Category: Club News

Cup Shoot Out Defeat For Sports Reserves

by Peter Scherer

It was Mickleover Sports Reserves home tie against Pinxton in the second round of the Abacus Floodlit Cup, but having been postponed on numerous occasions, it was switched to Shirebrook FC’s ground.

It was fairly even for the opening minutes, but there was already signs that Sports were in for a tough night, with some stern tackling from the Pinxton defenders.

After six minutes a good through ball gave Surafel Tefera a half chance, before Lewis Belgrave had a shot blocked a few minutes later.

Elijah Fatubarin then got away and was almost on for a one on one with Pinxton’s keeper Liam Power, but Pinxton kept fighting back.

But as the end of the first 15 minutes approached, there was a scramble in the Sports goalmouth and at the second attempt Blount found the back of Kiran Sanghera’s net to give Pinxton the lead.

Pinxton managed to cut off some of sports midfield supply, but in his attempt to break through Tefera was hacked down with a late tackle, but the resultant free kick went straight into Power’s hands.

Finley Davies had a shot from outside the box that was tipped over and a couple of successive corners from Josh Satchwell caused chaos in the Pinxton defence, but they still held out.

Approaching the half hour Lamin Sanyang had a shot just beyond the right hand post, as Sports began to press, which left them vulnerable to a Pinxton break.

As the referee failed to react to some crude tackling, there was a confrontation between the teams and what seemed like an endless discussion.

Tefera almost connected with a through ball after Satchwell had created some space, but there was more chaos when both Tefera and Fatubarin were hacked down as they headed for goal.

It was a free-kick on the edge of the box, which was followed by a good attempt from Belgrave.

Satchwell just lost out chasing the ball on a one on one with Power, before Belgrave had a shot straight at the keeper as the half time whistle beckoned.

Into the second half and Sports began to take charge. Satchwell had an early shot deflected for a corner, but Pinxton came close too when Sanghera was forced to punch clear.

The constant “hand ball” shouts from Pinxton had become rather tiresome, but it only seemed to make Sports even more determined.

The goal scoring chances became more frequent, with Satchwell going close after bursting through the defence and with about 20 minutes on the clock it was Satchwell that grabbed a well-deserved equaliser.

Belgrave had a couple of shots and Fatubarin had some threatening runs. After another late tackle Belgrave rattled the bar from the free kick, but time ran out and it was down to penalties.

Carl Clark put his shot straight at the Pinxton keeper, but Sanghera managed to save their second attempt too. 

After the compulsory five attempts it was 3-3 with Davies, Sanyang and Fatubarin all finding the net, after Ben Lewin’s attempt was saved.

Pinxton’s sixth attempt hit the bar, so Sports just needed to score. Jack Smith’s shot was saved, before both teams scored their next two. 

After Pinxton scored their ninth attempt, Satchwell’s shot was saved and it was game over with Pinxton the victors.

FC United of Manchester (H): Match Preview

SPORTS LOOK TO DIVIDE UNITED!

by Peter Scherer

Thanks to a few dry spells over the last few days, Mickleover Sports will hopefully have the rare opportunity of hosting a home Northern Premier League game at the Don Amott Arena on Saturday, when they welcome title challengers United FC of Manchester.

Fresh from their tough 1-1 draw at Whitby last Tuesday, Sports still have a number of games in hand, whereas FC United currently lie third, after a 4-4 draw with Warrington last weekend.

Mike Potts captains FC United, the midfielder having started out a Blackburn Rovers youth team player, but joined United from Bamber Bridge in October 2018, having also numbered York City, AFC Fylde, Guiseley, Stalybridge Celtic, Bradford Park Avenue and Curzon Ashton among his former clubs.

The experienced Cameron Belford should be in goal, currently on loan from Nuneaton. He started out at Coventry City and played form a number of league clubs, including Bury, Southend Utd, Mansfield, Accrington, Wrexham and Forest Green and had a spell in Scotland too at Stranraer.

Aaron Morris is a central defender that Utd signed from Runcorn Linnets, while former Blackpool Junior Adam Dodd, and went out on loan to Altrincham, Ayr Utd and Chorley, before being released. His highlight was playing for Ayr at Hampden Park in a Scottish Cup semi-final.

Centre back Matthew Elsdon is another loanee, from Barrow. He played junior football with both Sunderland and Middlesbrough and also had a spell with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

Fellow central defender Chris Doyle has spent most of his career in the North West. He came out of Everton’s Academy, to play at Morecambe, Chorley and Southport, before joining United from Marine.

