Match Preview

Match Preview - Mickleover FC (H)

It is a Derbyshire clash at Grange Park on Bank Holiday Monday as Long Eaton United welcome Mickleover FC in the SFL Premier Central.

Long Eaton United head into this match still in search of their first points of the 2023/24 season, as their last match ended in 5-0 defeat away to Halesowen Town.

Miracle Okafor netted an early brace which put the Blues heavily on the back foot, and then Kieren Donnelly was on hand to net a brace of his own by scoring either side of half-time.

To rub salt in the wounds, and despite the Blues’ best efforts of claiming a consolation goal, the Yeltz’ substitute Jack Holmes netted a deflected strike late to solidify the hosts all three points.

The Opposition –

Mickleover currently sit top of the Southern Football League Premier Central table with a maximum of 15 points gained from 5 matches played – two of their wins came on the road, with three all secured on home soil.

With six goals to his name in just five matches played, Marcus Barnes is currently Sports’ top goal scorer this season, however, with 13 goals netted in total as a club, Mickleover will not be a team to overlook.

In their previous match, Mickleover secured a solid 2-1 victory over seventh-placed Hitchin Town at the Don Amott Arena courtesy of goals from Andrew Dales and Marcus Barnes.

A two-goal advantage at half-time – with Dales’ and Barnes’ goals coming in the 38th and 42nd minutes respectively – Sports conceded early in the second half through Daniel Idiakhoa but held on for their fifth consecutive league victory this season.

Previous Meeting’s –

The Blues and Sports have faced each other on many occasions in the past – sharing the same league and division from the 2004/05 season to the 2008/09 season would have aided that, as well as the regular Derbyshire cup, and the early stages of the FA cup competitions that remain regional based.

Grange Park in fact hosted the previous meeting between the two sides during the 2022/23 season, in which Mickleover travelled to face the Blues in the Third Round of the Cawarden Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup.

Then, step four Blues overcame, then, step three Sports by one goal to nil thanks to a wonder strike from former Blues forward Ben Hutchinson.

Prior to that fixture, the last competitive non-cup fixture between the two sides was in April 2009, when the Blues took a trip down to Mickleover but walked away on the end of a 4-2 defeat.

Karl Ashton, Keiran O’Connell, Tony Law and Liam Sowter netted Sports’ goals on that day, whilst Kevin Mabon netted a brace for the Blues.

That season finished with Mickleover sat in first on 88 points and promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South, whilst Long Eaton finished in second on 81 points and continued to play their football in the Northern Counties East Football League until a lateral switch to the Midland Football League in the 2014/15 season.

The Manager’s Quotes –

Reflecting on the disappointing result at the weekend, joint boss Brad Munn said: “What I want to see from a bounce-back perspective now is just resilience, I said to the boys before the match on Saturday – which is the most frustrating thing – that we had to frustrate the opposition off the ball, try to be hard to break down and ultimately, resilient, but simply put, we were not.

“What we are now after from the squad because the club and the fans both deserve it, is a team that is going to go out and show that they are not going to be easy to break down and they are going to be resilient.

“The defeat at the weekend did hurt me, but I am a big man, I will certainly dust myself off and see where we can help the lads that might not understand where things were not quite right.”

Looking ahead to the Bank Holiday Monday Derbyshire clash, Munn added: “Myself and Lewis know that Mickleover are up there, and we will far from underestimate them, so we will go out there on Monday eager to bounce back and prepared for what should be battle.

“We will be ready on Monday.”

Match Details -

Long Eaton United vs Mickleover FC
Southern Football League Premier Central
Monday 28th August 2023 – Kick-Off 3:00 pm

Grange Park (Long Eaton United FC)
Station Road
Long Eaton
Derbyshire
NG10 2EF

Ticket Information -

£11 Adults
£9 Concessions
£4 U16s
U16 club members gain FREE entry with membership cards (limited to one member per paying adult)

£2.50 Matchday Programme

The match kicks off at 3:00 pm and we advise all supporters to arrive early to avoid any queues or delays.

Card payments are preferred and accepted at the bar, at the kitchen, and for entry into Grange Park – although, cash payments are still accepted!

Car parking is available at the ground and is free, but is of course subject to availability, although there is ample parking available in the surrounding area.

Also, you can see the team line-ups outside the hospitality room or on our official Twitter, where there will also be live updates from the match.