by Peter Scherer

Following the 1-0 defeat at home to Long Eaton, Mickleover FC Reserves returned to winning and goal scoring ways last Saturday.

Currently second in the table with a game in hand, they don’t have another game until Ashland Rovers visit the Don Amott Arena and Saturday September 18^th.

Report from Central Midland League premier South.

“Mickleover Reserves also hit half a dozen as they beat Holbrook St Michaels 6-1. There were two for George Atwal and Larell King and one each from Will Robinson and Jude Ayetine while Alister Broughton got a consolation for Holbrook.”

by Peter Scherer

Unbeaten in their first three Central Midlands League Premier Division South games, Mickleover Reserves visited Mansfield Hosiery Mills last night.

The starting line-up was 1-Fin Bowen 2-Dan Williams 3-Kyle Sharp 4-George Atwal 5-Ethan Mann 6-Will Robinson 7-Lewis Benjamin 8-Jake Edge-Lucas 9-Devon Smith 10-Josh Satchwell 17-Fin Barker. Subs: Cameron Anthony, Ash Elliott, Ted Stevenson, Zach Robertson.

From the kick off sports were straight into attack mode and when Atwal, Sharp and Smith went on a long run after only two minutes, they were just should of making the first telling shot.

Mansfield had a brief response which Bowen dealt with by a long clearance, which just overshot Barker’s run, but gained the first corner of the game.

A mix up in the Mansfield defence left Smith with the ball a couple of minutes later, his pass found Barker, whose first time shot was just over.

A free kick and corner followed in close succession for Mansfield, but the latter was followed up with a weak shot, that failed to trouble Bowen.

Some of the Mansfield tackling was excessively hard, none more so than when Mann was flattened just inside the hosts half after 14 minutes. The resulting free kick was then headed clear for a corner.

From the corner Smith picked the ball up and sent Barker clear through on goal, he was foiled and almost had his shirt ripped off, but the referee gave neither a free kick or more importantly and obvious penalty.

Sports normal flowing game started to become stifled by the raft of free kicks given against for the hosts intimidating tackles, more concerning that so many were from behind.

After 24 minutes a break down the left, saw Barker follow with a shot just wide again, before the battling Edge-Lucas found his way through the melee to earn a corner 28 minutes in. Williams was then brought down, and another penalty appeal after he had another nice interchange with Barker.

Atwal had a free kick but it went straight at the keeper and after 36 minutes Smith’s run found Barker again in the middle, but he was forced out wide unable to get a shot in.

The best chance of the first half came three minutes later, when Barker put a low cross in from the right, as Smith slid into connect, it was inches wide.

Sports pushed hard in the closing minutes of the first half and after a corner, Williams crossed and Sharp created space for his own shot just off target.

The hosts keeper then had to pull off a double save as Satchwell’s initial shot found Smith, whose effort was pushed away with the keeper at full stretch.

Benjamin was then booked for clash with a dramatic defender, after he had a strong down the left, bringing to an end an ill disciplined and scrappy first half.

As the second half got under way Mickleover came out with all guns blazing, gone was the apprehension of the strength overcoming skill, and they even learned to overcome some of the poor officialdom too.

Satchwell had a shot saved from a Sharp pass after 47 minutes and a minute later Barker was fouled yet again and a strong run.

With Edge-Lucas, Atwal and Benjamin driving forward, Satchwell, Barker and Smith all began to threaten more.

Barker worked the ball through to Smith, his shot was blocked, similarly Satchwell’s rebound and then Smith had an overhead kick over the bar.

But just before the hour was up the deadlock was finally broken. It was a fairly scrappy build up but came down to Smith and the hosts keeper in a fairly hefty clash.

As the keeper made contact, Smith still got his head not only above the keeper, but got enough contact on the ball to find the net, 1-0.

Within the next few minutes Satchwell was through on goal and despite being incorrectly flagged offside, by the refs assistant who was well behind play, it was chance gone. Smith then had another shot just wide a few minutes later before Barker had a try saved following a corner.

Barker then found himself in the refs book, which was still unusually devoid of Mansfield names.

