Category: First Team

Match Report: Corby Town (Home)

Mickleover Sports- EASTWOOD, BENNETT, PTAK, MCGRATH, MILLS, BROADHEAD ( GROCOTT 52), DALES, NORCROSS, MORRISON, BASKERVILLE, SCHOFIELD. other subs BURGIN, TURNER


Corby Town – PARKES, ANTON, KENNEDY, MARSHALL, GASCOIGNE, WEBB, OGILVIE, DRAPER, BALL JOHNSON 64), MILNES (MARTIN 38)


Sports got back to winning ways with a comfortable victory against struggling Corby Town. Sports had Jack Broadhead back after illness and brought in youngster Will Norcross and Elliot Ptak, making his debut.


Ptak went close in the 1st minute firing a chance just wide as Sports dominated the early stages. Jake Bennett did well to get in a cross that Clinton Morrison volleyed first time across goal, the ball just evading Adam Baskerville. Sports took the lead when John Mcgrath’s in-swinging corner was turned into his own net by Monty Parkes.


Baskerville nearly doubled the lead on 30 minutes. A fine run and cross from Jake Bennett was volleyed back first time by Clinton Morrison and Baskerville was inches away from connecting at the far post. Sports were then denied what looked like a goal when Bennett fired in from 10 yards but the referee blew for a foul.


Sports were again denied by the referee on 48 minutes when a pass back was handled by the keeper. Sports took a quick free kick for Danny Schofield to roll in but were pulled back for a reason only the official knew. Five minutes later the all important second goal was scored by Adam Baskerville as Danny Schofield got to the line and his cross was hit in , first time from 8 yards out,


Good control from Clinton Morrison saw him find Schofield but his shot was parried by Parkes. Baskerville was played through but his shot cleared the bar.


The visitors had been very poor and their only shot on target came in the 75th minute when Andre Johnson hit his shot straight at Jake Eastwood.


Att 184


Match Report: Halesowen Town (Home)

By Christian Hile

Sports 0-1 Halesowen Town

Sports just fell short to a frustrating 1-0 defeat at the hands of a resolute and well organised Halesowen side.

Sports got off to an abysmal start, as Halesowen found themselves in front after just 32 seconds, thanks to a long punt forward, which fell all the way to Kaiman Anderson in the Mickleover box, who poked past Jake Eastwood from close range. Sports came close to an equaliser on 13 minutes when a neat link-up play between Baskerville and Morrison found Baskerville one on one with Platty in the opposition goal who saved well from close range. Anderson came close to doubling the score line on 36 minutes when his header at the back post from a corner went just wide. Anderson again threatened the Mickleover goal on 44 minutes as he forces Eastwood into his first save of the match down to his.  Not much was between the two sides, but Halesowen’s early goal separates the two sides.

Mickleover started the second half on the front foot, and came close to levelling the score line on 51 minutes when Richard Sho Silva almost headed into his own net from a Sports corner, and from the resulting corner Pablo Mills headed it straight at Platty. On 70 minutes Clinton Morrison forced Platty into a great after his acrobatic effort from just inside the box.  For the remainder of the match Sports found it very difficult to get past the resolute Halesowen defence to create any clear cut chances at goal, as Halesowen slowed things down to disrupt Mickleover’s tempo.

Sports will feel frustrated that they were unable to anything out of the game, but they have a opportunity to quickly bounce back against Corby Town at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

Teams

Sports :Jake Eastwood, Jake Bennett, Ben Turner, John McGrath, Pablo  Mills, Tom Burgin (c ), Andy Dales, Kevin Grocott, Clinton Morrison, Adam Baskerville, Danny  Schofield

Halesowen : Daniel Platty, Kyle Haynes, James Hancocks, Jay Denny (c ), Richard Sho-Silva, Asa Charlton, Kennedy Dieie ,Daniel  Bragoli, Kaiman Anderson, Jordan Goddard, Malcom Melvin

Sub’s

Sports: Lewis Belgrave (Turner 22), Jake Dickinson, Albert Lansdowne, Brodie Litchfield

Halesowen :Eiman Delaney, Kyle Morrison, Aaron Griffiths, Joe Colley

Attendance : 168

Coach To Blyth Spartans – Book Now For A Seat On The MickleRover!

