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

Having had the ‘International break’ off the Reserves made the short trip along Brian Clough Way to Aspley and Melbourne Park, Nottingham. I actually went down to the A50 and across but it doesn’t sound so good)

A couple of forced changes saw us line up as follows – Bowen, Lucas-Edge, Anthony, Elliot and Robinson. The midfield quartet comprised of Massampo, Benjamin, Horleston and Ayetine with Barker and Satchwell leading the line.

The game started well with both sides on the offensive and whilst Mickleover created a couple of gilt-edged chances it was actually Nottingham that had the ball in the net a couple of times. 

The first disallowed for a foul on Benjamin and the second the winger was in splendid isolation and also offside.

Barker opened the scoring by completing a well-worked move by sidestepping the keeper and a defender clipping a crisp shot into the unguarded net.

Nottingham continued to press and had a dipping shot that hit the bar and a header from an unmarked header clipping the woodwork on the same spot.

A second goal was needed and it came after a superb tackle by Cam Anthony broke up a dangerous attack. The ball then was moved through the midfield and Ayetine was set up by a perfectly weighted through ball and finished with aplomb.

Having a 2-0 cushion is not the best score to have and the message was to get the 3rd goal and keep a clean sheet and the three points will be ours.

The third did come soon into the half and having played the ball out to Robinson , Will’s sweet left foot cross was met in the middle by the onrushing Benjamin and all he had to do was guide the ball towards the goal and the win was secured.

We look forward tonight to the start of a tough three  match run that will define the season. Mansfield who always give us a tough game, then it’s down into deepest Mickleover to face a resurgent RBL side followed by another trip down the BCW to Long Eaton.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves kept their Central Midlands League Premier Division South title hopes on track, with another winning result away at Nottingham.

Starting line-up Fin Bowen – Jake Edge-Lucas – Cam Anthony – Ash Elliott – Will Robinson – Lewis Benjamin – Lopes Massampo – Ben Horleston – Jude Ayetine – Fin Barker – Josh Satchwell. Subs: Freddie Murphy, Emilio De Abreu, Devon Smith.

Goals from Barker, Benjamin and Ayetine gave Mickleover a 3-0 victory, which moves them back into second place in the table, with three games in hand.

They are at home again tomorrow night against Mansfield Hosiery Mills, before travelling a few minutes down the road to face third in the table Mickleover RBL on Saturday.

by Peter Scherer

While the Mickleover first team struggle to get points on the board in the NPK, the reserves continue to go from strength to strength after trashing Arnold 8-1 at the Don Amott Arena last Saturday.

Josh Satchwell, Fin Barker and Ben Horleston hit two goals each, with Jude Ayetine and Will Robinson also on the score sheet.

Currently second in the Central Midlands League Premier Division South, Sports are five points behind Blidworth, with three points in hand.

They are without a game this weekend, but face Nottingham away on November 20^th, before three successive home games against Mansfield Hosiery, Mickleover RBL and South Normanton over an eight day spell.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves took another three points in their Central Midlands League Premier Division South match at Rowsley last Saturday.

Goals from Josh Satchwell and Fin Barker secured the points for sports, which leaves then second in the table behind Blidworth Welfare, with two games in hand.

Blidworth are at home again this weekend against Teversal reserves, but Mickleover are without a game until they face Arnold at the Don Amott Arena on November 6^th.

 

by Peter Scherer

Following two successive league defeats, Mickleover Reserves, returned to the top of the Central Midlands League Premier Division South, with a resounding 7-2 victory against Teversal Colliery Reserves at the Don Amott Arena,

Starting line up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Larrel King 3-Ben Lewin 4-John McGrath 5-Cam Anthony 6-Ash Elliott 7-George Atwal 8-Jake Edge-Lucas 9-Josh Satchwell 10-Bobby Battisson 17-Fin Barker. Subs: Ben Horleston,Lewis Benjamin, Freddie Murphy.

