Midland Football League Newsletter
23rd December 2015 League News With everyone gearing up for a busy holiday period, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone associated with the Midland Football League a Merry Christmas. Hopefully, your wishes will all come true and the pitches will dry out for Boxing Day. Travels of the Press Officer Saturday, December 19th Stafford Town vs Hinckley AFC A run of eight consecutive defeats in the league has seen Stafford Town slump to the bottom of the table. Visitors Hinckley have lost touch with the leading pack and cannot afford to drop too many more points, therefore, the game at Evans Park was set-up as an important fixture prior to the Christmas period. With the crowd swelled by a large travelling contingent, it was the home side that started the brighter belying their lowly place. In the 19th minute, Spencer Gunnell went through on the Hinckley goal but Tom Cross made a fine save. Gunnell hit the follow up perfectly, but somehow Cross tipped the ball onto the crossbar. The Reds were not to be denied and they took the lead in the 23rd minute. Gunnell again hit the crossbar with a header, but the rebound was nodded back in by Declan McMahon and Gunnell, this time, nodded home from inside the 6-yard box. At the other end, a cross from Lee Thomas evaded Richard Stone but rebounded off the post. Gunnell was proving a real thorn in Hinckley’s side and he was just off target with a chip. Greg Pearson saw a shot deflected forcing Stone into a decent save before Gunnell again forced Cross into a save as Town went into the break deservedly ahead. The visitors started the second half on the front foot and Alex Morris should have done better with a header. Ryan Seal forced a save from Stone, but Hinckley were on level terms in the 55th minute. A corner from Marcus Jackson was not dealt with by the Town defence and Marco Adaggio was on hand to force the ball home. Within three minutes, Hinckley were ahead with the goal a near replica to the first. The Town defence again was all at sea from a Jackson corner and JJ Melligan was the recipient tapping the ball home. With the majority of the crowd now expecting a rout, the home side had other ideas and they drew level when Chris Gray headed a Gunnell cross into his own net. Stafford sub Craig Hulme forced another save from Cross, but the decisive action came at the other end midway through the second half. Pearson was pulled back in the act of shooting by Tom Green and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and showing a red card to Green. Seal made no mistake from the spot to give the visitors the lead. Hinckley took full advantage of the extra man but couldn’t find their way past the impressive Stone., the keeper making three excellent saves to thwart Adaggio. Hinckley took all three points, but Town will have been encouraged by the performance particularly going forward. Considering the weather, this was an entertaining afternoon’s football and a good advert for the competitive nature of Division 1. Review Premier Division Hereford go into the holiday period with a 6 point lead over the rest after a 2-1 win at Lye Town, John Mills with the winner from the penalty spot. 2nd placed Alvechurch sent a statement of intent to the rest with an emphatic 4-0 win at 3rd placed Heanor Town. Heanor weren’t helped when Dan Booth was red carded, but the Church already had a firm grip of the game taking a 2-0 lead inside 13 minutes. Jordan Nadat sealed things with two late goals taking his tally to 14. Sporting Khalsa’s winning run came to an abrupt end at Hillsfield as Rocester ran out 4-2 winners. Rob Ritchie-Smith and Karl Demidh both scoring twice for the Romans. There was an 8 goal thriller at Castlecroft as AFC Wulfrunians and Quorn shared the spoils. Wulfs needed a stoppage time equaliser from Jake Sedgemore to get the point after Leavi Oshungbore had scored twice for Quorn. Loughborough University continued their fine form with a 4-1 win over Boldmere St Michales, Jason Davis with a brace. Long Eaton United moved up to 7th with a comfortable 3-0 win over Stourport Swifts, all the goals coming in the second half. An important win near the bottom for Brocton, 2-0 at Coleshill Town while Westfields eased their relegation worries with a 3-0 win over bottom club Continental Star. Division 1 Bromsgrove Sporting are up to 2nd after a 4-1 win at Coventry Copsewood, Nathan Walker scoring twice. Leicester Road could