by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves played the second of four games due over eight days, but went down 1-2 to Derby Singh Brothers at the Don Amott Arena last night.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Joe Sellors 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Pablo Mills 6-Zac Sandhu 7-George Atwal 8-Owen Parr 9-Bobby Battisson 10-Fin Ryder 11-Jayden Cozens. Subs: Declan Brown, Dean Ironmonger, Josh Powell.

Mickleover set the pace from the kick off and won the first corner after two minutes, but Atwal’s kick was soon cleared. It was only a minute later that Ferron picked up the ball in his own half, charged through the visitors defence and smashed home the opening goal, 1-0.

It was all Mickleover and they earned another corner, before the visitors made a break down the right which soon broke down.

Mills almost sent Cozens clear after nine minutes, but his efforts earned another corner, while Singh Bros continued to rely on breaks, which wasn’t getting them far.

The interpassing from the Mickleover squad dominated the possession until Mills tested the keeper with a long range shot after 15 minutes.

Singh Bros right back tried a another solo run but was tackled before he could cross, but Battisson and Cozens combined a few minutes later to test the visiting keeper.

Although Mickleover were well on top, their creativity had failed to create real chances, although Singh Bros continued to make occasional breaks, Bonser and Sandu had them covered.

Mills put a nice ball through the middle for Ryder to chase after 24 minutes, but the keeper intercepted first, before Singh Bros had a corner, possibly their first, headed away.

Sellors and Ferron had both looked effective on the overlaps and the formers cross from the right on the half hour, was again intercepted before Ryder got there.

Then suddenly the tide of the game turned, with Singh Bros hitting the equaliser from the edge of the box on Mickleover’s left, with the defence seemingly rooted. 1-1 after 34 minutes.

Atwal then earned a free kick after he was tripped. He took the kick but the Sellors follow up was easily saved by the keeper.

Two minutes after their equaliser Singh Bros seemed to have acres of space on Sports right, the striker seized his chance and it was 1-2 after 34 minutes.

As Mickleover tried to play out of their own half, another Atwal free kick was headed just over by Mills, but the visitors had the upperhand and put another shot just wide of the right hand post after 40 minutes.

Bonser was then beaten as another cross went into the box, but there was no one to receive, before Singh Bros ended the first half with a shot into the side netting.

Sports youngsters came out for the second half with all guns blazing and were close to an equaliser in a 48^th minute goal mouth scramble. The keeper was out of his goal and beaten, shots fired in and were blocked until Cozens final shot struck a defender on the line and earned a corner.

Ryder then broke through to find Mills, but his shot was inches shy of the far post.

Singh Bros managed to break out of their half again after a 10 minute barrage, and were almost gifted a chance when Bonser miskicked, but the visiting striker failed to react quick enough.

After Battisson was fouled on the edge of the box, Mills free kick was saved, but as the hour mark past, the game already showed signs of fizzling out.

65 minutes Maher saved a shot straight at him and then Mills fired another free kick in, saved by the keeper.

Battisson tried to chip the keeper after76 minutes when he saw him off his line, but then Singh Bros had another chance but shot well over.

Although the second half possession had been about 75% in Mickleover’s favour, they seemed to be trying to walk the ball into the net, with reluctance to try a shot.

Subs Ironmonger, Brown and Powell all came on as late subs, but after a great start the game ebbed away into another defeat.

by Peter Scherer

While the first team ended the weekend on a high with victory over Nuneaton Borough, the Reserves were at home to Arnold Town at the Don Amott Arena last Saturday.

Looking for a first win in three games, it wasn’t a happy ending, as Sports youngsters went down 0-3 with Liam Black scoring two and James Martin adding to the visitors score chart.

The Reserves are now in eighth place in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South and are away again this Saturday to bottom of the table Ashland Rovers, who are still seeking their first win of the season.

by Peter Scherer

Having drawn 2-2 with Holbrook St Michael’s at the beginning of the season, hopes were high on gaining points for Mickleover Reserves in the return Central Midlands League Premier Division South match on Tuesday night.

After losing out 2-3 at Cromford & Wirksworth last time out, it proved to be another disappointing one goal defeat however, with Holbrook’s Fraser Kirk scoring the only goal.

