by Dave Mackenzie

This game was brought forward from Easter Monday so it gave us the chance to keep on playing, rather than another free Saturday. 

Over the years Holbrook St Michael’s have provided stiff opposition and in the last encounter we exited the cup with a 2-1 defeat. 

There was the desire to gain revenge from that setback but more important was the three points that would allow us to step over Pinxton and Blidworth who were both idle.

The starting line-up showed a couple of changes with a welcome back to Emilio De Abreu, Lopes Massampo and George Atwal, who has been performing well with the first team.

Line-up: Fin Bowen, Ben Lewin, Will Robinson and Sam Groves were the back line of defence. In midfield Lopes Massampo, George Atwal and Ben Horleston with Emilio  De Abreu, Jude Ayetine and Fin Barker, whilst Tom Brear, Freddie Murphy and Devon Smith were on the sidelines itching to get involved.

It became evident from the first whistle that lessons had been learnt, with a high tempo press and calculated playing out from the back maintaining possession in good areas. 

After a period of good pressure a corner was won on the right. A good quality delivery was partially cleared towards the back of the box where Emilio was lurking for such eventuality. He came on to the ball and struck a sweet right-footed volley into the corner of the net. The keeper never sniffed it!

It wasn’t long until a second was scored this time Fin Barker’s shot wasn’t the fiercest, but it still nestled in the corner of the net. 2-0 and Mickleover continued to press and create good chances. 

The next goal came from a disputed corner that was cleared to the edge of the box where it was controlled and the Holbrook player got away a decent shot,  which Fin Bowen had covered. But the ball bounced wickedly in front of him and ended up in the net. 2-1 at half time was good but on the balance of play it could have been better.

Holbrook came out in the second half raising their game and started to put the defence under pressure. But they were well marshalled by Will Robinson who was imperious in aerial duels along with Cam Anthony, whose tackling was spot on.

After overcoming the offensive Mickleover scored the important next goal. Jude Ayetine won a tackle in the Holbrook box and then finished with aplomb. 

The fourth goal was an individual effort from Ben Horleston. He broke through the Holbrook high line just inside the Holbrook half and sprinted clear two touches and he was at the edge of the box with the keeper to beat. The third touch was a calculated pass into the corner giving the young keeper no chance. A goal greatly deserved by a young man whose hard work is paying off.

At 4-1 and with five minutes left Mickleover should have been on easy street, however they found themselves in error alley!

A corner was given away needlessly resulting in a free header 4-2. But that wasn’t all, a goal reminiscent of our late goal at Arnold in that a free-kick from about 33 yards evaded everyone and finished in the net! 4-3! 

The watching Pinxton people would have been ecstatic, but good game management saw out the remaining couple of minutes. A good win but we could and should have done without the squeaky bum time!

D.Mac

Mickleover F.C.

Reserves Manager

NEXT GAME THIS TUESDAY, WHEN LINBY VISIT THE DON AMOTT ARENA AT 7.35.

by Dave Mackenzie, Reserves Manager

On an evening that was calm and warm, Mickleover F C Reserves faced up to Ashland Rovers from the far county called Nottingham.

After a tough game at Arnold we were prepared with another tough match. Ashland didn’t disappoint as they took the game to Mickleover.

Having sustained some pressure, the tide turned with some quality passing and movement. Mickleover not only took the lead but extended it giving a 4-0 lead at the turn.

Ayetine turned in a great left side move then Ben Horleston nipped in at the front post for another added to a Fin Barker strike, plus a 30 yarder from young Aaron Hayer, which nearly took the keeper and net into the lane behind.

With a 4-0 lead you would think it easy street – nope! A missed header and a bad pass allowed a chance for Ashland which hit the post and bounced kindly into the welcoming arms of Fin Bowen.

That was really their last chance as Mickleover upped their game and Fin Barker ran rampant. He added another four while Devon Smith (such a hard worker), got in on the act and with a thunderous strike, and Ethan Mann rounded things off. 11 was good but Ashland were a very good opponent and never stopped working.

These players should be given great credit for hitting the 100 goals but also being the best team defensively in the league.

by Tom Horner

Teenage star Fin Barker scored five goals as Mickleover Reserves thrashed Ashland Rovers 11-0 at the Don Amott Arena.

