AFC Wulfrunians were looking for a result yesterday afternoon to continue their good form under Carl Abbott and cement their position in the top half of the table. The Wulfs have grown into the season and were unbeaten in their last three matches coming into this one. Tividale have struggled in the premier division this season and are involved in a relegation battle to stay in step five. The visitors were five points off Northwich Victoria in 16th place coming into this one and had the chance to make up some ground with Northwich’s match against Uttoxeter getting called off yesterday. The atmosphere around Castlecroft was welcoming and relaxed with both sets of supporters looking forward to the match. It’s a brilliant ground to visit for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands and is accessible to get to by public transport. Supporters can get the number 3 bus from Wolverhampton City Centre and get off at Castlecroft Hotel for a short walk to the ground. Starting Line Ups The starting line up for AFC Wulfrunians included Joe Williams starting in goal and Bradley Maslen-Jones captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Daniel Munday playing up front and being supported on the wings by Kane Lee and Finlay Barker. There were two changes from the team that started against Dudley Town last weekend with Lee Chilton coming back into the team and playing at left wing-back. Tividale’s starting line up featured Louis Connor starting in goal and Zach Kourouyianni captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 3-4-3 with a front two of Jack Till and Ryan Snape being supported by Max Morris in the attacking midfield role. There were three changes from the team that started against Dudley Town in mid-week with Joe Burroughs coming back into the team and playing as part of a back three. First Half AFC Wulfrunians started the match brightly and took the game to Tividale early on. They were making things happen in the final third and causing problems down the wings in the opening twenty minutes. The best chance to take the lead fell to Kane Lee on the right wing who made an excellent run before having a shot hit the far post. Tividale did a good job of seeing the opening twenty minutes out to get a foothold in the match and looked well organised off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances in front of goal for AFC Wulfrunians. They were growing into the match as the first half went on and were passing the ball around well. The visitors were starting to get into a rhythm with the only thing missing being the final ball to cause AFC Wulfrunians problems defensively. Tividale were building attacks well and playing out from the back to stifle AFC Wulfrunians’ early momentum. AFC Wulfrunians did a good job to contain Tividale’s attacking threat and had a good chance to take the lead on the half hour mark. An excellent free kick into the box was headed over the bar by Jack Rowley. Both teams were knocking on the door to take the lead in an even first half. The hosts managed to take the lead on the 33rd minute to make it 1-0. Finlay Barker was fouled in the box by Joe Burroughs for a spot kick with Daniel Munday stepping up to take it. His initial effort was instinctively saved by Louis Connor before the rebound fell into his path to finish into the bottom right corner. It was tough on Tividale who competed well up to that point and it gave the hosts a sense of control over the match. The last ten minutes of the first half was action packed with a lot of notable chances in front of goal from both teams. Kane Lee had a good chance from a second ball that was delivered into the box before putting his effort over the bar. The best chance for Tividale in the first half came late on when Jack Till made a brilliant run and was one on one with Joe Williams before firing wide. Malcolm Melvin played an excellent chipped ball over the AFC Wulfrunians defence from midfield that was well anticipated by Jack Till near the edge of the box to create the opening. AFC Wulfrunians mainly played a possession-based style and liked to invite Tividale on to them so they could play a long ball over the defence. They had an excellent chance to make it 2-0 at the end of the first half where an accurate long ball found Tom Poole down the right. The Wing-back advanced into the box before having an effort go wide. Second Half AFC Wulfrunians managed to make it 2-0 early in the second half to make it an uphill task for the visitors. A well delivered corner found Dexter Dudley-Toole at the back post who headed the ball into the net. It was a well worked set piece routine from the hosts, but Tividale would have felt disappointed as they could have put considerable pressure on the hosts in the second half. From 2-0 down Tividale were chasing the match for the rest of the second half. One of the positives for the visitors was how they stuck to their passing style and showed character to keep going despite the scoreline. Their best chance in the second half came when a neat passing move resulted in Jack Till having a shot well saved in the box at the near post by Joe Williams. AFC Wulfrunians’ best chance of the second half came when a good ball into the box by Curtis Cocking found Kane Lee in the box who fired narrowly wide of the far post. The front three for AFC Wulfrunians