by Peter Scherer

Following their first away win of the season at Atherton, hopes were high of returning to winning ways at home, but it was not to be.

Starting line-up 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Jordan Gough 4-Mason Warren 5-Phil Watt 6-Joe Bateman 15-Pablo Mills 7-Andy Dales 8-Andrew Wright 9-Kemy Agustien 10 Stuart Beavon. Subs: Adam Haw, Bobby Battisson, Roger Lee, Dempsey Arlott-John, Dec Bacon.

Right from the kick off Stalybridge Celtic were on the attack, with Brogan firing high over the Mickleover bar from the edge of the box, after two minutes.

It was only three minutes later that Dackers went down in the box. The referee said no penalty, but then allowed his assistant to change his mind, allowing Dackers to score from the spot kick 0-1.

Hawkins was in action again after nine minutes saving from Brogan after a questionable free kick.

Dales was then pushing forward for Mickleover and his long range shot after 17 mins was well saved by Huffer in the visitors goal.

There were chances at both ends, with Johnson shooting wide for Stalybridge after 21 mins, before Hawkins had to tip over Brogan’s powerful effort, after a telling pass from Doyle.

But just after the first half hour it was almost level when a Mills header was cleared off the line following a free kick.

After some positive Mickleover attacking, Dackers was on the receiving end of a long cross, placing his header passed Hawkins after 36 mins, 0-2.

Only a minute later Burton made it 0-3 to the visitors when he played through to connect with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

With Mickleover continuing to push forward, Warren managed to find Wright in a crowded box, who made no mistake in smashing past Huffer, to make it 1-3 after 40 mins.

As the teams re-appeared for the second half there were two changes in the Mickleover line-up, with Bacon and Haw on for Agustien and Gough.

Only two minutes into the half, the ball landed at Bacon’s feet from a corner, but the defence managed to clear.

Dales then won a free kick, which was given on the edge of the box, which was again thought to have been inside by some of the Mickleover players.

Wright’s free kick was over the bar and four mins later Bacon fired over again, after some casual Stalybridge defending.

Warren went into referee’s book after a foul on the dramatic Dackers, before Sports brought on Arlott-John for goal scorer Wright.

Luck continued to desert Mickleover and after 77 mins Dales tried a long shot, saved at full stretch by Huffer, before Arlott-John’s attempt to collect the rebound was thwarted by the visitors defence.

Hawkins had to pull off another save to keep Johnson out and with eight minutes left, Haw was on the end of a cross from Arlott-John but the keeper collected his effort.

With time almost up Haw hit the post with another header, but time ran out and it was another home defeat 1-3.

Sports are now in 19^th place, only a point away from relegation, with two of the teams below us having two games in hand.

by Peter Scherer

Following last Saturday’s first away win at Atherton Collieries, Mickleover will be looking to return to winning form at home too, with the visit of Stalybridge Celtic to the Don Amott Arena.

Like so many NPL teams, including ourselves, Stalybridge have had mixed fortunes this season. Having lost their first two matches they had a home win against Morpeth, before suffering two successive away defeats at Lancaster and Buxton.

A home win against Ashton, preceded defeats against Basford and Matlock, followed by the first of two away wins at Scarborough.

It was after a 1-0 defeat at Gainsborough that they had a run of four successive wins, beating FC United 5-2, Whitby away, Stafford at home and a 5-0 hammering of Grantham at home.

But the tide has turned again and they have lost their last two games against Warrington and Bamber Bridge and are currently 11^th in the table with seven wins and nine defeats, on 21 points, five ahead of Mickleover.

So let’s take a look at their team. Current first choice goalkeeper is former Leeds United Academy player Will Huffer. He made one first appearance at Elland Road and two more league starts while on loan at Barnet. But following his release last summer after 13 years, he initially joined Bradford PA, before moving onto Bradford City, where he stayed until June this year.

He joined Stalybridge earlier this month and played for England at Under 17, 18 and 20 levels.

Second choice keeper Jahquil Hill was only signed this month too. The Bermudan international started out at FC United before joining Mansfield Town in 2013. He moved on to Ilkeston, Stafford Rangers and Rushall Olympic and was due to play for Oakville Blue Devils in Canada, before opting to stay in the UK with Hereford. 

After going back to Stafford for a season, he returned to Bermuda with Robin Hood, and then came back to the UK during the summer.

Right back Dougie Nyaupembe was a Bury youth team player, who made the first team twice. He was loaned to Hyde and Stalybridge, before a short stay at Prescot and a permanent move to Atherton 2019. He joined Radcliffe in January 2020 and came to Stalybridge in pre-season.

