League: Friendly
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Leicester Nirvana vs Mickleover Sports
vs Stapenhill vs Mickleover Sports
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Carlton Town F.C. vs Mickleover Sports
Saturday 11th August 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy
Sports have completed an unbeaten pre-season Programme by completing preparations for the league season with a 2-0 win away at Evo Stik Division One East Side Carlton Town. Two strikes from Jimmy Phillips and Evan Garnett either side of half side put the Millers to the sword and meant that after ten pre-season games Sports have won 9 and drew 1 ahead of another exciting Evo Stik Northern Premier League season starting at Bower Fold in a weeks’ time.
Nathan Jarman, Niall Doran and Kevin Grocott were absent with minor knocks today so it was a chance for some of Sports academy to impress. Lewis King started in goal with Curtis Burrows, Tom Burgin, Tyreece Robinson and Ben Turner at the back. Jake Scott, Jimmy Phillips, Oliver Roberts and Fin Davies started with boss John McGrath and Evan Garnett up front. On the bench were academy players Gordon, Parkin, Matthews and Fatubin.
It was Carlton who made the brighter start with two chances inside the first 15 minutes but both were saved by Lewis King in the Sports net. Sports then got more into the game as Finn Davies and Evan Garnett both got onto the end of efforts after great attacking moves they were creating. But it was on 26 minutes that the deadlock was broke and it was Jimmy Phillips who got it for Sports. A fantastic move between Roberts and Garnett fed the ball with pace across the box and there in the right place at the right time inside the 6 yard box to smash a low drive under the keeper and into the net.
An early change was made from Carlton before Oliver Roberts had a strike from outside the box saved by the keeper. An impressive Carlton free kick was caught well by King was a spell of pressure from the home side. Two chances ended the first half and they both went Sports way as Oliver Roberts and Jake Scott both had efforts at goal with one going wide and one going over the bar.
No changes as half time as Phillips had the first chance of the second half which was spilled by the keeper initially before pouncing on the ball just before Garnett could get to the rebound. Carlton then went up the other end and managed to get a cross in with a powerful header going over the bar. Then Sports got their second goal in the 52nd minute. A lovely through ball after a fantastic attacking move fed in striker who controlled the ball beautifully as he slide a delicate effort past the keeper and into the bottom right corner.
Carlton could have got a goal back soon after though but for the efforts of King as a powerful close range strike was palmed over the bar after very quick reactions from the Sports keeper and over for a corner. Next Curtis Burrows, who was playing at right back in this game, managed to drive into the box and had an effort deflected and into the keepers hands. Both sides then made changes with Sports brining on Gordon with Turner coming off.
The final chance of the game went to Carlton as the striker managed to turn the Sports defenders and fired an effort over the bar. Sports made a double change before the close of play with Davies and Garnett coming off for Parkin and Matthews. But there was no time for them to make a real impact as the referee blew for full time and brought an end to a very successful pre-season for Sports. But as we all know pre-season results mean nothing in the grand scheme of things as it is what counts on Saturday 18th August when Mickleover Sports kick off their season with a trip to Stalybridge Celtic at Bower Fold with a 3pm Kick Off.
vs Kidsgrove Athletic F.C. vs Mickleover Sports
Friday 10th August 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy
The unbeaten pre-season run continued on Friday night, but only just, as Sports got a late equaliser to come away with a draw in Staffordshire. Kidsgrove Athletic certainly gave John McGraths side a test as they defended extremely well with former Brewers team mate and Grove manager Ryan Austin at the heart of defense. After scoring a fortunate goal in the opening stages of the second half, Kidsgrove were reduced to ten men and this sparked Sports into life as they got their equaliser from Lewis Belgrave following up on a free kick that was saved by the keeper. One more friendly now remaining the start of the season cannot come soon enough for McGrath and his Sports side.
The first half was a pretty quiet affair with minimal chances for either side. An early spell of pressure from the hosts resulted in an effort going wide. Next one of the Trialists for Sports was ruled out for offside after striking in a rebound from an effort that came off the post. Then Jack Walsh cured an effort wide almost straight after on the next attack. Kidsgrove then a chance as the striker sent a half volley over the bar before the home side had to make an early change due to injury. That was about it for a very quiet first half period.
