by Peter Scherer

Following last weekend’s disappointing defeat to neighbours Mickleover British Legion, Mickleover Reserves hit back in the best possible way, with a 6-1 win over Bakewell Town at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Chris Palmer 4-Jared Cholerton 5-Silas Donkor 6-Harry Atwal 7-Liam Carter 8-Mo Shweikh 9-Mikey Mandimutsira 10-Bernard Nsiah 11-Josh Powell. Subs: Arnold Marimbe, Marats Sudans, Steve Powell.

It was a fairly even opening 10minutes, with Sports defence almost caught out after four minutes, when Cholerton misjudged a long clearance by the visitors, before Donkor came to the rescue.

Mickleover then won the first corner a minute later, but that came to nought, as the Bakewell defence cleared.

Carter had his first run down the right after nine minutes, as Sports started to build on more frequent attacks. On this occasion the keeper intercepted, but five minutes later he picked up on a long ball out of defence, cut inside again to fire home the opening goal 1-0.

From the restart Bakewell broke clear though, and tested Bull in the Mickleover goal for the first time, making a diving save to his right.

But only two minutes after the opening goal, Mickleover hit their second. Mandimutsira started the move on the left, before a crossfield ball to Atwal was struck firmly from outside the box, comfortably beating the keeper to make it 2-0.

The Mickleover defence were looking sold with Cholerton and Donkor in the middle, allowing Hoult and Palmer to use the wings. After 18 minutes a Bakewell corner briefly threatened, before Bull punched clear. The rebound was then cleared and sent Hoult on a break.

A few minutes later Carter beat the defence again on the right, he tried a shot but the keeper snatched it as Nsiah tried to follow up.

Carter had another shot blocked 23 minutes in, but Mickleover continued to dominate possession. Bakewell did get a shot in with seven minutes of the first half left, but after that was blocked, Mandimutsira tried his luck, shooting just wide of the right-hand post.

It was close to a third for Sports as the half time whistle was poised, when Atwal’s shot was blocked, and Carter followed up with a strike just over the bar.

Straight from the kick off of the second half Nsiah just lost out to the Bakewell keeper in a one-on-one chase, but 50 minutes and in and the home defence was breached, when they failed to clear a corner and it was suddenly 2-1.

Carter put a shot straight into the keepers hands a minute later, before some rash tackles started to come from the Bakewell defence. Powell was brought down the edge of the box and Mandimutsira connected after Palmer’s free kick to make it 3-1.

Mickleover were on a charge and just a minute later Nsiah almost broke through after another lengthy run, but just after the hour mark Sports made it count again. Powell’s shot on the left came back off a defender and fell nicely to Palmer, who sent his curling shot into the far corner, 4-1.

After a Bakewell effort went over the bar from the left, Carter left the defence in his wake again on the right wing, he out a perfect ball into the box where Nsiah just got to the ball first, flicking over the advancing keeper and it was 5-1 with 68 minutes gone.

Mickleover continued to press and Nsiah almost made it through again with a long run after 75 minutes, soon followed by another Carter shot, but well over the bar.

Carter was almost through again with 10 minutes left, but he was hacked down and ignored by the referee, who briefly left everyone in doubt over his intentions.

Powell was fouled again on the edge of the box and Palmer’s free kick found Atwal, whose cross was just a whisker from connecting with Nsiah’s head.

Sports made two late substitutions with Shweikh and Carter making way for Dembele and Sudans, but after Bakewell gave Bull a last catch from a tame shot, Hoult charged down the right on the 90 minute mark, crossed to find Nsiah who struck his second goal of the night, to make it a solid 6-1 victory.

 

by Peter Scherer

Two goals in the second half made sure that Mickleover Reserves secured a 3-1 victory over Arnold Town in their Central Midlands Alliance Leage clash.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Brad Brittan 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Harry Atwal 5-Silas Donker 6-Ted Stevenson 7-Mo Shweikh 8-Chris Palmer 9-Arnold Marimbe 10-Bernard Nsiah 11-Luke Thompson. Subs: Mason Hoult, Jared Cholerton, Marats Sudans.

Barely had the game kicked off and Shweikh made a break down the right wing to earn a corner. Palmer’s kick then met a scramble in the box, but Atwal’s head got the final touch to make it 1-0, despite protests that the ball hadn’t crossed the line.

Just two minutes later Ferron and Thompson combined, totally outpaced the visitors defence and earned another corner, which went straight into the side netting.

It took a while for Arnold to settle into the game, but they earned their first corner after seven minutes, which came to nought.

