League: The FA Trophy

Oldham Athletic vs Mickleover F.C.

OLDHAM WIN 4-2 ON PENALTIES.

The Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round

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Spennymoor Town vs Mickleover F.C.

The Isuzu FA Trophy – Second Round Proper

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Worksop Town vs Mickleover F.C.

The Isuzu FA Trophy – First Round Proper

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Barwell vs Mickleover F.C.

The Isuzu FA Trophy, Third Round Qualifying Round

Mickleover win 4-2 on Penalties.

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Stowmarket Town vs Mickleover F.C.

Mickleover win 3-0 on penalties

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Mickleover F.C. vs Grantham Town

THE FA TROPHY 21-22 – THIRD QUALIFYING ROUND

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Hitchin Town vs Mickleover F.C.

by Peter Scherer

Sitting top of the NPL but a month without a game, Mickleover FC headed to Hitchin Town for last night’s FA Trophy, with high hopes of further progression in the competition.

With Paddy Webb unavailable the line-up was 1-Callum Hawkins 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Andrew Wright 9-Aman Verma 10-Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren. Subs-Joe Slinn, Bobby Battisson, Josh Satchwell, Pablo Mills, Ben Gowing. 

Mickleover started brightly and won a corner in the opening minute, before an Agustien cross found Beavon in the box five minutes later.

Agustien and Wright then worked together, which ended with the ball crossing the face of the Hitchin goal with no one to connect.

Although Hitchin won an 11th minute corner, it was still Mickleover on top and when Verma was fouled in the centre circle, Warren almost found his way through the hosts defence.

Hitchin were awarded a free kick after 16 minutes, but wasn’t clear what for, but it was easily dealt with by the Mickleover defence.

Although Hitchin were starting to get into the game more, Mickleover were still on top and on the 20 minute mark Beavon’s attempt was just wide from a Verma cross.

Agustien followed up with a shot that earned another corner and seven minutes later Beavon shot just wide of the left hand post, after Wright had crossed from the left.

Just after Hitchin’s Luke Brown had a point blank shot saved by Hawkins, he was on hand to open the scoring against the run of play, in the 25th minute, after a free kick from Ben Walster on the halfway, found captain Dan Webb, whose flick was headed home by Brown 0-1.

Hitchin went close again a couple of minutes later, firing just wide, before Wright made a customary charge upfield and earned another corner for Mickleover.

Now pushing for an equaliser, Butler sent Bennett on an overlapping run and his cross earned another corner, before Wright picked up a Beavon cross on 38 minutes, only for his attempt to be blocked.

Although Mickleover had fought their way back into the game, Hitchin’s Callum Stead continued to threaten on his runs on the defence and beat Butler on his right, before his shot was saved.

As half time approached Beavon got a cross in from the left to Milner, but again his shot was blocked, but Agustien then went close with a blistering shot through a crowed goal area, well saved by Hitchin keeper Charlie Horlock.

Hawkins had to make another save from Stead and Verma’s attempt at the other end was easily taken by Horlock.

But with time added on an attempt from Layne Eadie was cleared off the line, but when Stead had the legs of Butler again on the left, Brown was in the middle to make it 0-2 with his second goal of the game.

It was a disappointing second 20 minutes for Mickleover, who lost their flow and desperately seemed to missing a target man up front.

The defence were allowing Stead and Brown to outrun them and going in two goals down had paid the consequences.

There had oddly been early signs of time wasting by the hosts, which the referee failed to pick up on, keeper Horlock being particularly guilty, re-siting free-kicks etc  on a number of occasions.

Mickleover again started the second half on the attack, with Wright crossing the face of the goal again, with no one there to receive, as both Verma and Beavon failed to connect.

Beavon then showed some of his trickery until his legs were taken beneath him, his word in the referee’s ear then earned him a yellow card in another strange decision.

With temperatures already very low the rain got heavier too, but the natural flow of the Mickleover side just wasn’t happening despite the efforts of all concerned.

Agustien had a curling free kick saved and just after the hour Morris put a cross in which Butler headed just wide.

The time wasting was worsening as Hitchin were taking an average of 40-50 seconds to take a free-kick, with no action from the referee except to reprimand Mickleover players who brought it to his attention.

Brown went close again after 68 minutes, but only had to wait another four minutes for his hattrick. Stead was again free to run at the defence, who stood off him, before Brown was able to pick his spot giving Hawkins no chance 0-3.

