Mickleover Sports defender/midfielder Jake Bennett has agreed a move to League One club Sheffield United on a permanent, professional deal.

Jake has been a fantastic player for Sports and first-team manager John McGrath had the following to say:

“I was delighted that we at Mickleover Sports play a part in Jake fulfilling in ambition of getting the chance to play his football at a league club. Jake is now a full time pro and I am very excited about the potential he will reach whilst plying his trade at a great club like Sheffield United. He is a great kid and I wish him all the best with his move. Him and his family are always welcome back to the Don Amott Arena”.

McGrath will need to rearrange the defensive lineup for the next match which is on January 2nd, away at Buxton FC (3pm).

Rushall Olympic 1-2 Mickleover Sports

(By Tony Shaw)

Rushall:

Veiga, Christoporou, Hull, Cooper, Bottomer (54), Smith, Forde, Whittall, Luckie (71), Reid, Dell (57). Subs – Eze, Fitzpatrick, Portodickromo (54), Mckenzie (71), Mugisha (57)

Sports:

Eastwood, Bennett, Turner, Mcgrath, Mills, Burgin, Dales, Scott, Hall, Baskerville, Broadhead. Subs – Norcross, Belgrave, Lansdowne, Slew, Morrison

Attendance 285

Sports followed up Saturday’s excellent win with arguably their best performance of the season against top of the table, Rushall Olympic.  Their unbeaten December run was halted as Sports showed initial flair and then determination in the closing minutes that included eight additional minutes to add to the drama.

Sports had an early scare as Jake Eastwood slipped on the surface and spilled a routine ball that saw Alex Reid strike just wide of the post. Sports settled quickly and began to take the game to the Home side. The opening goal came on 13 minutes when a good long pass was controlled by Connor Hall and as he went round the keeper he was brought down for a clear penalty. Hall got up to find the bottom corner from the spot.

Sports should have had a second penalty when Andy Dales played a one-two with Adam Baskerville to break clear on goal. The trailing defender could only push him down as he entered the penalty area but amazingly the only person on the ground not to see this as a clear penalty was the referee who waived play on. Sports were now well on top and Rushall could only resort to numerous cynical fouls. From one Andy dales saw his free kick brilliantly pushed away by Veiga who then repeated this by diving full length to deny John Mcgrath. Andy Dales was then denied again by Veiga who had kept his side in the game.

Things looked ominous for Sports after dominating most of the game but missing several good chances and they were grateful to a fine diving save by Jake Eastwood as he pushed away a free kick from Isaac Cooper. The all important second goal came on 43 minutes when a John Mcgrath corner was headedin from close range by Sports man of the match, Pablo Mills.

Sports expected Rushall to come out fighting in the second half but in truth it was only in the last 10 minutes did they come under pressure. Connor Hall, having another fine game, forced a good save from Veiga and Adam Baskerville just failed to connect with low crosses from Jake Bennett and Andy Dales. Andy Dales again broke clear after another 1-2 with Connor Hall but his 12 yard shot was parried by Veiga and scrambled clear.

With 7 minutes left in normal time, Rushall pulled a goal back as Eastwood was obstructed as he punched clear and when the ball was played back in was off his line as Joe Hull headed in from 6 yards out. Sports went on the attack again and a fine move ended with Hall squaring for Jack Broadhead but his 10 yard shot cleared the bar.

Sports had to suffer eight long minutes of overtime (should have been 4!!!) but with the defence in control and Jake Eastwood showing composure they held on to secure a fine victory and 3 important points.

We are pleased to confirm that there are spaces available on the supporters coach for this Saturday’s trip to Spennymoor Town in the NPL Premier Division..

The contest promises to be an intriguing one, with a strong lineup promised by manager John McGrath.

The coach leaves at 9.30am for a 3.00pm kick off at a fare of £15 (return).

Please contact Tony Shaw at tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com to book your place.

Come on Sports!

We can announce that the DCFA Senior Challenge Cup match against Borrowash Victoria will be a ‘discount day’.

This means that admission prices are slashed to the following:

Adults £5.00

Children  £1.00 (free with adult)

The match promise to be a good one with local pride at stake for both clubs.

See you at the Don Amott Arena!

#SportsRising

We are pleased to confirm that there are spaces available on the supporters coach for this Tuesday’s trip to Brackley Town in the FA Trophy (replay).

The contest promises to be an intriguing one, with a strong lineup promised by manager John McGrath.

The coach leaves at 3.45pm for a 7.45pm kick off at a fare of £15 (return).

Please contact Tony Shaw at tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com to book your place.

Come on Sports!

John McGrath Interview – Brackley Town (H)

Mickleover Sports correspondent Jack Lawrence caught up with John McGrath and asked about the squad, Brackley Town, and Mickleover’s aims for the rest of the season.