The club are offering coach spaces for supporters wanting to support us at Blyth Spartans this Saturday (October 8th).

The coach (known as the MickleRover!) will depart from the Don Amott Arena on Saturday at 9.00am (£15.00 return).

Please book by calling Tony Shaw on 07966 197246 or emailing him on tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com.

Also, we will be making coaches available for a number of other games this season so please enquire with Tony or send us an email to tonys@mickleoversportsfc.com for more information.

Match Report: Skelmersdale Utd (Away)

By Tony Shaw

Skelmersdale UTD 1-3 Mickleover Sports

Skelmersdale: Priestley, Fernandes, Holden, Mcintosh, Bodie, Strickland, Lowe (Burns 75), Woolcott, Almond, Wall (Hodkinson 67), , Ince (Rendall 80)

Sports: Eastwood, Bennett, Turner, Mcgrath (Belgrave 75), Mills, Broadhead, Dales (Litchfield 45), Grocott(Burgin 81), Morrison, Baskerville, Schofield.

Sports came back with their first double of the season and three vital points.

Both teams took time to settle but it was Sports who created the first chance, a short free kick to John Mcgrath whose cross found Adam Baskerville 8 yards out but he headed wide. The home side looked dangerous when Andy Dales was robbed in midfield and a quick break saw Chris Almond shoot wide from 20 yards. Sports were put under pressure and Paul Woolcott forced Jake Eastwood into a full length diving save, the corner headed wide by Rob Mcintosh.

Sports grabbed the all important first goal on the stroke of half-time as Andy Dales brought down a long crossfield pass, cut inside Robert Bodie only to be brought down. The penalty was delayed for several minutes allowing for treatment but Dales was forced off on a stretcher. Adam Baskerville kept up his excellent penalty taking with a low shot into the corner.

This was the goal to settle the team down and Sports came out on the front foot early in the second half. A mix up between the Keeper and centre half aloowed in Brodie Litchfield and he slotted in from 8 yards out to double the lead on 53 minutes. a minute later Litchfield outpaced Woolcott who dragged him down in the area for a second penalty. Litchfield picked himself up to send the keeper the wrong way from the penalty.

Jake Eastwood produced another fine diving stop to deny Kenny Strickland before Sports almost scored again. Jake Bennet got behind the home defence and his low cross found Danny Schofield at the back post but his stretching volley was inches wide. Eastwood again did well when a corner was headed towards the top corner but he again saved well at full stretch. Jack Broadhead hit a stinging 15 yard shot that was turned away by Phil Priestley.

Skelmersdale scored a consolation goal in the last minute, the referee awarding a third penalty that Chris Almond converted.

Att. 187

Match Report: Hednesford Town (Away)

By Phil Mathews

HEDNESFORD TOWN 1 SPORTS 0

Hednesdford: – Crane, Williams, Bramall, Thorley, Mutton, Flanagan (Geddes 81), Logan, Maye, Glover (Dunkley 68), Carline, Singh.

Subs: – Ransome, Wright, Sammons.

Sports: – Eastwood, Bennett (Burgin 45), Turner, McGrath, Mills, Broadhead, Dales (Belgrave 75), Grocott, Morrison, Baskerville (Litchfield 61), Schofield.

Subs: – Lansdowne, Tolley.

Referee S Postin

Attn 356

48 hours after the exertions of  Saturday afternoon when Sports battled well and hard to pick up three well deserved points against local rivals Matlock  Mickleover were back in action, but with a different challenge ahead of them.

Hednesford may have suffered relegation at the end of the previous season but whatever hangover they had experienced had long been blown away, and on this night showed themselves the best side that John McGrath’s men had come up against this term.

The hosts played a slick, pacey attacking brand of football that you felt few sides would be able to cope with.

That Sports came out of this game with only a one goal defeat was much to their credit.

The visitors could have been washed away by their opponents in the first half, and although they had to clear the ball from off the line after a quarter of an hour made it to half time with their defences unbreached.