Starting line-up: Fin Bowen, Ben Lewin (c), Ethan Mann, Cam Anthony, Will Robinson, Aaron Hayer, Ben Horleston, Sam Groves, Fin Barker, Jude Ayetine (Emilio De Abreu ’61), Devon Smith.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side in the seventh minute, as Ayetine found Smith in the box. The Mickleover forward turned his man well but fired his shot just over the bar.

The away side then had their first chance of the game as they caught Mickleover on the counter-attack with a good ball out to Alex Paterson on the right wing, who cut inside and curled the ball wide of the far post.

Just a few minutes later, in the 17th minute, Mickleover broke the deadlock. Robinson beat his man on the left wing before cutting the ball back to Ayetine, who calmly placed his shot beyond the keeper to open the scoring.

Mickleover almost made it a quickfire double as Robinson troubled the defence once again, whipping a dangerous cross to Barker whose near-post flick found the side netting.

It didn’t take long for the home side to double their advantage, as in the 25th minute, Mann rose highest from a corner kick to head the ball down to Horleston, who volleyed the ball in from close range.

Smith should have made it three just moments later, as he capitalised on Barker dispossessing the goalkeeper, only to roll the ball wide from 20 yards.

Mickleover were becoming more and more dominant as the first half progressed, and Hayer further extended their lead in the 31st minute with a fantastic 30-yard strike that dipped and swerved over the goalkeeper’s head.

Barker made it 4-0 just before halftime with a delicate chip over the goalkeeper following a fantastic pass from Mann who bagged his second assist of the game.

It took just five minutes of the second half for Barker to complete his hat-trick, as he set off on a mazy run from the halfway line before finding the far bottom corner with a composed finish.

Just moments later, Barker grabbed Mickleover’s sixth goal of the game and 100th goal of the season, as he played a one-two with Ayetine before beating his man and slotting the ball in the far bottom corner once again.

The Ashland defence were struggling to handle the young Barker as he then grabbed his fourth and fifth goals in quick succession with two more fantastic solo goals.

In the 64th minute, Robinson grabbed his third assist of the game as he ran to the byline , before cutting the ball back to Smith who calmly placed the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 9-0.

Josh Fawcett kept the scoreline down for twenty minutes with some fantastic saves for Ashland, before Mickleover made it double figures in the 83rd minute as Lewin’s cross was met with a bullet header by Robinson.

Mickleover’s final goal of the game came from Mann as his 30-yard effort found the bottom corner brilliantly in the final few seconds to make the full-time score 11-0 to Mickleover.

The reserves are in action again on Saturday away to Blidworth.

by Dave Mackenzie, Reserves Manager

A 1030 pitch inspection got a positive review allowing the game to go ahead despite the inclement weather over the previous couple of days. The pitch was okay but along the bottom touchline, it was rather heavy going.

The starting 11 was Fin Bowen, Ben Lewin, Cam Anthony, Ethan Mann, Sam Groves, Lopes Massampo, Ben Horleston, George Atwal, Jude Ayetine, Devon Smith and Fin Barker with Lew Benjamin and Arron Hayer on the bench.

There was a stiff breeze blowing down the pitch from the Tesco Shelters end which both sides found difficult, added to the pitch being a bit rutted it didn’t help produce a great deal of passing football.

Having said that Mickleover did create a few chances without troubling the goalkeeper, whilst Fin Bowen at the other end had one fairly easy shot to deal with.

The first goal when it came was one of real quality. The ball was played out from the back and then under pressure from Teversal the ball was played back to Fin Bowen whose pass found Groves. The ball was played inside and as Groves continued his run Atwal played him through. The keeper advanced so  Groves calmly slid the ball across the goal to the back post where Smith had the simple task of completing the move from about 33 inches.

After some more pressure the referee awarded Mickleover a penalty which was despatched to the top right-hand corner with aplomb by Atwal. 2-0.

 A third goal would have been deserved before halftime but not to be.

After the break, Teversal mounted steady pressure but with  Mann and Anthony standing firm it came to nothing until the centre forward finished off a decent move to make the scoreline a precarious 2-1. 

