Mickleover Sports 2 – 2 Buxton

Sports:- King, Grocott, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Williams, Dales, Briscoe, Phillips, Garnett, Norcross (Hickman 77).

Subs:- Belgrave, Morris, Barnes-Homer, Burgin.

Buxton:- Budtz, Meade, Baker (Doran), Maguire, Young, Degiralamo, Hinsley (Broadhead 73), Grayson, Wilson, Hardy, Taylor (Chippendale 45).

Subs:- McWilliams, Biggs.

Referee S Brown

Attn:- 232

This game, between local rivals proved to be a feisty affair, not helped by a referee who was quick to administer verbal warnings but slow to issue cards, which seemed to give the message that players could get away with more than perhaps they should.

There was a lengthy delay after only four minutes when visiting keeper Jan Budtz had to be treated for a head injury after an early Mickleover attack had been cleared. Ironically the blow that lead to the wound was caused by his own full back.

The opening goal came after 14 minutes and was a great solo effort from leading scorer Andy Dales who twisted, turned and dribbled past opponents before picking his spot and firing home from the edge of the area.

The physios were both called into action too many times during the first period to let the game flow, and there was not too much football played as a result. Sports went in at half time a goal up, with Buxton having failed to make the most of the few scoring opportunities that they had.

The visitors drew level immediately after the break, and it came from a source well known to Mickleover supporters as Nico Degiralamo headed home his first goal for the club from a corner.

Nico, who had been a fans favourite and Player of the Year while at the club had a deserved reputation for scoring vital goals from set pieces – a fact that seemed to elude the home defence on this occasion.

The hosts were back in front on 56 minutes with a set play of their own. Dales was fouled outside the area and player manager John McGrath restored the lead with a superbly take free-kick that beat both the wall and the Buxton keeper.

It was all square again on 81 minutes as Ant Wilson bundled the ball over the line after home keeper Lewis King failed to make a clean catch. King claimed that he had been fouled but the referee adjudged that the ball was not fully under the keeper’s control at the time.

Evan Garnett had a great opportunity to take all the points in the closing minutes but from close range only managed to fire the ball over the bar with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

—
Phil Matthews

Freelance Sports Broadcaster and Writer

We can confirm that following a pitch inspection, todays home game against Halesowen Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

A rescheduled date will be announced in due course.

#SportsRising

Mickleover Sports 1 – 0 Workington A.F.C

Sports:- King, Hickman (Grocott 77), Scott, McGrath, Mills, Burgin, Dales, Morrison (Garnett 90), Barnes-Homer, Briscoe, Morris (Turner 62).
Subs:- Mulders, Williams,

Workington:- Taylor, Douglas, Smith, Wordsworth, Calvert, Wright, Symington, Wilson (Brown 70), Allison, Rigg, Tinnion.
Subs:- Whitehead, Harker, Holliday, Mossop.

Referee R Dadley

Attn:- 252

This was Mickleovers’ first home league game in 8 weeks due to the postponements brought about by the recent bad weather, and they were keen to put on a show for their football starved fans. They certainly did that.

The 1-0 scoreline was not an accurate reflection of the magnitude as they dominated the majority of the match.

With Andy Dales firing at goal every time that the opportunity arose and Louis Briscoe making chances as well it was a surprise that the game was goal less at the half time break.

The only goal of the game came six minutes after the restart. Captain Tom Burgin heading home from a John McGrath left wing corner.

Workington tried to find a way back into the game but Lewis King in the home goal was a virtual spectator with the visitors wayward in their shooting.

Mickleover had further chances but were unable to make them pay, however, both teams knew at the final whistle that the result was right if not the actual scoreline.

—
Phil Matthews

Freelance Sports Broadcaster and Writer

We can confirm that following a pitch inspection, todays home game against Stalybridge Celtic has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

A rescheduled date will be announced in due course.