Curtis Jones is another defender, who has travelled the UK football world. He played for Celtic under 21’s and Livingstone in Scotland, TNS in Wales, plus Stockport County and Bristol City among his English teams. He also scored the 90th minute equaliser in last week’s Warrington match.

Right winger Morgan Homson-Smith has had spells at Harrogate, Prescot Cables and Southport before joining FC United and was another scorer last week, while prolific goal scorer Tunde Owolabi is always a danger in sight of goal.

The Nigerian born player was at Radcliffe before moving to play in Malta, he had also played for Hyde and scored last week and on his Utd FC debut.

Midfielder Paul “Charlie Ennis” came to Utd from Ashton Utd. He started out at Stockport, but has travelled via Buxton, Bala Town and Matlock amongst others.

Bolton Wanderers was the starting point for Striker Luke Griffiths, but he arrived at Utd from Prescot.

Dan Trickett-Smith once cost £300,000 when Liverpool bought him from Crewe Alexandra. The midfielder made one start in the Premiership but went across the Atlantic to play for Sacramento, before returning to the UK with Port Vale, from where Utd have him on loan.

Other members of their squad include Jack Lenehan, a former Rochdale Junior midfielder, who came in from Prescot and Finlay Sinclair-Smith. He played for Blackpool in League One, then loaned out to Widnes and Marine before finding a home with Utd.

Regan Linney came in from Bamber Bridge and Ben Kerr is a locally produced young defender.

United have the strongest core of traveling fans too, so this should be Sports biggest gate of the season!

Whitby 1-1 Sports: Match Report

SPORTS SETTLE ON 1-1 AFTER EARLY LEAD AT WHITBY

by Peter Scherer

A partly fiery and sometimes ill-tempered game saw Mickleover Sports back in Northern Premier League action, with a visit to Whitby Town.

Whitby had a chance within the opening minutes, but fired a free-kick straight into the Sports wall.

It had become fairly even for a while before Jordan Hickey put the across face of the Sports goal, with Kieran Weledji just failing to connect for Whitby.

But two minutes later and the tide was turned in Sports favour. Stuart Beavon was given space and played the ball to the edge of the box, where Aman Verma sent the ball firmly into the bottom left hand corner of Shane Bland’s net, for a 12th minute lead.

Soon afterwards Sports were forced to swap Karel Tvaroh for Pablo Mills, causing a reshuffle at the back.

Andy Wright then went close with a free header at close range, as it whistled inches wide of the left hand top corner.

Patrick Webb then had a chance as Sports began to dominate. But a short scuff gave Bland a relatively easy save.

Whitby found their feet again for the last 15 minutes of the first half, with Sunderland loanee Jake Hackett going close, before Weledji forced Nathan Broome into a save.

Sports still had the lead as they went in for the half time break, but both Kemy Agustien and Whitby’s Alex White were yellow carded before the whistle went.

It was a strong start to the second half again for Sports, with Webb firing just over the bar from a Beavon pass, and a corner five minutes later cleared.

But on 59 minutes Whitby were level. Hackett managedto place a corner perfectly for Daniel Rowe to meet, putting his header wide of Broome into the right hand corner.

The equaliser triggered more pressure from Whitby, as Luke Bythway went just wide from a Matty Dixon free kick, before Dixon put his own left foot shot just wide.

With Ryan Nesbitt on for Wright, Sports were holding on, but shortly after Dixon was booked, Whitby brought Brad Mills on for Andre Bennett.

Barely a minute later Mills was heading back for the dressing room after a wild tackle was followed by a scuffle, which saw him straight red carded, along with Sports skipper Greg Young.

Although Rowe went close to snatching a late winner when Broome tipped his effort over the bar, Sports returned south with a secure point, ready to fight again on Saturday, when they face United FC at the Don Amott Arena.

Whitby Town (a): Match Preview

Is The Weather Going To Be Kind?

by Peter Scherer

Following five postponements in the last six matches, Mickleover Sports will be hoping to kick start their Northern Premier League campaign on Tuesday with an away match at Whitby Town.

Ironically Whitby at home was one of only two Sports games to survive during February, when they were defeated 2-1.

Whitby are currently seventh in the table and unbeaten in their last six games, after drawing at home with Ashton Utd last Saturday.

A number of Whitby’s players are in their second or even third spell with the club, including goalkeeper Shane Bland. The former Middlesbrough and Spennymoor player rejoined from West Auckland.

Defender Jassem Sukar has been at the club for about 2 ½ years after starting out at Sunderland, while Alex White is another returnee. He came back two ago, but has also seen action as a Hartlepool Junior, before moving on via Gretna, Stranraer and Blyth Spartans.

