Northern Premier League Midland Division Wednesday 4 February 2026

The Mikes began without the still injured Jordan Gough (and President Parso, rushed into
hospital), and gave a debut from the bench to youngster Lewis Capper-Imms (who didn’t look out
of his depth on First Team duty). What team would our guests’ field, following their recent loss of
Manager and five players? It bore passing resemblance to their most recent turnout; but they
proved themselves to be rugged, determined opponents.

Boldmere showed first, James Tague having a response to an accurate corner tipped onto the bar
by the visiting keeper, and a penetrating Fraser Doyle being thwarted five yards out. Was this to
be another 4-1 triumph? Alas no, as the game descended into a scrambling, frenetic
contest, constructive movements being few and far between, as hosts and visitors cancelled each
other out. An incident in the 61st minute summed this game up. Corby had a goal kick, which
headed out towards the left wing. Four players (two from each side) stood in a line waiting for it,
and simultaneously pushed each other, resembling a football conga.

Both teams attacked in numbers and defended en masse, Boldmere finding it hard to pick their
way through an eight-man rearguard. The biggest “Ooh!” of the first period came on nineteen
minutes, Frankie Ealing’s effort turned onto the bar, following his well-timed interception and skilful
run into the opposing box. Apart from one attempted Boldmere defensive suicide (free kick
hammered over the bar), nothing much happened except “vigorous” interplay. Despite a plethora
of crunching tackles (some which would pass as assault, in the street!), to their credit everyone
kept their cool, and we had none of the handbags we saw in our identical clash with Rugby Town.

A scrappy, nondescript second half had two moments of note. The hour passed, the Steelmen
had a free kick just outside the penalty area, Harrison Jones having been brought down on the
charge. The resulting free kick avoided a four-man wall, and a surprised Jonno Brown spilled the
shot. A tangle of legs in the goalmouth saw the ball poked netwards at the third attempt. One goal
down? Somehow, the collective body language indicated not: no one returned to the centre spot.
Evidently, some sin had occurred in the melee, and Boldmere were awarded a free kick. Nine
minutes added time were needed, after the Mikes came nearest to scoring. As standard time
elapsed, a Harry Crook cross was pushed onto the post by a diving Theo Avery, and in the
consequent scramble, Fraser Doyle was pulled back by a defender …and ended up with a
suspected broken elbow. Ouch! Let’s wish him a full recovery.

This point means that the Mikes stay just above the relegation zone, despite Bourne Town and
Loughborough Students winning the night before. Only six points now separate the bottom seven
teams, four of whom must take the drop; but as Ken wisely said as we left for home, “If we’d have
played them two months ago, we’d have lost.” A point apiece was, on reflection, a fair outcome.

Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown; Kye Bilton; Pierre Phillips; Daniel O’Callaghan; Aris Christophorou; Connor Armstrong; Jack Burgess; Fraser Doyle (Lewis Capper-Imms, 82); James Tague (Tolani Omotola, 63); Frankie Ealing (Ben Lund, 88); Kyle Byrne (Harry Crook, 63). Sub. not used: Ben
Croot.

Corby Town: Theo Avery; Jack Noble (Ben Smith, 61); Freddie Allen; Alfie Wren; Ryan Martindale; Brad Gothard; Jordan Crawford; Harrison Jones (Helkias Acheampong, 82); Fran Obiagwu (Matteo
Perkins, 75); James Matthews; Ben Challinor (Frankie Webster, 63). Harrison Jones; Leon
Johnson; Abdul Koroma; Jordan Crawford. Sub. not used: Martin Tsvetkov