Category: Club News

Academy First Years Go Down To League Leaders

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC Academy first year students travelled to league leaders Stafford Rangers for their final ESPFA Midlands Division game of the year.

Stafford had only dropped one point so far and had previously been 3-1 winners at the Don Amott Arena.

Once again it was Stafford with the upperhand throughout, taking a 2-0 victory.

We’re Back In Action!!

by Peter Scherer

Just when we thought there was to be no football until after Christmas, further changes in the Covid regulations now mean we are hosting Radcliffe FC at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday.

This will be Sports first league match since the thrilling 4-0 away win at Nantwich that took them to the top of the NPL.

Radcliffe, from Greater Manchester currently lie 15th in the NPL, with three wins and a draw from their eight games.

Of their five home games they have won against Gainsborough and Bamber Bridge, but their biggest scalp so far has been beating South Shields away in early October.

They are managed by ex Welsh under 21 midfielder Lee Fowler, who played league football with Coventry City and Huddersfield, as well as serving locally with Burton Albion and managing Ilkeston Town.

Fowler’s assistant is the former Liverpool and England under 21 midfielder David Thompson, who played over 230 league games in his career.

Experienced goalkeeper Cameron Belford started his career at Coventry City, before a spell at Bury followed a number of loans. He lists Wrexham and Stranraer among his former clubs and came to Radcliffe from FC United at the beginning of this season.

Belford’s deputy is academy graduate Joey Oldham, who is yet to make his first team debut.

Central defender Jo Cummings is another new signing. The former Sheffield United junior, made one first team appearance for Charlton in the EFL Cup before joining Scunthorpe.  He was loaned to Radcliffe last season, but made his move permanent in June.

Full back Raheem Hanley is well travelled. After junior football with Manchester United, Blackburn and Swansea, he joined Northampton and Halifax. In March last year he joined Welsh Club Connahs Quay and has since been at Chorley, Hereford and Mossley, before arriving at Radcliffe in January.

Similarly to Hanley, fellow full back Tom Miller has seen the football world, from League two to Scottish Division Two to the League of Ireland. He was a junior at Ipswich, Norwich and Glasgow Rangers, and during the last spell was loaned to Brechin City. He then played for Dundalk, Newport County, Lincoln City, Carlisle and Bury, before coming to Radcliffe in October from Fylde.

Luis Morrison was born in Derbyshire, but the former Arsenal and Stevenage junior has travelled far and wide too. He has played in Sweden and Finland, as well as Maidenhead, Grays, Hereford, Canvey Island, Farnborough, Concorde Rangers, Altrincham and Alfreton, before playing at Nuneaton Borough last season. The central defender was a summer signing for Radcliffe and also appeared on the first series of Love Island.

Former England under 19 and C International Curtis Obeng is another new signing. He played in the FA Youth Cup Final for Manchester City, but after his release he spent three years at Wrexham. Having signed for Swansea in 2009, the full back was loaned to various clubs, before joining Macclesfield, and moving on via Altrincham, Solihull Moors and Nuneaton Borough.

Although British born central defender Jack Shiels has played most of his football in the US. He came to Radcliffe in July from Furman Paladins, a US University team, having also played for Greenville and University of West Alabama.

Defender Oliver Thornley has recently arrived from Curzon Ashton, where he had been a product of the clubs youth scheme.

Attacking midfielder Larnell Cole played for England under 19’s and 20’s during his spell with Manchester United Academy. He moved to Fulham in 2014 and made his Premiership debut, before being loaned to MK Dons, Shrewsbury Town and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He then came to Radcliffe recently after spells at Tranmere and FC United.

Matty Crothers is the team captain and longest serving player. The central midfielder is another ex Curzon Ashton player.

Another wide midfielder or winger Rhain Hellewell has spent most of his career in the North West. From Stockport Town and Chester, he has also played for Widnes, before joining FC United last year and then Radcliffe pre-season.

Simon Lenighan is an experienced midfielder who came from Buxton during the summer. The former Leeds United junior had numerous loans before being released in 2014, and has since played for Harrogate, Alfreton, Frickley, Rotherham, Warrington and many more, before spending last season at Buxton.