Ferron once again tore passed the visitors defence and sent a cross in a few minutes later. But Nsiah couldn’t get control and any chance had gone.

Nsiah then had another shot saved after cutting inside from the left, Stevenson’s shot on the rebound was saved too, before Shweikh fired his effort over the bar.

13 minutes in and another Ferron and Thompson move found Palmer in the middle, but he struck his shot wide.

But the visitors were back on equal terms a minute later, when a gap opened through the middle of the Mickleover defence, making it 1-1 with their first shot on target.

Mickleover were quickly back on the attack and after cutting inside again from the left, Thompson fired over the bar, before a perfect cross from Ferron forced a goal mouth scramble, before it went for a goal kick.

Arnold put a weak shot wide of Maher’s left- hand post after 17 minutes, but it was Ferron leading the Mickleover breaks and after 23 minutes, another long run and some accurate interpassing came to nought again.

The visitors won a 27th minute free kick which sailed over the bar, but they started to win more possession, when Sports started to give the ball away in midfield.

33 minutes in and a casual mis-pass set up another Arnold break, but they failed to maximise the opportunity with a shot wide of the left-hand post, followed two minutes late with another weak shot wide of the goal.

After Thompson was fouled, Palmer’s free kick found Shweikh, he took the ball to the line to cross, but there was no one in the middle.

With seven minutes of the first half left Shweikh broke again, but his chase ended when the advancing keeper managed to intercept.

Arnold had another chance when Sports lost possession again, but the visitors striker tried a spectacular acrobatic shot, missed the goal and injured himself in the process.

But there was more drama almost on the whistle, when Sports keeper Maher was alleged to have punched the ball outside his box. He was yellow carded and a free kick awarded, which went sailing over the bar again.

Mickleover started the second half with tremendous pace, and just five minutes into the restart Shweikh’s cross almost connected with Nsiah, but the visitors keeper just got there in time.

It was almost a repeat a minute later, with the same two players, but this time Nsiah struck to make it 2-1.

Thompson had continued to cause chaos on the left with two more breaks approaching the hour mark. After being hacked down to earn a free kick, Palmer sent a curling shot just shy of the top corner.

Palmer almost connected with Nsiah a few minutes later, before Shweikh found himself clear. He had time but rushed his shot, sending it well wide of the goal.

The visitors had begun to look jaded and the youthful Mickleover side soon took advantage again. Marimbe was through with just the keeper to beat, his shot was blocked, but Thompson followed up to make it 3-1 after 72 minutes.

Nsiah had another good shot well saved after a cross from Shweikh, before Stevenson limped off to be replaced by Surats.

Maher was also injured and so Palmer went into goal for the final minutes, with Cholerton on as sub.

In time added on there could have been two more goals, firstly Ferron’s long run ended with him hitting the post and then Thompson was blocked with a last minute tackle, so it remained a fairly comfortable 3-1 win for Sports.

by Peter Scherer (Images: Steve Ingers)

Mickleover Reserves hopes of progressing in the Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup came to an abrupt end, with a 1-4 defeat at home to Haworth Colliery last Tuesday evening.

Two goals in each half from our visitors, ended Sports youngsters challenge.

Back in the Central Midlands Alliance League, Sports were on the wrong end of 0-4 defeat at Linby Colliery 10 days earlier, just a few days after Josh Carter hit all four goal in a thrilling 4-3 win over Cromford & Wirksworth.

They are not due to play again until AFC Normanton visit on March 11th at 7.45pm.

 

by Peter Scherer

It turned into a goal fest at the Don Amott Arena last night, as Mickleover Reserves beat Dearne and District JFC 9-0 in the Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Brad Britten 4-Harry Atwal 5-Toby Smith 6-Hamza Konane 7-Mikey Mandimutsira 8-Ted Stevenson 9-Lamar Okunkwo 15-Brodie Carter 11-Luke Thompson. Subs: Josh Carter, Liam Carter, Josh Powell, Morad Shweikh, Josh Maher.

Straight from the kick off Mickleover were on the attack, but Konane’s opening shot after three minutes was well over the bar. But two minutes later Hoult’s first charge down the right wing, saw his cross go out of play and relieve the pressure on our visitors.

Sports won the first corner after nine minutes, but Konane’s shot was deflected out for another corner, which then came to nought.

Dearne’s first real attack came 10 minutes in, but the cross from the Mickleover went out for a throw.

Mandimutsira was next to take a run at the visitors defence, having outpaced the challengers, his initial shot was blocked, before Thompson sent the rebound over the bar.