#SportsRising

WARRINGTON TOWN 3 – 1 MICKLEOVER SPORTS

Warrington:Pilling, Carden, Mckeown, Williams, Higgins, Goulding, Beeley, Kinsella, Mcdonald (Milne 83), Gray (Piggott 76), Green (Bakare 83). Other subs Hayhurst, Ascroft.

Sports: King, Grocott, Morris, Mcgrath, Mills, Burgin, Dales, Scott, Barnes-Homer, Garnett (Phillips 54- Mulders 78), Briscoe. Other subs Horne, Belgrave
Attendance 283

This was always going to be a tough game, away to 4th placed Warrington and Sports started slowly conceding a 3rd minute goal. Tom Burgin gave away a poor free kick and was punished as Sean Williams floated in the free kick and Liam Goulding was unchallenged to head in from 8 yards out. Sports were under constant pressure and were worried off the ball too often.

It was 2-0 after 24 minutes with another goal from a wide left free kick. Sean Williams this time played in a low cross which left everyone stranded and crept in at the far post.
This seemed to spark Sports into life and Andy Dales went close on 28 minutes, playing a 1-2 with Evan Garnett and forcing a good diving save from debutant on loan keeper, Luke Pilling. Sports were now on top and reduced the deficit on 35 minutes. Louis Briscoe’s shot was pushed out for a corner and when John Mcgrath’s corner came in Pablo Mills scored with a brilliant, powerful header from 8 yards.

Sports now went in search of an equaliser and they completely took over the game. On 38 minutes Loius Briscoe worked space for a shot from 15 yards which was held by Pilling. A minute later Andy Dales was chopped down on the edge of the area (no caution !!) and Louis Briscoe smashed in a low free kick that was again well held by Pilling. And Dales then went closer after cutting inside to fire in a shot that looked a goal all over but Pilling dived full length to pull off a fine save. Yet again Sports went close on 44 minutes as Briscoe found Garnett in space and his cross was half blocked but bounced up to Alex Morris but his 6 yard header cleared the bar. The half time whistle came at the wrong time for Sports as they had dominated since the second Town goal.

Sports were forced into an early substitution when Evan Garnett was replaced by Jimmy Phillps. Jake Scott received a silly caution which was to cost Sports dearly a few minutes later. On 57 minutes Scott challenged Sean Williams seeming to win the ball but the referee interpreted this as a foul and produced a second yellow, reducing Sports to 10 men. Still Sports took the game to the home side and went close with another free kick as Dales was denied a clear run on goal by a deliberate hand ball. Briscoe again fired in a strong free kick that Pilling again saved.
Sports were then hit by another moment of controversy. Jimmy Phillips was the victim of a foul in an aerial challenge ( not given)but after treatment he got up though obviously groggy. The ball was played up to Sports area and collected by Alex Morris who put in a short pass to the unmarked Phillips. Before the ball arrived he went down obviously in trouble from the earlier challenge and the ball broke to Devarn Green – at this point the referee should have whistled for the physio to attend Phillips who was suffering from a head injury, down and in distress – but he allowed play to continue. Green crossed but the ball evaded everyone going to the far wing where Shaun Beeley kept the ball in. He eventually put in a half blocked cross that somehow hit Jamie Mcdonald and evaded Lewis King for the 3rd goal. All this with Phillips still down and in obvious distress. After treatment Phillips was helped off and taken eventually to hospital. Despite all Sports protests the referee was adamant he had made the correct decision which frankly was ridiculous.
This goal took all the stuffing out of Sports and the Home side were content to play the game out.

MICKLEOVER SPORTS 2-2 FARSLEY CELTIC

BY PHIL MATTHEWS

Sports:- King, Grocott, Morris, Scott, Mills, Burgin (Horne 24), Dales, Briscoe, Barnes-Homer, Phillips, Mulders (Abalimba 74).
Subs:- Belgrave, Morrison.

Farsley:- McKibbin, Turner, Baldwin, Atkinson, Harris, Clayton (Atkinson 78), Watson (Murray 78), Turner (Parkin 78), Ellis, Cartman, Cockerline.
Subs:- Walker, Trenery.

