Come down to the Don Amott Arena today to see our Sports play Stafford Rangers at 3pm on this gorgeous Bank Holiday Monday.

Arrive early and enjoy the sun whilst helping make it our biggest attendance of the season. For children wearing their favourite football shirt its FREE ENTRY.

PLUS: Entertainment on the patio at 5:45pm

Come on you Sports!

by Laurie Newman

Witton Albion 1-0 Sports

Mickleover sports were defeated by Witton Albion at Wincham Park due to a 70^th minute goal by Danny McKenna. 

Although the first half was an even contest, the second was a struggle for Sports who were unable to match Albion’s physicality and movement off the ball.

Sports, came into this game having beaten Stalybridge Celtic in their opening game whilst Witton Albion could only manage a draw away at Whitby Town.

Sports who had won their previous game looked the better team in the opening few minutes with Jack Storer eager to get forward and make something happen. 

McGrath’s men didn’t have to wait long before their first chance came. Ben Turner whipped in a cross to the far post, which found its way to Richard Batchelor. Fortunately for Witton, Batchelor’s header went wide of the post, leaving the score line level.

For the next few minutes the game started to even out, with Witton gaining more possession of the ball. Their confidence started to grow and at around the 15 minute mark they had a great opportunity to take the lead.

Witton’s Will Jones was so close breaking the dead lock but he couldn’t make contact with the ball after it was fizzed across and behind Mickleover’s back line, leaving practically an empty net to direct the ball into.

Throughout the first half there were no clear cut chances for either team which meant that players from both teams were resorting to long distance strikes in a bid to open the scoring.

Mason Warren came close after his low firing shot skimmed across the wet surface and just past the post. Witton replied with an attempt of their own which left everyone in the stadium gasping for air.

Danny McKenna let loose from about 30 yards – his shot hitting the cross bar as well as leaving Sports’ Nathan Broome utterly relieved.

The first half ended goalless, and with neither team really posing a threat to the other. 

Within a few minutes of the opening of the second half, Sports’ Batchelor found himself on the end of a nasty collision which left him on the ground for a few minutes.

Despite his best efforts to carry on he was replaced a few minutes later by Ricky Ravenhill.

There were no real chances for either team and the game remained a stale affair, but that all changed when Chib Chilaka was brought off with 25 minutes to go. Without him and Batchelor, Sports lacked any real physicality up top and Witton began to dominate the possession.

Witton who sensed Sports’ vulnerability took the lead within five minutes of Chilaka leaving the field. Witton had piled bodies into the box and a low cross/pass that was left for too long was eventually pounced upon by Danny McKenna who then fired the ball into the roof of the net.

Throughout the remainder of the game Sports tried to ride the storm and find a way back into the game. Although it was difficult, they managed to pin Witton back into their own half for the last 15 minutes. 

Time after Time Sports’ efforts were repelled, and in the dying minutes Nathan Modest was blatantly pushed in the penalty box whilst jumping for a header. Amazingly the referee did not award a penalty and by now it seemed as if it was all over and within a minute it was. 

Although Sports fought back towards the end of the second half, Danny McKenna’s strike was enough to secure all three points for the home side who now sit above Sports in the table. 

This Friday’s FA Cup game is a chance though to regroup and regain confidence before playing Stafford Rangers on Monday.

by Laurie Newman

Mickleover Sports will be playing Cheshire based side Witton Albion tonight in the Northern Premier League. Sports will be looking to build upon their opening day victory against Stalybridge Celtic, where as Witton Albion will be hoping to get a win under their belts following their 1-1 draw away at Whitby Town on Saturday.

An impressive performance on Saturday by the team, especially defensively, will have boosted the confidence of the team. The fact that the team held on to their one goal lead for roughly 90 minutes speaks volumes of how well the team defended on Saturday, and surely they will be looking for their second win and clean sheet to set them up nicely for their FA Cup tie this Friday.

Tonight’s opponents are no pushovers though, something that McGrath and co will know. The Cheshire based side finished in ninth place last year, just nine points shy of making it into the play-offs. They have also won the Cheshire Senior Cup 11 times since 1902. Interestingly enough, they last won the cup in 2006 against last Saturday’s opponents Stalybridge Celtic.

McGrath will be expected to keep the same starting XI that defeated Stalybridge Celtic at the weekend with a few debutants having impressed at the weekend. Chib Chilaka had an impressive performance up front despite not scoring and Greg Young seems to have already formed a formidable partnership in defence with Pablo Mills. In addition to Young and Chilaka, Richard Batchelor bossed the midfield in his competitive debut with Jack Storer putting in a very impressive performance on his return to the Don Amott Arena. 

All the debutants were impressive but it was the team performance that was truly impressive and the team will be hoping to impress again tonight against what should be a tougher opposition. That being said, if they play anything like they did on the opening day then they have a very good chance of beating anybody in this league.

Mickleover Sports announce Jake Scott as their club/team captain for the upcoming 2019/20 season.

Richard Batchelor will take the responsibility and role as vice-captain.