Irish midfielder Darren McKnight started his career as a Barnsley Junior. After a spell at Shrewsbury, he joined Morecambe in 2016, before moving on to Stalybridge, Bamber Bridge, Hyde, New Mills and then Radcliffe in January this year.

Luca Navarro is another midfielder. He started off at Bolton Wanderers, before spells with Hull City and Bamber Bridge. He was at Buxton before joining Radcliffe.

Another summer signing is Welsh midfielder Jonathan Royle. During his early career at Wrexham, he was loaned to Colwyn and Hednesford, before joining Southport in 2016. A further loan at Telford became permanent, but after three years in Shropshire he headed for Radcliffe.

Louis White came from Hyde in February, but the former Rochdale junior midfielder hasn’t appeared yet this season.

Striker Jean Louis Akpa-Apro started playing for his home team of Toulouse, before moving to Stade Brest and FC Brussel in Belgium. He came to England with Grimsby Town in 2008, moving on to Rochdale, Tranmere, Bury, Shrewsbury, Barnet and Yeovil. Then went to the UAE with Masfout in 2019. He came back to the UK with Oldham, before arriving at Radcliffe in March, he has already scored six goals this season.

Bermudan striker Kole Hall has also found the net four times this season. He played his youth football in Bermuda, before joining Tranmere Rovers and was signed pre-season.

Khius Metz is an Irish striker, signed in July after a spell in Burnley’s Academy. After a loan at Chorley he was released from Turf Moor and has spent the last two seasons at Irlam.

Former Liverpool Junior striker Andy Owens has joined from Welsh league side Airbus. He has scored four goals so far too and played with Stoke City and Stafford Rangers following his release. He has moved around the North West mainly, with Rhyl, Accrington, Mansfield, Southport, Telford, Barrow, Stockport, Marine, Stalybridge, Skelmersdale, Altrincham and Connah’s Quay. He also made two England C appearances in 2012.

Kick-off is at 7.45 with no away fans allowed. The crowd number is restricted to 300, so its first come first served. The clubhouse has to remain closed, but beer is available in the fanzone.

Radcliffe Game To Go Ahead!

This Saturday’s game against Radcliffe is going ahead!

Due to COVID restrictions there will be a maximum of 300 home fans only, with no Away fans.

Please get down early if you want to cheer on The Sports as it will be a first come, first serve basis.

#GetBehindTheSports

ESPFA Team Of The Week

by Peter Scherer

It’s a round of applause for Mickleover Reds Academy centre back Patrick Pugh, after he has made the latest ESPFA team of the week.

His strong performance to keep the nil goals against record against Belper Town going, when the Reds took their fourth successive win 4-0, earned his nomination.

Not making the final 11 but also nominated was Black Academy groups Ethan Mann, despite being on the losing side at Carlton.

This Thursday the Reds are away at Carlton, while the Blacks have a tough match away to Stafford Rangers.

Reserves Back To Winning Ways

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves came out on top of a local Derby with a home victory against  Hilton Harriers, after two first half goals gave them three more points in their Central Midlands League South Division campaign.

Mickleover’s starting line was 1-Tom Smith 2-Larrel King 3-Ben Lewin 4-Marcus Calderone 5-Gus Williamson 6-Tom Eccleshall 7-Lopes Massampo 18-Will Monteiro 9-Jude Ayetine 10-Surafel Tefera 11-Mathew Feurtado. Subs: Clinton Morrison, Cameron Anthony, Aaron Hayer.

The opening 10 minutes were end to end with neither side having any clear cut chances. But on 11 minutes Tefera was tripped just inside the box and after receiving treatment, took the penalty himself which was well saved by Hilton keeper Harry Wood.

Jim Rushby then weighed in for Hilton with a long shot just over the bar, before Eccleshall scored for Mickleover in the 18th minute, only for the referee to change his mind and give a free kick, after a very delayed offside decision, when the players had already lined up for the restart.

Ayetine had a good shot from outside the area four minutes later earning a corner, before a Rushby header for Hilton was just over after connecting with a cross from the left.