The reserves are at home this Saturday, so if you are not traveling to see the First Team at Stratford, why not go along to the Don Amott Arena and show your support.

by Peter Scherer

Having been 2-1 winners when Mickleover Reserves played Cromford & Wirksworth at the Don Amott Arena back in September, hopes of a double win in the Central Midlands Premier Division South ended, with a 0-2 defeat last Saturday, with goals from Aaron and Scott Taylor.

The defeat leaves them in eighth place, with eight games to go, starting with Nottingham FC away on Saturday.

by Peter Scherer

Having lost out to near neighbours Mickleover RBL in the last Central Midlands League Premier Division South game, Mickleover Reserves took revenge with a 3-2 win in the return fixture last Saturday.

Dean Ironmonger gave Mickleover the early lead from a half volley following a free kick, as Sports youngsters started with confidence 1-0. Fin Ryder then found Declan Brown, but the home keeper held the strikers shot.

Brown then picked up on a poor clearance by the RBL defence, but his shot was just wide.

But RBL were back in the game at 1-1, when a dangerous cross set up the equaliser, with Sports keeper beaten at the far post.

RBL began to look more dominant as Sports midfield started to struggle on the muddy pitch.

But Ryder set up  nice move and switched the ball to Brandon Ferron on the left, he layed it off for Jack Leighton but his shot was deflected for a corner.

Ferron again was on the end of the shot corner, but as he cut in his shot was over the bar from a tightening angle.

RBL were still looking dangerous and made a break for Sports goal, but Ferron’s pace came to the rescue, with his interception for a corner.

Sports were looking dangerous again too and when Paterson and Leighton combined on the right, Brown was sent through to chip the keeper and made it 2-1, as the half time whistle approached with confidence.

In the opening minute of the second half Leighton got clear on the right, but his cross aimed for Brown was stuck in the mud and failed to reach its target.

Brown then forced a finger tip save out of the RBL keeper after a good build up, before Ryder made it 3-1 to Sports, despite the RBL offside appeals.

As Sports began to push forward, Ironmonger’s cross managed to bypass three sports players before going out for a corner.

But RBL pulled another goal back after Ironmonger was penalised, and despite a clear push in the box the goal stood, 3-2.

Paterson then held the ball well to set up a Ryder break, but his cross was deflected out of Brown’s reach.

Into the final 10 minutes RBL pushed for the equaliser, with the officials decisions all going their way, similar to the game a couple of weeks ago.

Jayden Cozens then beat a defender on the left, with his cross  hitting the post. Unfortunately there was no one to collect the rebound.

There was one more attack for Sports with Brown given offside, but the whistle went to secure the 3-2 victory, after a strong performance and revenge for the reverse result in the last ill-tempered encounter.

by Peter Scherer

It was the long awaited local Derby game at the Don Amott Arena last night, as Mickleover Reserves took on Mickleover RBL in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Jake Bennett 3-Zac Sandu 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Pablo Mills 6-Charlie Rock 7-George Atwal 8-John McGrath 9-Kai Moore 10-Marcus Marshall 11-Jake Edge-Lucas. Subs: Owen Parr, Fin Ryder, Harry Atwal, Jack Leighton.

Sports were on the attack from the first whistle, with the visiting keeper saving a Mills shot after only two minutes, before the follow up shot went wide.

Two minutes later RBL had their first corner, as they tried to push forward, but in the early minutes the more experienced Sports line-up was proving to strong.

Bennett had made good progress down the right and as the ball came into the middle, Marshall fired home from close range after seven minutes, 1-0.

RBL continued to battle their way out of their own half and a dangerous cross from their left, just failed to connect with awaiting heads in the box a minute later.

The Sports midfield of McGrath, Edge-Lucas and Atwal were controlling much of the play, with Marshall playing off the back of Mills and Moore up front.

RBL broke again after 13 minutes, but couldn’t get a final shot in and a following break for Sports ended when Moore was fouled.

Possession and lots of interpassing continued with a second goal looking a strong possibility. With Moore fouled a couple of times, the final attacks were breaking down.

