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!

Sports are over the moon to have re-signed Defender Pablo Mills.

 

See the interview with Mills here:

 

Manager’s Quote
“Delighted with the fact that Pablo Mills has agreed to re sign for another season with us here at Mickleover Sports. He’s a player who is a massive influence both on the pitch and in the changing room and we have fought off stiff competition from a lot of clubs. Pablo is someone I have got to know personally and is someone I trust completely within our football club. 17 goals last season speaks volumes for his level of consistency in his performances“

John McGrath

Mickleover 3 – 3 Barwell

Sports:- King, Hickman, Eccleshall, McGrath, Williams, Morris, Dales(Briscoe 77), Morrison, Scott, Garnett (Barnes-Homer 45), Norcross.
Subs:- Belgrave, Grocott, Turner.

Barwell:- Castle, Whitmore, Nisevic, Stanley, Kay, Julian (Nesbitt 82), Heath, Percival, Piggon (Warmington 89), Hickey, Storey (Baldwin 77).
Subs:- Hadland, Turner.

Attn:- 166

In a season that has been frequently disrupted by bad weather it seemed appropriate that Sports kicked off their final game on a very wet afternoon.

Despite the stop start nature of their campaign the hosts were set for their highest ever finish, and points total at this level with anything better than a defeat.

With the forthcoming League restructuring meaning only one club going down Mickleover have been safe from relegation for some time now, a fact which has allowed player manager John McGrath to blood a number of youngsters in the last few games, with an eye to the future.

One of those prospects, Tom Eccleshall, made his debut at left back in this game, and at the age of 16 become the youngest ever player to debut for the first team – he acquitted himself well.

Sports made the best of possible starts as Will Norcross got onto the end of a deflected pass not intended for him before scoring with a maturity that belied his years, with 5 minutes on the clock.

The game then swung the way of the visitors with a disastrous 5 minute spell for the home team. Firstly keeper Lewis King was unable to deal with a regulation shot from distance by Brady Hickey on 7 minutes that he fumbled into the net.

King was then unlucky in the 12th minute to push a shot away from goal only for Mitchell Piggon to react faster than the home defenders and fire home to give his side the lead.

Piggon then proceeded to increase the Barwell lead on 32 minutes out muscling Morgan Williams for the ball and netting off the far post.

Norcross gave Mickleover a chance of a comeback when he cut in from the right wing only two minutes into the second half and doubled his lead with a cross shot that was too good for visiting keeper Liam Castle to deal with.

Player manager John McGrath completed the scoring for the season with one of his trademark free kicks from the edge of the box that rippled the back of the net on 57 minutes.

The ensuing draw meant that Sports had finished the season, as hoped, with a record points tally and a highest position, and with so many youngsters knocking on the door for selection to the first team the future is certainly looking bright.

—
Phil Matthews

Freelance Sports Broadcaster and Writer

BY CIARAN LAVENDER

Mickleover Sports scored a dramatic late winner to take a deserved three points against Stalybridge Celtics.

Evan Garnett converted from a rebound after Andy Dales missed his penalty to give Sports their second win in as many days.

Mickleover made a bright start and were pushing the away side back from the off and it was almost the perfect start when the ball fell to John McGrath, who volleyed the ball first time, forcing the Stalybridge goalkeeper to tip the ball just over.

Stalybridge managed to weather the early storm and started to threaten themselves, leaving themselves more vulnerable at the back. The red’s caught the visitors on a counter attack and had the ball in the back of the net but Garnett had run too early and saw his goal ruled out.

The home side’s confidence seemed to be on a high and they were starting to regularly threaten the opposition with Matthew Barnes-Homer being unlucky to see his clever flick from a cross just miss the target.

George Sykes-Kenworthy, the Stalybridge goalkeeper, was keeping his side level in the first half as the ever-dangerous Garnett found himself free in the penalty area but had his shot saved by the resilient ‘keeper.

Heading into the break the score remained 0-0 with Mickleover having the best of the play but the reds couldn’t break the deadlock and needed to improve their finishing going into the second half.
It was a tight opening to the second half with neither side creating many chances. Stalybridge almost fortuitously took the lead however after Lewis King misjudged a cross forcing Pablo Mills into a great goal line clearance.

Mickleover struggled to maintain the pressure from the first half as Stalybridge started to dominate play in the midfield. Chances were still at a premium with King successfully managing to handle the long balls the visitors were pumping into the box.

After a quiet 45 minutes there was drama right at the end as Garnett was pulled down in the box before he could poke the ball into the net, with the visitor’s centre back being sent off for the foul. Andy Dales stepped up to take the penalty and saw his effort saved but luckily for the reds, Garnett was first to the ball and smashed in the winner.

McGrath spoke after the match about the amount of games his side have had to play in recent weeks due to the season ending on Saturday. He said: “It was a typical end of the season game, you could definitely tell that we’re about 50 plus games into the season. Small squad, the lads are tired and it’s the same for Stalybridge, they’ve had to play the same as us. But I think we deserved the win, in the second half we huffed and puffed but I can’t remember them having too many chances.”

Mickleover Sports suffered an unfortunate defeat to Marine in a heated clash at the Don Amott Arena.

The Reds were the better side throughout the game and will be disappointed that they didn’t take a single point from the game.

It was a tense opening to the game with Mickleover enjoying the majority of possession, but it was Marine that had the first clear cut chance as winger Dominic Reid headed just over from a dangerous cross.

Mickleover dominated the play throughout the first half, forcing Marine to defend in numbers as the away side tried their hardest to frustrate the Reds. Evan Garnett managed to free himself behind the Marine defence however with a clever run, but James Short recovered well for the visitors to thwart Garnett’s opportunity to open the score.

The first 45 minutes was frustrating for both sides as neither team were capable of creating any attacking threat. Constant stoppages in play due to unnecessary fouls from both sides didn’t help the flow of the game either.

Marine came out in the second half the more positive side and Lewis King was forced to make his first save of the game for the home side as he tipped the ball wide from an audacious Marine free kick.

Mickleover made the visitors pay for their wasteful start to the half when Garnett did exceptionally well down the left flank to work himself into the penalty area and cross for Jak Hickman, who just had to tap the ball into the empty net.

Garnett was proving himself as Mickleover’s danger man as he once again got in behind Marine’s defence just after the opening goal. The attacker showed a clever piece of skill to round the goalkeeper but somehow managed to drag his shot wide.

The visitors were causing Mickleover problems from set pieces and they managed to level the game through a free kick from out wide which King misjudged, allowing Short to tap the loose ball into the net.

That equaliser sparked Marine into life as straight from the kick off they attacked again with King being caught out by Danny Mitchey, who set up Billy Smart to smash the visitors into the lead.

Mickleover pushed hard for a deserved point but were not able to create any solid chances due to a resolute Marine defence. Tempers were heated towards the end of the match which meant that the Reds weren’t able to build up enough momentum to mount a serious threat to the opposition goal.

The defeat to Marine ended Mickleover’s three match unbeaten run and has left them stranded in mid-table with only four games left of this season. Sports next game is away at Hednesford Town this Saturday.