Romulus were looking for a result yesterday evening to narrow the gap between themselves and the play off places. The Roms were eight points off 5th place Darlaston Town coming into this one and could be dark horses for the top five if they can get a run of form going. It’s been a transitional season so far and the Roms are comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the campaign. Lichfield were looking to continue their excellent run of form with a result against Romulus last night. Consecutive wins against Tividale and AFC Wulfrunians had left them in third with 39 points going into this match. Their away form so far had been solid with only two losses from eight matches prior to yesterday. The atmosphere around CV Stadium prior to kick off was friendly and relaxed with both sets of supporters looking forward to a competitive match. There was a considerable following for the visitors which was commendable for a Monday night in late January. The ground is one of the more accessible to get to by public transport and can be reached by getting on the 67-bus route to Castle Vale. Starting Line Ups Romulus’s starting line up featured Lewis Gwilliams starting in goal and Cameron Lee captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Isai Marselia leading the line up front and being supported by Rob Hanna and Dan Okojie on the wings. There were two changes from the team that started against Stone Old Alleynians a few weeks ago with George Manning coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. The starting line up for Lichfield City included James Beeson playing in goal and Joe Haines captaining the team from left back. The formation appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 with Dan Smith playing up front and being supported by Liam Kirton and Luke Childs on the wings. There were four changes from the team that started against Worcester City in the FA Vase a few weeks ago with Leighton McMenemy coming back into the team and playing in central defence alongside Jamie Elkes. First Half The opening 25 minutes of the match were a bit scrappy with both teams settling into it. The visitors had a few early chances with Jack Edwards having a good opportunity in the box before firing wide and Lewi Burnside having a good chance on the edge of the box before shooting over the bar. Lichfield were mainly playing a possession-based style and were passing the ball around well throughout midfield and the final third. Romulus were set up on the counterattack and were looking to break with pace to catch the visitors out. Lichfield took the lead in the 27th minute through a free kick. Jack Edwards stepped up near the left-hand side of the box and delivered a free kick that was spilled by Lewis Gwilliams to go over the line. It was unfortunate from a Romulus perspective as they were competing well with a quality side up to that point. Despite the visitors having a control of the match, there were still positives for Romulus which hinted they could get something from it. Isai Marselia was getting into some good positions around the box and had a few half chances in front of goal. They were also looking good at the back with Ashley Jackson and Cameron Lee doing well to contain the Lichfield chances. The best chances for Romulus fell near the end of the first half where they were close to getting an equaliser. The best chance fell to Cameron Lee from a corner delivered into the box. Lichfield struggled to clear the ball away from danger and Romulus were close to putting the ball in the net, but it didn’t quite fall to them. None the less, Lichfield were mainly in control and Jamie Elkes and Jordan Clement were doing well to contain the hosts and not allow them into the match. Jamie Elkes was reading the game excellently at the back and heading dangerous ball away while Jordan Clement was passing the ball around well from holding midfield. Second Half Lichfield got a second goal early in the second half which made it an uphill task for Romulus against a quality side. A dangerous ball was delivered into the box and Luke Childs was there to make it 2-0. Left back James Bowen was also sin binned for ten minutes early in the second half. The visitors took advantage of the space on the left and Lewi Burnside got to the byline before playing a good ball to Dan Smith who finished well at the near post to make it 3-0. The visitors managed to get a fourth goal a few minutes later and it was a moment of genuine quality. An excellent defence splitting ball found Dan Smith who accelerated through on goal and finished brilliantly into the bottom left corner to make it 4-0. Despite the score line, Romulus battled in the second half and had a few half chances to reduce the deficit. The best of those fell to substitute Mason Stevens who looked bright since coming off the bench and was getting into some good positions in the final third. He had a few shots on goal that were well saved by James Beeson to preserve the clean sheet. The second half was similar to the first with Lichfield having a control over the match and