IT ALL STARTED SO WELL…

by Peter Scherer

Back in August and full of optimism the 2019/20 Northern Premier League season kicked off with a home win against Stalybridge Celtic thanks to a Jack Storer penalty.

Although there were 1-0 defeats at both Witton Albion and Warrington Town, the home form was good with Mason Warren’s penalty securing a second win at the expense of Stafford Rangers, before a thrilling 4-2 win at home to Buxton had two more penalty successes for Warren and two goals for Declan Bacon on loan from Alfreton Town.

Sports took their first away point with a 1-1 draw at Grantham but then came the first home defeat at the hands of Ashton United.

But three consecutive away games netted a magnificent eight points, 3-1 at Atherton, 2-2 at Gainsborough and 3-2 at Hyde. Veteran striker Lee Hughes hit three goals and new signing Stuart Beavon two, with Warren, Nathan Modest and Doncaster Rovers loanee Max Watters also on the score sheet.

Sports completed a five game unbeaten run with a win and a draw at home with Scarborough Athletic and Morpeth Town, with Hughes and Warren again the scorers.

But four successive defeats at Matlock, then at home to Lancaster, Witton and Radcliffe put them on the back foot.

Beavon scored his third league goal in a 1-0 win at Buxton at the end of November, but as December arrived so did the beginning of the wet and soggy times to follow.

There were disappointing away defeats at Bamber Bridge, Scarborough and Stalybridge to see off 2019, with the notable absence of any home games.

The New Year had gone well though initially, Paddy Webb scoring on his debut for a 1-0 win at Buxton, and three days later a rare home game brought a 2-1 win over Nantwich Town with Beavon netting both.

It was off to visit table toppers South Shields next and for much of the game Sports held their own with goals from Andy Wright and Webb again.

The biggest win of the year then followed with a 4-1 home win against Grantham. Karel Tvaroh and Ryan Nesbitt joined Wright and Beavon on the score sheet.

Although it wasn’t a win at FC United, it was one of Sports best performances of the season. They went ahead on three occasions but United kept coming back to finally settle on 3-3 with Webb hitting two and Beavon the other scorer.

After a string of postponement’s it was back home for the visit of Whitby Town. The gale force winds played havoc with Sports game plan and they came away as 3-1 losers and didn’t get to play again for over three weeks.

It was then a return match at Whitby and 1-1 with Aman Verma’s strike, before United FC came to the Don Amott Arena for what turned out to be the last home game of the season.

United were a class apart and Sports were inflicted with a 4-1 defeat, but worse was to come for their final match before the Corona Virus brought everything to a halt.

Sports were well on top at Ashton with a first half goal from Webb, but just before half time the referee was injured and replaced by one of his assistants.

Two penalties followed for Ashton and both Remy Agustien and Warren were red carded, in one of the most appalling displays of officialdom ever seen on a football pitch.

For a while Sports had hovered just outside the play-offs, but as the waterlogged pitches intervened, the games in hand caused an ever increasing backlog, before the whole season came to an abrupt and disappointing conclusion.

In the FA Cup it was a first qualifying round exit away to Stafford, after seeing offer Coventry Sphinx 3-0 at home in the Preliminaries.

It was 3-0 defeat at Basford that ended their FA Trophy hopes, while the Derbyshire Senior Cup Challenge ended when Long Eaton United visited and went home 4-2 winners.

There was a home win in the first round of the Integro Cup 3-2 against Loughborough Dynamo, but after the first attempt was postponed, Buxton were the visitors and Sports went down 3-2.

The league is due to start again in August for the 2020/21 season, by which time Sports were due to be playing on a brand new 3G pitch. Decisions on both are now eagerly awaited.

Confirmation of the end of the 2019/20 season

Mickleover Sports Club’s Chairman, Don Amott, has made the following statement.

WE’VE HAD THE TORNADO, WE’VE HAD THE FLOODS, WE’VE GOT THE VIRUS, JUST WAITING FOR THE PLAGUE OF RATS?

by Peter Scherer

So the Northern Premier league lasted one week more than the superstars in the Premiership, but once Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the Coronavirus, the inevitable came to suspend all football until April 3^rd.

Sadly a waterlogged pitch last Saturday claimed yet another of Mickleover Sports home fixtures, when Hyde United were due to visit. But where does that leave things?

Originally Sports final game of the season was due on April 25^th away to Radcliffe, to allow time for the play-offs. But currently having played 29 games out of seasons 42, there remains eight home games and five away games still un-played

We are 15^th in the league with games in hand due to the torrential rain over the last couple of months though.

There are talks of the season being void and just starting again for 2020/21. Others have suggested just finishing off the remaining games when the all clear is given, but there is no definitive answer that would satisfy everyone.

Looking on the bright side and the future with a 3G pitch, which should end the waterlogged postponement that have plagued this season.

It’s been a tough year for Sports first team, but before the rain and storms intervened, they were on the edge of the play-offs.