Ashley Smith-Brown is another full back who had 17 years on Manchester City’s books. He never made the first team, but gained valuable experience on loan at NAC Breda where he played 30 games, Hearts and Oxford. 

He moved to Plymouth in 2018 playing 36 matches, but after a loan at Oldham he was released and signed for Farsley Celtic. He was also capped by England at under 16,17,18,19 and 20 levels.

Defender or midfielder Sam Wedgbury was signed by Sheffield United a teenager, having been spotted playing for Worcester City. He didn’t get a first team start but was loaned to Mansfield and Ferencvaros, where he played 17 games and scored two goals for the Hungarian side.

After his release from the Blades he joined Macclesfield, then in league two and after three years and 100 games plus a loan at Altrincham, he was on the move again to Stevenage for one season.

Further spells Forest Green Rovers, Wrexham, Chesterfield and Buxton preceded his pre-season move to Stalybridge. He is also capped at England C level.

Connor O’Grady is a defender who started his career at Sheffield Wednesday. He made two appearances for the Owls before his release in 2019, from where he joined Buxton and came to Stalybridge in June this year.

Keenan Quansah is a defender or midfielder who came through the ranks at Accrington Stanley. Following his release he spent three months with Burscough, moving on to Mossley and Hyde Utd. He came to Stalybridge pre-season after nearly three years at Glossop North End.

Winger Jay Fitzmartin is currently on loan from Bolton Wanderers, who he joined from local football as an 11 year old. He has made one team appearance at Bolton.

Charley Doyle is a midfielder or centre back who came to Stalybridge September last year, after 13 years coming through the ranks at Blackburn Rovers.

Midfielder Marcus Dackers is the clubs leading scorer with five goals. The Welsh Youth International played his youth football at Manchester City and Brighton. He was released from Brighton in July after a loan spell at Lancing, joining Salford City from where he is currently on loan.

Ethan Padden is a midfielder who came to Stalybridge from Buxton during the summer. He was a youth player at Chesterfield, before a move to Glossop North End preceded his stay at Buxton.

Justin Johnson is a well travelled winger who joined Stalybridge in September. In his youth he started at Sparta Rotterdam, before joining Manchester Utd. Moving on to FC United he then joined Dundee Utd, from where he had a short loan spell at York City.

Othellos Athienou in Cyprus was his next stop, plus a loan at Akritas Chlorakas. Back in Scotland he was at Hamilton Academicals, before coming to Stalybridge from Greenock Morton.

Right back Josh Dawodu is currently on loan from Sheffield Wednesday until November. He joined the Owls in 2017, after playing his earlier youth football at Arsenal.

Shane Killock is a defender who started out at Osset, before joining Huddersfield Town. He made one first team appearance for the Terriers, before being loaned to Hyde and Harrogate. He then had another loan at Oxford before a permanent move in 2009. He then moved on to Telford, where he made over 130 appearances and captained the side. Harrogate, Guiseley on loan, Hyde, Bradford PA and Boston Utd followed, and after spending a season at Alfreton he signed for Buxton, then came to Stalybridge in June.

Stephen Brogan is both experienced and a play anywhere utility player, capped by England as a C International. He made 76 appearances for Rotherham Utd in Leagues One and two, before joining Stalybridge on loan in 2007. 

After a short spell at Alfreton he came back to Stalybridge, then moved to Guiseley, Forest Green Rovers and Southport. A brief return to Stalybridge in 2015 then preceded spells at Gainsborough, North Ferriby, Boston Utd and Spennymoor, before a fourth spell at Stalybridge after he was signed from Buxton.

Jake Burton is a young striker currently on loan from Tranmere Rovers. He had made five appearances for Tranmere and returns to his host after this weekend.

Scott Bakkor is a striker signed from Skelmersdale in 2018. He has also played for Colwyn Bay. Marine, Witton Albion and Curzon Ashton.

Republic of Ireland International Stephen O’Halloran is also the clubs assistant manager. A massively experienced player who started out at Aston Villa, then Wycombe, Southampton, Leeds Utd, Swansea, Coventry and Carlisle, before moving into no league with Nuneaton in 2012.

Further moves have taken him to Stockport, Salford and FC United, before arriving at Stalybridge in July 2019.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover have been adding to the squad again with the signing of Guiseley’s highly rated teenaged striker Adam Haw.

A graduate of Guiseley’s own youth programme, Haw has made 14 appearances for the first team, scoring two goals, but has also loaned out to Emley, where he scored twice in eight games.