A series of corners then followed, with some goal mouth scramble’s as Dearne were just holding on. But 14 minutes in and Konane’s first effort came back to Thompson off the woodwork, who fired the ball into the roof of the net, 1-0.

Okunkwo could have made it two three minutes later, but he shot was just wide of the left-hand post, but some very sloppy defending from the visitors and poor clearance’s kept the pressure on.

Dearne had their keeper to thank for stopping Mandimutsira after 20 minutes, following another poor clearance. Then after Okunkwo had fired over from a Thompson cross after a deflection, the ball fell to Atwal in a crowded box and he made it 2-0 after 27 minutes.

Both Hoult and Brittan had the freedom of the overlap and on the half hour mark, Brittan’s telling cross from the left was intercepted. 

Dearne then made a rare attack to win a corner, but that was easily dealt with by Atwal and Smith, but Atwal’s break came to end when he was fouled on the halfway line.

Thompson’s jinking runs on the left earned another corner, but Brittan’s kick went straight out of play. But Sports keeper Bull then had a rare touch, when Dearne had a shot after 35 minutes.

It was soon goal number three though, when a great run by Hoult down the right, leaping some lurid tackles to cross for Brodie Carter to tap home, 3-0.

Dearne managed to reach the Mickleover box a minute later, but Hoult cleared, before he found Thompson in the next attack, but his path was blocked.

A fourth goal looked almost inevitable, but with a minute left, Mandimutsira ran in to have a shot blocked, before Carter’s rebound was blocked too.

Finally Thompson broke free on the right, but his cross beat everyone and it remained 3-0.

Early into the second half Mickleover made a triple substitution, with Josh and Liam Carter and Josh Powell, replacing Brodie Carter, Mandmutsira and Okunkwo.

Josh Carter had only been on the pitch four minutes, when he fired home number four from the edge of the box, 4-0. While on the hour Liam Carter crossed from the right, with brother Josh just missing out.

One minute later the Dearne keeper made a good save from Josh Carter, before Liam outpaced the defence on the right to set up number five for Josh Powell, 5-0 after 64 minutes.

The visitors went close though a minute later, with Smith having to clear off the line with Bull beaten. Josh Carter and Konane then combined and had the defence in knots, before the final shot went wide.

Stevenson then came off to make way for Shweikh, but Powell went close again, after cutting in from the right.

Smith then made it 6-0 poking home a cross from Josh Carter and just a minute later Shweikh made it 7-0, as the visitors were finding it hard to break from their own box.

76 minutes and the keeper tipped over another shot from Josh Carter, but a minute later he made it 8-0 and Sports youngsters still weren’t finished.

Josh Carter had lost out on a one on with the keeper after 79 minutes, but right on full-time Liam Carter made it 9-0 after some good work from Thompson.

Mickleover now move on to the next round, where they are due to host Harworth Colliery.

by Peter Scherer

Despite having dominated much of the game, Mickleover Reserves finished on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline against local rivals Graham St.Prims, in their Central Midlands Alliance game at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Elliott Riches 4-Hary Atwal 5-Jared Cholerton 6-Toby Smith 7-Liam Carter 8-Hamza Konane 9-Josh Powell 10-Josh Carter 11-Luke Thompson, Subs: Silas Donker, Mikey Mandimitsura, Brodie Carter, Ted Stevenson. Marats Sudavs.

In a lively start it was the visitors that had the first shot of the game, just wide of the right-hand post after three minutes. Sports soon retaliated as Liam Carter led a break, but he took a knock as his path was blocked.

Four minutes later Prims fired in a dangerous cross from the right, but the striker couldn’t quite connect and earned a corner. That led to another corner on the other side, which ended with a shot well wide of the goal.

Although Mickleover were looking to attack, they had been losing out in midfield, but at the back Atwal and Cholerton looked solid, allowing Hoult and Riches to push forward on the wings.

Konane had just started a good run after 13 minutes, but he was fouled on the halfway line and then again seconds later on the right wing.

Liam Carter saw a chance a few minutes later, but he just lost out in the chase for the ball, to Prims advancing keeper, before the two collided and treatment was required again.

Liam and Josh Carter then combined for a short corner, before Thompson’s powerful shot brought the first of a number of good saves from the visitors keeper.

18 minutes in and Cholerton cut off a Prims break, before Liam Carter was fouled again on the right wing as Mickleover broke. 