With 30 minutes still to play there were still chances to be had for both sides which were squandered and the game unfortunately finished on a sour note with the Teversal goalscorer incurring the wrath of the referee for excess verbalisation.

A hard-fought win showing the lads growing in stature by dealing with difficult conditions and an energetic Teversal side.

After another enforced sabbatical we are travelling to Arnold on the 19th March before hosting Ashland at the Don Amott Arena on the 22^nd.

by Peter Scherer

Having received a walkover in the opening round of the Central Midlands League Buckingham Insurance League Challenge Cup, Mickleover Reserves visited Holbrook St Michaels in a second round tie.

Holbrook, currently seventh in the Black Dragon Badges Premier South Division table, proved to be tough opposition and led at half time 0-1 with a Cartwright goal.

Ethan Mann managed to level things during the second half, but Gianluca Gandola sealed it for the hosts after a lack lustre show from the Mickleover side.

It’s back to the league and the title chase on Saturday though, when the reserves are at home to top of the table Pinxton at the Don Amott Arena, kick off 3pm.

by Tom Alston

Ashland 1-5 Mickleover Reserves

Mickleover reserves continue their spectacular form with a comfortable 5-1 away win against Ashland Rovers in the Central Midlands League Premier Division. 

An impressive brace from both George Atwal and Fin Barker all but completed a dominant display by the Sports reserves with Freddie Murphy coming off the bench to join to duo on the scoresheet.

The match begun with Atwal looking to catch the Ashland goalkeeper off guard from the kick-off. His audacious attempt from the centre circle narrowly arched over the bar with the ‘keeper back peddling. A sign of things to come for the reserves number four who had his eye in for goal. 

Only minutes later Atwal came close again. From deep on the right-hand side, he curled a dangerous left-footed freekick goalward. The goalkeeper once again had to react quickly and punched the ball out of the box. 

Mickleover begun to bombard the home side with flurries of attacking opportunities. Jude Ayetine was next to have an attempt at the Ashland goal. Jacob Edge-Lucas received a brilliant floated ball down the line by Atwal. The fullback opened up space for himself and clipped a ball from the right onto the head of Ayetine. To the number ten’s misfortunes his headed attempt at goal spun narrowly wide of the far-left post. 

Barker looked to open up the scoring for the away side but mis-hit a left footed effort and saw his shot sail over the goal. He had worked himself into a brilliant position in the centre of the penalty area after jinxing his way in from the right. 

Ashland Rovers looked to respond to the plethora of Mickleover attacks with one of their own. A free kick from the left curled towards the far-right post but proved no problem for Fin Bowen who watched the attempt whip out for a goal kick. 

Having tried his luck earlier on, Atwal opened the scoring on the 20-minute mark. He picked the ball up centrally outside the area, put his head down and drilled a low driven shot towards goal. His attempt arrowed into the bottom right corner and was out of reach for the diving goalkeeper. 

Ten minutes later Mickleover doubled their lead through Barker. Devon Smith found himself on the right wing and delivered an in-swinging cross into the box. The goalkeeper reacted well and met the ball, however he fumbled it leaving it to fall to the feet of Barker who tapped in to earn his first of the match. 

Mickleover finished the half with Barker getting his brace in an excellent move. Atwal played a perfectly weighted pass from the centre of the park, splitting through the defence and travelling into the path of Barker. With the ‘keeper looking to beat him to the ball Barker delicately chipped the ball up and over into an unmanned net. 

The second half saw more of the Mickleover dominance with the away team controlling possession. Freddie Murphy came on for Smith in the 70th minute and two minutes later he made his mark on the game with a goal. Edge-Lucas drilled a low ball across the area towards the far post. With a couple of mis-hits the ball landed at Murphy’s feet who tapped in from close range to make it four. 

Rovers were not out of the game just yet, winning a corner on the right-hand side they delivered an out-swinging ball targeted for the penalty spot. Their captain rose above the rest and delivered a towering header low into the ground to deny Bowen a clean sheet.

Mickleover Reserves finished their match with Atwal earning his brace, when the Ashland goalkeeper came out of his area to clear to ball. His clearance fell to the feet of Atwal on the halfway line and without hesitation he launched a strike. His effort sailed over a stranded goalkeeper and nestled into the open net rewarding  the reserve side with a 5-1 victory, continuing their magnificent league form.

