Mickleton Rangers’ newly-formed Saturday team have hit the ground running this season.

They are unbeaten in Division One of the Cheltenham League and are through to the third round of the GFA Minor Cup North after a penalty shootout win at Cheltenham Tigers at the weekend.

Mickleton had already won 5-4 at Cheltenham Tigers this season, one of six wins from seven league games.

They host bottom-of-the table Tewkesbury Town 3rds in the league on Saturday looking to maintain their early season momentum with club secretary Edward Waller saying with some understatement: “We’ve started well.”

They certainly have and, although they are a new team, the name Mickleton Rangers isn’t new because they are a club who have been playing in the Evesham Sunday League for some 40 years.

Waller, who played for FC Wickhamford in the Premier Division of the Cheltenham League last season, was one of the driving forces behind the formation of Mickleton’s Saturday side alongside Jack Hardwidge, who is the team’s manager.

“We’re a bunch of old school mates, mainly from Chipping Campden School,” explained Waller. “We’ve got a lot of good players.”

Goals haven’t been a problem with striker George Redshaw leading the way with 15 in six league games.

“He’s a fantastic player,” said Waller, a central midfielder. “He runs in behind, he comes short, he links up play, he scores goals, he finishes really well.

“He scored all four against Hanley Swan a couple of weeks ago, he had only four or five chances.”

That game finished 4-4 and Mickleton are third in the 12-team division, seven points behind leaders Cheltenham United with three games in hand.

Welland Reserves are two points ahead of them, although they’ve played two games more, while Shurdington Rovers are in fourth spot with 17 points from eight games.

Mickleton beat Welland 4-0 at home back in September – James Tolley who has scored eight in six league games got two that day – but they have yet to play Cheltenham United or Shurdington.

“The aim is to win promotion this season,” continued Waller. “Hopefully we can have a good run in the cups too.”

They are through to the last 16 of the Minor Cup North after their dramatic shootout win at Cheltenham Tigers after the game had finished 2-2.

Waller was one of their goalscorers in their 4-2 shootout win but goalkeeper Tim Wheatcroft was the hero with two fine saves.

That success obviously pleased 23-year-old Hardwidge, who is enjoying his first role as manager.

“We’re ambitious, we want to go all the way into the Northern Senior League,” he said.

And that ambition extends to off the pitch too with the club looking to build a new clubhouse at Mickleton sports field in Long Marston Road.