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.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves hopes of progressing into the Abacus Lighting Floodlit Cup semi finals were dashed, when they went down 2-6 to Staveley MW.

Starting line-up: 1-Josh Maher 2-Jack Leighton 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Harry Atwal 5-Ronnie Bonser 6-Zac Sandhu  7-Declan Brown 8-Jacob Edge-Lucas 9-Dean Ironmonger 10-Owen Parr 11-Fin Ryder. Subs: Ryan McKeever-Atkins, Joseph Sellors, Jayden Cozens.

Staveley took an early lead when Mickleover lost possession in midfield. The defence failed to clear the danger and left a visiting striker in space to open the scoring.

But Sports came back fighting and managed to equalise with a great distance strike from Parr.

Leighton was then on the attack, but his cross from the right was too near the keeper, and shortly afterwards his recurring ankle injury saw him replaced by McKeever-Atkins.

The visitors were on target again when a lucky bounce left keeper Maher flat footed 1-2 and they began to threaten more and more.

Some nice play from Ryder found Brown, but he was unable to get in a telling shot, but then Edge-Lucas was penalised for an alleged trip. Although Maher got a hand to the spot kick, it still got through to make it 1-3.

Mickleover had to make another change when Atwal went off injured, to be replaced by Sellors, but as the half time whistle blew it remained 1-3.

It could have been a fourth for Staveley after 49 minutes, but having gone one on one, they failed to capitalise on the situation.

Two minutes later Brown was on target for Mickleover, forcing the Staveley keeper to tip over, when the rest of his his team mates seemed reluctant to have a crack themselves.

It was now Mickleover on the front foot, with a 51^st minute header from Edge-Lucas, after an Ironmonger cross making it 2-3.

Ferron put in a couple of good crosses from the left, but there was no one to collect, but Sports were still pressing for an equaliser.

Just after the hour Staveley had a random shot wide,  but the tide turned again after 66 minutes, with the defence flat footed as a cross came in from the left and was met with purpose, 2-4.

Parr had a shot just over from a Ferron cross, but the visitors started to take charge again as we entered the final 20 minutes.

A free kick from the Mickleover right was headed in cleanly at the far post 80 minutes in, and six minutes later it was 2-6, with the defence split wide open and Maher rooted after a deflection.

An entertaining game, but on this occasion Sports youngsters were soundly beaten.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves were comfortably holding their own against Linby Colliery Welfare in their Central Midlands League South Division match at the Don Amott Arena, until a second half injury to goalkeeper Tom Bill turned the tide.

It was end to end for the opening minutes, before a Linby free kick had gone for a corner, but was cleared to Declan Brown , who forced a finger tip save from the visitors keeper.

Shortly afterwards Charlie Rock intercepted and pushed forward again, found Brown who made his own space, forcing another diving save from the keeper.

Sports began to show more confidence and continued to push forward, but after an easy catch for the keeper, a good link down the right between Jacob Edge-Lucas and Ronnie Bonser, helped Fin Ryder charge through the middle

Jayden Cozens broke free on the right too, but was unable to reach Brown in the box.

There was a break for Linby after a Harry Atwal corner was cleared, but Bill was on hand to allay any danger. But some sloppy defending and a poor clearance gave the visitors another chance before half time, Atwal cleared again but the final shot was over the bar.

Ryder went close in the final minutes though, as his effort went just wide of the post and it remained 0-0.

Sports started the second half fairly strongly again but there was another easy catch from a free kick for the visitors keeper. Brown then won another free kick, taken by Brandon Ferron, which saw the keeper punch clear.

Rock had a header cleared off the line following a corner, but the turning point came when Linby were awarded a free kick. The kick was straight in, but Bill appeared to have been fouled. He went off injured with dislocated finger, but the goal stood, 0-1.

Dean Ironmonger took over in goal and Sports continued to attack though. Ryder’s shot was straight at the keeper and then Atwal found Ferron, but there was no one in the box to receive.

Ferron’s pace became more effective down the left, but a rare Rock slip set up a Linby strike, but fortunately it was well off target.

Ryder had another good run but Brown’s final shot was straight at the keeper, but after Linby had added a second, they made it three when they beat the offside 0-3.

Brown managed to hit a late consolation goal, but it was a case of what might have been and finished 1-3.

by Peter Scherer

Two goals from Brandon Ferron and one each from, Jack Leighton, Declan Brown and Will Robinson gave Mickleover Reserves an excellent victory over Central Midlands League Premier Division South leaders Pinxton at the Don Amott Arena.

Our visitors had won their first meeting 0-3 back in November but this success was Sports youngsters first league win since the end of October.

Having gone 2-0 up, sloppy defending had allowed Pinxton to bring it back to 2-2. After Mickleover went back ahead, Pinxton were handed a dubious penalty, to return to level pegging, before Ferron hit his second and Robinson consolidated it following a corner, to make the final score 5-3.

Mickleover are now in sixth place and have their next game a home to Linby on January 21^st.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves ended 2022 with a home point against a strong free-running Nottingham FC side in the Central Midlands Premier Division South.

Starting line-up: 1-Tom Bill 2-Ronnie Bonser 3-Brandon Ferron 4-Charlie Rock 5-Pablo Mills 6-Zac Sandhu 7 Fin Ryder 8-Harry Atwal 9-Declan Brown 10-Louis Pennington 11-Owen Parr. Subs: Jayden Cozens, Joseph Sellors.

Mickleover were first to threaten with a free-kick two minutes in, after Pennington was fouled. But only two minutes later Nottingham’s pacey right winger picked up a midfield interception and shot just wide of Bill’s right hand post.

Parr then went close to opening the scoring, when a defensive mix-up for the visitors saw their keeper stranded as he came out to defend on the Mickleover right, but Parr’s final shot was cleared off the line.