Fellow defender Daniel Rowe came in from Frickley Athletic and is an ex Rotherham, Wycombe Wanders and York City player.

Last weekend Matthew Dixon and Evan Horwood played wing back. Dixon started with Hull City, but came to Whitby from Scarborough in July last year.

Horwood is vastly experienced, having started out at Sheffield Utd in 2004, he made over 315 league starts, as far afield as Gretna and Bala Town. He came to Whitby in January this year.

In midfield they played Jordan Hickey, Adam Gell and Callum Patton against Ashton. 

Hickey is a loanee and ex Sunderland and Hull City junior, while Gell returned for his second spell at the club from Shildon in August 2018.

Patton is an attacking midfielder, in his second spell too. The ex English Colleges player came in from Bishop Auckland in November 2018, but has played for numerous North Eastern clubs too.

Bradley Fewster scored Whitby’s goal last weekend and along with Nathan Tymon are a strong force. Tymon came back to Whitby just over three years ago for the third time and is ex Hartlepool, Workington and West Auckland, whereas Fewster came in from Blyth Spartans just over a year ago and is an ex England Under 19 international, having started at Middlesbrough, before moving to listing Preston North End, York, Hartlepool and Spennymoor among his ex clubs.

With 16 games left to play, Sports will not only be hoping to reverse their recent defeat against Whitby, but get in some much needed match practice before the home game against United FC on March 7th.

Sports Reserves Take Revenge On Bakewell

by Peter Scherer

Having lost 2-1 away at Bakewell Town a few weeks ago, Mickleover Sports Reserves took revenge in their Central Midlands Division One South match, with a 4-2 win on Derby University’s 3G pitch.

After the initial skirmish, Bakewell had one shot just wide of the right hand post, before Lewis Belgrave opened the scoring for Sports, with a well taken chance.

It was Belgrave that seemed to be causing most trouble to the Bakewell defence, with some good through balls from Clinton Morrison.

Some scrappy defending gave Sports more chances, one straight at the keeper and one just over the bar, both from Belgrave.

But Bakewell began to fight back and Sports keeper Kiran Sanghera had to tip one shot over the bar after about 25 minutes, before a second wild shot cleared the perimeter fence a few minutes later.

With Lamin Sanyang on for Tomas Junek, Sports were on the on the attack again as half time approached. Belgrave put another chance just wide, before Josh Sacchwell had his shot well saved by the Bakewell keeper, as it stayed to 1-0 after the first 45 minutes.

It was full on from the start of the second half though, with the Bakewell defence in chaos. Satchwell was able to pick his spot for Sports second goal, after a good team build up and a few minutes later Surf Tefera made it 3-0, drilling the ball into the right corner.

For a while it looked as if more goals would follow, as Belgrave went close to making it 4-0.  But Bakewell suddenly sprung back into action with two quick goals, which prompted another Sports substitution, as Tom Mason came on.

Bakewell were still fighting hard though and kept Sanghera under pressure, but Sports finally sealed it when Belgrave crossed from the right and Mason made it a secure 4-2 victory.

 

Nantwich Town (A): Preview

This Weekend at High Flying Nantwich
by Peter Scherer

Since Sports took a 2-1 win over Nantwich Town in early January, the Cheshire side have had a six week unbeaten run, which included a 4-1 over table toppers South Shields.

But on Tuesday night their run came to an end at the hands of FC United, losing 1-0 at home. They are still fifth in the Northern Premier League, with Sports down in 14th with two games in hand.

Most of the Nantwich line-up is expected to be the same at we saw at the Don Amott Arena in January, with a few notable changes.

Having graduated from Youth Team, Troy Bourne has come back into the defence, having been on the bench in January. Similarly David Webb has come into midfield, having joined the club this season, after playing for Marine and the RAF.

They have also taken on two more strikers, Ethon Varian on loan from Stoke and Prince Haywood signed from Radcliffe.

With Sports having only played four league games since the win in January to Nantwich’s eight, it’s going to take a big effort to secure the double. But weather permitting the game will go ahead we eagerly await the outcome.

If you are not travelling to Nantwich, the reserves are at home to Bakewell Town in the Central Midlands League Division South.

Sports reserves are currently lying second, with Bakewell sixth, but when they met a few weeks ago it was Bakewell that came out 2-1 winners.

The game is due to kick off at 2pm at Derby University’s Kedleston Road pitch.

Matlock Town (H): Match Preview

Revenge Of The Gladiators – If It Stops Raining!
by Peter Scherer

The local Derbyshire rivalry adds extra bite to Tuesday nights duel with Matlock Town, not to mention the 3-1 defeat to the Gladiators earlier this season at Causeway Lane.