have gone second with a win bu they were beaten at Sheepy Road by Atherstone Town who are now in the top half of the table. Pilkington XXX are in 6th place after a narrow 2-1 win at Pershore Town, who remain in the lower reaches. Heath Hayes are 7th following a 3-0 win over Southam United at The Coppice. Hinckley AFC picked up a hard-earned 3 points at bottom club Stafford Town winning by the odd goal in five. A huge win at the bottom for Heather St Johns over fellow basement boys Bolehall Swifts. Swifts went into the break a goal to the good, but three second half efforts without reply moved Heather up to 17th. Division 2 We have new leaders of Division 2 as Droitwich Spa took over top spot following a 4-1 win over Feckenham. James Lemon was on target twice taking his season tally to 24. Rostance Edwards missed the chance to go 2nd, losing 3-2 at Sutton United who remain in 5th. Division 3 No denying the result of the day, the maiden win in the Midland Football League for AFC Solihull at the 14th time of asking. Grant Dodd and Adam jones were the heroes as the home side beat Inkberrow 2-0. Leamington Hibernian have a 4 point lead at the top after a 2-0 win at Badsey Rangers. FC Stratford are up to 5th with games in hand after they beat Burntwood Town 2-1, Joe Taylor coming off the bench to score twice. Polymac Packaging League Cup Coleshill Town are through to the quarter-finals of the League Cup after a resounding 7-2 win over Quorn at Packmeadow. Two goals in the opening 14 minutes sent Coleshill on their way and the goals were shared around 6 players. Les James Challenge Cup A Mark Bellingham double helped Paget Rangers into the quarter-finals after beating Fairfield Villa 3-2. County Cups A handful of games in the Birmingham Saturday Vase and the third meeting in recent weeks between Barton United and Smithswood Firs. As in the two previous encounters, it was Firs who had the edge winning 3-1. Chelmsley Town, Knowle and Boldmere Sports & Social falcons all progressed with victories over Copsewood Coventry, Brinklow and Woodlands WMC respectively. AFC Wulfrunians welcomed a near full strength National North Nuneaton Town to Castlecrroft in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday and the three division gap proved to be too much as Nuneaton ran out 10-0 winners. It was only 2-0 at half-time, but Nuneaton ran riot after the break with 8 different players on the scoresheet. Reserve Division Chris Gumery grabbed a hat-trick as leaders Coleshill Town extended their lead with a 4-0 win at Evesham United. High scorers on the day were Rocester who beat Brocton 6-2 at Silkmore Lane, Oliver Roome scoring four. In the only other game to take place, Romulus won 3-0 at Continental Star. Under 21 Divisions Bedworth United extended their lead at the top of the South Division with a 4-0 win over Kings Heath Concorde. In the North, Heath Hayes move up to 3rd with a 2-0 win at Basford United. In the Bowl, H.O.W. Academy beat Gornal Athletic by a solitary goal. Weekend preview Premier Division League leaders Hereford have a fantastic opportunity to extend their lead as they have home games on Saturday and Monday. On Boxing Day, they welcome neighbours Westfields to Edgar Street with a Midland Football league record attendance almost certain. On Bank Holiday Monday, struggling Coventry Sphinx are the visitors with their second away game of the weekend following a trip to Bardon Hill on Boxing Day. 2nd placed Alvechurch travel to 6th placed Highgate United on Boxing Day, which has the making of a titanic struggle. There is a local derby at the Aspray Arena on Boxing Day as high-flying Sporting Khalsa entertain FA Vase heroes AFC Wulfrunians. Walsall Wood make the short journey to Dales Lane to face bottom club Continental Star who are fast becoming adrift of the rest. Two sides with mixed form meet at pack meadow as Coleshill Town welcome Stourport Swifts. At Grange Park, Long Eaton United welcome Brocton with both sides showing much improved form in recent weeks. On Bank Holiday Monday, Heanor Town look to bounce back from their defeat by Alvechurch with a home game against in form Loughborough University. The return from injury of Karl Demidh has made a big difference to Rocester and they will fancy their chances of picking up three points at Dunkirk. Lye Town pushed Hereford close last weekend and they welcome Boldmere St Michaels to the Black Country. Shepshed Dynamo have maintained a top 6 spot for most of the season and they welcome to lowly Quorn to the Dovecote. Division 1 League leaders Coventry United welcome neighbours Coventry Copsewood to Sphinx Drive on Boxing Day with a healthy 7 point lead at the top of the table. 