Tigers who a meteoric rise up to the highest level of non league football with the backing of Manchester City using their facilities for their academy and women’s teams. However when City built their new training campus they jumped ship leaving Hyde to fall down to Step 4 after a number of relegations. But they are back on the rise and after gaining promotion last season will be looking to push on and made strides to get back higher up the pyramid again after a tough period in their recent history.

LAST TIME OUT
Hyde United’s last outing was in the Cheshire Senior Cup on Tuesday night as they lost 3-0 away at Birkenhead based side Cammell Laird 1907. Their last league outing came on Saturday as they won 1-0 away at Whitby Town as John McCombe getting the only goal after 15 minutes. Sports however have had a win and a draw going into this game with the 7-1 cup win at Anstey and the 1-1 draw in the league at home to Scarborough Athletic. Isai Marselia the players netting for Sports just before half time.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
After two substitute appearances in the last week, Pablo Mills has now shaken off his shoulder injury and is back fit. Kevin Grocott is nearing fitness again but might not be quite ready for this game. New signing Ricky Ravenhill will be looking to continue in Midfield after the players signed from Buxton made an solid start to his Sports career at home to Scarborough on Tuesday night.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is taking place at Hyde United’s Ewen Fields Stadium, Walker Lane, Miles Street, Hyde, SK14 5PL. Admission for the game is £8 for Adults £5 for Over 65’s and £3 for Under 16’s. It is then a further £1 for each category to sit down in the seating stand of the ground. Match day Programmes and hot and cold food will as always be available as well as alcoholic drinks being served in the club house before, during and after the game. Sports are offerings travelling fans limited seats on the players coach leaving the Don Amott Arena at 11:45am at £12 a seat. For more information and to book a seat contact secretary Tony Shaw on 07966 197 246.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

It was honours even at The Don Amott Arena on Tuesday night as Scarborough Athletic were the visitors as Sports draw 1-1 with the Sea Dogs. Two goals either side of the half time break from Isai Marselia and Scarborough’s James Walshaw meant the points were shared but as much as a draw against one of the toughest teams in the league is a positive step, Sports will rule not taking more of their chances particularly in a dominant first half performance.

Sports lined up with Lewis King in goal and a back four of Jake Scott, Tom Burgin, Ben Turner and Mason Warren. John McGrath and new signing Ricky Ravenhill started up in the centre with Oliver Roberts and Jimmy Phillips on the wings. Up front saw Nathan Jarman partner Isai Marselia. On the bench was Tyreece Robinson, Harley Kozluk, Pablo Mills, Curtis Burrows and Evan Garnett.

It took a while for the game to get going but after a while Sports created two opportunities from Jarman and Turner but one was saved for a corner and the other was put wide. New signing Ravenhill then put an effort wide from a header before a curling effort in from Turner found Jarman in the box but his looping header was just wide of the left hand post. Next a decent ball played over the Athletic defence into the path of Marselia found the dutch forward and he squared the ball to Jarman who from a short distance out blazed an effort over the bar.

But just before half time Sports got the break through that was the reward for a great first half performance. Marselia was played in on the edge of the box, cut inside and smashed an effort low and hard into the bottom left corner to give Sports the lead at the half time break.

However a terrible start to the second half saw Sports pegged back immediately. After a corner kick into the box there was an almighty scramble which let striker James Walshaw have an effort bundled over the line causing himself an injury in the commotion but was able to carry on. It was now Scarborough who were having the lion share of the game now and they tested Sports with many efforts on goal, making King work hard to keep the scoreline level. Another chance with a headed effort from Walshaw went wide which gave Sports another scare. The first change for Sports saw Garnett come on for Jarman. Two long range efforts from Phillips and Ravenhill really rested the keeper in the Scarborough net but he passed both as both were palmed out for corner kicks. Two further chances proceeded for Athletic as two further efforts from Walshaw one from close range saved by King and a headed effort over the bar could have given the Sea Dogs the win.

The final change from Sports saw Phillips come off and replaced by Pablo Mills. The final chance of the game fell to Sports as a fantastic Oliver Roberts free kick was tipped really well round the post by the Scarborough keeper. But that was all the action and the game ended 1-1 and both sides went home with a point. McGrath will have seen many positives having not lost to a top side in the league with plenty of the side having good performances. Now the next task is to gain an away victory in the league. That work starts on Saturday when Sports travel to Manchester to face Hyde United (29th September) with a 3pm kick off.

