SPORTS HOME RUN ENDS
by Peter Scherer

Although Mickleover Sports started strongly against Whitby Town, their run of home success sadly came to an end with a 3-1 defeat in front of a healthy home crowd.

It was fairly even from the start until Patrick Webb had Whitby keeper Shane Bland at full stretch with a save just under the bar as the 20 minute mark approached. His attempt was then closely followed by a shot just around the left hand post from Stuart Beavon.

Durrell Berry had cleared one Whitby attempt off the line, before Sports pressure then told on 32 minutes when Webb was left with a tap in at the left hand post, after a dangerous cross from the right.

But Whitby were soon back into the game as Callum Patton secured the equaliser, before both Beavon and Webb had further attempts well saved by Bland. 

They went in at 1-1 at half time but within minutes of the restart Webb went close again, then with the Sports defenders looking for offside, Paul Blackett got through and was left to beat Sports Keeper Nathan Broome in a one on one to give Whitby the lead.

It continued as end to end, but the increasing wind started to play a part, particularly affecting Broome’s clearances.

Andrew Wright went desperately close to equalising, as his deflection just missed the top right hand corner, while Sports made a double substitution with Mason Warren replacing Keme Agustien and Reece Thompson on for Ryan Nesbitt.

But Whitby went further ahead when Patton scored his second with seven minutes on the clock, and made sure all three points headed Northwards.

Sports will be hoping to return to winning ways again on Tuesday evening, when they are up against title contenders Basford United.

View Match Photos (by Sarah Middleton)

by Brad Cox (@BradJCox_)

Patrick Webb bagged a brace as Sports squeezed a point from a thrilling 3-3 draw against FC United of Manchester.

Webb gave Sports a surprise lead in the 37^th minute after hitting United on the counter from defending a corner. Webb had a long time to think about his finish as he was charging in on goal, but the new signing for Sports slotted past United goalkeeper, Cameron Belford.

Sports were under immense pressure throughout the first half, United hit the woodwork twice but Sports did well to soak it all up and defended resiliently early on. The story of the match was Sports’ inability to hold onto a lead. Just five minutes later, United were all square – on the brink of half-time.

Two huge saves from Nathan Broome early in the second half saw Sports hit United on the counter yet again. This time it was the youngster, Karel Tvaroh, galloping up-field before cutting it back for the in-form Stuart Beavon. Beavon slotted it home and scored his fourth goal in four games for Sports.

But it was déjà vu for Sports as United came from behind again to bring their side level. United’s top goal-scorer in the league, Tunde Owolabi, let rip from outside the box leaving Broome with no chance. His strike flew into the top-right corner.

Webb gave Sports their third lead of the match in the 71^st minute when Ryan Nesbitt put a low-driven cross into the box. Webb hit it first time, nutmegging Belford.

Sports were just a little over ten minutes away from being the first side in the league to beat United since November, however, substitute Sinclair-Smith had another idea. Two Sports defenders lost their footing in the box at a crucial time which left Sinclair-Smith with an easy finish to make it three apiece.

Sports dropped to tenth in the Northern Premier Division but do have at least a game in a hand on four teams above them.

FC United Starting XI; Belford, Morris, Dodd, Griffiths, Doyle, Elsdon (Hawley), Ennis, Potts (C), Owolabi, Homson-Smith (Sinclair-Smith), Linney

Bench: Lineman, Donohue, Kerr, Sinclair-Smith, Hawley

Mickleover Starting XI; Broome, Tvaroh, Turner, Agustien (Scott), Freeman, Young (C), Verma, Wright (Warren), Webb (Thompson), Beavon, Nesbitt

Bench: Thompson, Scott, Berry, Warren, McGrath

FC United of Manchester 3-3 Mickleover Sports
Saturday February 1^st 2020
Broadhurst Park

by Laurie Newman

Mickleover Sports put Grantham Town to the sword as they put four past the away side which included a spectacular effort from Andrew Wright.

Sports started the better team after having a number of chances to take the lead. The best came after Jon Worsnop made a fantastic save from a few yards out after Paddy Webb fired the ball towards goal at the far post.

Despite having more chances on goal in the game, Grantham took the lead through Craig Westcarr.

Westcarr opened the scoring for the visitors on the 29^th minute after his shot from inside the box found the back of the net. Westcarr picked up the ball and capitalised on Battersby’s mistake after he appeared to lose control of the ball in the box.

