by Peter Scherer
Hanley Town was Mickleover FC’s first port of call in their pre-season build up, facing a strong line-up from the current Midland League Premier Champions.
Starting line-up: 1-Jonathan Hedge 2-Elliott Walker 3-Rhys Dolan 4-Ryan Wilson 5-James Butler 6-Phil Watt 7-George Milner 8-Ben Horleston 9-Elliott Reeves 10=Stuart Beavon 11-Mason Warren. Subs: Jahvan Davidson-Miller; Kai Moore; George Atwal; Ethan Mann; Louis Pennington; Andy Dales; Fin Bowen; Joe Bateman.
New signings Callum Chettle and Marcus Marshall were missing, but there were debuts for Reeves, Wilson and Academy graduate Horleston, as well as a first game in about a year for Pennington, after returning from injury.
It was Reeves who gave Mickleover a 1-0 lead at half time, before all eight subs were utilised. But the home team managed to grab a second half equaliser by ex Rams defender Ryan Shotton for it to end 1-1.
Sports are in action again on Tuesday evening too, when United Counties League Division One side Clipstone are our hosts, kick off 7pm.
Our visit to Clipstone last season saw us come away with a 4-1 victory, with two goals from Andy Dales and one each from Mason Warren and Larell King.
They have played two pre-season games so far, suffering a 1-6 defeat to Sherwood Colliery and drawing 1-1 at Dronfield.