I am delighted to get Adam on loan. He’s a young player with a great talent and I am looking forward to seeing his progression whilst he is with us.

said Sports’ manager, John McGrath.

He was on the bench for Mickleover at last Saturday away win at Atherton Collieries.

Report from Atherton Collieries FC media with additional words by Peter Scherer

Goals from Andy Dales and the returning Stuart Beavon gave a Mickleover their first away win of the season and their first win since the end of August, returning home 2-1 victors at Atherton Collieries.

Starting line-up 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Jordan Gough 4-Joe Bateman 5-Phil Watt 20-Pablo Mills 6-Liam Ravenhill 7-Andy Dales 8-Andrew Wright 10=Stuart Beavon 15-Kemy Agustien, Subs: Adam Haw, Mason Warren, Bobby Battisson, Roger Lee, Dec Bacon.

Chances proved hard to come by in the first half for both teams, Marcus Cusani going close for the hosts and Luke Hutchinson making a good save from a Mickleover attack. Both defences were well and truly on top as their attacking colleagues struggled to break through.

The game could only improve in the second half and it did significantly. It was Mickleover who seized the advantage on the hour mark, Andy Dales evading unscathed from some tepid defending and firing a speculative low drive which got the better of Atherton keeper Hutchinson 1-0..

In their search for a response, Atherton created a couple of good openings. Danny Lambert and Matty Gillam both found themselves denied in the penalty box. However, the hosts luck turned with ten minutes left on the clock, when full back Gareth Peet was tripped in the box. The referee pointing straight to the spot and Gillam tucked the penalty home with confidence to level the scores. 1-1.

Hawkins saved well as Peet tried a close range shot, but it was still deadlock with time running out, but it was Stuart Beavon that struck late on for Mickleover, taking a chance well at the near post to send the Sports  on their return home jubilant with a 2-1 victory.

 

by Peter Scherer

After the two games at home it’s back on the road for Mickleover this weekend, with a visit to Atherton Collieries.

Our hosts are 11^th in the NPL having won their last two games away at Bamber Bridge and at home to Championship leaders Matlock.  They have had six wins and a draw so far. 

First choice keeper Danny Taberner made his first team debut for Rochdale as a 16 year old. He moved on to Stockport Sports and Salford City, before his first spell at Atherton in 2014. After 94 games he moved on again to Prestwich and Ramsbottom, before spending two years at Northwich Victoria. He came back to Atherton in March 2020 from Cheadle Town.

Clive Smith is a right back who started out at Preston North End. He had loans at Bamber Bridge and St.Johnstone, but never made the Preston first team and was released in December 2017. After six months at Southport he joined Droylsden and has been at Atherton since December 2018.

Wing back Gareth Peet is an Atherton legend, having joined the club back in 2010. He has also played at Ashton, Skelmersdale and Nelson.

US born Luca De Freitas-Hansen was a pre-season signing from Ashton. The young centre back played for Weston Academy and Portland Pilots in the States, before joining Ashton Athletic in August 2018.His brother plays for Swansea City.

Centre back and skipper Danny Lafferty is another long serving player, having joined Atherton 13 years ago. He has also played for Oldham Borough and Radcliffe Borough. 

Joel Amado came from Trafford FC at the end of last season. The young defender has also played at Curzon Ashton and Irlam and represented England Universities.

Attacking midfielder Ben Conway has returned to Atherton in July 2018 after playing in the US with IW Cardinals, OKC Energy and Corpus Christi.

Danny Lambert is another long serving player. The winger started out at Wigan, before moving on to Darlington and is now in his fifth year at Atherton. He has also played at Ashton, Radcliffe and Trafford.

Another player in his second spell with our hosts is striker Marcus Cusani. Currently the leading scorer with four goals. He came back to Atherton last season after a spell at Warrington and has also played for Ashton.

Central midfielder Jack Lenehan is a former Rochdale junior. He was loaned to Prescott Cables before joining Chorley and came to Atherton last year after a season with FC United.

Scott Sephton started out with Leigh Genesis. Prior to joining Atherton in May, the midfielder was captain of Stalybridge Celtic. He has also played for Matlock, Warrington, Buxton, Ashton, Trafford, Porthmadog and Prescott Cables.

Striker Elliot Rokka has come from the Tranmere Academy. He arrived at Atherton in March last year from Radcliffe.

Dylan Glass is another striker, who came from Ashton, having started his career at Warrington.

Young defender Niall Battersby was spotted playing in the local Manchester League and signed for Atherton. While Luke Hutchinson is second choice keeper and is on loan until January from Bolton Wanderers.