The second half definitely had a lot more going for it and within five minute Kidsgrove starting knocking on the door with two chances in a four minute period. A Kidsgrove goal was coming and that’s exactly what happened. The ball was floated into the box and as goalkeeper Harvey Adams was trying to get a glove to it he knocked it onto the bar and unfortunately there was the Kidsgrove striker to tap it from right on the line for first blood to Grove.
The home side then made a couple of changes as soon after Will Norcross had a chance but struck his effort over the bar. Trialist then sent a powerful effort into the arms of the Kidsgrove keeper but the turning point came moments later as Grove were reduced to ten men. Norcross was through on goal with only the keeper to beat just outside the box. The Kidsgrove right back hacked the young winger down and the referee had no hesitation in showing him a red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity. Maybe a little harsh in a pre-season game but rules are rules and the player walked. This is where Sports got their equaliser as the free kick was smashed under the wall it was very well saved by the keeper but only into the path of defender Lewis Belgrave who showed great composure and reactions to smash home the rebound into the left hand corner of the net.
Sports were definitely in the ascendancy now and had a few good chances to get a winner. The best of which came when Pablo Mills drove with the ball across most of the pitch shrugging off anyone who tried to challenge him and smacked a delicious effort like a rocket at the keeper who did very well to save it and get the ball away from danger. But the last chance of the game went to the hosts as a late substitute managed to get on the end of a cross that hit the bar but it was so close to a winner that would have been Sports first in pre-season. But it wasn’t to be as the game ended 1-1 which was probably a fair result all round. Sports now have one more game left away at Carlton Town on Saturday 11th August with a 3pm KO.
vs Mickleover Sports vs Huddersfield Town A.F.C.
Wednesday 8th August 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy
Another game, another win as Mickleover Sports’ pre-season nears its conclusion to as John McGraths side came away 2-1 winners over a very young but talented Huddersfield academy side. The Terriers as expected three days before their Premier League opener, brought a youthful but very well organised academy side who gave Sports a defensive test with long spells of possession with the ball and look very comfortable doing so. But in the end Sports experience of how to see games out physical element came through as the goals all came in the first half. Aaron Rowe the talented young winger for the visitors scored either side of two Nathan Jarman goals which in the end proved to be enough in a typical pre-season affair with only two more games to play before the opener with Stalybridge in just over a weeks’ time.
John McGrath elected not to name himself in the squad and started with regular keeper Lewis King with Kevin Grocott, Pablo Mills, Tom Burgin and Ben Turner in defence. The midfield consisted of Jake Scott, Oliver Roberts, Jimmy Phillips and Curtis Burrows. Up front Niall Doran played just behind main striker Nathan Jarman.
Sports kick off proceedings and immediately got proceedings under way with a goal in the first minute. A corner from the far left hand side made its way into the area and found its way to Nathan Jarman who controlled the ball nicely and struck an effort low into the bottom left hand corner.
Within five minutes though Huddersfield got an equaliser and only Sports second goal conceded in pre-season. Aaron Rowe was the scorer as the left winger broke down the left after being played in and beat the Sports defence for pace as he hit a low effort past King and into net. But like the Burton game Sports didn’t let it knock their confidence and they were back on the front foot again. They were rewarded with their second and ultimately winning goal when Sports were awarded a penalty. It was very unclear which Sports player was bundled to the ground due to a packed penalty area but the referee saw something he didn’t like and pointed immediately to the Sport with little appeal from the Terriers players. Up stepped Nathan Jarman who bag his second of the game and fourth goal of pre-season with a neat low effort to the right hand side of the goal.
The rest of the first half was mainly dominated with possession in the middle third of the park and both sides settled into a rhythm after a frantic start. The next chance came ten minutes before half time as Ben Turner went close to lobbing the keeper with a free kick that went just over the bar. Then a good ball in from Niall Doran picked out Nathan Jarman who headed over the bar. The final chance came a minute before half time as Kevin Grocott drove in a great cross which again was aimed at Jarman but his touch on the ball was only a faint one with his head and it went out for a goal kick to bring the first half to a close.