Starting line-up: Fin Bowen, Jacob Edge-Lucas, Will Robinson, George Atwal, Ethan Mann, Cam Anthony (Sam Groves 68’), Lewis Benjamin (Ben Lewin 68’), Ben Horleston, Devon Smith (Freddie Murphy 70’), Jude Ayetine, Fin Barker Unused sub: Josh Satchwell.

Barker stars as Mickleover Reserves earn late win in local derby against Mickleover Royal British Legion

by Tom Horner

A brace from young star Fin Barker saw Mickleover Reserves earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory at the Don Amott Arena.

The early stages of the game saw very little goalmouth action, with neither side creating any clear-cut opportunities until the 14^th minute, when Devon Smith’s acrobatic effort was cleared off the line at the back post.

The home side gained momentum as the half went on, with Jude Ayetine rattling the cross bar with a sweet right-footed strike following Jacob Edge-Lucas’s fantastic low cross.

Fin Barker then capitalised on a defensive miskick before showing great skill to beat two Royal British Legion defenders and looked certain to finish but for a spectacular save by the away goalkeeper.

Mickleover continued to dominate and trouble Royal British Legion as the game approached half-time. Ben Horleston played a pinpoint through ball to Barker, who dribbled past the away defence once again before laying off Ayetine who curled his shot just wide of the post from 12 yards.

The home side started the second half strongest as Ayetine’s backheel effort was deflected behind for a corner kick. George Atwal’s resulting corner struck the near post and lead to a goalmouth scramble. The ball was eventually cleared but only as far as Atwal, who whipped the ball back in, this time seeing his effort curl narrowly wide of the far top corner.

Despite the pressure Mickleover were putting their opponents under, in the 63^rd minute, Royal British Legion took the lead against the run of play. The Royal British Legion left-winger cut the ball onto his right foot and smashed the ball into the near top corner to make it 1-0 to the away side.

However, it did not take long for the home side to bring the game level. Just a few minutes after going behind, some intricate passing play by Mickleover resulted in Barker being set free, before the young forward placed the ball expertly into the far bottom corner to make the scoreline 1-1.

Mickleover then came close to making it a quickfire double as Fin Barker and Lopes Massampo combined with a lovely one-two, but Barker’s low effort was well saved by the goalkeeper.

As the game edged closer to full time, it looked like Mickleover were going to have to settle for a point. However, just like the first-team did against Witton Albion on Saturday, the home side found an 88^th minute winner. Josh Satchwell’s flicked header released Barker who stayed cool to slot the ball beyond the outrushing goalkeeper and find the bottom corner via the base of the post.

Mickleover survived a late goalmouth Scramble to secure all three points and move onto 50 points for the season.

90’ Lewis Benjamin replaces Fin Barker

90’ Emilio De Abreu replaces Jude Ayetine 

Starting Line-up:

Fin Bowen, Jacob Edge-Lucas, Cameron Anthony, Ethan Mann, Will Robinson, Lopes Massampo, Ben Horleston, George Atwal ©, Fin Barker (Lewis Benjamin 90), Devon Smith (Satchwell 58), Jude Ayetine (Emilio De Abreu 90).

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves dropped only their fourth home point of the season when they were held to a 2-2 by Sherwood Colliery Reserves in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South at the Don Amott Arena.

Tristan Burrell gave the visitors the lead after just seven minutes, before goals from Fin Barker and George Atwal gave Sports the lead.

But Sherwood came back again with Liam West scoring the equaliser to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games.

Despite dropping the points Sports remain top by two points from Pinxton, but with a game in hand, now taking a break from league action next weekend, when they face Carlton B in the League Cup.

by Peter Scherer

For the fourth time this season Mickleover Reserves hit seven goals against Rowsley, as they returned to Central Midlands League Premier Division South action last night.

Starting line-up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Jacob Edge-Lucas 3-Will Robinson 4-John McGrath 5-Ethan Mann 6-Cameron Anthony 7-Ben Horleston 8-Geore Atwal 9-Devon Smith 10-Bobby Battisson 17-Fin Barker, Subs: Ash Elliott, Louis Benjamin, Zach Robertson, Freddie Murphy.