Romulus having a few moments in front of goal. Full Time Despite the defeat, there’s still some positives which Romulus can build on going forward. Ashley Jackson at right back and Cameron Lee in central defence were good at the back and looked solid defensively. They managed to head a lot of balls away and blocked numerous shots on goal. There were a few players up front that looked a threat. Isai Marselia looked good up front and caused Lichfield a few problems at the back. He always looks dangerous on the ball in the final third which is a positive. Substitute Mason Stevens also looked good and was getting into some promising positions in the final third. Both players were creating chances which is a big plus. Lichfield were excellent in this match and showed why they are near the top of the table. They were passing the ball around with confidence throughout the 90 minutes and creating a lot of good chances in front of goal. They also looked well organised off the ball and did well to contain Romulus yesterday evening. Jordan Clement was excellent in this match and made a real difference from holding midfield. He gave the visitors that composure on the ball to build up attacks and link up play. Jamie Elkes was also brilliant at the back and headed balls away throughout. He reads the game well and gets in the right positions to clear the ball. Dan Smith was also good as the number nine and his movement off the ball made the two goals he scored. Overall, an encouraging performance by Lichfield who will be challenging for a top three spot between now and the end of the season. FT Score: Romulus 0-4 Lichfield City Attendance: 80 Man of the Match: Jordan Clement (Lichfield City) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Premier Division Dudley Town 2-1 Stone Old Alleynians Dudley Town got their fourth home win of the season at the Guardian Warehousing Arena on Saturday to climb up the table. The Robins are now in 12th and have some breathing room over the relegation places. They now have an eight-point gap over Tividale in 17th and are looking forward to the final few months of the season. An excellent crowd of 203 supporters turned up at the weekend to watch Dudley get the win. A brace from prolific forward Harry Crook in the second half gave the Robins the three points. Stone Old Alleynians got a consolation goal late on through an effort by Ryan Goodwin to make it 2-1 but the day belonged to Dudley Town. Shifnal Town 3-0 Northwich Victoria Shifnal got a big win against Northwich Victoria on Saturday to have a chance of finishing in the play offs. An early goal by Jordan Jones and a second half brace from Joe Ellis Cuff gave the Shropshire side the three points. A good attendance of 150 supporters turned up to watch Shifnal get their fifth home win of the season. Shifnal are now only four points off the play offs and might have a chance if they can build a run of form over the next month. The away problems continue for Northwich, but they still have some breathing room over the relegation places. If they can pick up some big results at home over the next few months, they should be fine. Studley 2-2 Congleton Town Studley and Congleton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the weekend which leaves both teams in good positions in the division. A notable attendance of 161 supporters turned up to the Studley Sports Centre on Saturday. Studley took an early two goal lead in the first half thanks to goals from Romario Martin and Finley Holmes. The Bears got a goal back near the end of the first half thanks to an effort from McKenzie Faulkner and found an equaliser in the second half through a Dan Cocks penalty to take home a point. Both teams are on target to achieve their aims for the remainder of the season and it’s just a case of staying consistent. Division One Coton Green 1-1 Chelmsley Town Chelmsley Town battled to a point against Coton Green at New Mill Lane on Saturday afternoon. A good crowd of 50 supporters turned up for the match in Fazeley, Tamworth. Matt Gardner gave the Green Army a 1-0 lead going into half time before the visitors found an equaliser in the second half from the penalty spot to take home a point. Both teams are above the relegation zone and if they can pick up a few results between now and April they should be fine at step six. Nuneaton Griff 1-2 Shawbury United Following a tough week with the problems at Nuneaton Borough, the hosts saw an excellent turnout of 130 supporters at the Pingles Stadium on Saturday to cheer on the Heartlanders. A goal from Reiss Corfield gave the visitors the lead in the first half before an early equaliser by Jacob Dumbleton in the second half made it 1-1. Nuneaton Griff were reduced to ten men in the middle of the second half and Shawbury United took advantage late on thanks to an injury time goal from Jack Howse to take home the three points. Both teams are comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the campaign. Smethwick Rangers 2-3 Allscott Heath Allscott Heath got a big away win at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground on Saturday to continue their push for the play offs. The Monners had to battle for their fifth away win of the season in tough weather conditions against Smethwick Rangers. The win leaves them in 5th with a few games in hand over the teams above them. Armando Wood scored a first half brace for the visitors to make it 2-1 at half time with Smethwick getting an equaliser in the middle of the first half before Allscott scored again late on to lead at the break. The hosts managed to make it 2-2 from a free kick late in the second half before Leigh Brindley scored a crucial late winner for the visitors to take home the three points. The goals from Smethwick came from efforts by Khenan Barrett and Joseph Daley in a tough defeat. It’s looking like a struggle for the final few months of the season, but they have competed well in a tough division and if they do go down it’s not for a lack of effort. Their now five points from safety and have played a few more games than the teams above them. Division Two Alcester Town 3-3 Inkberrow Inkberrow got an excellent battling point against Alcester Town to give themselves a chance of staying up. They came back from 2-0 down at half time and where leading late on before a late equaliser from the Romans made it 3-3. The goals for the visitors coming from second half efforts by substitute Josh McKeown, Robert Guy, and Harry Bradley. The goals from Alcester came from efforts by Adam Bourn, Jimmy Ward and Ricardo Richards to get a point. They will feel disappointed not to get all three points. None the less, at this stage of the season a point could be a good result in their push for the league title. They have seven games in hand over Knowle with 18 points to make up. Inkberrow have been battling well over the last few weeks and have been picking up some results to give themselves a chance. In addition to the away win at Cadbury, this draw now leaves them on 15 points with a four-point gap over Littleton in 15th. The teams below them have a lot of games in hand but they still have a chance. Fairfield Villa 1-1 Knowle Fairfield got an excellent point against Knowle on Saturday to help them avoid relegation to step eight. The Swans are now five points better off than Littleton in 15th and their home form has played a big part in staying above the relegation places with only four losses from eleven matches. Darren Green gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Nathan Corry equalised for Knowle to give the Robins a point at full time. A notable crowd of 78 supporters turned up to Stourbridge Road over the weekend to watch Fairfield get the draw. Following a few draws over the last few weeks, the visitors have left the door open for the teams below them to challenge for the league title. None the less, if they can beat the teams around them, they still have a good chance of promotion to step six. Division Three AFC Solihull 1-1 Silhill AFC Solihull and Silhill played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre on Saturday in a local derby match. Andrew Fraher gave the visitors a 1-0 lead going into half time and set up a potential upset of the league leaders. AFC Solihull showed character to get back into it in the second half and found an equaliser through Owen Williams to take home a point. It’s a good result for AFC Solihull in their quest for the league title and leaves them in a good position. Their now in 1st with 49 points and have a seven-point gap over Northfield who have a few games in hand. Silhill are still capable of competing for the top four but promotion this season might be a stretch. None the less, if they can build on the positives, it could set them up for next season. Balsall and Berkswell 0-0 Continental Star Continental Star got an excellent battling draw against Balsall and Berkswell to take home a point on Saturday. The visitors have not been too bad away from home over the last month and this continued here against Balsall and Berkswell where they managed to keep a clean sheet over the Hornets. Out of the two, the result suits Continental Star more with Balsall and Berkswell looking to challenge for the top six. The Hornets might now have to be contempt with a top half finish in a competitive division this season. Birmingham Tigers 2-5 BNJS BNJS built on their eye catching 2-2 draw with Northfield Town last weekend and got a momentum building win against Birmingham Tigers at the Hadley Stadium over the weekend. The visitors are now in 15th with 10 points and got their second away win of the season on Saturday. To BNJS’ credit they have competed well this season and are adjusting to the level having joined over the summer. It’s been a tough season for Birmingham Tigers, and they have one point from 17 matches. It’s a shame for the Tigers as the teams above them are on 10 points which leaves them in a challenging position to get off the bottom of the table. Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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March 2024
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