But after 24 minutes Marshall set up Mills on a positive run. He then found Sandhu on the overlap, but his shot was wide of the left hand post.

McGrath then spotted Mills in space on the right on the half hour, but the crossfield pass was intercepted.

Into the final third of the first half, RBL began to force the Sports defence back. Bonser and Rock had looked strong in the middle, aided by their experienced colleagues and Maher had barely had a touch in the home goal.

But a string of corners for the visitors were followed by a goal mouth scramble, from which Maher punched away the danger.

Bonser saved the day with a last ditch tackle on a breaking striker after 41 minutes, but then with two minutes left to half time there was another chance for Sports.

McGrath was brought down and took the free kick himself. Mills and Marshall linked up on the right before Edge-Lucas ran through to the bye line. But the keeper darted off his line as a cross was imminent.

Another free kick soon followed, with Mills on the end of the McGrath kick, shooting just over the bar again, so it remained 1-0 as the whistle went.

The second half started badly when Sandhu lost possession on the Sports left only two minutes in. The cross came in and was met with precision, giving Maher little chance, 1-1.

Only a minute later McGrath was brought down in the box. A clear penalty and even though the referee and his assistants were wired up for some reason, they failed to communicate and played on.

From there the referee began to react more to pressure from the RBL players than his own observations, similarly his assistants who were both very late flagging some dubious offside decisions.

Moore had been fouled again in the right hand-corner, but the referee gave an obscure decision and Moore appeared to get a yellow card. Minutes later Moore was involved in another skirmish, which virtually the RBL side started demanding his dismissal. Fortunately the ref ignored this growing display of bad sportsmanship.

Sports had another good build up after 52 minutes, but Bennett’s cross was too near the keeper. Three minutes later Edge-Lucas had a run which just failed to connect with Marshall. RBL then got a break and split the home defence to make it 1-2.

There was more officialdom farce when Ryder prepared to replace Moore. The assistant appeared to refuse the substitution until the electronic board was used. After all this is the Central Midlands League, not Premiership!

The mood of the game had continued to deteriorate and rather than stamp down on it, it appeared to be almost encouraged.

RBL fired a dangerous cross from their right on the hour, but the pace made it impossible for his team mates to respond. But Atwal forced the RBL keeper to save with his feet after 66 minutes, following a positive cross field ball from McGrath.

The turning temper of the game seemed to have fired up the Sports team and they started to take control for a period again.

Mills chased down a McGrath ball  but shot wide, then Atwal picked it up just outside the box, sending a lovely lob over the keeper into the roof of the net, 2-2 after 68 minutes.

Sandhu was close after a Marshall cross eight minutes later and then RBL had a free kick which went to waste.

Leighton was the next sub on and had a good run down the left after 81 minutes. He layed it off to Marshall, who then found McGrath whose shot was blocked.

With five minutes of normal time on the clock, RBL fired another cross in from the left, once more with too much pace on it. Bennett then responded for Sports but his cross from the right was too close to the keeper, after a promising build up.

Parr came on for Edge-Lucas on the 90 minute mark, but the ref played an excessive amount of add on. Well into that time Sports had lost out on the left and a cross came into the box.

Bonser was about to clear, when and RBL striker tried an overhead kick. As the Sports centre back pulled out of the challenge rather than being kicked in the face, the offending striker then passed and it led to the disputed winning goal for RBL, 2-3.

by Peter Scherer

It was only a short journey across the city for Mickleover Reserves, as they visited Graham Street Prims last Saturday.

The hosts started strongly and piled on some early pressure, followed by a string of corners.

Mickleover’s first real attack came when Charlie Rock sent a long upfield ball, which set Dean Ironmonger on a run down the right, only to be stopped by two defenders.

Ironmonger and Declan Brown shared a nice exchange, before Brown’s shot was easily taken by the keeper and then Jack Leighton outpaced the defence on the right, but his cross missed the heads in the centre.

Sports were getting into the game more and the home keeper made another save from Brown, after he latched onto a cross from Fin Ryder.

But it was the home side ahead when Brad Daley tapped in at the far post after 24 minutes, following a cross from the Mickleover left 0-1.