Wing backs King and Lewin were both working well on the overlaps and providing plenty of service into the area for Mickleover, but goalkeeper Wood had most of it covered.

Karl Chadwick tried his luck for Hilton and wasn’t far off target, followed a few minutes later by another good effort from Rushby, as Hilton continued to favour the long shot from outside the area.

After 37 minutes Monteiro found himself one on one with keeper Wood, successfully rounding him to open the scoring 1-0.

Hilton came straight back with a wide shot from Chris Smith, before King had a shot blocked for Mickleover from Feurtado’s cross.

Massampo found himself in the referee’s book after halting a 40th minute break for Hilton, but a minute later Mickleover were awarded a second penalty, when Chris Martin tripped Monteiro from behind as he headed for goal. This time Tefera made no mistake, 2-0.

Mickleover earned another corner before half time when a King run found Monteiro again, but his shot was blocked. Then Fuertado put a dangerous ball into the Hilton box, with Calderone’s header going out for a corner.

So it was 2-0 officially, but could have been four, although Hilton had continued to show some danger on the breaks too, making sure that Williamson and Calderone were kept busy in central defence.

Mickleover started to push hard again as soon as the second half kicked off, with Monteiro holding a long ball well from King after five minutes, but his attempts to shoot were blocked.

But Smith quickly responded for Hilton again and after jinking his way through the early defence, his shot was just over.

As in the first half it continued end to end and after 54 minutes, Monteiro’s charge was halted by Wood advancing from his line to snatch the ball from the Mickleover striker’s foot.

The ball then bounced around the area for a while before Ayetine was blocked and lost possession.

55 minutes gone and Morrison was on for Calderone, just before Fuertado managed to get a good shot in through a crowded area.

Hilton had their own penalty claims waved away after a challenge from Sports keeper Smith, but it was so nearly a third goal when Tefera’s shot hit Jake Atkinson very hard at point blank range as he stood on the line, after another strong run down the left from Fuertado.

Rushby again threatened for Hilton, with a 66th minute shot after a free kick.

Anthony then came on for Fuertado, before another King run down the right provided a telling cross, which Monteiro put against the right hand post.

Goals could still come from either side, despite changes in tactics from both sides. Ayetine was hauled back by his shirt after chasing a long ball from Williamson and then King had a wild shot himself.

Then Hilton’s Tom Rushby managed to find some space to fire in as hot, just wide of Smith’s left hand post.

 

Assistant coach Hayer was the next sub as he came on for Lewin, but shortly afterwards skipper Williamson found himself yellow carded.

Hayer had a shot which landed on the roof of the net after 84 minutes and a later Hilton header went straight into Smith’s arms.

As the full time whistle beckoned, Ayetine had a shot deflected out for a corner, but Hayer’s ball into the area had no one on the receiving end.

So it remained a hard fought 2-0 victory, against a tough Hilton side, who despite going behind, continued to push forward right to the end of the game.

First Years Go Down 1-0

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover FC Academy first years suffered their third successive defeat, after going down 1-0 at Carlton in the ESPFA Midlands Division.

The Black squad have struggled since their win against Belper in the first game of the season, but had held Carlton to 0-0 at half time.

The starting line-up was 1-Fin Bowen 2-Bernhard Koecher 3-Lewis Hughes 4-Ethan Mann 5-Amin 6-Sam Allsopp 7-Tom Griffiths 8-Jay Wilkinson 9-Devon Smith 10-Reece Perry 11-Emilio De Abreu. Subs: Dylan Sanghera, Lennon Higgins, Josh Woolley, Joe Nzeyimana, Dylan James, Chipigo Hamanga. 

In the second half Kyle Fawsitt opened the scoring for Carlton and with the Mickleover side unable to respond, the Nottinghamshire side sealed their first points of the season.

Academy Reds Continue To Dominate

by Peter Scherer

The Mickleover FC Academy Red squad continued their dominant start to the season with another 4-0 win against Belper Town in the ESPFA Midlands Division.