Referee:- Steve Darnall
Attendance:- 232

This game only went ahead due to the efforts of a group of volunteers who came down in advance of the game to fork the pitch into a playable condition.

Sports have been without competitive football since January 13th due to a waterlogged pitch, but that has not denied player/manager John McGrath the opportunity to strengthen his squad who has brought in two experienced strikers in Luis Briscoe and Matthew Barnes-Homer along with re-signing midfielder Medi Abalimba.

Mickleover were clearly keen to be back in action after their enforced break The game was end to end in waves but the hosts normal slick game was not as good as it could be with a number of their passing not reaching the intended target, although it was hard to say if this was caused by ring rustiness or a playing surface looked increasingly like Derby County’s old home at the Baseball Ground.

After Lewis King in the home goal made a great interception to deny Nathan Cartman with the match only 4 minutes old McGrath’s men twice had the ball in the back of the net before the half hour mark only to have the goals ruled out for offside. First Barnes-Homer completed a great move on 20 minutes and Dales chipped the keeper with a delightful lob, but in both cases there was little argument that the officials were correct in their decision making.

Briscoe went close in the 31st minute but his shot was blocked. Given the amount of goal mouth action at both ends it was surprising that the half ended goal less.

It only took 6 minutes of the second period for the deadlock to be broken. Neat interplay from Farsley ended with a pass to Nathan Carter who fired home from close range.

Their advantage lasted less than a minute as Pablo Mills restored parity with a powerful header from a Jimmy Phillips corner.

The home side took the lead for the first time on 65 minutes. Briscoe was fouled in the box and referee Steve Darnall had no doubt that it was a penalty.

Barnes Homer took the responsibility of taking the spot kick which though struck with a reasonable amount of power was close enough to McKibbin to parry away from goal. It fell to the inrushing Dales who hit the ball into the empty net from some distance.

Farsley were determined to take something from the game, and after a period of dominance which saw the hosts pushed back into the defensive third of the field for a prolonged spell got their reward with a strike from substitute Luke Parkin in the 87th minute.
The result was a fair reflection on the game which neither side deserved to lose.

 

#SportRising

 

 

Unfortunately, home game against Buxton in the DCFA Senior Challenge Cup has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The game will now be played away at Buxton on Tuesday 30th January, 7:45pm.

We can confirm that following a pitch inspection, todays home game against Marine has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

A rescheduled date will be announced in due course.

#SportsRising

Mickleover Sports are delighted to announce the signing of Louis Briscoe.

Briscoe’s most notable spell of his career came at Mansfield Town where he featured in 175 games scoring 34 goals and was apart of the Stags side that were promoted back to the football league.

Sports are also delighted to announce the signing of 29 year old striker Matthew Barnes-Homer.

Barnes-Homer has played for a number of clubs including Wycombe, Luton and Macclesfield among others, he has also represented the England C team on 5 occasions scoring 2 goals.

“I’m delighted and excited to be joining Mickleover Sport it’s a great challenge for me to be a part of what they trying to do season on season and trying to get promoted and I’m happy to be a part that and can’t wait to get started and to score some goals for the team to help achieve that. They play fantastic football that will suit me and it wasn’t a very hard decision to make when they come in for me after speaking to the manager and knowing what he’s about and having played against him a few times and the style in how he’s got the team playing is exciting”
Matthew Barnes Homer

“Excited for the challenge ahead and pushing on towards the playoffs. Looking forward to working with John McGrath, I enjoy how Mickleover Sports try and play the right way. Also from talking to the manager, the club is heading in the right direction, sounds a very ambitious club, a club I want to be at”
Louis Briscoe

“I am delighted with the double signing of Matthew and Louis. Both players will add excellent quality to a squad already filled with great talent. We as a club have worked hard to get both lads to Mickleover Sports and I believe they will fulfill the footballing ethos that we adhere to here at the Don Amott arena”
John McGrath, Manager