Mann and Robinson continued rock solid at the back, with the almost redundant Bowen looking on, but the attacks continued with a Williams cross deflected interestingly close to the Mansfield goal.

After a couple more incorrect offside decisions, one following a clear a play on from a Mansfield defender, Satchwell finally got through again without being flagged, but his final shot was blocked.

The push became more intense as they looked for a second goal, and Edge-Lucas went close with a chip into the area, before Robinson blasted well over the bar.

But there was another free kick after 36 minutes. Atwal lined himself up and fired it straight into the Mansfield net 2-0.

Ash Elliott came on for Smith for the last seven minutes and Ted Stevenson competed the last few minutes after Satchwell came off, but the final whistle went and Mickleover returned home 2-0, having overcome a battling, sometimes over the top clash, with officials likened more to the Three Stooges than three wiremen.

by Peter Scherer

Fresh from their first Central Midlands Premier Division South home game of the year, Mickleover Reserves again ran riot again in their visitors defence.

This time it was Wirksworth Ivanhoe on the receiving end of an 8-1 trashing.

Following on from his five goals against Hilton, Devon Smith hit another hattrick, with George Atwal adding two and further goals from Jake Edge-Lucas, Fin Barker and Jude Ayetine, with Dan Walton pulling one back for the visitors.

Next game is away to Mansfield Hosiery at 7.45pm on Thursday. Mansfield are currently 12^th in the table, after losing at home last Saturday 4-2 to Linby Colliery Welfare.

by Peter Scherer

With last Saturday’s opening day win at South Normanton still fresh, Mickleover Reserves had their first home game in this seasons Central Midlands Premier Division South campaign  last night against Hilton.

Starting line-up 1-Fin Bowen 2- Larrel King 3-Ben Lewin 4-George Atwal 15 –Ethan Mann 6-Will Robinson 7-Lewis Benjamin 8-Jake Edge-Lucas 9- Devon Smith 10-Bobby Battisson 17 Fin Barker. Subs: Ash Elliott; Ted Stevenson; Pablo Mills.

It was hard to even count the seconds before Smith opened the scoring for Mickleover, maybe 10 if we are generous to Hilton, 1-0.

But the visitors tried to respond quickly, with skipper Lewin clearing the danger after three minutes, before the game started to settle.

It could easily have been a second for Mickleover when only the visiting keepers legs saved them , after good ball in from Battisson created Barker’s shooting chance.

A minute later and it was 2-0 after Battisson found himself one on one with the Hilton keeper, before successfully chipping  over his advancing rival.

Mickleover were playing the ball around the field with growing confidence, with King and Lewin free to roam on the wings, as Robinson and Mann coped with Hilton’s advances relatively easily.

Edge-Lucas poured loads of energy into his midfield role, while Atwal, Battisson and Benjamin were more tactical in their approach.

Lewin had a shot just wide after 23 minutes, but the ease of Mickleover’s game, with both skill and pace was just too much for the visitors.

Battisson almost sent Barker clear after 24 mins and a minute later after Battisson was fouled on the edge of the box, Atwal’s free kick was well-saved by the Hilton keeper, tipping over for a corner.

King then tried his luck after a slow build up, his shot was just wide too, while only two minutes later he was almost through again, but a last minute tackle came in before he was able to shoot.

After Barker had a shot straight at the keeper well held, Lewin the tested him too with a low drive at the right corner.

But Hilton did get a break after 32 mins forcing Bowen to race off his line to clear the danger, setting up another Barker attack, before the striker lost possession just outside the box.

A couple of minutes later and Mann had a shot too, from outside the box he fired just over the bar.

Hilton then had a yellow card after a second attempt to foul Atwal, took the midfielders legs  from beneath him. 

Mickleover’s third goal had only been a matter of time and it came after 38 mins, after Battisson hit the post. Edge-Lucas’ shot went close and then after hitting the bar, Robinson made it 3-0 from the rebound. The Hilton keeper must have felt like a ping pong ball, as the shots had reigned in from all angles.

It was nearly half time but still time for one more. Barker had broken through again and hit the post, Edge-Lucas then picked it up and charged for goal, only to brought down for a penalty. Atwal made no mistake from the spot, to send the team in for half time  with a comfortable 4-0 lead.