The hosts nearly pulled one back before half time when Stuart Beavon hit the underside of the bar from a tight angle. 

Soon after though, the home side would get their deserved equaliser. 

Karel Tvaroh levelled things up just before half time when his first time strike at the far post following a dangerous cross from Ryan Nesbitt found the back of the net.

Beavon was doing all the right things but it just wasn’t coming off for him so far. Beavon’s flick from a low pass nearly looped over Worsnop and into the back of the net. Luckily for Grantham the score line remained level at the break.

Sports turned up the heat in the second half and only ten minutes in the home side took the lead. Andrew Wright caught the ball on the volley from outside the box and the ball elegantly glided into the top left hand corner.

Sports would then add two goals in quick succession around ten minutes after Wright’s stunner.

The first came from Ryan Nesbitt who chipped the keeper from inside the box after being played in on goal. 

Stuart Beavon’s scored the fourth which all but sealed the three points after his deflected shot from inside the box found the back of the net.

Wright continued to run the show as he nearly scored his second of the game after some nice footwork in the box. Unfortunately the finish was just inches wide of the post.

Sports comfortably saw out the rest of the match, secure in the fact that they had a three goal cushion.

The win got the home side back to winning ways as well as moving them up to 8^th place. It also meant that they had won four out of their last five games in the league.

Star man: Andrew Wright
Entertainment Value: 4/5
Goal times: Craig Westcarr (29′), Karel Tvaroh (41′), Andrew Wright (55′), Ryan Nesbitt (67′), Stuart Beavon (69′)

Mickleover Sports 4-1 Grantham Town
Saturday 18th January 2020
Don Amott Arena

by Laurie Newman

A Stuart Beavon brace was enough to secure all three points for Mickleover Sports against Nantwich Town.

Nantwich looked the livelier team in the opening few minutes. They controlled the flow of the game and it was not a surprise when they took the lead.

The visitors opened the deadlock in the ninth minute thanks to their skipper Casper Hughes. Hughes’ effort from outside the box managed to beat Nathan Broome by finding the bottom right hand corner. 

The away team continued to pile the pressure on the home side, but against the run of play Sports managed to pull one back all thanks to a moment of brilliance from Stuart Beavon.

Beavon levelled things up for the home side when his sweet trike from outside the box curled into the top right corner, much to the delight of the home fans.

The remainder of the half didn’t see many real goal scoring chances from either team, both being limited to shots from outside the box.

The second half was a slow burner. There were no real chances until the first goal as both teams were trying to find their way back into the game.

Stuart Beavon scored his second of the game and what would eventually be the winner, after he fired a loose ball into the net from close range after a scramble in the box. That goal took his tally up to seven for the season so far.

Beavon nearly scored a third within a few minutes. Karel Tvaroh whipped in a delightful ball to Beavon who was unmarked in the box, but unfortunately his header went just over the bar.

Nantwich’s attempts to pull one back were short lived. Goal scorer Casper Hughes tried again and again to get his side back into the game but his attempts were either off target or saved by Nathan Broome.

Mickleover held out valiantly for the rest of the game. The win extended the home teams winning run to three games.

Mickleover Sports 2-1 Nantwich Town
Don Amott Arena
Saturday 4th January 2020

by Brad Cox

Stuart Beavon’s double saw Sports beat Stalybridge Celtic 3-1 and go into the festive period with a win.

Sports went behind early in the first half but Beavon got Sports on equal terms in the 34^th minute. It was a beautiful chip from the outside the box which saw the keeper rooted to the spot. The keeper had no chance.

Aman Verma continued his good run of form for Sports as he took the lead with a header just three minutes into the second half.

Just three minutes after Verma’s header, Beavon bagged his second of the match. A lobbed through ball saw Beavon in on goal who took it past the keeper leaving the back of the net begging him to put it away. Beavon scored with conviction and doubled Sports’ lead.

Beavon had the chance to seal a hat-trick in the 70^th minute when he was brought down inside the box but his effort went over the bar.

Sports are next in action on Boxing Day as they return to the Don Amott Arena, they face a tough challenge against Basford United.

Stalybridge Celtic 1-3 Mickleover Sports
Saturday 21st December
Bower Fold

Unfortunately today’s game against Basford has been called off due to a waterlogged pitch.