Right from the kick off Mickleover were on the attack, going close after three minutes, when Barker put  a ball across the face of the goal, before King fired it back in as the Teversal defence recovered.

But only a minute later Barker collected on the left, had space and buried the ball in the far corner of the net 1-0.

The visitors tried to push forward but with no end product they were soon forced back into defence.

Six minutes in and McGrath had a free kick just wide after Battisson was fouled and then King almost put Barker through again.

Battisson then picked up a ball from King, he got a shot in but the Teversal keeper was untroubled.

Barker burst through once more after 10 minutes, his shot was saved, but the rebound fell to McGrath whose blistering shot was tipped over for a corner.

Sports attacks came fast in close succession, with the Teversal defence managing to block with more luck than judgement in some cases.

But after a free kick on the right, Atwal had time to accurately place his long range shot out of the keeper’s reach 2-0.

Five minutes later Atwal was in space again, he found Barker who had a good try, but it was a goal kick and a brief respite for the visitors.

As soon as the ball was back in play Mickleover were back on the attack with Barker heading just wide from a McGrath cross.

With King and Lewin regularly overlapping on the wings, Anthony and Elliott had comfortably dealt with Teversal’s best efforts, until the 17^th minute. A loose pass was intercepted and the defence were flat footed, resulting in a well taken goal by the visitors 2-1.

From the restart Barker was into another run, fouled twice and it was a free kick on the edge of the box, with McGrath’s kick pushed out for a corner.

McGrath’s corner was headed goalwards by Satchwell, it came out and Edge-Lucas who was on the far post, his precise header leaving the keeper well beaten,3-1.

Satchwell was almost on target himself when some weak defending forced the keeper off his line for another corner. Two minutes later he just missed out on a through ball from Battisson, before connecting with a Lewin cross after 24 minutes, when a defender just managed to deflect his header.

Bowen had a rare touch in the Mickleover goal when the visitors had a free kick on the edge of the box, and as the completion of the first half hour approached, Teversal had their best spell of the game.

Mickleover were forced to make a change when Horleston came on for Edge-Lucas, after he was hacked down inside his own half.

Barker had another charge blocked after 36 mins and a minute later a short corner from McGrath to Lewin, found Satchwell’s head and was just wide again.

It was then Battisson’s turn, after Barker had another one on one with the keeper, he was almost clear and earned another corner.

It was close to a fourth goal in the 39^th minute, after yet another Barker run had earned a corner. McGrath and Lewin combined again and found Horleston, whose shot was almost there but a fraction too high.

The fourth goal finally came in the 42^nd minute when McGrath had the ball around the half way line, he saw the keeper off his line and sent a lob skywards, dropping neatly into the back of the net, 4-1.

Only a minute later it was five, when Satchwell got his goal, with a calm side foot from a McGrath free kick 5-1.

The showers had come and gone and then returned but the rampant Mickleover attack continued to flow in the second half.

51 mins and Elliott headed just wide from a McGrath corner, but a minute later Lewin crossed to find Battisson, whose shot was deflected wide of the Teversal keeper 6-1.

The visitors went close themselves after 54 mins, when a cross was close enough to Bowen’s crossbar for him to cover it.

Mickleover made their second substitution after 56 mins when Benjamin came on for Satchwell.

It was nearly goal number seven in the 66^th minute, when Battisson intercepted a poor clearance from the Teversal keeper. It fell to Horleston, but his shot was too high again.

The visitors pulled one goal back when Bowen conceded a 68^th minute penalty, but it failed to turn the tide on Mickleover’s continuous barrage on the visitors goal.

Barker looked set for his second goal after 71 mins, running in one on one at the keeper for about the third time, his effort was intercepted for a another corner.

Murphy had come on for Lewin and he made it seven after 74 mins, when King, now on the left, fired  the ball into the box, allowing Murphy to drive home from close range. 7-2.

The rain got heavier for the last 10 mins, but there were still two more chances on Barker runs. The first saw his effort whistle across the face of an empty Teversal goal and the second was saved by the keeper.