Brown had gone off injured  and Ryder had a good chance after being set up by Ironmonger. But it could have been a second for Prims when a rare Maher mistake gave the striker a free shot, which fortunately headed skywards.

Mickleover were straight on the attack as the second half got underway, but Leighton was unable to get his cross in after another charge down the right.

But Prims were soon looking dangerous again and went three on one against Rock, who stayed solid and cleared the danger.

Back on the break Zac Sandhu got a cross in for Sports, but there was no one to receive and then Rock found Ryder on the right, following a corner, only for the ref to blow for a foul.

But just after the hour Daley made it two for Prims after break.

There was one last chance for Mickleover when Jake Edge-Lucas’ free kick earned a corner, but it remained 0-2 with Sports still sixth in the table.

by Peter Scherer

Having gone down 0-2 to Wirksworth Ivanhoe earlier this season, Mickleover Reserves were looking for revenge last night at the Don Amott Arena, in their Central Midlands Premier Division South clash.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Jake Bennett 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Ronnie Bonser 5-Daryl Powell 6-Zac Sandhu 7-Jack Leighton 8-Fin Ryder 9-Declan Brown 10-Kai Moore 11-Marcus Marshall. Subs: Dean Ironmonger, Owen Parr.

The game started at a frenetic pace, with both teams seemingly keen to make an opening impression.

Wirksworth had their first corner after two minutes, but  that and other early forays were comfortably dealt with by Bonser and Powell in the middle of the home defence.

Brown had the first shot for Mickleover after three minutes, but it was just wide after a deflection, to earn  a corner.

Although both sides were attacking, Mickleover seemed to have more direction, with Brown and Moore both having early shots blocked, before Bennett fired a rebound, which again was blocked.

Moore then played a lovely cross field ball for Brown to chase, but it just outran him for a goal kick.

Whereas Mickleover’s gameplan seemed more gradual and constructive, Wirksworth were happier with the long ball and more random shooting, but 11 minutes in and a long run from Marshall, just failed to connect with Brown again.

Marshall then fired a free kick over the bar a minute later, but seemed to be relishing showing his experience and trickery in midfield. But after 26 minutes he lost possession and sent Wirksworth on a break, they earned a corner, which was easily dealt with.

Just after a couple more corners for our visitors, Moore went close on the half hour, with the keeper tipping his shot around the right hand post for a corner, with the following shot then wide.

Marshall continued to put some telling long balls through the defence, but they continued to be too long for Brown to connect. But Marshall had the ball in the net after 32 minutes,  but was ruled offside.

Ferron had been fairly quiet on the left wing, but easily outpaced the defence 34 minutes in. His cross was then just a whisker from finding Moore.

Ryder had his first shot of the game two minutes later, but was wide, and then 38 minutes in the Wirksworth keeper had to make the first real save of the game, when he saved a Marshall effort with his legs, following a corner,

Maher had to make his first save a minute later too, when a deflected shot was pushed away.

Wirksworth tried another random longshot after 40 minutes, which Maher caught easily and then Bennett and a positive break down the right, timing his cross to perfection. Brown miskicked, but the ball fell to Moore, but his shot was wide of the left hand post.

Moore went close again with two minutes of the first half left. His close range effort was well saved by the Wirksworth keeper though.

There was an early scare for Mickleover when only a minute into the second half Powell lost possession and left a striker one on one with Sports keeper. But Maher dashed out of his goal and bravely blocked at the strikers feet.

But the visitors were pushing forward and for a while Mickleover were pegged back in their own half. Although Wirksworth got a few shots in, they were way off target.

Mickleover finally came forward again as the hour mark approached, as Ryder and Moore combined before Brown picked up the cross. His shot was deflected for a corner and Sandhu then shot over.

Wirksworth then had a shot just wide of the left hand post, before Moore beat a number of defenders to cut in from the left. His final ball went across the goal face, but no one connected.

Parr came on for Leighton after 67 minutes and was soon involved in the play, but six minutes later a Brown chase saw him collide with the keeper and a defender, but all three continued after treatment.