Ferron was having a hard time on the left wing and was in the referee’s book after 17 minutes, for a push in his rival wingers back.

Mickleover had started to edge slightly ahead in a fairly even game and just missed out again after 21 minutes, when Parr fed Ryder on the right, his cross was then met by Mills, whose shot ricocheted off the post.

A minute later it was the visitors number seven again outpacing the defence, before his cross was met by a striker, but his shot was straight at the keeper.

The visitors continued to look dangerous on the breaks, but as the rain became heavier, some of the long balls forward for Mickleover began to outrun their targets, with Brown in particular suffering as he tried to chased ball from Ryder, Parr, Pennington and Atwal.

Ferron managed to complete a run after 35 minutes, cutting inside from the left to shoot just past the left-hand post, but then a Nottingham striker tried to take the ball too far before shooting, enabling Rock to get back and rescue.

Brown was desperately close again on 38 minutes. He managed to put the ball wide to the advancing keepers right, but it was only inches wide too.

It seemed to heading into half-time goalless when Bill made a  good save from a positive strike, but with the whistle poised Ryder crossed again from the right and Mills made no mistake 1-0.

Barely a minute later the visitors number seven again had the legs of Ferron, but managed to turn him too, before firing home the equaliser as we final reached half-time, 1-1.

The second half started with the visitors showing even more confidence and once again the troublesome number seven once again went close, almost from the kick-off, before his fellow striker wasted an opportunity right in front of goal and fired over the bar.

Bonser had managed to push forward more and found Brown who crossed to Mills in the box, but the shot was just over again, but after 51 minutes there was a huge scramble in the Nottingham box, and a number of Mickleover players tried to get a shot in, but all paths were blocked. B

The visitors then went ahead after 54 minutes, with poor defending from a free kick leaving Bill beaten, 1-2.

The Sports keeper had to charge out of his area to intercept just after the hour mark too, but it was still mainly end to end action.

Ryder again made good progress on the right after 77 minutes, playing a positive through ball to send Brown on a run. He took it round the advancing keeper and slotted home for 2-2.

There continued to be half chances for both sides as the clock ran down, and Mickleover subbed Atwal for Cozens. Parr had a shot saved with five minutes left and Nottingham tried a few random shots too, which were either off target or taken by Bill, including a excellent diving save to his right deep into injury time.

A draw was a fair result, in a game that showed plenty of action and was played in good spirits too.

By Peter Scherer

It was another disappointing afternoon for Mickleover Reserves as they visited Melbourne Dynamo in the CML Derbyshire County Cup.

With a squad of only 12 players, there was little room for manoeuvre tactically.

After a scrappy start with niggly fouls, Mickleover began to work well in the box, but couldn’t get a telling shot in. But then a weak back pass left the hosts with the easy task of finding the back of the net and it was 0-1.

Fin Ryder then managed a shot across the face of the goal, but there was no one to finish it off and then Marshall crossed from the byline, but straight into the keepers hands.

Mickleover were on level terms after a clearance from Ronnie Bonser sent Marshall clear, but as the keeper came out there was a defensive mix up, from where Elliott lobbed over his head and into the net, 1-1.

Charlie Rock played the ball out of defence to find Marshall again, but his attempt was blocked. Then Sports defence failed to clear and it was 1-2.

The home keeper had made a good save from a Marshall effort, but Rock was having to work hard at the back to keep the one goal deficit.

A throw for Melbourne then brought little response from the Mickleover and left the hosts with a free shot to make it 1-3. Mickleover then had one last chance after Marshall was fouled, but the free kick was wasted and it was game over.

By Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves were in action over the weekend, visiting Pinxton for their first game in two weeks.

Sloppy defending from the kick off gave the hosts an early lead, 0-1, before Mickleover started to fight back and put a ball across the goal face, but no one was there to collect.

As they continued to seek the equaliser, Rock sent Marshall on a run, but the keeper saved, and then Ryder had a shot cleared off the line.

Elliott then fired over after a good strong build up, but Pinxton were then awarded a corner, which was a clear goal kick and scored number two before half-time, 0-2.

The second half started with Mickleover on the offensive and looking much stronger, they limited the hosts to just one chance, which unfortunately was converted without reply and so it ended pointless 0-3.

by Peter Scherer (Notes provided by Mickleover Reserves Twitter)

It was back to league action for Mickleover Reserves, after last week’s Derbyshire Cup win.

For the third time this season Clay Cross were the opponents, but this time it was on home soil, as the team sought to make amends for the previous two defeats.

It didn’t start well as the visitors were soon one up, after Charlie Rock’s initial clearance came back in, beat keeper Tom Bill and rebounded off the bar, straight to a Clay Cross striker, 0-1.

Mickleover’s first attack showed promise though, when Harry Atwal started a move and found Declan Brown. He layed the ball off to Ben Horleston but the shot was over.

Brown went close himself shortly afterwards, when after a good build up he beat the visitors keeper, hit the post and saw the rebound land straight into the keepers arms.

Mickleover had a couple of corners and some promising build up, but were struggling to get a final shot in.

Bill made another save from a longer distance volley and then Atwal sent Brandon Ferron on a run down the left, he squared the ball, but a defender just beat Elliott to the ball and the chance was gone.

Clay Cross were swift and direct on the break and when the ball bounced over Ronnie Bonser, the chasing striker was goal side of Rock and chipped Bill to make it 0-2.

There was another early strike in the second half to make it 0-3 for the visitors, before Atwal sent in perfect free kick for Sports, but no one collected.

It wasn’t Mickleover’s day as the game finally ended with 0-4 defeat and we now look forward to visiting Pinxton on the 26^th.