It was one on one after 22 minutes when Thompson was fractionally beaten to the ball by Prims keeper again, but the visitors then got another break too. Having fought through the home defence after picking up a loose ball, the final shot failed to trouble Bull in the Mickleover goal.

Josh Carter then broke too, but his shot was just wide of the left-hand post.

After Thompson had been fouled Josh Carter lined up for the free kick, he beat the wall but it was wide of the left-hand post too.

The pressure was beginning to build on the visitors, with Riches on a lengthy run before a late interception ended his hopes of a shot.

Smith gave away a free kick in the halfway line on the half hour, but Mickleover were soon attacking with Liam Carter cutting in from the right again, but his shot was the wrong side of the post. But Riches made sure the ball was back in Prims box, but the defence had it covered, before they broke too, and their hurried shot was well over the bar.

During another intense spell for Sports, Hoult put two dangerous crosses into the box from the right, and Josh Carter went close again.

The chances for Mickleover had become fairly thick and fast but it was still 0-0, but after 41 minutes it looked almost certain to change. But a fantastic double reflex save at point blank range, once again thwarted the Mickleover attack.

44 minutes and the keeper saved them again, somehow managing to block Thompson’s close range shot, before Smith found Josh Carter, he found the net but was deemed offside.

In time added on the deadlock was broken not but in the direction expected. Prims made the most of a defensive slip in the left corner and initially Bull saved the first shot, diving down at his near post. But the ball was loose again and the visitors made no mistake at the second attempt. 0-1, with the half time whistle quickly following.

Thompson went close to the equaliser, after getting on the end of a Powell pass after 49 minutes, but it was deflected for a corner. Hoult then put the ball back into the box and Josh Carter almost got to the ball, but the keeper managed to intercept.

There was another diving save from the Prims keeper three minutes later, but Liam Carter followed up, but this time his shot was straight at the keeper.

Thompson fired over after 54 minutes and Josh Carter had another shot saved, but the Prims defence somehow continued to prove impenetrable.

Their had been few opportunities for the visitors to increase their lead, but they had a shot over the bar too after a goalmouth scramble just before the hour mark.

The attacks continued in Mickleover’s favour, with Hoult cutting in from the right to fire over, before Sports made their first change with Stevenson on for Konane.

Thompson had another shot over 74 minutes in, before some nice interplay between Smith, Thompson and Riches ended when the ball ran loose and became an easy pickup for the keeper.

Time was running out, but almost everyone was joining in the attacks. Smith crossed from the right found Josh Carter, but his deft touch went straight into the keepers hands, before Carter and Powell combined in the 84^th minute, thwarted again by the keeper.

Smith was busy on both wings and for the final four minutes Brodie Carter came on for Thompson. But in time added on there was one last chance to snatch a point, when the ball fell to Stevenson in the middle, but the sub couldn’t connect and it was game over with the unluckiest of defeats.

by Peter Scherer

It was action all the way as Melbourne Dynamo visited Mickleover in the Central Midlands Alliance League. Despite a Josh Carter hattrick, Sports couldn’t hold on for the win, conceding two late goals to make it 4-4.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Bull 2-Mason Hoult 3-Brad Brittan 4-Harry Atwal 5-Silas Donker 6-Chris Palmer 7-Toby Smith 8-Hamza Konane 9-Josh Carter 10-Josh Powell 11-Liam Carter. Subs: Josh Maher, Brodie Carter, Ted Stevenson, Marats Sudavs.

Melbourne broke through the home defence after two mins and hit the bar, but Sports saw off the initial pressure, to send Powell clear, until he was stopped with a late interception.

Palmer put a curling free kick over the bar too a few minutes later, but it was end to end stuff, with Atwal and Donker both busy keeping the visiting strikers at bay.

11 minutes in and the visitors tested keeper Bull, who parried a long shot from the left, after they had made positive moves from their own half.

But Liam Carter had started to torment the Melbourne defence, firstly with a cross from the left to earn a corner after 15 minutes. His second run saw him outpace two defenders, before setting up brother Josh, who neatly slotted the ball past the keeper, 1-0.

Only two minutes after the goal celebrations it was back to 1-1. Following a Melbourne corner, the ball fell nicely for Macaulley Jones, who fired in the equaliser to Bull’s right from just outside the box.

Mickleover went close again after 21 minutes, when a Palmer free kick landed nicely for Josh Carter, but his shot was saved by the keepers feet. Just two minutes later Liam was brought down in the box. It was a clear penalty, but after consulting his assistant, the referee didn’t even award a free kick.