As the second half got underway, Mickleover were soon on the attack again. Although Barker’s input was more visible, Smith’s play caused havoc for the Hilton defence. 49 mins and he got his second and Mickleover’s fifth 5-0!!

5 minutes later and it goal number six and Battisson’s second. He created his own space with time on his side, before placing a perfectly weighted shot over the top of a dormant Hilton defence into the roof of the net.

Smith’s hattrick soon followed 7-0, before the first of the subs came on with Mills and Elliott for Battisson and Benjamin after 59 mins, with Stevenson soon following.

Hilton had a rare chance after 71 mins, but a clear shot was well wide of Bowen’s goal, but play at both ends had started to show signs of casualness.

78 mins and Smith smashed in another, having been almost unchallenged by the defence, but two minutes later a rare mistake in the Mickleover defence left Hilton clear to pull one back, after Bowen was given no chance at close range, 8-1.

Possible double figures were on the cards and the shots came in thick and fast over the last 10 minutes. Barker shot just over on 80 mins, then Mills similarly seven minutes later.

Hilton had another shot just wide with two mins left, before Smith got his fifth after low cross in from Lewin founds him totally free in space, 9-1. In the final minute he could so easily have had a sixth, but his effort went straight across the front of an open goal.

An outstanding  performance from such a young team, so if you can’t travel to South Shields on Saturday, get down to the Don Amott Arena on Saturday, with Wirksworth Ivanhoe the visitors at 3pm, you are sure to entertained and it’s £4 on the gate!

by David Mackenzie, Reserves Manager

 A youthful team headed up the A38 for the season’s opener. As usual the pitch was in great condition which would suit our passing game. The average age was 17.7 years.

There were no surprises that South Normanton would be strong and try and put us under pressure however we settled well and the S. N. keeper made an excellent save to stop the first goal. Shortly afterwards Ben Lewin rattled the upright for the second time as we started to exert steady pressure on the S.N. defence.

A rash challenge on George Atwal ended with a skirmish in the middle of the field with several players involved. When the dust had settled South Normanton’s #9 got his marching orders on the advice of the nearside linesman.  Half time saw the teams go in level although we could say we were a bit unlucky.

The start of the second half saw a S.N. defender sin binned having observed verbally that the linesman was a lady’s front bottom.

During the sin bin time Mickleover took the lead with a crisp left foot drive from 18 yards by George Atwal who was imposing himself all over the pitch.

With S.N. restored to 10 Mickleover continued to press with both full backs wide and 3 attackers through the middle. Several opportunities were carved out but SN continued to hold firm until Fin Barker was fouled in the box and George Atwall struck home the resulting penalty with aplomb.

Fin Barker, Devon Smith and Jude Ayetine were causing all sorts of problems and from one such run Fin cut inside and a sweetly struck shot to the bottom corner gave the keeper no chance.

A fine performance with each player playing their part and young Ethan Mann and Will Robinson outstanding.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves travelled to Newark Town last Saturday for a friendly match, as they prepare for their first game in the Central Midlands League Premier South Division, away to South Normanton on August 7^th.

It was 0-0 at half time, but Academy Graduate Fin Barker broke the deadlock, with Mickleover returning home 1-0 victors.

by D.Mac, Reserves Manager, Mickleover F.C.

Having come through the group stages, a quarter-final against Dinnington and a tough semi-final against Rowsley, the reserves should have seen us in good shape to face the challenge of Retford Utd in the final of the Chairman’s Cup. 

Unfortunately, the cumulative fixtures of the Academy, Reserves and First team took its toll and we went to Sheffield with several players carrying injuries or knocks and also Jacob Ferdinand had a previously booked engagement.

The team that started the final was Tom Smith, Larrel King, Matt Fuertado, Tom Eccleshall, Ash Elliot, Jacob Lucas, Lopes Massampo, Surafel Tefera with Will Monteiro and Jude Ayetine up top. On the bench were Fin Barker, Devon Smith, Josh Satchwell, Bobby Battisson and George Williamson.