Coach Pablo Mills’ starting line-up was 1-Tom Smith 2-Ben Lewin 3-Wiliam Robinson 4-Louis Pennington 5-Cameron Anthony 6-Pat Pugh 7-George Atwal 8-Jacob Edge-Lucas 9-Kai Moore 10-Bobby Battisson 11-Josh Satchwell. Subs: Kyran Ward, Ted Stevenson, Niall Cole, Brodie Carter, Fin Barker, Sam Pipes.

Having beaten Belper 9-0 way a few weeks back, another high scoring game was anticipated.

The Mickleover team soon started to take charge, with Battisson the first to threaten after Belper lost possession in the fourth minute, his shot earning the first corner.

A minute later he was through again, firing his shot just wide of the right hand post.

Once the team had begun to settle, wing backs Robinson and Lewin began to enjoy plenty of freedom for long runs, and in the eighth Robinson put a shot just wide too.

But Belper had an early chance too when a rare mistake in the Mickleover defence, left a visiting striker with a clear shot just over the bar.

Battisson continued to cause problems in the Belper area and almost latched onto a long ball from Satchwell 13 minutes in.

But only a minute later another good through ball pierced the visiting defence, with Moore collecting and burying it in the left hand corner of the Belper net, 1-0.

They could easily have followed with a second almost immediately, Battisson cut inside to find Edge-Lucas who shot just wide.

The attacks continued to come thick and fast, with Pugh and Anthony marshalling the build up from central defence.

Battisson won a free kick on the outside of the box after 17 minutes, Atwal delivered, but the follow up was in the net but declared offside.

Soon after a Lewin corner caused havoc in the box, and Belper had to clear off the line.

It only seemed like a matter of time before a second goal and after Battison had another 23rd minute run stopped by the keeper, Moore got his second to make it 2-0 in the 26th minute. Belper had lost the ball on the halfway line and Satchwell’s interception provided the telling pass, before being brought down himself, which left Moore clear.

As the half hour was completed Battisson was still trying to get on the scoresheet, but had his shot saved again three minutes later.

Robinson managed to put another cross in across the face of the goal, but neither Moore nor Battisson could connect. But they followed up again almost immediately with Battisson taking a long ball from Satchwell, before the Belper keeper dived at his feet.

Another Satchwell cross then saw Battisson fail with his overhead attempt and after Moore turned the Belper wing back, Lewin had a shot tipped out for a corner.

Mickleover had only made one change in the first half, when Stevenson came on after Pennington took a knock.

It was Carter leading the Mickleover attack for the second half, but after an early corner for the home side, Belper got another good shot in just over Smith’s bar.

The shots began to reign in on the Belper even more, with Stevenson going close in the 54th minute. Five minutes later Lewin continued a run from his own half, only to have his final shot well saved.

But goal number three soon arrived, with Satchwell pushed off the ball in the area, the referee awarded a penalty.

Carter’s initial save brought out another fine save from the keeper, but the rebound fell straight to the Mickleover striker, who made no mistake with his second attempt, 3-0 on the hour.

There could have been a second for Carter only three minutes later, but his shot was easily saved, before Satchwell then had a go, only for the Belper keeper to whisk it off his foot.

Carter had another chance in the 73rd minute, but failed to connect properly and fell over.

There was no respite for Belper however as Carter made it 4-0 in the closing minutes and subs Cole and Pipes both had good chances foiled by the Belper keeper.

So the team remain unbeaten after three games, with a +19 goal difference, having yet to concede a goal. Next Thursday they are in action again, with a visit to Carlton.

Sports Reserves Take On Hilton Harriers

by Peter Scherer

Hopefully if the weather is kind to us over the next couple of days, Mickleover Reserves will be action again at home to Hilton Harriers this Saturday in the Central Midlands League South Division.

At present Hilton are level on points with Mickleover, but lie ninth in the table, having played one game more and behind on goal difference.

Max Bulmer has managed to score in three of their matches, having started the season on the subs bench, he has now become a regular.

Ever present Aaron Millinchip also found the net against Pinxton in 1 -1 draw, Mickleover’s conquerors last weekend, when Hilton went down 4-1 away to Rowsley.