2nd placed Bromsgrove Sporting can close the gap for a few hours as they have an early kick off against Studley at the Victoria Ground. Two other early kick-offs are at Rene Road, as struggling Bolehall Swifts face Atherstone Town and at the TSA Sports ground as tenants Pilkington XXX host tenants Cadbury Athletic. There promises to be an excellent game at St Johns Park where Nuneaton Griff visit Hinckley AFC. Leicester Road have hopes of challenging for the title and they have a local derby with heather St Johns. On Bank Holiday Monday there is a Staffordshire derby as high-flying Lichfield City welcome bottom club Stafford Town to Brownsfield Park. There is a local derby in Warwickshire as lowly Southam United entertain Racing Club Warwick. Division 2 Only one game in Division 2 over the holiday weekend as Sutton United host Paget Rangers on Boxing Day. Division 3 Two games on Boxing Day and the big game is at the bottom as 2nd bottom Perrywood play host to bottom club AFC Solihull, who will be buoyant after their first win of the season last weekend. 3rd bottom Enville Athletic are on a poor run and they will hope to get something from the game as they welcome Northfield Town to Hall Drive. A chance to see some football on Sunday as in-form Alcester Town host Coventrians. On Bank Holiday Monday, leaders Leamington Hibernian host mid-table Shipston Excelsior. 2nd placed Smithswood Firs have games in hand and they have a home game against Burntwood Town. Redditch Borough are 3rd and they travel to Inkberrow while 4th placed Barton United are at home to Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. FC Stratford could climb into the top three providing results go their way and they beat Badsey Rangers at home. Midland Football League Newsletter
16th December 2015 League News The draw for the 4th round of the FA Vase has been made with ties scheduled for January 9th. Hereford vs Leicester Nirvana AFC Wulfrunians vs Pinxton / Nuneaton Griff Cleethorpes Town vs Alvechurch Coleshill Town vs Dunston UTS or Seaham Red Star The game at Edgar Street sees the MFL leaders Hereford host the leaders of the United Counties League, Leicester Nirvana. Both teams have similar records, score goals and don’t conceded many. Promises to be a cracker. AFC Wulfrunians will be favourites as they take on a side from either Step 6 or Step 7 (at the time of writing the replay hadn’t taken place). With Wulfs in good form particularly at Castlecroft, it would be good to see a decent crowd. Alvechurch have a difficult trip to play Northern Counties East Cleethorpes Town. Cleethorpes have already beaten two MFL sides this season in Westfields and Racing Club Warwick but they are likely to find the Church a more difficult proposition. Coleshill Town have an intriguing tie against one of two Northern League sides. Gateshead based Dunston UTS will be favourites to get through to round 4 as they have home advantage over Seaham Red Star – their game has been postponed twice due to waterlogged pitches. Coleshill have had an excellent season in FA competitions and there is a great opportunity to reach Round 5. Earlswood Town Football Club has, regretfully, had to relieve first team manager Nigel Fry of his duties. After a long run of unsuccessful results, which have culminated in the first team occupying bottom spot in the Midland League division 2, without a league win to date, the committee decided that it was time for a change. The committee would like to thank Nigel for all his work and commitment put in over the past couple of seasons and wishes him well. We are pleased to announce that Keith Green has accepted the vacated post and will take over the reins as manager of the first team with immediate effect. Keith will announce his management team in due course. Travels of the Press Officer No press officer games this week as I have been laid low with man-flu! Normal service will be resumed next week. Review FA Vase Hereford were made to fight all the way by Premier Division rivals Brocton as a 2-0 victory sent them through to round 4. Goals in each half for Mustapha Bundu and Joel Edwards were enough for the Bulls. AFC Wulfrunians faced an awkward trip to North West Counties Alsager Town but emerged with a 