There was even the possibility of a penalty after an Andy Dales goal bound shot was cleared as far as Ben Turner whose effort on goal bounced away off a home defender. The shout was for a penalty as the ball appeared to strike his hand but the referee was unmoved.

Hednesford’s attacking became more insistent as the second half, though how much of that was down to the withdrawal of Jake Bennett at the break. Bennett had suffered a nasty kick to his ankle in the first half, and replacing him meant three positional changes, with Tom Burgin coming in at centre half, Pablo Mills moving into midfield and Kevin Grocott moving to right back.

George Carline was proving a major threat and must have thought that he had broken the deadlock as he burst into the box, picked his spot; beat Jake Eastwood in the visitors goal only to see the ball cannon away off the foot of the post.

The goal, when it came was unlucky. A cross from the right into the box went past everybody only to hit the leg of centre forward Danny Glover who rightly took the plaudits for being in the right place at the right time, but had little deliberate involvement in the strike.

Mickleover refused to cave in, and saw quite a lot of the ball without carving out any real chances.

They were saved by the woodwork again before the game ended,

For some of the players this is their first experience of playing at this level, and they can only come out of a game like this with the benefit of knowing that they are learning all the time, and it will benefit them further down the line.

Match Report: Matlock Town (Home)

By Phil Matthews

Mickleover Sports 2 0 Matlock Town

Sports: – Eastwood, Bennett, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Broadhead, Dales, Grocott, Morrison (Litchfield 60), Baskerville (Norcross 80), Schofield.

Subs: – Lansdowne, Tolley.

Matlock: – Barnes, Marsden, Green, Doyle-Charles (Wilson 86), A Yates, Wiley, McManus (J Yates 84), Williams, Newsham, Dinanga Degirolamo 70), Cribley.

Subs: – Travis, Jameson.

Referee D Watson.

Attn: – 291

Local derbies are always looked upon with anticipation by supporters and this game was no different.

There was an interesting sub-plot to this one with Matlock managerial duo Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins having jumped shift and left Mickleover in the summer, taking a number of their star players with them.

The hosts added one new face to their squad with the arrival of keeper Jake Eastwood on loan from Sheffield United.

The Gladiators had 5 players in their starting eleven who had played for Sports at some stage, and would have wished for a better start than the one that they got.

Jake Bennett, who is gaining a reputation as a real class act as a right sided wing back took the ball deep into Matlock territory before firing in a wicked low cross that Liam Marsden could only turn into his own net to give the home side a 14th minute lead.

The visitors were then given a gilt edged opportunity to pull level  in the 22nd minute when referee Watson adjudged a coming together in the box between Edward Cribley and Jack Broadhead as worthy of a penalty.

Marc Newsham failed to even test the keeper however as he fired wide.

The game was effectively over as a contest with 44 minutes gone, when a spell of intricate interpassing orchestrated by Danny Schofield ended with Andy Dales lashing in a shot from the edge of the area.

Matlock rallied after the interval but failed to unduly extend Eastwood, who had few opportunities to show what he was capable of although his handling was competent on the few occasions that he was tested.

Mickleover finished strongly and were worthy winners on the day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Match Report: Warrington Town (Home)

By Christian Hile

Mickleover ran out deserved winners against a robust and direct Warrington Town side on a cold Tuesday night.

Mickleover dominated the first half from start to finish, but were unable to find that elusive goal.  Sports were quick out the traps as Baskerville’s drive fizzed wide.  Mickleover had their first shot on target on the 18th minute as a well worked free kick fell loose to Grocott, but Willis saved well down at his near post for the visitors.  Sports did have the ball in the net on 25 minutes, but it was flagged offside as Baskerville tapped in from an offside position after Morrison forced Willis into a save.  Mickleover again threatened the visitor’s goal as Willis tipped Dales’ close range free kick wide.  Mickleover went into the break disappointed not to be in front, due to their dominance.

Mickleover came out with the wind still in their sails as Grocott’s dipping effort went just over the crossbar. Sports finally found the back of the on 54 minutes thanks to Andy Dales as he coolly slotted past Willis in the Warrington goal after an eye of the needle ball by Morrison.  Warrington almost pegged Sports back just 2 minutes later as Broadhead was forced to head off the line from a Warrington corner. Warrington again came close to scoring from a corner when Kilheeney’s header forced a great reaction save by Tolley.  Mickleover were able to stand firm against late pressure from Warrington to run out 1-0 winners.