Smith was on the attack too with two shots on goal as the half hour mark approached. The first was an easy save for the keeper, but the second was deflected away for another corner.

The Carter twins continued to combine effectively and Liam earned another corner after 32 minutes, when his cross was put out. While two minutes later Josh had his heel clipped by a pursuing defender, but Palmer’s free kick sailed over the bar.

Both Powell and Josh Carter were in the thick of it in the visitors box, but neither could get the space to turn and any effort was blocked.

Right on the 45 minute mark Smith sent in a superb cross from the left, Powell was blocked again and so was Josh Carter, as the ball hit defenders and just wouldn’t go in.

Finally with the half time whistle poised Mickleover made it 2-1. Konane led a break after a Melbourne corner, Liam Carter then set up Josh again who didn’t need a second chance as he had the advancing keeper well beaten.

The second half continued in the similar end to end vain, with Mickleover earning an early free kick, followed by a corner.

Melbourne had another long shot well off target after 49 minutes, before Mickleover retaliated with Liam Carter winning another corner.

But two minutes later the visitors earned a corner too, Donker headed away, but it came straight back into the box before Atwal finally headed it clear.

Just after Smith’s cross had earned a corner for Sports too, he led an attack down the left, crossing for Powell who then layed the ball off for Josh Carter to complete a 56^th minute hattrick to make it 3-1.

Straight from the restart Mickleover were on the attack again, with Josh cutting in from the right, before firing in a shot well saved by the keeper.

Far from surrendering, Melbourne kept attacking too and were rewarded when the home defence were beaten on the left, leaving Jack Goodband with time to place a precise shot out of Bull’s reach, 3-2 after 62 minutes.

There was almost an equaliser two minutes later, but having found himself in the clear, the Melbourne striker shot well over the bar.

Bull then saved a couple a couple of distance shots, before Sports got a break. The visitors keeper raced off his line to challenge Liam Carter, but injured his hamstring and had to be replaced by an outfield player.

Stevenson had come on for Palmer as Mickleover tried to maximise opportunities with the sub keeper. After Atwal had been hacked down on the half way line, Smith had a shot blocked after 83 minutes, before Josh Carter fired over the bar, after a strong and positive build-up.

Melbourne once again forced Bull into a great save from a powerful effort after 85 minutes as they chased the equaliser.

Brodie Carter and Sudavs were  on too, but it was another team build-up that set up Konane for the fourth goal, 4-2 with three minutes left on the clock.

The pressure was back on Mickleover though, as they fought to try and retain the win. But 89 mins and Jake Peverley beat Bull at close range to make it 4-3, but it still wasn’t over.

Liam Carter ran almost one end of the pitch to the other in time added on, before he was finally intercepted. But Melbourne’s response earned a dubious free kick, from which Bull and his defence stayed tooted as, and the kick went straight in to make it 4-4.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves have played two matches since our last round up. A week last Saturday they played the re-arranged Divisional Cup away to Melbourne Dynamo.

It proved to be a tough day for Sports youngsters, as they went down 3-9 to their hosts.

Back to the Central Midlands Alliance League action last weekend, they faced table toppers South Normanton Athletic at the Don Amott Arena.

The visitors led 0-1 at half time, after hitting the net following a rebound off the post and managed to double their winning margin in the second half.

Now 10th in the table Mickleover’s next game is at home again on December 28th, when we hope to seek some revenge on sixth placed Melbourne Dynamo.

by Peter Scherer

Although Mickleover Reserves League Cup tie at Melbourne was called off last Saturday, they remain four games unbeaten since the Cup wins over Staveley MW at the end of October and Mickleover Athletic at the beginning of November.

The Carter twins have both been on goal scoring form, with Josh scoring five and Liam three in those last four games.

Flowing their last game, a 3-2 home win at home to Gresley Rovers Reserves  they have moved up to ninth in the Central Midlands Alliance League, with their next match coming next Saturday with a trip to Arnold Town.

by Peter Scherer

Sports Reserves have returned to winning ways after four successive defeats in the Central Midlands Alliance League.

After their home defeat to Mickleover RBL at home on October 19^th they were 3-2 winners over Staveley MW in the League Cup Senior Trophy, with goals from Josh Carter, Justin Iwobi and Taylor Smith.

Last weekend they faced Mickleover Athletic in the divisional Cup South, ending the day 4-0 winners with a Josh Carter hattrick.

It’s back to the league for now though, with a visit to Arnold Town, before returning to the Don Amott Arena again on the 16^th to face Mansfield Hosiery Mills.