2-0 victory and a place in the 4th round for the first time. First half goals from Richie Palmer and Jamie King settled it for Wulfs and they could easily have had more. High riding Alvechurch won the all Premier Division tie at Walsall Wood by 3 goals to nil. Danny Ashton gave Church the lead in the 7th minute and then two Karl Edwards goals settled it to send Church through. A second-half Dean Rathbone hat-trick helped Coleshill Town to a 4-3 victory at Step 7 Uttoxeter Town. The winning goal came in the 4th minute of stoppage time after the home side had equalised just a minute before. Coleshill had to contend with a hostile home crowd and a number of flares being thrown onto the pitch – a worrying trend in non-league circles. Premier Division Sporting Khalsa took advantage of the leaders inactivity to close to within 9 points of Hereford with 4 games in hand. It was 0-0 at the break against Stourport Swifts but goals from Tesfa Robinson and Marvin Nisbett in a 5 minute spell in the second half gave Khalsa all three points. Lowly Coventry Sphinx were on the wrong end of a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Lye Town. Second half goals from Alex Dallison and Kieron Northwood settled the game in the visitors favour. Gane of the day was undoubtedly at Hollywell as Loughborough University beat Bardon Hill 7-2. The visitors took an early lead bu the Students bounced back with Alun Webb scoring twice and Ben Ward-Cochrane with a hat-trick. Division 1 Only one game went ahead in Division 1 and Leicester Road move up to 3rd with a single goal victory over Heath Hayes courtesy of a Tom McGlinchey effort in the 40th minute. Division 2 The fixture was decimated by the rain but in the one game to get played Paget Rangers stunned host Austrey Rangers running out 6-3 winners. Veteran striker Mark Bellingham grabbed a hat-trick and there were two more for Dan Carter. Division 3 Alcester Town continued their remarkable run of goalscoring form with a 7-2 win over bottom side AFC Solihull. The visitors took an early lead but goal machine Matt Layton scored yet another hat-trick to move Alcester up to 9th and only 7 points off the top. In the only other game to go ahead, Badsey Rangers move up to 5th after a 2-1 home win over Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Polymac Packaging League Cup Alvechurch have set up a tasty 3rd trip to Hereford with a 1-0 win at Coventry Sphinx, a recent signing from Rushall Olympic, Nick Wright, with the goal. County Cups In the Fazeley Charity Cup, Barton United made progress after a 2-1 win over Burntwood Town. Stafford Town were short on numbers when they travelled to Northern Premier Division Rushall Olympic on Tuesday and, unfortunately, the three division difference together with the missing players told as the Pics ran out 11-0 winners. An excellent victory in the JW Hunt Cup for Rostance Edwards who beat WMRL AFC Bridgnorth 2-1 at Crown Meadow. Hinckley AFC were knocked out of the JW Hunt Cup losing 2-1 at Wolverhampton Sporting. Reserve Division League leaders Coleshill Town were grateful for their 3G pitch as they beat Solihull Moors 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the table. Under 21 Divisions Bedworth United took over leadership of the South division beating previous leaders Stourport Swifts 4-1 on the 3G pitch at The Oval. Bromsgrove Sporting solidified 3rd place with a 1-0 win over Leamington. In the North division, top hammered bottom with Sutton Coldfield Town 7-2 winners over Tipton Town. Walsall Wood move up to 3rd with a 3-0 away win at Anstey Nomads. Weekend preview Premier Division League leaders Hereford take their long winning run to the Black Country to face an inconsistent Lye Town. The home side are yet to draw in the league this season and if they can stop the runaway Bulls, that would be a major achievement. Game of the day is massive at the top of the table as 3rd placed Heanor Town entertain 3rd placed Alvechurch. Alvechurch have the best defensive record in the league but I can see lots of goals in this one as there have been 93 goals in the 20 games played by Heanor this season. 