Ex-Mike Round-up
In January 2010, Kevin Charley has been in impressive goalscoring form for runaway leaders Barwell. After being inactive due to the weather until the 19th, The Canaries registered 9 goals in their four fixtures. The former Mikes hit man bagged seven of these, scoring in each game. He started with both goals in the 2-0 home win over Kirby Muxloe, before getting the ball rolling with a penalty just before half-time in the impressive 3-0 FA Vase triumph at Shortwood United. Another former Mikes player Liam McDonald added the third goal in the dying minutes.
Things got better for Charley when Biddulph Victoria left Kirkby Road on the wrong end of a 3-1 beating, getting all three gaols to claim the match ball. In the game of the day against Coalville Town last Saturday, the highest MFA crowd of the season witnessed the clash between the top two. 293 onlookers saw Charley bag a last minute equaliser to extend Barwell’s proud unbeaten league record to 24 games this season.
Stratford Town defender Mark Smith has been in equally fine form. He added to his Boxing day double in the 2-1 win at Highgate United with another brace in their 3-2 New Year derby win over Studley. This was the only Aspire MFA fixture to beat the big freeze on the day, reflected in a very healthy gate of 265, Stratford’s highest of the season to date. After a 17 day break with no MFA football at all, it took less than a minute for Smith to add to his tally, getting Town off to a flyer in the 4-2 home success over Coventry Sphinx. After a one game goal drought, he was at it again on the last Saturday in the month. Once again Smith notched Town’s opening goal, though this time they had to settle for point in a 3-3 home draw with Oadby Town.
Since notching a brace against the Mikes for Rocester earlier in the season, Tobias Salmon has moved on to Highgate United. On January 23rd, he got the opening goal to set The Gate on their way to a 2-1 home victory over Coleshill Town.
On the same day, Callum Gittings rounded off the scoring in Alvechurch’s 4-0 stroll at Bridgnorth Town. However, he was unable to take his place in the Church line up when the Mikes came away with a point on Saturday, having picked up a toe injury.
A name not often featured on the goalscoring charts is Eric Bowen, but the diminutive full back notched Tipton Town’s winner in the single goal triumph at Loughborough University last Saturday.
A name we wish we hadn’t seen on the scoresheet was Stuart How, who notched both goals in Causeway United’s recent win here at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. Chris Busby was also on duty, while Steve Poole appeared as a second half substitute.
Looking further afield it’s been a quiet time on the goalscoring front for former Mikes. However, Tom Wilmore was on target for our near neighbours Romulus, as they sent Heath Hayes tumbling out of the Walsall Senior Cup on their own ground, courtesy of a comfortable 4-0 win.
Striker Mykel Beckley has joined Wilmore at the Roms, signing from Leamington on a loan deal that has been extended by a month due to a lack of match action thanks to the recent inclement weather.
Dave Haywood has stepped down from his first managerial post, as assistant at troubled Zamaretto Division one Midland side Atherstone Town. Rushall Olympic expressed an interest in re-signing the left-sided player.
In the Unibond League Division One South, Stuart McNaught has started all three of Rushall Olympic’s games in 2010. The combative midfielder left the Mikes for Dales Lane in early December.
Also moving to the Unibond league is Adam Wood, who left the Mikes shortly before Christmas to link up with last season’s MFA double winners Market Drayton Town. The big stopper made his Town debut as substitute on New Years Day.
