by Peter Scherer
Tuesday evening we play hosts to Chesterfield Reserves in the Derbyshire Senior Cup.
Our visitors play in the central league for reserve teams and were winners of the Senior Cup back in 2017/18, after a 1-0 win over Alfreton Town.
Staveley were the first winners back in 1883/84, 2-1 over Derby Midland, before a repeat the following year.
Last season Mickleover started with a 4-0 win at Stapenhill, with Edimond Oppong scoring twice, with other goals from Tyreace Palmer and Justin Iwobi.
Clay Cross then came to the Don Amott Arena and we were 4-1 winners with two goals from Amarn Robinson and one each from Dylan Edwards and Andy Dales.
Hopes were high of making it to our second ever final, drawing Alfreton Town at home in the semi. Despite an impressive second half performance it was a 0-2 defeat, with Alfreton going on to beat Buxton on penalties in the final.
The previous year we had beaten Belper Town 2-1 with goals from Marcus Barnes and Sam Tomlinson, but then lost 2-3 at Matlock.
Mickleover’s only final appearance was in 2019, when they faced Alfreton Town again at Pride Park. It was 2-1 defeat for Sports with goals early in the first half and late in the second split by Shaquille McDonald’s penalty.
If we look further back to 2009, Sports were then in the Northern Counties League and won the title. Senior Cup wise we beat Staveley MW 3-0, with Liam Walshe, Dave Middleton and Karl Ashton on the scoresheet, before a 7-1 win at Long Eaton, with Ashton, Kieran O’Connell and Dan Martin each scoring twice, along with one from Ricky Law.
Ashton and O’Connell then helped us beat Ilkeston 2-1, to earn a semi final place against at Buxton, ending in a 0-1 defeat.
Kick off is 7.45 and it’s ONLY £5 admission!