Manager John McGrath’s comments:

Scotty and Batch both embody what it is to be leaders of a group of players. Both put their team and their team mates first which is a trait I believe as a manger is key to every teams success. They will set the standards not only on the pitch, but in the changing rooms also.

by Laurie Newman

Mickleover Sports will host Manchester based side Stalybridge Celtic this Saturday at the Don Amott Arena in their opening game of the 2019/20 season, in the Northern Premier League. Both teams will be hoping for a much better season than last with Stalybridge Celtic and Mickleover Sports finishing in 17th and 19th place, with Sports only surviving the drop by a single point.

That being said, both teams have recruited heavily so this season should be a different kettle of fish for them both as they look to right the wrongs of last season, and prove that they are a force to be reckoned with. In regards to last season, if results are anything to go by then we should be in for a close game with Sports winning 2-1 at home and drawing 0-0 away at Bower Fold. Last year’s results shouldn’t be a massive indicator of how things will end up this Saturday though, as it’s a new season which means a fresh start for Mickleover Sports and Stalybridge Celtic alike.

Both sides have seen a mass of signings come through the door, with Stalybridge Celtic welcoming new goalkeeper Alex Fojtíček who is on loan from Manchester United. Sports have also been busy in the transfer market, strengthening the squad in all positions which could provide manager John McGrath with a selection headache.
Whatever the result is on Saturday, McGrath and the team are clearly building something special. This was shown in their pre-season win against Burton Albion – a game that he will surely mention to motivate his players for Saturdays game. Hopefully the club can achieve their ambitions this season, which is to gain promotion. A win as well as a good performance this Saturday would certainly be the perfect start in addition to being the perfect way to send them well on their way to achieving their goal of promotion.

Mickleover Sports Club have two brilliant opportunities available this season!

We are looking for a Kitman and a Videographer.

Our Kitman should be able to travel to all home and away games with the team.

Our Videographer will be required to video every home game amongst other video editing work.

Terms for the right candidates to be negotiated once the candidates are picked.

Other Benefits as well as working with our First Team will include; FREE tickets to all of our events including the Christmas Dinner and Hot August Night 2020, plus FREE season tickets for the 2019/20 season.

If you are interested or know somebody that would be great for either of these roles, please contact Tony Shaw on 07966 197246 or email tonyshawmickleoversports@gmail.com.

I am delighted to announce the signing of Nathan Modest for the upcoming 19/20 season. He’s a player that will add undoubted quality and with his experience of playing football at higher levels that will only benefit us as a football team. He is a player who is lightning quick with a keen eye for goal and will add something different to our attacking line this season. Welcome to Mickleover Sports Nathan.

On a beautiful summer’s evening, Sports’ bounce back from a 2-0 loss to Telford on Tuesday night with a 2-0 win against Burton Albion XI last night (Weds 24th July).

Match report from Sports v Burton by Ian Hawkins…

MICKLEOVER Sports took home the KC Trophy with a 2-0 victory over a young Burton Albion XI at the Don Amott Arena thanks to first half goals from Nathan Modeste and Jack Smith.

Sports grabbed the lead after just two minutes when the imposing figure of their triallist, wearing the number eleven shirt, got up well to meet a cross and head it into the path of MODESTE who made no mistake from eight yards.

Albion’s young guns were playing some nice passing football and triallist linked up well with Ethan Vale before finding Jack Holmes on the right, his low cross, inadvertently deflected behind by Sports Tom Eccleshall.

Sports almost doubled their lead on 25 minutes when a direct ball over the top picked out the run of Jack Smith but Callum Hawkins was smartly off his line to block with his leg. And the young Brewers keeper was quickly out to block Modeste at close quarters as the striker showed good pace to get away from Rueben Lal.

Three minutes before the break it was the home side who got the vital goal to give them a 2-0 advantage when SMITH rose to powerfully head home a corner.

Half time: Mickleover Sports 2-0 Burton Albion XI

Albion made two changes for the second half with Jack Livesey taking over in goal from Callum Hawkins and Ben McClean coming on for Ben Hart who played a significant role in Tuesday’s game at Solihull as well.

And a third change saw Ben Radcliffe replace Luke Redfern at right back eight minutes after the restart. The fresh legs of Albion were certainly seeing more of the ball and both Manny Shittu and Yewo Nyirenda added more pace and power in the attacking areas. Young defender McClean did superbly well to slide in and make a timely challenge on Sports substitute striker Tomas Junek as he looked to get a shot away and Livesey’s goal was under threat again when James Cadman got away a sharp strike that just went wide of the post.

Livesey was forced into meaningful action moments later when Cadman again found himself in space with room to shoot and the young Scot spread himself well to block the shot at fairly close quarters.
Shittu went closest to getting Albion back into the game with a effort from range that the Mickleover keeper could only push against his own crossbar with nobody in a yellow shirt able to make ground into the penalty area to capitalise on the rebound.

Adam Prusa went close to adding a third for Sports late on but Livesey showed good hands to hold on to his rising drive at the first time of asking but neither side could find a goal to end the game on a high with Sports Tyreece Robinson eventually lifting the trophy at the end of the game.

Full time: Mickleover Sports 2-0 Burton Albion XI