Mickleover’s Surafel Tefera and Jude Ayetaine will also be looking to return to their early season goalscoring form too and get the team back into winning ways,

Kick- off is 2pm at the Don Amott Arena and spectators are allowed at £4 per adult within the current covid restrictions and catering will available.

Cup Tie Disappointment For Sports

by Peter Scherer

Sitting top of the NPL but a month without a game, Mickleover FC headed to Hitchin Town for last night’s FA Trophy, with high hopes of further progression in the competition.

With Paddy Webb unavailable the line-up was 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Andrew Wright 9-Aman Verma 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren. Subs-Joe Slinn, Bobby Battisson, Josh Satchwell, Pablo Mills, Ben Gowing. 

Mickleover started brightly and won a corner in the opening minute, before an Agustien cross found Beavon in the box five minutes later.

Agustien and Wright then worked together, which ended with the ball crossing the face of the Hitchin goal with no one to connect.

Although Hitchin won an 11th minute corner, it was still Mickleover on top and when Verma was fouled in the centre circle, Warren almost found his way through the hosts defence.

Hitchin were awarded a free kick after 16 minutes, but wasn’t clear what for, but it was easily dealt with by the Mickleover defence.

Although Hitchin were starting to get into the game more, Mickleover were still on top and on the 20 minute mark Beavon’s attempt was just wide from a Verma cross.

Agustien followed up with a shot that earned another corner and seven minutes later Beavon shot just wide of the left hand post, after Wright had crossed from the left.

Just after Hitchin’s Luke Brown had a point blank shot saved by Hawkins, he was on hand to open the scoring against the run of play, in the 25th minute, after a free kick from Ben Walster on the halfway, found captain Dan Webb, whose flick was headed home by Brown 0-1.

Hitchin went close again a couple of minutes later, firing just wide, before Wright made a customary charge upfield and earned another corner for Mickleover.

Now pushing for an equaliser, Butler sent Bennett on an overlapping run and his cross earned another corner, before Wright picked up a Beavon cross on 38 minutes, only for his attempt to be blocked.

Although Mickleover had fought their way back into the game, Hitchin’s Callum Stead continued to threaten on his runs on the defence and beat Butler on his right, before his shot was saved.

As half time approached Beavon got a cross in from the left to Milner, but again his shot was blocked, but Agustien then went close with a blistering shot through a crowed goal area, well saved by Hitchin keeper Charlie Horlock.

Hawkins had to make another save from Stead and Verma’s attempt at the other end was easily taken by Horlock.

But with time added on an attempt from Layne Eadie was cleared off the line, but when Stead had the legs of Butler again on the left, Brown was in the middle to make it 0-2 with his second goal of the game.

It was a disappointing second 20 minutes for Mickleover, who lost their flow and desperately seemed to missing a target man up front.

The defence were allowing Stead and Brown to outrun them and going in two goals down had paid the consequences.

There had oddly been early signs of time wasting by the hosts, which the referee failed to pick up on, keeper Horlock being particularly guilty, re-siting free-kicks etc  on a number of occasions.

Mickleover again started the second half on the attack, with Wright crossing the face of the goal again, with no one there to receive, as both Verma and Beavon failed to connect.

Beavon then showed some of his trickery until his legs were taken beneath him, his word in the referee’s ear then earned him a yellow card in another strange decision.

With temperatures already very low the rain got heavier too, but the natural flow of the Mickleover side just wasn’t happening despite the efforts of all concerned.

Agustien had a curling free kick saved and just after the hour Morris put a cross in which Butler headed just wide.

The time wasting was worsening as Hitchin were taking an average of 40-50 seconds to take a free-kick, with no action from the referee except to reprimand Mickleover players who brought it to his attention.

Brown went close again after 68 minutes, but only had to wait another four minutes for his hattrick. Stead was again free to run at the defence, who stood off him, before Brown was able to pick his spot giving Hawkins no chance 0-3.

Milner and Wright had both run themselves into the ground but to no avail and despite brining on Gowing, Mills and Battisson for Agustien, Milner and Warren, it remained 0-3 with Mickleover going out of their second cup competition with visits to Hertfordshire.