Sports will be looking to take their recent cup form into league action on Tuesday night as they take on league new comers Scarborough Athletic. With Sports scoring 10 goals in the last two cup matches, John McGrath will want to see his side take this form into what will be a very tough league match with the opponents sitting in the play off places going into the game. With Sports sitting 17th with only 2 league wins to date so far, its important to start picking up more victories and points to pull away from the danger zone and further up the table.

LAST TIME OUT
Our visitors tonight were in League action on Saturday as they were knocked out of the FA Cup in the 1st Qualifying Round by Marine. The Seadogs travelled North Ferriby United and moved up to third in the table with a 3-1 victory. Goals from Michael Coulson and James Walshaw turned the game around after Jordan Harrison put Ferriby ahead. This means Scarborough have lost only once in the league all season. Sports however were scoring for fun in Leicester as they booked their place in the 3rd Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 7-1 demolition of Step 6 side Anstey Nomads. Isai Marselia, Nathan Jarman, Oliver Roberts and Jimmy Phillips all netting in the game, with Marselia bagging an FA Cup hatrick.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
With Pablo Mills returning to the fold last Saturday at Anstey, the defender is expected to be involved again tonight after recovering from a shoulder injury. Weather he starts or is on the bench again remains to be seen but still very positive news to have Mills back regardless. Niall Doran is definitely out with the availability of the other injured player Kevin Grocott unknown. Everybody else is presumed fit and available for selection.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is a 7:45pm Kick Off at the Don Amott Arena on Station Road, Mickleover, DE3 9FB with Admission Prices set at £10 Adults, £7 Concessions £2 10-16’s with Under 10’s FREE with a playing adult. Derby County Season Ticket Holders are being encouraged to come along to support their local non league side with reduced admission of £7 on production of their club’s season ticket at the turnstile. The bar and snack van will be open as usual serving hot and cold drinks and food before during and after the match. Your new look Sports Report Match day Programme will also be on sale at the turnstile for only £2! This features the thoughts of Chairman Don Amott and Manager John McGrath plus all your usual content.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
WE’RE BACK! Then no need to worry. After two back to back weekends of weddings, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy are back and will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook. We also have the return of match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!

Mickleover Sports will be looking to try and claim their first away win of the season as they travel up to West Yorkshire to take on Farsley Celtic. The villagers have had a similar start to Sports in the league but have two games in hand on Sports who sit one above their opponents going into the weekend. A much needed FA Cup win was followed up by the hard earned three points at home to Hednesford Town on Tuesday with Nathan Jarman bagging the only goal of the game. Now it will be about securing a first away win if possible to climb further up the table and away from the dreaded bottom four. Farsley Celtic are a tough opponent of home turf however so McGrath’s men will have to be up to their best to get anything from their trip to Leeds.

LAST TIME OUT
The last fame for Celtic was a 4-0 away win at Guisborough Town in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round. Two goals from Nathan Cartman and one a piece from Luke Parkin Isacc Baldwin ensured Celtic progressed to the next round of the cup. Their last league game was a 1-1 draw at home to Gainsborough Trinity. Lewis Turner canceled out an earlier goal from Alex Byrne to snatch a point for the Villagers at home. Sports of course come into the game off a 6-0 win over Haughmond in the Cup and a 1-0 win at home to Hednesford Town in the league.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Kevin Grocott, Pablo Mills & Niall Doran all look set to still be unavailable through injury. Everyone else looks set to be available if selected. Many fringe first team players got some good game time under their belts on Wednesday night as the Reserves win 12-0 at home to Holbrook St Michaels Development. The highlight being Dutch forward Isai Marselia bagging seven goals so will be looking to make an impact on Saturdays game. Lewis Belgrave, Will Norcross, Jack Walsh and Tyreece Robinson also featured as they look to steak a claim in the first team squad.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is taking place at Farsley Celtic’s Throstle Nest Stadium, Newlands, Farsley, Leeds, LS28 5BE. Admission is £9 for Adults, £5 for Concession, £1 for Juniors under 16 with a paying adult and Armed Forces Members are FREE. Match day Programmes as well as hot and cold food and drink will also be available with alcoholic drinks available in the clubhouse. This also has Sky Sports showing the early and late kick offs for those who wish to watch.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
With Sam & Kerry at a Wedding in Kent and Jake working there will be no social media coverage of Saturdays game on any Mickleover Sports platform (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube). For those who cannot make the game you can keep up to date by following Farsley Celtic’s twitter page, @FarsleyCelticFC. A reminder that the Reserves are also at home this Saturday as they play Heanor Town Reserves at the Don Amott Arena with a 3pm Kick Off admission to that game is only £3 so if you can’t follow the first team to Farsley Celtic make sure to go and support Dave Mackenzie and his Reserves.