Into the final 15 minutes and it was still stalemate, but having had fairly good game so far, the referee started dishing out free kicks that no else saw.

Marshall was jinking through and was well tackled, but the ref gave a free kick. Moore followed up with a shot, but had no power and failed to trouble the keeper.

Another high and wide effort from Wirksworth came after 80 minutes, but then a corner for Sports ended with another imaginary foul against Sports.

Then a another free kick after 84 minutes for a non foul, before Maher had to dive at a strikers feet again, following  long throw,

Ryder had found Brown as time ran out, but the young striker failed to get a shot in. Dean Ironmonger was then on for Brown, before the strangest decision of the night. Moore was almost wrestled to the ground by the Wirksworth right back, but the ref gave a free kick to the visitors and booked Moore for querying the decision,

In time added on Moore had a final shot blocked, before the game concluded for Mickleover’s first 0-0 of the season.

They have two local Derbies over the next week too, visiting Graham Street Prims next Saturday, before hosting Mickleover RBL on Tuesday night.

by Peter Scherer

When all look lost for Mickleover Reserves at Linby MW in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South match, two late goals salvaged a point.

An early free kick for the hosts was headed away by Charlie Rock, and there was a good cross shortly afterwards from Owen Parr. Declan Brown managed to connect but there was no power behind his header.

Two successive corners for Linby caused some concern in the Mickleover defence, after bobbling on the grass pitch, but both were headed over.

Josh Maher then punched away another corner, before Harry Atwal cleared the danger, from the wind assisted kick.

Ronnie Bonser was then yellow carded but Maher coped comfortably with the following free kick.

Brown had another shot over the bar but two goals followed for Linby before half time, the second from a long ball over the defence. 2-0.

The second half started with a couple of goal mouth scrambles, but Sports defence cleared it and shortly afterwards Dean Ironmonger was the first of the subs to be used.

Ironmonger got Mickleover back into the game when he got through to find Zac Sandhu, but the home keeper just managed to intercept.

But Ironmonger pulled one goal back when he wrong footed the keeper with a shot outside the box, 1-2.

Leading scorer Brown then got on the scoresheet too, when total confusion in the home defence, saw the ball dropped at his feet, readily accepting his chance, ending the match 2-2.

(Notes and image supplied by Mickleover Reserves twitter).

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover youngsters returned to winNing form last night, with  a 2-1 victory over South Normanton in the Central Midlands Premier Division South.

Sports were looking in fairly good shape from the kick off, but then gave away a free kick, which was followed some careless passing.

But then Fin Ryder got clear on a run and earned a free kick just outside the box. Harry Atwal’s kick rebounded back to him, earning -corner at the second attempt. As the corner came in Charlie Rock met it with a cheeky back heel and it was 1-0.

Ryder managed to make a midfield interception to find Declan Brown. They had a quick one-two, but a last-ditch tackle thwarted any attempt on goal.

Both Jack Leighton and Brandon Ferron started to use their pace on the wings. Leighton found Brown, whose shot was just over the bar and then Ferron reciprocated, with Brown’s effort rebounding to Leighton, only to shoot straight at the visitors keeper.

Another Leighton cross was met by Owen Parr’s head, but failed to trouble the keeper.

Brown was then in the action again though, having come back on side to meet a Leighton pass. He ran back through the defence, let fly and hit the underside of the bar, which then deflected into the net 2-0.

Mickleover keeper Josh Maher had easily coped with any threat from South Normanton and almost set up Ferron for a late run as the half time whistle arrived.

Mickleover started the second half strongly, with Atwal finding Ronnie Bonser. He got a cross in to the far post but there was no one to meet it.

South Normanton managed to earn another free kick, failing to trouble Maher and then Brown held the ball nicely, to set up Jake Edge-Lucas, but his shot was over the bar.

Brown had a another half chance, which then became a South Normanton break, before Rock charged back to recover the situation.

A few random long distance shots from South Normanton failed to trouble the Mickleover goal, only for a late free kick to be headed in from the far post to make it 2-1.

Dean Ironmonger had come as sub and had one late chance, reigning in on the South Normanton keeper. But the keeper won the duel and remained 2-1 as the final whistle went.