Mickleover will go into the eagerly anticipated game against Matlock Town on Saturday at the Don Amott Arena in good spirits, after an impressive victory.

 

Team

Tolley, Bennett, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Broadhead (c), Dales, Grocott, Morrison (Litchfield 75), Baskerville, Schofield

Unused Subs

Belgrave, Lansdowne, Burgin

Yellow Cards

Grocott ( 34 ), McGrath (60)

Shaping The Future Of Sports – John McGrath

By Cassandra Carruthers

New player manager, John McGrath left Limerick for Aston Villa when he was 18 years old. After playing for both English league clubs and for the Republic of Ireland U-21 squad, he joined Mickleover Sports in 2015 and became the manager during the 2015-16 season.

I caught up with John during training for the team’s game against Warrington Town and asked him about his aspirations for the team and the demands of playing and managing a team at the same time.

The nature of modern football with a large earning potential means that young players can face serious pressure to succeed and I asked John about the challenge of managing younger players. “When I was a kid and getting into football, I’d be out from morning to tea time kicking a ball around but the structure and formal nature of academies and junior teams is so different now. Young players really need to be educated as to what football is really about and not just blinkered to the celebrity status that can come from playing professional football. I believe that more experienced players have a responsibility to nurture and encourage the younger members of a squad. I’ve been fortunate to have had great support at the clubs I played for. I had good mentors at Burton who gave me that much needed guidance and I now have the same important relationships with the team around me at Sports with experienced people like Steve Taylor. It’s not support from the manager but all the other people at a club like the kit man and the other faces you see regularly. You can’t perform to your best ability without a strong support network and I am attempting to develop and strengthen that network here at Sports.”

“We are assembling an ideal mix of player skills and experience here. We have a number of experienced professionals, some players who have played for several clubs and then the newer ones to watch who are coming through from the academy as well as other channels. I feel this team can develop well with the style of football we want to play rather than adopting the attitude of a minority of non-league teams to kick opponents and boot the ball up in the air. That is never going to get you anywhere.”

For a player who left home at a young age himself, it is clear that John values his first role as manager and mentor and wants to succeed. Like many experienced players, not playing football seems an alien concept and managing and coaching is often the route taken. “As a new manager you should always be both developing existing qualities and looking to acquire new skills so that you grow as an individual and have a squad that can adapt well to the changing nature of football. I like to view this as a process and I work to a timeline so that younger players will have an opportunity to step up when more experienced players move onto other clubs. We don’t want a revolving door here; we need a strong team that is able to react well to a changing environment. Our club has great ambition and it’s not just the players that are trying to make sure Mickleover Sports succeed; we have a great management team and a good volunteer base and we have big plans so we are aiming high.”

 

 

Match Report: Stourbridge FC (FA Cup)

(By Phil Mathews)

Sports: – Tolley, Bennett, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Burgin (Litchfield 66), Dales, Broadhead, Morrison (Baskerville 79), Grocott, Schofield.

Subs: – Lansdowne

Stourbridge: – Gould, Green, Smikle, Birch (Tonks 70), Westlake, Scarr, Dodd (Canavan 73), Broadhurst, Benbow (Hague 79), Lait, Brown.

Subs: – Pierrepoint, Probert, Heath, Hull.

Referee P Tomes

Attain: 256

As John McGrath’s new look team continued to take shape Sports gave a debut to Clinton Morrison, a forward who in his time had played international football for the Republic of Ireland, and been the subject of a £2 million transfer.

Of almost as much value to his new club as his goal scoring exploits and career record at the highest level was the fact that he gives the club different options up front  to those of the smaller nippy pairing s that have served them so far this season.

The match was a good advert for the game at this level, and Stourbridge were quick to take the fight to their opponents to the extent that Jake Bennett was forced to head the ball away from under his own crossbar in the 4th minute (a skill that he had demonstrated to great effect away to Whitby the previous week).