The team started off strongly and only brilliant agility and fortuity from the Retford goalkeeper maintained the stalemate. Good chances were being created almost every time Mickleover went into the Retford half. Will, Jude and Surf all thought they had scored but for the aforementioned quality of the goalkeeper. Tom Eccleshall then put in a great cross met by the head of Jude Ayetine, only for the ball to connect with the underside of the bar and clear.

It seemed that a goal would come soon and it did, sadly at the wrong end for us. It was a similar goal to the one we lost at Rowsley, with a player dribbling across our box and striking a shot low into the corner at the left-hand post. A good goal to score but defensively one that could have been prevented.

Worse followed! You ask for consistency from referees and we certainly got it on Saturday. Retford took advantage of leniency on the referee’s part by stealing several yards at throw-ins. The ball went out of play right beside the right-hand side corner flag but the throw-in was actually taken almost in line with the 18 yard line. From that point Retford worked the ball well up the park and an excellent cross was put in from the right-wing. The cross was met with a great header back across the goal high into the side of the net. A goal of great quality.

Into the second half and Mickleover continued to press without creating the same level of chances. Then Ash Elliot drove into the box beating a couple of players and was brought down by a desperate challenge – penalty awarded. Surf unceremoniously struck the ball low to the keepers right 2-1 game on. 

Five minutes later Ash again was in the box and in the action of shooting was caught from behind – a stonewall penalty in the eyes of everyone bar two- the ones that mattered. Ash said afterwards that the second challenge was worse than the first. 

Mickleover made another couple of chances which we snatched at which was understandable given the pressure.

Missing fouls was to prove the final nail when Tom Eccleshall was fouled some 30 yards out. The game carried on and what followed was a goal good enough to win any cup. The Retford sub found himself to the right side of our penalty box and hit a sweet ferocious drive into the roof of the net.

The game finished with a well struck shot that missed the target – the story of our match.

If football mirrored life there would have only been one winner but it’s a cruel game and whilst Retford scored three excellent goals and in the main defended well Mickleover should have won the game in the first 20/25 minutes. Congratulations to Retford Utd and also thanks to Sheffield FC for their organisation and hospitality.

 

by D.Mac, Mickleover F.C., Reserves Manager
with additional words from Jon Battisson and Peter Scherer

Rowsley 86 v Mickleover F.C. Reserves – Chairman’s Cup – Semi Final

The Mickleover Reserves team headed back up the A6, unless you went up the A38 and across the A615, to the scenic setting of Rowsley, situated in a little Swale at the edge of the Peak District. 

This semi-final was the third time we have made acquaintance with them in the last month, having been paired with them in the group stages and playing our home game there as well.

 I also went up and watched their quarter-final win over Bentley and now my Sat Nav thinks my home address is Peaktor Lane, Rowsley! The results of the first two games were one win each, however being the tactical geniuses that Aaron and I are, we inveigled a 2-1 defeat in the last game, so as we would get an away tie in the quarter-final and not have to pay the officials!

But one thing guaranteed at Rowsley is a friendly welcome and post-match.

The team, showing a couple of changes from the quarter-final win at Dinnington Town, was Tom Smith, Lopes Massampo, Jacob Ferdinand, Matt Fuertado, Tom Eccleshall, George Milner, Clinton Morrison, Bobby Battisson, Surafel Tefera, Jude Ayetine and Will Monteiro. On the planks of wood were Ash Elliot, Jacob Edge-Lucas and Devon Smith.

Mickleover started really well with some crisp passing and good movement supporting players on the ball. The central defensive pairing of Ferdinand and Fuertado were solid and well balanced, making good decisions on when to play out or give it the wellie. 

With the stability of Morrison in front, it allowed the industrious pairing of Battisson and Milner to pressurise Rowsley into errors, so we got the ball back. 

After 15 or so minutes Mickleover had fashioned chances for Monteiro, Ayetine and Tefera, with the home keeper being called into action.

Prior to the game, we talked about the importance of set pieces – corners and free-kicks and how having a plan would work in our favour. It was therefore pleasing that from a free-kick from our right side, just to the right of the penalty box, about 21.5 yards powerfully struck by Eccleshall between the posts that we took the lead. 