It was a fairly even start to the game and Mickleover had their first positive attack after four minutes, when Barker put in a good cross from the right, but there was no one to receive it. Only a minute later Smith broke clear but Barker’s resulting shot was blocked after the visitors keeper was caught out of position. Robinson was then working hard on the overlap, crossing from the left but Barker couldn’t quite get there, as Sports started to lose possession with some stray passing.

The game took a turn after 11 minutes when the ball broke loose in the middle, and was picked up by a Rowsley striker. He managed to outpace Anthony and placed the ball well as he beat the advancing Bowen. 0-1.

Mann headed over from a McGrath corner after 12 minutes, before Battisson hustled his way through to find Smith, whose shot whistled just wide of the right hand post. After Barker was fouled 16 minutes in, the free kick came to nought, but the young striker had battled his way into the box again, but Smith wanted too much time on the ball and failed to get a shot in. The work rate was fairly high and the skill was evident, but the flow and control was still eluding the Mickleover attacks. 

Barker floated in a perfectly timed cross after 20 minutes. It beat the keeper but just a finger from him was enough to put it beyond Horleston’s reach.

As McGrath was controlling central midfield, he managed to send Edge-Lucas on a telling run down the right, before cutting in and sending another shot just wide of the right hand post. Barker was almost in again after Atwal found Battisson and allowed Smith to feed the ball through, and only two minutes later Barker lobbed over the bar when the keeper came out and failed to collect.

The frustration continued to show as the chances were there, but the finishing wasn’t.

Atwal was tripped in full flight but his free kick went straight into the keepers hands, but Rowsley managed a break themselves after 32 minutes, but the resulting shot was easily held by Bowen. Barker had another 35^th minute shot which earned a corner and a McGrath free kick was just wide after Battisson was fouled. Another cross from Robinson found Barker whose effort was straight into the keepers hands, but after 41 minutes the breakthrough finally came. From a Horleston throw Battisson charged through the defence and sent his crisp shot into the top right hand corner of the Rowsley net 1-1.

Suddenly it was all change and almost on half time Barker cut in from the left and sent a scorching shot high into the roof of the net 2-1. There could have been another in time added on as Barker cut inside again before his challenge was intercepted and the half time whistle blew.

To say it was men v boys in the second half was an understatement, as it was the boys from Mickleover that restored their dominance, as fitness and skill started to tell. Only four minutes into the second half Smith was in the clear with only the keeper to beat when he was hacked down by a recovering defender. Horleston then went close after 54 minutes, but his shot was into the side netting.

It was all one way traffic and just before the hour mark Barker made it 3-1, as Smith and Horleston made way for subs Elliott and Benjamin. 68 minutes and Atwal celebrated his 18^th birthday in the best possible way, his shot from outside the box had the keeper well beaten, after a good midfield build up, 4-1.

Chances continued thick and fast and the flow that was missing from the first half was back with avengeance. Robertson was the next sub on for Edge-Lucas, but after 76 minutes it was 5-1 when Barker smashed in an unstoppable shot for his hattrick. Barker was on target again only three minutes later, when he was free down the middle and just moved forward and chipped the ball over the keeper 6-1. Elliott went close a few minutes later too, after Battisson put him through and with three minutes let McGrath tried another lob from the half way line, but the keeper recovered and it bounced off his chest. But they hadn’t finished yet and after Atwal fired over from a McGrath corner, Battisson whipped through the demoralised defence again and blasted it past the advancing keeper for his second of the night and a final score of 7-1.

The victory now places the reserves firmly at the top of the league two points clear of Blidworth, before Saturday’s game away to Sherwood Colliery Reserves.

by Peter Scherer

The Mickleover FC Reserves side should have played local rivals Mickleover RBL twice over the last five weeks, as both teams strive for supremacy in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South.

The first game was off with the Poppyfields pitch waterlogged, and the home game due to be played this Tuesday is now off, after positive Covid tests in the RBL squad.

So the Reserves next game is now due to be played at Holbrook St Michael’s on Saturday, before facing Rowsley at the Don Amott Arena in Tuesday 11^th, having gone five weeks without a game!