Back on the top of the league the next game is away to Rowsley on Saturday, before returning to the Don Amott Arena on November 6^th to face Arnold.

by Peter Scherer

There was another strong performance from Mickleover Reserves last Saturday, as they visited Sherwood Colliery Reserves for their latest Central Midlands League Premier Division South game.

Coming home as 3-1 winners with two goals from skipper Larrel King and one from Jacob Edge-Lucas, with Eden Horner replying for the hosts.

Mickleover now top the table by one point over Blidworth, with two games in hand and a far superior goal difference.

Their next League match is at Linby on October 9^th, but before then they host Staveley Miners Welfare at the Don Amott Arena in the first round of the Floodlit Cup.

by Peter Scherer

Mickleover Reserves made it two wins in four days, as they beat table topping Blidworth Welfare on Friday evening, to end the visitors long unbeaten run.

Starting line-up: 1-Fin Bowen 2-Larrel King 3-Jake Edge-Lucas 4-John McGrath  6-Pat Pugh 7-George Atwal 8-Andrew Wright 9-Josh Satchwell 10-Fin Barker  12-Ethan Mann 15-Clinton Morrison. Subs: Josh Elliott, Jude Ayetine, Pablo Mills.

It could so easily have been a goal for the visitors in the opening minute, when Pugh lost possession just outside the box and Bowen had to make an early save.

But only four minutes later McGrath, King and Atwal combined in a positive build up, but the final shot was just over. 

For a while it looked like Sports had got the opening goal when after nine minutes Satchwell went up with the Blidworth keeper after a cross from McGrath. He won the ball and put it in the back of the net, but the referee gave a foul in the keepers favour.

But it was Blidworth who opened the scoring after 14 minutes, when a poor kick from Bowen was intercepted and the incoming striker made no mistake in firing over the oncoming keeper, 0-1.

Only a minute later though Barker was in full flight when he was tripped in the box. Atwal took the penalty and it was 1-1.

The next 10 minutes were fairly end to end, before a McGrath free kick was headed on from Morrison, with Barker just failing to connect.

Blidworth then went on the attack again, but a half chance was sent well wide of the target.

29 minutes in and Satchwell scorched past the Blidworth defender on the right, fired in a shot from a tight angle, which rebounded off the post.

Barker picked it up and fed it through to Satchwell, who made no mistake, 2-1.

There were appeals for a Blidworth penalty after 36 minutes, it was a hard tackle but the Sports defender won the ball and the appeals were dismissed.

Some of Mickleover’s defending had become too casual and they had begun to give the ball away. 

But in the closing minutes of the first half it was Mickleover on the attack again. Barker had another near miss when McGrath and Morrison combined again and another Morrison ball split the Blidworth defence, but was too long for Barker.

Almost on the whistle Satchwell made it 3-1 when a long clearance from McGrath, left him challenging one on one with the Blidworth keeper in the air. Satchwell’s head proved decisive and this time the goal stood.

Only four minutes into the second half and it was back to 3-2, when more casual defending left the way clear for the Blidworth strike, giving Bowen no chance with a powerful shot.

Barker picked up the pace again and both King and Edge-Lucas were back with positive overlaps from the wing.

54 minutes in Pugh made a lovely lobbed pass into the heart of the Blidworth defence, but both Barker and Satchwell’s progress was blocked.

Only a minute later Barker was through again, but was tripped in the area. Everyone in the ground witnessed the tackle a yard inside the box, but the referee gave a free kick outside, which came to nought.

The attacks were piling the pressure on the visitors defence and after 57 minutes an Edge-Lucas’ cross  from the right was punched away by the keeper inches from Satchwell’s head.

Three minutes later Barker’s pace and drive was finally rewarded when a fine solo run in from the left made it 4-2.

Sports made a double substitution with Mills and Elliott on for Morrison and Wright.

Mills was soon in the action too, heading just over from a McGrath cross after 65 minutes, before Elliott tried a random shot well wide of the target.