Are you confident ahead of the game?

Yeah yeah, you know I think we go into every game feeling confident. Whether it be teams in the our league or leagues below, leagues above us. We know we are a good side, but we also aware Brackley are a very good side off the back of a cup run beating Gillingham so its a tough opposition but we are at home so again we will set our style of football, the way we look to play football and go from there.

Any Home Team news, injuries etc?

Jake is cup-tied this weekend, he played for his previous club so he is one of the enforced change that I have to make. He was very good last week and he did a great job last weekend. He is a very good signing but it will be unfortunately, one be enforced change.

Everyone else is fully fit and ready now. Tom Burgin had a small knock, but he is back and fit ahead of tomorrow, which is great obviously. Centre forwards, all three played really well. Zeph’s obviously scored two last week so he has hit a bit of form, which is great too.

Do you feel like Brackley have many threats specifically or are they generally a good team from one to 11?

Obviously are a very good side in the league above, but you have to look at Arnason who scored a hat-trick against Gillingham. He is a decent prospect, we have watched them a few times and they work, and are a very good side who I think are 8th 9th in a strong division which includes Salford, Harrogate and Darlington. I know about the opposition but I know I also have good individuals in my team and I’m more concentrated on them playing well than anyone else.

Approaching a busy christmas period, any long term ambitions going forward?

We want to win every game we play in! I thought we played really well Saturday against Marine. I though we were the better side, and should of probably scored 4 or 5 but that doesn’t bother me, we actually played really well which is the main thing, creating chances is great for centre forwards that are scoring. The rest of the season I want to win every game were involved in, I know it doesn’t seem possible, but why not? Somebody’s got to make the play off so why not little old Mickleover.

Away Team Perspective.

• Unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions.
• Manager: “The players need to rest, It has been a big 8 days. We did not train on Tuesday then we will meet up again on Thursday ahead of what will be a massive FA Trophy game on Saturday before we turn attention to the FA Cup again. There are one or two bumps and bruises at the moment after a gruelling few days so we take the opportunity to rest and re-group. Then more midweek games kick in so we have another busy schedule ahead.”
• Only previous meeting: October 2011, Brackley 1-0 Mickleover, 94th minute penalty.

Click to see the photographs from Saturdays game against Marine from Sarah Middleton.

MSFC vs Marine Gallery

MICKLEOVER SPORTS 2-1 Marine

By Phil Mathews

Sports: – Eastwood, Bennett, Ptak, McGrath, Mills, Broadhead, Dales, Morrison, Thomas (Litchfield 76), Schofield, Scott.

Subs: – Baskerville, Lansdown, Belgrave, Burgin

Marine: – Hare, Field, Short, Threlfall, Foley, Hughes (Willis 82), Monagan, Smart, Anoruo, Lindfield, Bellew.

Subs: – Hessey, Myler, O’Hare, Moore.

Referee M Smith

Attn 205

On a bitterly cold afternoon Sports tried to warm their supporters with their attacking brand of football.

They carved out enough chances to win 2 games not one, but it has been symptomatic of the hosts for much of this season that they have not been able to finish what they have started as often as they would like.

Sports welcomed Zeph Thomas back to the starting line up after he missed the previous week’s fixtures while away on international duty with Nevis and St Kitts.

He has been on a hot streak of form of late and showed what he is capable of with two totally types of goal in the first half.

Elliott Ptak had shown his ability going forward from left back after 9 minutes but his finish did not match his approach play while Andy Dales had a sharp effort saved by visiting keeper Calvin Hare nine minutes later.

Dales turned provider after 18 minutes playing a through ball which Thomas was onto in a flash before beating the keeper.

Despite having the large majority of the attacking play it was not until the 40^th minute that they doubled their lead. Again Dales was heavily involved in the build up and as Marine struggled to clear their lines the ball ended up with Thomas who poked it home from close range.

A brilliantly struck free kick by player/manager  John McGrath deep in first half stoppage time rattled the cross bar before being cleared.

4 minutes into the second half Thomas had the chance to complete his hat trick with probably the easiest of his three opportunities but only succeeded in under hitting his shot straight into the arms of Hare.

Dales had a great chance present itself to him on 56 minutes but the keeper stretched out a leg and deflected the ball out of harm’s way.

With chances going a begging the visitors felt that there was still a way into the game for them and pulled a goal back through Obi Anoruo who found himself in space with only Eastwood in the Mickleover goal to beat, which he duly did.

Sports kept pressing forward in the closing stages in an attempt to widen the score line, but the two first half strikes by Thomas proved enough in the end to guarantee them the 3 points.