Monteiro had gone close in the opening minutes, after a fine ball from Ayetine on the left. Then Tefera found Ayetine, but his effort was saved by the Rowsley keeper, before Milner put another telling ball into the box, from a Massampo feed.

15 minutes in and Battisson lofted a corner in, finding Milner in space, but the final header was over. Both Battisson and Milner went close again as the pressure built on the home defence and it was no surprise when Tefera opened the scoring.

It was a free kick from Edge-Lucas after Monteiro was fouled, but the keeper did well to parry the shot and his next action was to fetch the ball out of the net, after Tefera had controlled the high spinning ball and guided the ball carefully into the corner.1-0 Mickleover.

Only five minutes later Monteiro was on another run, beating players to pile more pressure on the Rowsley defence.

The tails were up and in the next period we played some sumptuous impressive football and not much later followed a goal of quintessential beauty.

The ball got played out to Monteiro just in our half, he set the ball back to Tefera, who spun with one touch and slotted an exquisite through pass in front of the onrushing Monteiro. There was still work to be done as their centre backs had come across to close down the danger, but Monteiro took them both out, sidestepping inside before bending the ball to nestle in the corner of the net. 2-0.

Monteiro continued to run rampant through the defence, ably supported by Ayetine, Morrison, Battisson, Tefera and Milner, but after 35 minutes Rowsley had their best chance of the game, when Smith had to charge off his line to try and retrieve a short back pass. The striker was their first but his shot was wide of an almost open goal.

There were penalty appeals after Monteiro was fouled again, but it was still virtual one-way traffic.

Just before half time however Rowsley pulled one back, with a shot from 10 yards out, which Smith misjudged 2-1.

To Rowsley’s credit, they continued to fight and it was a good goal from their point, but one which we should have stopped. 

Collecting the ball about 30 yards out on our left he ( the scorer) drove into the centre area and got away a shot that went through Morrison’s legs and trundled with a wee bit of pace into the net near the left-hand post. If there was a good time to lose a goal when 2-0 up, the minutes before halftime as the momentum they could have gained was stopped by the interval.

There was still a chance for one more shot from Mickleover before the half time whistle, as yet another foul on Monteiro, saw Battisson shoot over.

We started the second half well but the game developed into a tousy affair with a spate of bookings. I suspected that the referee had left his cards in the changing room first half, as he allowed a few robust challenges to go unheeded.

Tefera was booked for pushing a defender after being kicked from behind and then Monteiro flew into a tackle that merited the yellow that he received. 

Worse was to follow for the Rowsley centre half when he got a yellow to match the one he had just got previously so he had to go.

On the positive side, Eccleshall had a free kick saved and just after the hour, Rowsley had a shot hit the underside of the Mickleover bar, before Battisson tested the keeper, after nice build up between Morrison and Tefera

In the last period of the game the Rowsley keeper made three very good saves from Tefera twice and Monteiro.

 However, there were other opportunities squandered which would have made the game safe, when we either were slow in getting a shot away or took the wrong option.

One thing we knew was that Rowsley would keep playing and were very unlucky on three occasions. 

In the 73^rd minute Morrison used his experience to be in the right place and cleared off the line and luckily for us a Rowsley player snatched at a shot from six yards and squirted the ball past the post.

In the final minutes Ayetine had a shot well saved, but in time added on, Rowsley were handed the chance of an equaliser, but put the shot wide with a open goal, before Monteiro lost out in a final one on one with the Rowsley keeper.

A good first half followed by a dip in the second with excellent performances coming from Ferdinand and Fuertado, with Battisson and Milner in midfield and Monteiro and Tefera taking their goals well. 

There was also a display of ball retention and simplicity that would be hard to match from Morrison, added to his goal-line clearance, making make him motm. (I won’t mention the ‘swinger’ of an attempted shot in the first half though)

We now look forward to a final with Retford at Sheffield on Saturday, at the end of a strange season and thank Rowsley for their hospitality and wish them well for the future.

 

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves visited Dinnington Town last night, for their Central Midlands League Chairmans Cup Quarter Final tie.