The second half began with Huddersfield nearly having a gift to equalise. A mix up at the back between Lewis King and Ben Turner allowed Ben Jackson to nip in for the visitors for what seemed like a chance he couldn’t miss. But that was exactly what happened as the young full back put his effort wide of the left hand post. A real let off for Sports as they soon learnt quickly from it. Trialist then came on for Niall Doran in the first of many changes that happened in the second half. A fantastic free kick from Oliver Roberts was well saved by the keeper before a string of several substitutions then proceeded. Nathan Jarman, Curtis Burrows, Jimmy Phillips, Jake Scott, Oliver Roberts, Pablo Mills and Ben Turner made way for Evan Garnett, Will Norcross, Jack Walsh, Lewis Belgrave, Isia Marselia, Tyreece Robinson and Tom Eccleshall.
Huddersfield then had another chance as Oliver Dyson struck an effort over the bar from close range. Then from a Sports corner Tom Burgin leaped well to power a header towards goal that was saved by the Terriers keeper. Then some excellent pressure from the Sports front two forced the Huddersfield defenders into an error which put Marselia through 1v1 but his effort was only just wide of the left hand post. Huddersfield then made some changes of their own before Kevin Grocott picked up a slight ankle injury in the last minute. But instead of brining another player back on, Sports decided to play on with 10 men to carry out an exercise of how to close a game out when down to 10 men. An exercise that proved successful as Sports saw the game out to record more pre-season fitness under the belt and more successful preparations ahead of the new season.
Sports now have two final pre-season games before the season begins with visits to Kidsgrove Athletic on Friday 10th August (7:45pm) and Carlton Town on Saturday 11th August (3pm).
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Heanor Town F.C. vs Mickleover Sports
Written by Sam Goldsworthy
Another day and another Pre-Season victory but Sports definitely had to work for this one and John McGrath side had to grind this one out towards for end as Heanor took the game to Mickleover. Oli Roberts’s stunning free kick in the first was all that separated the two sides in what was a very competitive and entertaining friendly match. But another win extends Sports unbeaten Pre Season with Huddersfield coming to the Don Amott Arena in a week’s time.
The squad members who weren’t playing in previous nights RBL fixture were selected this is fixture. Lewis King started in goal after his cameo against RBL. The back four consisted of Harley Kozluk, Pablo Mills, Trialist and Ben Turner. McGrath named himself in midfield alongside Jake Scott with Niall Doran and Oli Roberts occupying the wide areas. Up front was new signing Nathan Jarman alongside the Trialist from The Netherlands. The bench consisted of four academy players Trialist, Smith, Fatubin and Parkin; however none were used in the game.
Sports had the first chance as a great low cross from Curtis Burrows picked out Jake Scott but the former Shaw Lane man couldn’t quite get enough contact on the ball to get a firm touch and his effort went wide of the goal. Heanor then threatened as former Rocester winger Rob Ritchie-Smith delivered a cross for another former Rocester player Sam Griffiths who fired over the bar. Then shortly after another former Romans striker Oli Roome had an effort put behind for a corner by Ben Turner before the resulting corner was headed over the bar.
Trialist produced a great cross in the direction of Nathan Jarman who just missed the ball going over him as he tried to head towards goal. The ball was then played back in to Trialist himself who managed to bring the ball down, turn and fires a strike that went over the bar just before he was brought down from the resulting challenge but no foul was awarded. But it didn’t matter as three minutes later. Sports were awarded a free kick just outside the area which John McGrath and Oli Roberts both stood over. It was the later who stepped up and struck a fantastic hard and low driving effort into the bottom right hand corner past the keeper’s outstretched left hand. There would be only one more clear cut chance between Roberts’s goal and the half time break as Doran got a shot away after good hold up play from Trialist but it was into the keeper’s hands before he caught the ball at the second attempt after spilling the initial effort.
After the break, with an unchanged side, John McGrath produced a half volley straight for a corner kick but the effort was just over the bar. McGrath then won the ball back from a 50/50 challenge and played in Trialist moments later but his effort was straight into the keeper’s gloves. Jake Scott was then slipped through by Oli Roberts but again Sports couldn’t take the chances as the shot was over the bar again. Trialist then sprinted down the right and played the ball back across goal to the edge of the box where Niall Doran was ready to pounce on it but instead the shot was too high and went for a Goal Kick.