Matches against the Pitmen of Hednesford Town are always entertaining and this game is expected to be just the same. With both sides having goals of incredible quality featuring on TV and social media recently both sides will be looking to pick up more points in what is already looking like an incredibly tough and competitive league. With Basford United smashing Matlock Town out of the park 6-0 last night Sports will have an opportunity to pull clear of their Derbyshire Rivals in the relegation zone tonight and Hednesford will be looking to close the gap on Basford after their impressive win the night before.

LAST TIME OUT
Hednesford Town booked their place in the 2nd Qualifying Round the same as Sports when they defeated Southern Premier League Side Tamworth 2-0 at Keys Park. They currently sit 10th in the table after winning three and losing three of their six games so far. Sports of course won 6-0 at home to Haughmond in the same competition so both sides will be looking to get a good result off the back of their cup victories.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Pablo Mills (Shoulder) and Niall Doran (Achilles) are still out through injury. Everybody else is presumed fit and available for selection. A few of the players on Saturday will certainly have staked a claim to be involved tonight however we can expect not too many chances to the starting XI from Saturday.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is a 7:45pm Kick Off at the Don Amott Arena on Station Road, Mickleover, DE3 9FB with Admission Prices set at £10 Adults, £7 Concessions £2 10-16’s with Under 10’s FREE with a playing adult. Burton Albion & Derby County Season Ticket Holders are being encouraged to come along to support their local non league side with reduced admission of £7 on production of their club’s season ticket at the turnstile. The bar and snack van will be open as usual serving hot and cold drinks and food before during and after the match. Your new look Sports Report Match day Programme will also be on sale at the turnstile for only £2! This features the thoughts of Chairman Don Amott and Manager John McGrath plus all your usual content.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
There will no be much of the usual coverage as Sam & Kerry are at the England Game in Leicester. There will be no interviews after the game but Jake Garratt will provide Twitter team news and updates throughout the game.

Saturday 8th September 2018
FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Mickleover Sports 6-0 Haughmond
Written by Kerry Goldsworthy

Mickleover Sports began their FA Cup journey with a home tie against West Midlands (Regional) League side Haughmond. Sports manager John McGrath put out a strong side with Lewis King in goal, with the back four of Jake Scott and Ben Turner as the left and right back defenders and Tom Burgin and Tyreece Robinson in the centre of defence, the four midfielders of Oliver Roberts, Jimmy Phillips, Curtis Burrows and John McGrath with Nathan Jarman and Evan Garnett as the front two strikers. On the bench were Isa Marselia, Mason Warren, Clinton Morrison, Jack Walsh, Will Norcross, Lewis Belgrave and Harley Kozluk.

It was a fantastic start for Mickleover in the 2nd minute as a corner was dummied by Oliver Roberts which then fell to Nathan Jarman who struck it in the right corner of the goal to give Sports the lead. Nathan Jarman was back on the ball in the 7th minute with a brilliant ball from Jimmy Phillips to Jarman who then struck it past Haughmond’s goalkeeper Sam Jones into the bottom right corner of the goal making the score 2-0. It didn’t stop there as Mickleover was 3-0 up by 9 minutes thanks to attacking midfielder Jimmy Phillips that got past Haughmond’s defence and fired the ball into the bottom left corner.
For 15 minutes, Haughmond had quite a few chances to get on the scoreboard but Sports defence and Sports goalkeeper Lewis King prevented them from getting back into the game. On the 12th Minute, a shot from Haughmond’s Harry Morris got Lewis up and performed a fantastic save by tipping the ball onto the bar and caught the ball on the rebound. Evan Garnett almost made it 4-0 but Jones was there to save it and the defenders cleared the ball.
But it was 4-0 on the 22nd minute and Nathan Jarman bagged his first hatrick in a Sports shirt. A fantastic cross from midfielder Jake Scott gave Jarman the opportunity to score a third with his head and went pass Jones and into the right side of the goal. A free kick from John McGrath could have made it 5-0 but the ball went out wide of the right hand post. Burrows and Roberts also had a chance to score but on both occasions were near misses with Burrows shot saved by Jones and Roberts shot going out wide of the right hand post.

