Boldmere St Michaels 1 Chasetown 0
F.A. Cup Preliminary Round Saturday 22 August 2026
The Mikes have now gone five competitive games with only one goal conceded, and this match illustrated why. Far from a classic, it nevertheless held the attention by being an F.A. Cup tie; a clash between local rivals, well acquainted with one another; and a tight encounter, the result being in doubt until the final whistle. Having said that, for long periods your correspondent wrote nothing, as an end-to-end encounter saw the Scholars (superior in the air in what was often an aerial battle) the team more likely in the first half. Opponents of a similar style needed over half an hour before a netting came near; but on thirty-two minutes, a slick three-man manoeuvre ended with Matthew Hearsey seeing his effort pushed round the post for a corner.
This signalled the start of a severe examination of the home rearguard. Within three minutes, Chasetown went close three times, Adam Harrison leaping round his frame athletically to keep Jack Langston and George Cater from scoring. Somehow, the hosts survived continuous pressure until the interval, and you told yourself, “We’ve seen the Mikes hold on by the skin of their teeth until the break, and go on to win.” Could recent history repeat itself? Half time: 0-0.
We’d observed precious little of the Mikes’ attack in the first period; but although the Mikes regularly had ten men behind the ball for free kicks and long throws, they were now looking dangerous when breaking out of defence, only a misplaced final pass preventing them having a clear opening on goal. As the hour approached, visiting custodian Curtis Pond was being called upon to push away a Connor Armstrong follow up from a corner. Boldmere were not to be denied, however, and with the hour gone, a smart combination down the Boldmere right ended with John Atherton firing home through a tangle of Chasetown limbs.
Could the Mikes now hold on to their slender advantage for half an hour? The Scholars immediately made a double substitution; but the Mikes now were emerging from their shell, Armstrong and John Atherton running strongly through midfield as Boldmere went looking to double their account. In between these forays, they seemed, somehow, rather prone to slowing the pace of things, such as ball replacement, down! Even so, an Armstrong steamer came back off the bar’s underside, the resultant fizzer pushed over the horizontal for a corner.
With people looking leggy from a strenuous afternoon, substitutes appeared in procession. Both midfields had done a good job at smothering opposition initiative throughout the whole match; but as the dying minutes ticked slowly by, the hosts tirelessly harried, worried, and generally obstructed their guests. If anyone deserved to win on sheer effort, Boldmere did.
One final thought: Chasetown, though a much younger Club than Boldmere, are far better known, and supported, as a result of their Cup exploits all those years ago. Could the Mikes increase their profile, and attendance, if their persistence led to similar success?
Boldmere St Michaels: Adam Harrison; Nathan Allison; Jack Lynch; Aris Christophorou; Pedro Lima; Connor Armstrong; Maxwell Ngbeken-Itota (Jack Burgess 83); Fraser Doyle; James O’Neill (Omotolani Omotola 88); John Atherton (Brad Mansell 78); Frankie Ealing (Kyle Byrne 71). Subs. not used: Jaiy Leydon; Daniele Reka; Ben Roberts.
Chasetown: Curtis Pond; Olly Hayward (Jensen Tortoishell 59); Jordan Evans (Zach Findlay 87); Kevin Monteiro; Ethan Patterson; Joel Kettle; Logan Cousins (Takura Sambizi 63); Jack Langston; Matt Funge (Kyle Moseley 63); George Cater (Lachlan Suffell 82); Matt Hearsey. Subs. not used: Dan Bradley; Oliver Shaw.