Heanor were pressing Sports really hard and had plenty of moments and half chances to grab an equaliser. But to Sports credit they defended impeccably and had one final chance to score from the counter attack as a great cross over from Ben Turner was slightly deflected into the keepers hands but the Heanor stopper let the ball slip out of his hands and managed to allow Jake Scott to challenge for it but the angle was too tight and the shot instead went over the bar.
That was the last of the major action of the night as Sports could put to bed two more successful Pre Season games over two days where they had scored three goals and not conceded any. Much sterner tests lie in wait for McGrath and his players as they welcome Premier League side Huddersfield Town bring a team down to Don Amott Area next up on Wednesday 8th August with a 7:30pm KO.
vs Mickleover RBL vs Mickleover Sports
Mickleover RBL 0 – 2 Mickleover Sports
Written by Sam Goldsworthy
Mickleover Sports continued their pre season run of unbeaten games as overcame a stern test from their near neighbours Mickleover Royal British Legion (RBL) to bring the Helen Belgrave Memorial Trophy back to Don Amott Arena, but most importantly getting more minutes under their belts whilst raising money for charity at the same time.
John McGrath decided to split the squads for the two games in two days geographically, with the Derby based players playing tonight and the rest of the squad based further up north playing on Wednesday night at Heanor Town. This meant that a Trialist keeper started in goal, with Tristan Matthews and Tom Eccleshall at full backs. Kevin Grocott returned from injury to partner Tyreece Robinson at centre back, with a midfield make up of Lewis Belgrave, Jimmy Phillips, Curtis Burrows and Will Norcross. Up front Sports went with the duo of Evan Garnett and Clinton Morrison.
RBL had the first chance of the game early on as the No.9 headed a lovely cross into the box just wide of the left hand post. A minute later Evan Garnett went up the other end and fired an effort just over the bar. Will Norcross then had two chances to give Sports the lead with one being blocked and the other saved by the keeper. Jimmy Phillips then had a low driving effort saved by the keeper. Then a lovely move between Eccleshall and Morrison out Garnett through 1v1 with the RBL keeper but he blazed his effort over the bar. But it wouldn’t be long before Garnett got his goal to put Sports 1-0 up on 24 minutes. The ball was worked into the box and after a couple of efforts blocked it fell into the path of Garnett who notched his first goal of this current pre season with a low drive under the RBL keeper and into the net.
From then Sports pressed on and take over proceedings as Norcross and Garnett had chances leading up to half time to extend the lead. Lewis Belgrave had an effort saved low down by the diving RBL keeper before he was hard at work again as the keeper had to produce a stunning reaction save to keep out Trialist’s volleyed effort. This kept the score to only the one goal going into the break when it could have been a much bigger score line.
As they did in the first half Mickleover RBL had the first chance in the second half. The No.8 delivered powerful driving strike that the Trialist keeper did well to bring down into his arms. From then on it was all Sports again as the difference in level soon showed as they grabbed a second goal within the first 10 minutes of the second period. An effort from Trialist was saved by the keeper but it was followed up by Will Norcross who slide an effort home under the keeper to extend the lead. Sports could have gone 3-0 up but Belgrave could only hit the post with his latest effort.
On the hour mark Sports boss John McGrath made four changes as off came Eccleshall, Trialist, Burrows and Morrison and on came four academy players Gordon, Davies, Parkin and Walsh. A cracking free kick from Belgrave is tipped over the bar from the RBL keeper, who was having a very good game in net. As the game was drawing to a close Norcross struck an effort off the bar and after what seemed like hundreds of blocked attempts the ball was eventually cleared by RBL as the ball just didn’t seem to drop for a Sports player. One final change was made from Sports as a rare moment occurred as goalkeeper Lewis King came on outfield as a striker in place of Evan Garnett. The Mickleover stopper could even have grabbed a goal for himself as he look lively in his cameo outfield. But the strike from outside the box was hit some distance over the bar. This was the final action of the game as Sports won the Helen Belgrave Memorial Trophy and raised some fantastic money towards the cancer ward at Derby Hospital. Of course it all counts towards match fitness with the season not too far away now. The rest of the squad will get their chance to get their pre season minutes as they travel to face former Sports player Dan Martin’s Heanor Town on Wednesday night, 7:30pm Kick Off.
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