Northern Premier League Midland Division Saturday 24 January 2026

The Mikes travelled to table toppers Carlton Town hoping to continue their recent run of unbeaten games. There were two changes to the starting line-up. Skipper Danny O’Callaghan replaced the suspended Pedro Lima whilst Frankie Ealing came in for the considered unfit Connor Armstrong who had to settle for a place on the bench.

A heavy pitch following the recent wet spell made slick passing difficult but a well organised Mikes outfit kept the home side at bay with Jonathan Brown called on to make just one save of note during an even first half. In fact, Boldmere came closest to breaking the deadlock midway through this first half. Harry Crook was unceremoniously fouled by Ewan Robson which earnt him a yellow card. The resultant free kick by Jack Burgess was headed just over by Charlie Manners with Ghanaian international goalkeeper Felix Annan stranded. Manners and Dan Brown were involved in some contretemps minutes later but referee Donaghey seemed to think a lecture mainly aimed at the Boldmere player was sufficient. Mind you moments later after several meaty tackles on the edge of the Carlton box Manners did earn a yellow card for a late challenge earning himself a two-match ban for the accumulation of cards during the season. A goalless first period represented a solid performance from the Mikes players and the hardy travelling few had high hopes for the second half.

These hopes were soon extinguished when just six minutes after the break failure to close down Lamin Manneh on the edge of the box saw a twenty yarder beat a possibly unsighted Brown to put the home side in front. This galvanised the league leaders and the Mikes struggled to put in any worthwhile response. Ben Lund replaced Manners and Tolani Omotola replaced Crook before a bizarre second goal but the game beyond doubt. A right-wing cross was half cleared but Burgess’s intended second clearance ended up back out with the winger. A second cross was headed neatly home by Kye Bilton – for an own goal on the seventy-minute mark.

Kyle Byrne replaced Jordan Gough who had taken a knock in a heavy challenge but it was the home side who nudged further ahead on seventy-seven minutes. Boldmere had at last taken the game to Carlton but were caught on the break by Ash Chambers and he raced clear to add a third. Pierre Phillips replaced Bilton in a final Mikes substitution.  Following this the home keeper Annan was called into serious action and made a fantastic save to stop James Teague opening his Mikes account; and he repeated the dose from the same player just after Niall Hylton had replicated the Chambers effort by streaking clear of a flat Mikes back three to put further salt in the wounds of the second half.

I guess, given Carlton’s massive lead at the top of the division, a positive result was hardly expected but given the solid performance in the first half the second period proved totally deflating. The lads just need to dust themselves down and be ready for the next challenge.

Carlton Town: Felix Annan, Dan Brown, Lewis Durow, Dean Freeman, Ewan Robson (Liam Bateman 81), Alex Howes (Jason Law 79), Lamin Manneh, Nat Watson (Khyle Sargent 74), Ash Chambers (Huw Dawson 79), Oliver Clark (Niall Davie 64), Niall Hylton

Boldmere St Michaels: Jonathan Brown, Kye Bilton (Pierre Phillips 77), Jordan Gough (Kyle Byrne 70), Aris Christophorou, Danny O’Callaghan, Jack Burgess, Fraser Doyle, James Teague, Harry Crook (Tolani Omotola 68), Charlie Manners (Ben Lund 56). Sub not used: Connor Armstrong