Milner and Wright had both run themselves into the ground but to no avail and despite brining on Gowing, Mills and Battisson for Agustien, Milner and Warren, it remained 0-3 with Mickleover going out of their second cup competition with visits to Hertfordshire.

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Mickleover F.C. vs Dereham Town

SPORTS HIT FIVE IN TROPHY VICTORY

by Peter Scherer

After a cautious start, four second half goals secured Mickleover’s place in the First Round draw of the FA Trophy.

Gaffer John McGrath made four changes from last Tuesdays line-up, as Isthmian League North side Dereham Town visited the Don Amott Arena.

The full starting line-up was 1-Joe Slinn 2-Jake Bennett 3-Alex Morris 4-Kemy Agustien 5-Pablo Mills 6- James Butler 7-George Milner 8-Mason Warren 9-Paddy Webb 10- Stuart Beavon 11-Aman Verma. Subs: Josh Satchwell, Ben Gowing, Andrew Wright, Phil Watt, Callum Hawkins.

The game had barely kicked off when Mickleover got off to flying start. A great through ball split the visitors defence wide open, leaving Webb with a shot just inside the box, which he buried in the bottom right hand corner, opening the scoring after three minutes 1-0.

There was almost a second for Mickleover after 12 minutes to, before the attacking stepped back a pace and Dereham began to settle.

But 20 minutes in and there was another chance, when Bennett put another dangerous ball into the box, but a Dereham defender managed to intercept before Webb was able to collect.

Webb’s pace continued to cause problems and he just missed out again in a one on one with Elliot Pride in the Dereham goal.

After a 10 minute lull in the pace, Webb was in again, shooting from inside the box, his effort was just wide of the right hand corner.

Three minutes later a Morris cross was deflected in the box, just out of Webb’s reach.

Dereham had the ball in the net just before half time, but was ruled out. Slinn had saved initially, but the ball ran into Toby Hilliard’s path in an offside position.

So half time 1-0, Mickleover had been in charge throughout, but could have more than one.

Wright was an early second half sub coming on for Agustien, before Rhys Logan had a run on goal for Dereham after 51 minutes but couldn’t finish.

Beavon was next to try his luck, with a 55th minute half volley well over. But as Mickleover stepped up another gear, Wright lofted the ball to Webb and with just the keeper to beat, the striker placed it home from close range 2-0 after 57 mins.

Wright’s runs from midfield continued to cause havoc for the Dereham defence, and his cross into the box on the hour found Beavon at the far post, who despatched it into the roof of the net 3-0!

Back from injury Gowing came on for Milner and the Mickleover push continued. Webb had a chance of a hattrick when he fired the ball over from a tightening angle, but five minutes later Pride failed to deal with a low cross, leaving the ball at Beavon’s feet for an easy tap in the 77th minute 4-0.

With Webb and Beavon both scoring two each, Beavon went off and Satchwell came on for the last nine minutes.

The teenage striker rewarded with his first senior goal on the 90 minute mark, after receiving from a corner.

It’s now back to NPL action at Nantwich on Tuesday, with one eye on the FA Trophy draw too, but all dependant on any decision over the lockdown restrictions.

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Basford United vs Mickleover Sports

By Brad Cox

Mickleover’s FA Trophy campaign comes to an end after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Basford United.

Liam Hearn bagged himself a double as his side progresses into the second-round qualification stage of the FA Trophy.

The Sports’ started the match positively with high pressure but showed no end product. Basford got onto the scoresheet against the run of play in the 12th minute. Nathan Watson’s drilled cross fell beautifully for Hearn who calmly slotted home his first goal of the day past, Nathan Broome.

Despite being a goal down, The Sports’ continued to dominate in a match which they were expected to be great underdogs based on current form. The Sports’ looked the more likely to grab an equaliser after Stuart Beavon’s strike grazed the post, however, yet again Basford against the run of play doubled their lead. After some questionable defending, Basford’s left-back, Josh Law, built a mountain for The Sports’ to climb and hammered the ball past Broome from the back post. At half-time, The Sports’ will have felt unfortunate to go into the break two goals down.