Ayetine came on for Barker after 70 minutes, but it was Mills going for goal again. He had a lob over the bar from a McGrath through ball, before Ayetine fired in a great shot well saved by the Blidworth keeper.

Mills tried another lob after 83 minutes and right on time Ayetine put a cross or shot right across the face of the goal.

Mickleover now move to only two points off Blidworth at the top of the table with two games in hand.

by Peter Scherer

To use an old cliché, a game of two halves, well Mickleover Reserves Central Midlands Premier Division South game at home to Nottingham certainly was.

Starting line-up: 1 Fin Bowen 2-Larrel King 3-Jake Edge-Lucas 12-Ethan Mann 4-John McGrath 15-Pablo Mills 6-Pat Pugh 7-Fin Barker 8-Ricky Ravenhill 10-Andrew Wright 17-George Atwal.

Mickleover had their first promising attack after four minutes, but it started end to end, with Bowen sprinting off his line a minute later to thwart the visitors first attack.

Sports went close after seven minutes when a Mills free kick found Wright, who put the ball across the face of the goal.

Atwal, McGrath and Barker then combined, forcing the Notts keeper to pull off a good save.

The keeper was soon in action again blocking a point blank shot from Wright after 10 minutes.

Both King and Edge-Lucas were starting to push forward on the wings and 14 minutes in King’s run just over the bar.

Two more saves from the keeper but after 17 minutes he finally succumbed, when Edge-Lucas crossed from the left and Mills hit it home 1-0.

A few minutes later Edge-Lucas put another good cross in but there was no one top collect.

There was another good chance for Sports when Barker had a long run through the defence after23 minutes. Wright was on the receiving end but his shot was high and wide.

Notts were making random breaks, which on the whole were covered by Mann and Pugh at the back. But after 25 minutes Notts managed to hit the bar too.

Sports came charging back however and Mills made it 2-0 after 28 minutes, when a McGrath through ball left him one on one with the visitors keeper, slotting home with inches to spare.

Mills was almost there again just missing an Edge-Lucas cross into the box  and a minute later with a free kick headed clear.

Edge-Lucas went on another over lap just past the half hour, this time he took it himself and hit the post, before King fired a cross back into the box, with a Mills miss hit right in front of goal.

Notts had another rare chance after 40 minutes but shot wide and Sports rounded off a strong second half with a good build up from McGrath and Mills, before Atwal lost possession.

Mickleover started the second half unchanged and were on the attack again, with Mann trying a long shot on target. Wright then fired another attempt over after 48 minutes, before the Josh Satchwell came on at left wing back for Edge-Lucas.

Notts pulled one back after 54 minutes when Pugh lost out, leaving Bowen little chance from a well struck shot.

Ravenhill then found Mills in space and he saw the keeper off his line, tried a chip which was just wide.

Notts were starting to get into the game more and Bowen was forced to leave his line, but missed the ball, leaving Mann to clear.

But Mickleover came straight back to make it 3-1 on the hour, with Barker whipping through the defence to slot home in a solo effort from the left.

Only a minute later it was 3-2 when Bowen’s initial save saw the ball loose. With no defenders close enough to clear, the Notts striker took his chance.

Sports subbed Ravenhill with Ash Elliott and Barker with Jude Ayetine.

Ayetine managed to get a break on the left after Notts had pushed forward, the ball fell back to Atwal, but his long shot fell wide.

The flow of the game had become more scrappy as both teams tried to push forward.

Satchwell tried a cross from the left after 74 minutes, but it was blocked in the box and then Mann had a header saved.

Bowen was then forced to save again from a Notts break, before King went on the attack and had a 81^st shot saved.

In the final five minutes Ayetine cut inside and got a strong shot in, but the deflection ended the last chance of the game.

It was a tough game with Mickleover doing just enough to keep Notts at bay for the win, after a much improved second half from the visitors.

On Friday it’s an even tougher game, when Mickleover face top of the table Blidworth at home, kick off 7.45.

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.