Lewis Doyle is another young midfielder, who was signed from Accrington in July last year. He was previously at Southport, having started out in the Preston North End Academy.

Ethan Kershaw was a Burnley junior before joining Longridge. He moved to Mossley in July last year and came to Atherton pre-season.

Matty Gillam was another new pre-season signing. The young striker was with Rochdale until August last year and had loan spells at Stalybridge and Cork City, before joining Guiseley on his release.

Aaron Smith was only signed in the last week and made his debut this week with a goal in the 2-1 win at Bamber Bridge. He started as a Nottingham Forest junior, before spending a year in Scotland with Hamilton Academicals.  From there he moved to Ashton Utd, before joining Northwich 1874. He went back to Ashton and then moved to Curzon Ashton, before his return to Northwich preceded his arrival at Atherton. 

by Peter Scherer

After their recent home defeats Mickleover came out fighting against Stafford Rangers, and earned a valuable point in a 0-0 draw.

Starting line-up: 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Jordan Gough 4-Joe Bateman 5-James Butler 20-Pablo Mills 7-Liam Ravenhill 8-Andrew Wright 9-Andy Dales 15-Kemy Agustien 11-Lee Holmes. Subs: Bobby Battisson, Dec Bacon, Josh Satchwell, Ben Lewin, Mason Warren.

From the kick off Mickleover were straight on the attack and within the first five minutes Dales earned a free kick and the resulting shot was just over from Mills.

 Holmes then showed his skills and created his own space to put his effort just wide of the left hand post after a through ball from Dales.

Bennett then earned a free kick after 10 minutes when he was obstructed on a positive run down the wing.

A minute later Hawkins made a comfortable save from a Stafford effort, before Mickleover went on the attack again, with new signing Gough finding Dales, whose effort was intercepted.

Stafford earned consecutive corners in the 16^th minute, but both were dealt with by Butler and Mills, before a dangerous break from the visitors was comfortably dealt with by Bateman.

Stafford went close again when a 21^st minute cross was cleared for a corner by Mills.

But Stafford defender James O’Neill was lucky to get away with stamping on Dales leg after a tackle, as neither the referee nor his assistant saw the incident.

The visitors had another half chance which went wide but Mickleover were forced to make a change when Holmes limped off and was replaced by Battisson.

Stafford began to push forward and put a telling cross over the face of the goal, before following up with a shot over the bar from outside the box.

Captain Wright was doing his best to inspire, ably assisted by the hard running Dales, mixed with a blend of Agustien’s calmness and Ravenhill’s enthusiasm.

After 27 minutes Bennett came so close to scoring, when Wright put him through for a run on goal, colliding heavily with defender Ben Woods and keeper Luke Pilling, earning a corner.

Agustien’s foresight resulted in a great pass from the left, leaving Battisson to collect on the right, but his run was then blocked.

It was still end to end, with Stafford having another shot over the bar, before Navarro had a chance to open the scoring for Stafford, but it was well saved by Hawkins. 

With half time approaching another Stafford effort was fired well over, but in time added on Mickleover went close too. Dales flashed in a telling cross, but as Wright went for it, Pilling got a hand there first and punched it away, so it remained 0-0.

It was the visitors that were on the ascendancy as the second half got underway. 47 minutes and a low cross just missed the head of a diving Stafford striker and two more attacks, with a shot over, preceded a low shot to Hawkins left, which was saved by the Mickleover keeper.

Gradually Sports came back into the game and Dales shot was only just wide after connecting with a Battisson cross after 51 minutes.

Bennett then found Battisson, whose dangerous cross was cleared, but the teenage midfielder fired it back in again only for it to be cleared on the left.

Mickleover were entering their best spell of the game and started to pile the pressure on the Stafford defence. 

Just after the hour Dales tried a lob that almost caught Pilling out and a minute later he broke through the ranks to go one on one with visitor’s keeper. His shot came off Pilling’s leg but in the melee one of the defenders almost put it in the net.

Dales was looking for another one on one three minutes later, but the keeper had it covered.

For the final push Mickleover brought on Bacon for Wright.

Hawkins had another save low to his right in the last five minutes and a Sports corner from Agustien in time added on, was punched clear of danger.

The 0-0 draw gave Mickleover a valuable point, but more important was the fight shown to succeed as we now look forward to Saturday’s visit to Atherton Collieries.

by Peter Scherer

For the last two unfinished seasons, Stafford Rangers have spent most of their time fighting against relegation, but this year’s its all change.