4th placed Sporting Khalsa have won 11 league games on the trot to close the gap on Hereford to 9 points. They will fancy their chances of making it 12 when they travel to Hillsfield to face Rocester. Khalsa won the reverse fixture 4-0 in November although expect this to be a much closer game. Shepshed Dynamo are 5th and still harbour outside hopes of the title as they welcome Walsall Wood to the Dovecote. The Wood were knocked out of the FA Vase last weekend and will want to bounce back as quickly as possible. Highgate United are another side with 4 games in hand on the leaders and 12 points in those games would make it interesting at the top. On Saturday, they travel to Coventry Sphinx languishing in 20th place and looking for their first points under new manager Robbie Banks. AFC Wulfrunians are enjoying an excellent run in the Vase and will be favourites to pick up 3 more league points at home to lowly Quorn. Coleshill Town are benefitting from the installation of their new 3G pitch with games being postponed left right and centre. At least, they know they will be in action on Saturday when they entertain a revitalised Brocton at Pack Meadow. Two of the bottom four meet at Allpay Park as Westfields host Continental Star. A win for the home side will set them up nicely for the Boxing Day trip to local neighbours Hereford. Two sides with good recent form meet at Hollywell when Loughborough University and Boldmere St Michaels lock horns. This should be a good one for the neutral. Two mid-table sides meet in Derbyshire as Long Eaton United welcome Stourport Swifts to Grange Park. Form favours the home side but this could go either way. 2nd bottom Dunkirk travel down the M1 to face Bardon Hill who are only 9 points ahead of them. An away win would add to the congestion at the bottom of the table. Division 1 Four teams are tied in second place and three of them have the chance to close the gap on leaders Coventry United this week. Nuneaton Griff travel to Cadbury Athletic wanting to get their league season back on track after picking up 4 points from the last 12. Leicester Road face another local derby at Atherstone Town, however, they will turn up in good form in front of goal. Bromsgrove Sporting have continued to keep pace at the top of the table but they travel to a Coventry Copsewood side who have suddenly found the way to goal. Sporting have a miserly defence and it could be stretched by a resurgent Copsewood. Bottom club Stafford Town have another tough assignment at home to Hinckley AFC who cannot afford too many more off days if they are to stake a late challenge. Southam United have slipped into the bottom four and they have a tough fixture away to Heath Hayes. Pershore Town are one place above Southam and they face host high-flying Pilkington XXX, themselves sitting just outside the top 5. Two mid-table sides meet at the Beehive as Studley entertain Racing Club Warwick while at The Old Bush, 14th place Pelsall Villa welcome 7th place Littleton. Division 2 Droitwich Spa will take over the leadership of Division 2 with a win at home to second-bottom Feckenham. Rostance Edwards could reach the summit themselves should Droitwich slip up and should they win at 5th placed Sutton United. Division 3 In form Alcester Town have scored a remarkable 20 goals in the last three games and they take this form to 7th placed Shipston Excelsior. League leaders Leamington Hibernian face a tough trip to 5th placed Badsey Rangers, a win for the home side bringing them level on points. A slip from Leamington will give Redditch Borough the chance of taking over at the top providing they win at struggling Enville Athletic. Bottom side AFC Solihull picked up their first point recently and will be hopeful of adding to that tally when they host Inkberrow. FC Stratford have only been beaten once in the league and a victory over Burntwood Town would close the gap to the top.2nd bottom Perrywood host 4th bottom Coventrians with a win for either moving them well away from the foot of the table. Les James Challenge Cup Paget Rangers and Fairfield Villa meet at Church Road for a place in the quarter-finals. Looking at their respective league records, expect this to be a close run thing. Reserve Division Continental Star vs Romulus Coventry United vs Solihull Moors Brocton vs Rocester Evesham United vs Coleshill Town Lichfield City vs Cadbury Athletic Under 21 Divisions Bromsgrove Sporting vs Stourport Swifts (U21S) Bedworth United vs King’s Heath Concorde (U21S) Tamworth vs Walsall Wood (U21N) Tipton Town vs Anstey Nomads (U21N) Basford United vs Heath Hayes (U21N) H.O.W. Academy vs Gornal Athletic (Bowl) Leamington vs Sutton Coldfield Town (Bowl) West Midlands Football Academy vs Newcastle Town (Bowl) |
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