The 5th goal did come for Sports on the 39th minute with Evan Garnett having the ball and Garnett sending Curtis Burrows through to beat the offside trap and slot past Jones. Before the half time whistle, Haughmond had another shot at getting on the scoreboard but their strike hit the bar once again. This was a warning for Sports but the whistle blew. Half Time, Mickleover Sports 5-0 Haughmond.

Second half commenced and Sports made two changes. Nathan Jarman and John McGrath came off and were replaced by Will Norcross and Isa Marselia. It started off with the Sports and the Mond producing chance after chance starting with a 47th minute chance from Sports Striker Isa Marselia as he fed the ball to Evan Garnett and Garnett had a shot which went out wide of the left hand post. A minute later, Haughmond had a shot but is fired over the bar and then had a second chance on the 50th minute which saw the ball go into the net but is then flagged offside. For 13 minutes of the game, chances came from the Mond with Sports giving away a free kick. Harry Morris takes the free kick but is saved by Sports goalkeeper Lewis King. Mickleover had more chances with Marselia feeding Phillips who turns and fires the ball into Jones’ hand and Norcross firing the ball to volley over the bar. Sports make their last substitution on the 72nd with Curtis burrows coming off and the debut of Academy player Harley Kozluk.

Haughmond once again have another shot from Kevin Renshaw who forces King into a wonderful save and Harry Morris’ shot went out wide of the goal post. Mickleover score again in the 78th minute with Isa getting on the goal tally. Isa Marselia was 1v1 with Jones and goes past him to hit the ball into the net and score his first goal for the Sports. A big chance for Norcross could have made it 7 but it goes out wide which then gives Haughmond the opportunity to score but the ball went over the bar thanks to a wonderful save from Lewis King.

Full Time and it ended Mickleover Sports 6-0 Haughmond. A fantastic match overall and the Sports are in the hat for the 2nd Qualifying Round.

It’s the return of the famous and legendary cup is back at The Don Amott Area has Sports will look to progress to the next round and avoid a potential banana skin and an upset against Step Six side Haughmond. A welcome distraction from the league to boost confidence and get the form of pre season back will be how this fixture will be viewed however as we all know nobody should be written off in the cup which has seen the like of Newcastle United, Arsenal and Coventry City fall by the wayside of Non League Sides in living memory. It will be the first time Sports have ever come up against “The Mond” in any competitive game and should be a real cracker of a cup tie to watch.

LAST TIME OUT
Haughmond won their Preliminary Round Replay only last Tuesday away from home, defeating Market Drayton Town 1-0 from the spot after the hosts went down to 10 men. Their last league game came on Tuesday 28th August when they defeated Wem Town 6-0 in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division at Step 6 of the Non League Pyramid. They currently sit 7th in the league with Three wins and one defeat from four games. They were relegated from the Midland League Premier Division last season alongside Shawbury United and Rocester.

SPORTS TEAM NEWS
Pablo Mills (Shoulder) and Niall Doran (Achilles) are out through injury. Kevin Grocott may have a slim chance but probably won’t be risked for this one. Everybody else is presumed fit and available for selection. Although John McGrath will not be underestimating the opposition he may use the game to give minutes to those players who have not had too many so far in the league, such as the likes of Will Norcross and Isai Marselia.

GOING TO THE GAME?
The game is a 3pm Kick Off at the Don Amott Arena on Station Road, Mickleover, DE3 9FB with Admission Prices set at £10 Adults, £7 Concessions £2 10-16’s with Under 10’s FREE with a playing adult. Derby County Season Ticket Holders are being encouraged to come along to support their local non league side with reduced admission of £7 on production of their club’s season ticket at the turnstile. The bar and snack van will be open as usual serving hot and cold drinks and food before during and after the match. Your new look Sports Report Match day Programme will also be on sale at the turnstile for only £2! This features the thoughts of Chairman Don Amott and Manager John McGrath plus all your usual content.

NOT GOING TO THE GAME?
Then no need to worry, Press & Media Officers Sam & Kerry Goldsworthy will be at the game keeping you up to date via the usual platforms of Twitter & Facebook, with match reaction on Mickleover Sports TV (Youtube) after the game!