They started with a 3-1 home win over Morpeth and have had mixed form with five wins and four draws from their 14 games, plus they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Rushall Olympic after a replay.

Last weekend they went down 0-1 at home against Scarborough, and currently are ninth in the NPL table.

First choice goalkeeper Luke Pilling started out as a Tranmere youth team player, making seven first appearances and spending a loan period at Ashton before joining Notts County in September 2020. He came to Stafford during pre-season and is capped by Wales at Under 20 and Under 21 levels.

A full back or centre back, Andrew Burns was a junior at Bolton Wanderers. After moving on to Bradford City, he came to Stafford this summer via Redbridge and Barrow.

Ben Woods is a winger or wing back, a recent signing from Spanish club Lorca. He’s a former Burnley youth player and has NPL experience with Stalybridge.

Skipper and midfielder Alex-Ray Harvey started off at Burnley too and had loans at Fleetwood and Barrow, before making a permanent move to Barrow. After spells at Guiseley and Hednesford, he joined Stafford in July 2019.

Centre back Ethan Stewart was only signed from Alfreton just over a week ago. He was at the Nottingham Forest Academy until July last year, during which time he was loaned to Billericay and Alfreton. On release he joined Nuneaton, from where he joined Alfreton again in July this year.

Centre back or midfield James O’Neil came from Welsh League Newtown in July. He started out at Telford and had three years at Chasetown in between spells at Newtown.

Joe Kenton is joint leading scorer for Stafford with five. The attacking midfielder or striker started out with Wolves and Shrewsbury, and was another Welsh League player from Newtown. He had previously played for Tividale and came to Stafford July last year.

Tom Tonks is the other joint highest scorer, a summer signing from Tamworth. Having started at Tipton, he has had numerous spells at Stourbridge and has also played for Telford, Solihull Moors, and Alvechurch.

Former Huddersfield junior Jake Charles came to the Terriers from Garforth Villa and made one first team appearance during his spell at Huddersfield. A loan at Guiseley preceded a move to Barnsley, followed by a loan at York City, before signing for Stalybridge.

His first spell at Stafford was in October 2018, scoring on his debut. But after 55 games and 18 goals he joined Farsley Celtic, before returning to Stafford in June this year.

He has represented Wales at Under 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels and is the Grandson of the legendary John Charles.

Alex Fletcher is a central midfielder with more Welsh connections. After his release from Shrewsbury Town, he joined Tividale, before signing for Newtown in June 2016. He had a short spell at Southport before coming to Stafford in October 2017, but left after three months to rejoin Newtown. 

After a brief stay at Stourbridge he had a third spell at Newtown, before arriving at Stafford again in pre-season.

Striker Luca Navarro is another recent signing. The former Bolton junior had spells at Bamber Bridge and Hull City before coming to Stafford during the summer.

There are more Welsh connections with winger Theo Bailey-Jones. He started his career at Wrexham, with loans at Colwyn and Macclesfield, before a permanent move to Macclesfield. He moved on to play at Stalybridge and Altrincham, before coming to Stafford in July 2018. After two years he went to Hyde, before returning to Stafford last week.

Striker Joe Cuff is in his second spell at Stafford. Signed originally from Market Drayton for the 2018/19 season, he returned to Shropshire after one season, and has been back in the Stafford fold since pre-season.

Striker Max McCarthy is another brand new signing, on loan from Stoke City for a month initially.

Tolani Omotola is another striker recently signed from Hyde. He started out at Tranmere and made one first team appearance, before moving on to Witton and Burscough on loan. He then joined Altrincham and was loaned out to Ramsbottom and Loughborough Dynamo, before moves to Coalville, Buxton, Corby and Barwell.

After starting off at Solihull Moors, left back Josh Endall joined Coventry City for a couple of seasons. He was released and joined Stratford Town, moving to Redditch, Banbury and Alvechurch, before his move to Stafford in the summer.

Charlie Ten-Grotenhuis is another summer signing. The midfielder was a Bristol Rovers product, who was loaned to Gloucester City, before a permanent move to Hungerford. Further moves to Farnborough, Stratford, Paulton and Hednesford preceded his move to Stafford.

Midfielder Tre Pemberton only arrived at Stafford last week from CFC United. He played his junior football at Blackburn and Stoke City, before joining FC United. He has also had a loan spell at Longridge. 

Jon Moran started out at Crewe, with a loan at Nantwich which was made permanent. Forest Green, Halesowen, Chester and Bradford PA were his next stops, before coming to Stafford in November 2019.

Kick off as usual is at 7.45pm, so come along and help Sports get some points on the board.