Early into the second half, an injury to Ben Turner saw John McGrath (junior) join his dad (also John McGrath) on the pitch. Lee Hughes had the best opportunity of the second half to kickstart a comeback when his attempted chip shot kissed the top of the bar. A reoccurring issue presented itself in the second half when The Sports’ struggled to create anything in Basford’s half.

Basford put the game to bed in the 88th minute when Hearn got his second goal. The Sports’ are now in the worst form of their season with their best result being a 1-1 draw with Morpeth Town in the five fixtures.

The Sports’ next fixture is Matlock Town at home, they will be looking for revenge as they were beaten 3-1 just three matches ago.

Sports XI; Broome, Berry, Turner (John McGrath 48’), McGrath, Mills, Young, Warren, Scott ©(Max Watters 59’), Modest, Beavon, Boula (Lee Hughes 62’)

Basford XI; Preston, Law, Wilson, Thornhill (C), Gascoigne, Galinksi, Richards, Chettle, Hearn, Watson, Reid

Basford United 3-0 Sports
Saturday 26th October 2019
Greenwich Avenue

Attendance: 352

Next fixture: Matlock Town (H) Saturday 2nd November

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Mickleover Sports vs Stratford Town

Mickleover Sports 0-1 Stratford Town
Tuesday 13th November 2018
Written by Sam Goldsworthy

“We have seen better days” as Sports exited the FA Trophy for another season in this Shakespeare Tragedy against Stratford Town. Both sides had good spells in the game and it was looking like only goal for either team would be enough to set up a tie with South Shields. Evan Garnett had Sports best chance towards the end in Sports best spell as he sent a shot from a 1v1 over the bar. That would prove to be a crucial moment as in this tale of woe as a near replica of Stratford goal in the first game caught Sports out in the 87th minute. This time it was substitute Mike Taylor at the back post to stab home and send Sports crashing out of another of this seasons cup competitions.

Corey Addai remained in goal with a back four of Reece Ford, Tom Burgin, Pablo Mills and Ben Turner. A midfield four consisted of Ricky Ravenhill, Ted Cribley, Jack Walsh and Nathan Jarman in a central attacking role. Victor Sodeinde and Evan Garnett were the two strikers. On the bench for Sports were Jimmy Phillips, Harley Kozluk, Mason Warren, Will Norcross and Kyle Clamp.

Jack Walsh and Will Grocott had half chances in the opening few minutes but the first real chance came on 11 minutes as good play between Garnett and Jarman found Sodeinde but his strike was into the side netting on the near side. Next Jarman managed to use his strength to get past a couple of Stratford defenders and square the ball centrally inside the box to Ted Cribley but his first time effort was over the bar. Sports were then forced into an early change as Jack Walsh suffered an injury meaning he had to be taken off to be replaced by Jimmy Phillips.

Stratford were also looking a threat going forward and has a couple of chances from Isaac and Skendi however one was saved and one was cleared off the line by Turner. Jarman struck a powerful effort from a free kick wide of the left hand post before Westwood for the visitors broke down the left hand side and sent in a wicked cross which was well caught by Addai in the Sports net. The final chance of the half feel to the side from Warwickshire as a header into the box was not dealt with by Tom Burgin and Wilson managed to get in front of him, turn and strike an effort which went just wide of the right hand post.

It was Sports who had the first real chance of the second half. Phillips was fouled in the middle of the pitch but play continued and Ted Cribley managed to break forward strike an effort towards goal but the effort was too central and saved by Walton. Jarman managed to do the same thing a few minutes later but it was the same outcome as the strike was into the keeper’s hands. The Stratford right back Cox then sent an effort sailing over the bar as both sides kept searching for that elusive goal. Then shortly after came Sports moment to win the tie however it was not taken and came and went as Evan Garnett was played in 1v1 after an excellent first touch but the strike was sent miles over the bar. Ted Cribley would then made way for Mason Warren for Sports next substitution.

This seemed to give the visitors the warning they needed and spurred them on as Mike Taylor the substitute had three excellent efforts with two headers and one effort with his right foot but all three were saved well by Addai. In between those efforts Jarman had a chance to strike but his chance was saved by Walton. Just as Sports left it late in the previous round against Redditch United, they were this time on the other end of a late sucker punch as Stratford won the tie in the 87th minute. Sodeinde lost track of his man and allowed Cox to cross into the box which caught out Reece Ford at the back post and Mike Taylor nipped in behind to finish low past Addai and send Sports crashing out of the FA Trophy.

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