The reserve side top the Central Midlands League Division One South, and are in the Divisional Cup Final and still in contention for the Presidents Cup.

Not forgetting the Academy, where Sports have two sides, one top of their league and one in second place, but both in the Cup Semi-finals, which could easily provide an all Sports final.

So April 3^rd is the next review date, so it’s no football until then, but any further news will be forwarded as soon as it is known.

_________

You can read the NPL’s official statement here

Unfortunately, today’s match against Hyde United has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Bring on our 3G pitch next year!

SPORTS SET TO SEEK OUT HYDE

by Peter Scherer

Following Tuesday nights farcical defeat at Ashton Utd, and the postponement of the home game against Basford On Thursday, Mickleover Sports will be hoping that the pitch is fit, no health warning limit’s are applied and they take away three points from the visiting Hyde Utd.

Hyde lost 2-1 at Morpeth on Tuesday, but took three points off Matlock Town last Saturday and currently lie 10^th in the Northern Premier League, five points ahead but having played four games more.

So let’s take a look at our visitors. Former leading goalscorer Tom Pratt captains the Hyde Team, which has a mixture of youth and experience.

Lloyd Allinson is currently their first choice keeper. The ex Huddersfield player has also had spells at Chesterfield, FC United and Nantwich, before being signed from Gainsborough Trinity.

He has competition from James Hodges though, back in his second spell at the club after resigning from Tadcaster.

Defender Bradley Roscoe started his career at Preston North End and also played for Fleetwood before Hyde picked him up from Buxton.

He is joined in the defence by the well-travelled Ashley Young. A signing late last year from FC United, Young is another returnee, but has had spells in the Welsh League with Bangor City, Rhyl and Aberystwyth.

Tom Dean is also a defender they signed from Clitheroe, but had previously seen action with FC United, Mossley and Buxton too.

Kyle Brownhill had been at Hyde a number of times, but the experienced defender starting off at Stockport County and Burnley, before a spell at Ramsbottom preceded his last move.

Jordan Fagbola is another defender that came from FC United about a year ago. He started at Rochdale but arrived via Stockport, Colwyn Bay and Solihull Moors.

With a number of injuries and suspension, Hyde have taken ex Fulham midfielder Will McCamley on loan from Huddersfield Town, as well as promoting juniors Sam Summerbee, Max Pritchard, Joshua Churchman and Hamid Addai to the first team squad.

Striker Paddy Lane is a product of Hyde’s own Academy, along with defender Jack McConville.

Sheffield United loanee Reece York is in line for a place in midfield, he started his career at Fulham, while the Blades have also loaned out Senegalese midfielder Iliman Ndiaye, who began his football at Boreham Wood.

Jack Dyche and Liam Tongue are also midfieders.  Dyche came from Leeds United Juniors and Scunthorpe, before his non league career started at Ashton. He came to Hyde from Guiseley. Tongue signed from Stalybridge Celtic after an apprenticeship at Stockport.

Star striker Chris Sharp has scored a Champions League goal against Anderlecht when he played for TNS in the Welsh League. He also represented England C and played for numerous North Western and Welsh clubs before joining Hyde from FC United.

Finally Kielen Adams is another loanee striker, but from Oldham, after they had signed him from Bradford City Academy.

Unfortunately, tonight’s match against Basford United has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitched.

by Peter Scherer

With Sports smarting from the defeats against United FC and Ashton Utd in the last week, they face a Basford Utd team tomorrow night that have also hit a rough patch.

Having gone into last weekend’s game at home to Buxton, their 2-0 defeat dropped them to fourth, with only one win from the last five games for Steve Chettle’s men.

Former Derby County Junior Kane Richards has been scoring regularly for our Nottinghamshire visitors, while among the rest of the Basford line-up are Scottish goalkeeper Kieran Preston, an ex Bristol Rovers player, who was signed from Grantham.

Callum Chettle, son of manager and ex Nottingham Forest favourite Steve, began his career at Forest, but also numbers Peterborough Utd amongst his former clubs.

Midfielder James Reid also started at Forest and since played for NPL side Gainsborough Trinity, similarly Matt Thornhill, who after leaving Forest played for Hibernian, after loan spells at Brighton and Cheltenham.

Polish born Stefan Galinski came from Grantham, but started his playing career at Derby County and has played for Alfreton Town too.

Defender Brad Gascoigne came in from Barwell last season, but has been on the injured list recently, while Courey Grantham is a longer serving player in his fifth year at the club, having signed from Heanor Town.

Ex Derby County Academy player Zak Goodson has also returned to the club after a loan period at Newark to join their striking force, he should be joined by ex Coalville ace Nat Watson.

For Sports it should be a home debut for Jordan Young, the former Swindon Town midfielder is on loan from Coventry City.

Also Harrison Davison-Hale could be between the sticks, if Nathan Broome is unavailable. Davison-Hale debuted at Ashton and is a former Huddersfield Town Junior.