Although Sports’ game at home Gainsborough was called off, Matlock did manage to play, going down 2-0 at home at Whitby Town.

Long serving defender Adam Yates captains the Matlock side in his 10th year with the club. He started his career at Chesterfield, before moving to Belper Town and latterly Shirebrook from where he was signed in 2009.

Currently an injury doubt goalkeeper Jon Stewart is also vastly experienced, the former Swindon Town player, has also played at Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Weymouth, Burnley, Alfreton, Worksop, Bradford PA and Boston, before joining Matlock from Gainsborough last summer. So Barnsley junior Jake Greatorex could be between the sticks.

The visiting defence should also include former sports plater Dwayne Wiley, who has been at Matlock for three years, via Heanor Town and Buxton.

Midfielder Luke Dean joined from Scarborough, after starting his career with Bradford City. He has seen service with Ossett, Hinckley, Harrogate and Bradford PA too.

Bailey Gooda is a young defender, but Matlock are already his fourth club. He was signed from Hyde, having previously played at Harrogate, Frickley and Scarborough, while experienced defender Ben Gordon lists both Leeds Utd and Chelsea among his former clubs, having joined from Gainsborough last summer.

The strike force sees Nigerian Chib Chilaka, ex Notts County junior, who played for England Universities and numerous clubs, which included Bradford PA, Harrogate and Hyde, before he joined Matlock from Grantham last year.

Marcus Marshall had spells with Blackburn Rovers, Rotherham and Bury before going no league and came in from Alfreton, while winger Dan Brammall came out of the Everton Academy.

Piteu Crosz was originally a Leeds Utd junior but the speedy Cameroon winger arrived at Causeway Lane, via Goole, Tadcaster and Belper.

Attacking midfielder Nathan Valentine has been a regular scorer since joining on loan from Stalybridge. He’s head of a Sports Academy and has also played for Scarborough, Wakefield, AFC Liverpool, Radcliffe and Frickley, as well as being a male model.

Newly arrived at Causeway Lane is winger Jude Oyibo, making his debut last Saturday against Whitby, he’s on loan from Alfreton. 

Ellis Roberts is also a new loanee, the defender has come in from Southport, having played much of his football in the US.

Others to look out for are midfielders Tomas Poole and Sam Scrivens, the latter coming in on loan from Guiseley.

James Tague, another midfielder has been through both Derby and Mansfield’s Academies before joining Matlock, Kick-off is at 7.45, there’s a licensed bar and hot food, can you afford to miss it?

WHEN WILL IT END… ?

by Peter Scherer

With our home game against Gainsborough Trinity falling victim to a waterlogged pitch again, Sports first team have only managed to play four home games in the last three months, thanks to our British weather.

So with approximately nine weeks of the season left, they are left with a backlog of 16 games to play, so the plans for next seasons 3G pitch can’t come soon enough.

Weather permitting Sports are due to host Matlock Town on Tuesday night, but fortunately both the Reserves and Academy have continued to flourish, with high scoring victories as both head for Cup Finals too.

Despite going a goal down initially Dave Mackenzie’s reserve side came back with avengeance against Linby Reserves in the Presidents Cup, on Friday night with Tomas Junek scoring a hattrick and Kyle Clarke, Jacob Edge-Lucas and Elijah Luka each finding the net twice for a 9-1 win on Eastwood’s 3G pitch.

They hopefully will be back in action next Thursday in another Presidents Cup match against Selston, but have already reached one Cup Final, as they face Swanwick Pentrich Road in the Divisional Cup on April 1st at Long Eaton, as well as topping the Central Midlands Division One South table.

During February the Academy teams have been banging the goals in too. On the 12th the Reds had a 3-0 win over Runcorn Linnets in the NPL FA Cup quarter finals, with Josh Satchwell and Peter Koecher on the score sheet along with an own goal.  

They also beat Stafford Rangers a week before at Stafford, 7-1! Jack Thatcher and Taylor Smith both hitting hattricks!

The Blacks also took a win at home to title challengers Skelmersdale, 4-3, with Brodie Carter scoring twice, along with Satchwell and Kyren Johnson-Wood.

So the Reds currently top their division with only one defeat, while the Blacks currently lie second, six points behind Widnes but with five games in hand, and again only one defeat

A league and Cup double is also possible, as both Academy teams are in the Cup semi-finals too. To be played on March 25th, the Reds are at home to Leek Town, while the Blacks are away to Widnes. What’s odds on an all Mickleover final??

Support your local team and make the trip to the Don Amott Arena, you won’t be disappointed.