The starting line-up was 1-Tom Smith 2-Ben Lewin 3-Tom Eccleshall 4-Lopes Massampo 5-Jacob Ferdinand 6-Aaron Hayer 7-Devon Smith 8-Ash Elliott 9-Jude Ayetine 10-Surafel Tefera 11-Matt Fuertado. Subs: Jacob Edge-Lucas, Bobby Battisson, George Wiliamson, Josh Satchwell.

Dinnington were straight on the attack and won their first corner in the second minute. Mickleover retaliated when a good cross from Ayetine, saw Fuertado’s attempt just wide, before Elliott  missed out on connecting with a half chance.

A couple of minutes later Elliott put the ball across the face of the Dinnington goal, just missing connection with Smith.

After Dinnington put a free kick well over Smith’s bar, it became end to end for most for the first half.

Elliott just missed out on another Fuertado cross after 14 minutes, but at the back Ferdinand was marshalling the defence well, with the aid of Hayer, while both Lewin and Eccleshall were effective on the overlaps.

Dinnington had a shot just over after Hayer had lost possession on the edge of the box, before Smith was brought down in the area in the 16^th minute, but penalty shouts were waved away.

Devon Smith got a shot in again after a feed from Massampo, followed by another corner for Sports as they pushed to open the scoring.

But Dinnington were equally on the attack too and after a scramble in the Mickleover box 26minutes in, a free kick was given and relieved the pressure.

Lewin placed a nice curling ball into the Dinnington box on the half hour, but there was no one on the receiving end, he was then back in defence clearing the lines too.

But Dinnington kept coming back for more and there was another goal mouth scramble after Smith charged out only to beaten to the ball, before the defence rallied once more.

Smith was in action again pulling off a good save in the 34^th minute, but then namesake Devon had a shot whistle just wide of the post, the nearest yet to an opening goal.

But as half time approached Dinnington had a couple more telling attacks and Hayer had a cross, too long, but just over the bar.

Elliott had the final chance of the half, in space initially but waiting too long to try and get a shot in, so the teams went in still 0-0.

Mickleover made two half time changes, with Tefera, injured after a couple of knocks, and Lewin, making way for Edge-Lucas and Battisson.

From the start of the second half Mickleover seemed more positive and Devon Smith was soon attacking giving Fuertado a half chance.

But after Dinnington had another attack, Fuertado had a shot saved in the 54^th minute. Ayetine had become more effective as the target man, but was hacked down from behind in the 46^th minute, earning the Dinnington defender a yellow card.

Eccleshall then put a good cross in before Elliott’s shot was blocked on the hour. But Mickleover had a lucky escape, when Edge-Lucas was surprisingly outpaced on the wing, before the Dinnington striker fired a shot in which Smith tipped onto the bar. But the hosts had the ball in the net from the rebound, only to be deemed offside.

 Fuertado went close again for Mickleover three minutes later, his shot was blocked by the advancing Dinnington keeper.

Two more substitutions followed with Satchwell and for Fuertado and Wiliamson for Devon Smith.

Dinnington had another weak penalty appeal rejected, but finally after 70 minutes the deadlock was broken, when Satchwell was fouled on a run, and Wiliamson’s following free-kick had the keeper well beaten 1-0.

Six minutes later and from Eccleshall on the left, Wiliamson’s through ball to Battisson was met up by the charging Edge-Lucas, who placed the ball nicely out of reach of the advancing keeper, 2-0.

Dinnington had a free kick, but in punching clear Smith took a slight knock. But Mickleover came charging back and Satchwell made it 3-0 with a back heeler, catching the defence flat footed.

The hosts were close to pulling one back though when Smith was unable to collect. Hayer cleared off the line before Eccleshall brought it clear.

Battisson and Wiliamson both had more of the ball in midfield and after a long kick by Smith in the closing minutes, Battisson almost latched onto it at the other end. 

A minute later and another Battisson run saw him brought down in the area, only for his resulting penalty to be saved.

So it remained a hard earned 3-0 win, which takes them into the semi finals, against the winners of the AFC Bentley v Rowsley tie.