Daniel Scarr had the next best effort beating the home defence with a header that he could only watch hit the bar and bounce away.

Jack Tolley in the MIckleover goal showed what he was capable of as he tipped a goal bound strike from distance over the bar with one hand on 37 minutes.

Sports best effort of the half came three minutes later as a cross from Morrison was met by the head of Tom Burgin who could only steer the ball narrowly wide of the target.

The visitors struck on the verge of half time having spent much of the half knocking on the door. Dodd and Luke Benbow combined to provide a chance for Chris Lait whose curling shot from outside the box fizzed past Tolley who could do little about a shot of such quality.

McGrath had a shot at goal a couple of minutes after the restart but was unable to find the target, but Sports pulled level on 52 minutes.

Ben Turner, as he so often does provided a quality cross into the area from the left that provided Morrison with the best possible invitation to head it home. The debut boy  was not going to spurn it, and Mickleover Sports became the third team of his career to benefit from a goal on his first appearance, the previous two being Crystal Palace and the Republic of Ireland.

Andy Dales appeared to be impeded as he ran into the box in the 67th minute but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty, and Bennett set up Danny Schofield a minute later, but the ex Millwall man fired over the bar.

A free kick fired home by Drew Canavan in the 83rd minute put the visitors in front again. There was a certain amount of doubt over whether Jack Broadhead had indeed fouled Kayelden Brown just outside the area but that didn’t excuse the wall of defenders, who had been properly placed by Tolley, for failing to react. If they had jumped to block the kick things may have been different, but Tolley was unable to get across goal from the side he was covering, and the ball nestled in the far corner of the net from him.

Bennett yet again tried to make things happen with raids from his position on the right side of the defence but it was not to be.

Manager John McGrath described himself pleased with his team’s display in the main, but disappointed to not still be in a competition that he thought they deserved something out of.

He also admitted to being delighted with Clinton Morrison who he was convinced had a lot to bring to the team.

Match Report: Whitby Town (a)

(By Tony Shaw)

Whitby Town 1-1 Mickleover Sports

Whitby: Bland, Martin, McWilliams, Weledji, Bythway, May, Gell, Hopson, Roberts Mctiernan 77), Tymon, Snaith. Other Subs Round, Dawson, Robinson, Park

 

Sports: Tolley, Bennett, Turner, McGrath, Mills, Burgin, Dales, Broadhead, Baskerville (Litchfield 67), Grocott, Schofield. Other Subs Lansdowne, Sims

 

 

Sports set off for Whitby with loanee Laurence Bilboe set to keep goal but a call From Rotherham United who needed him for the First Team meant Sports had to call up Jack Tolley from the Reserve team. Tilley arrived at the ground with half an hour to spare and made his mark with a string of fine saves as Sports brought back a point from unbeaten Whitby.

 

Both teams took time to settle and it was the home side who threatened first with Adam Gell forcing a good save from Tolley in the 6th minute. A deep free kick forced Tolley to push away from under the bar. Sports were playing some neat football and a good run from Andy Dales saw him brought down 20 yards out. John McGrath took the free kick but Shane Bland moved across to save comfortably. Adam Baskerville was also brought down on the edge of the penalty area but Mcgrath fired over the bar.

 

After reaching half time safely, Sports came out slowly and conceded a goal on 49 minutes. A good run and cross from Danny McWilliams was met by Matthew Tymon whose low volley flew past Tolley from 15 yards. Sports were now under pressure but hit back in the 56th minute when Adam Baskerville was denied a run by the hand of Luke Bythway and he put away the penalty into the bottom corner, sending Bland the wrong way.

 

Whitby went close on 60 minutes when Callum Martin laid the ball off for StevenSnaith but his firmly-hit shot was tipped away by the diving Tolley. The ball bounced out to Tymon and his powerful shot was headed off the line by Jake Bennett. From the corner a chip from Dale Hopson just cleared the bar.

 

Sports had the chance to take the lead on 71 minutes when substitute Brodie Litchfield was put through by Dales but his finish was too close to Bland. Tolley than saved well from Roberts as he dived at the forward’s feet.

 

Sports became the first team to take a point at Whitby this season as they held on well.

 

Attendance 219