impressed throughout this match and were creating several good chances in the box which was a real positive yesterday. Tividale did manage to get a goal back late on to set up a nervy finish to the match. A well delivered free kick by Ryan Snape found Joe Burroughs in the box who finished well at the back post to make it 2-1. This proved to be a consolation for the visitors with AFC Wulfrunians holding on to take home the three points and their sixth home win of the season. Full Time AFC Wulfrunians played well in this match and were worthy of the win. There’s quality throughout the team both on and off the ball and they showed a lot of effort and endeavour yesterday to get a result. Bradley Maslen-Jones was excellent at the back and read the game well from central defence. He managed to stop several promising Tividale attacks to take the pressure off the hosts, especially in the first half. Joe Williams also had a good game and made some crucial saves to give AFC Wulfrunians the three points. Dennis Digie had an underrated game from holding midfield and was linking up the play well. He offered the team a sense of composure when building attacks from midfield and moved the ball quickly through the thirds of the pitch. Tividale played well in this match despite the result. They showed a lot of character and effort throughout the afternoon and have quality on the ball to make things happen. The front two of Ryan Snape and Jack Till played well and looked a threat in the final third. Ryan Snape has been notably good at creating chances at this level and could be the difference in tight matches for the visitors. Jack Till was getting into some good positions around the box which was encouraging. Malcolm Melvin had an underrated game from holding midfield and was passing the ball around well, especially in the first half. He linked up the play well for the visitors and gave them a way of growing into the match. Overall, there were encouraging signs that they could pick up results to have a chance of staying up. FT score: AFC Wulfrunians 2-1 Tividale Man of the Match: Bradley-Maslen Jones (AFC Wulfrunians) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League AFC Wulfrunians V Tividale AFC Wulfrunians are coming into this match in a good run of form and are unbeaten in their last three league games. The Wulfs are comfortably in the top half of the table and a top ten finish will be the aim between now and April. They have been good at Castlecroft this season with five wins and two draws from 12 matches. Daniel Munday is a player to watch up front who has looked good as the main striker for AFC Wulfrunians in the final third. Tividale are in a relegation battle to stay in step five. They are currently five points off Northwich Victoria in 16th. The visitors have not been too bad over the last few matches and came back from 3-0 down to get a point at Booth Street against Congleton a few weeks back. They have struggled away from home with one win from 12 matches on the road. They could do with a scrappy 1-0 away win to give themselves a chance of staying up over the next month. The visitors have been better up front away from home with 20 goals scored compared to 8 goals scored at the Beeches. Bewdley Town V Atherstone Town It’s been a challenging season for Bewdley who are fifteen points off safety with 13 matches to go. The hosts have struggled in the premier division with just one win from 21 matches. It’s also been a struggle up front and defensively with 14 goals scored and 90 goals conceded for a negative goal difference of -76. Their home form at Ribbesford Meadow has also been an issue with eight consecutive losses and 3 goals scored. With the division getting tougher every season, it’s a shame that Bewdley have struggled as much as they have. Credit to the supporters who have turned up every Saturday to cheer the team on. Hopefully they can rebuild in step six next season and turn their fortunes around. Atherstone have been excellent since the managerial appointment of Mitch Thomson in December. The Adders have picked up 15 points from their last six league matches and have beaten Highgate and Whitchurch over the last few weeks. The visitors are currently in the top half of the table and have an outside chance of finishing in the play offs. Their currently seven points off Darlaston Town in 5th. A top half finish at the end of the season would be a good achievement by Atherstone. They have not been too bad away from home with just four losses from ten matches. Dudley Town V Stourport Swifts Dudley Town have been excellent over the last few months and have really built some momentum at step five. Following a difficult start to life in the premier division, the Robins are now the form team in the league and are unbeaten from their last six league games. The turnaround since December has been incredible and they are now in the top half of the table. A key to their success has been making the Guardian Warehousing Arena more of a fortress over the last few months and making it a tough place to get a result. The likes of Lichfield and Highgate have lost there this season. Daniel Danks is a player to watch who can make things happen in the final third. Stourport Swifts are challenging for the play offs following their exit in the FA Vase last weekend to Worcester City. It’s been a brilliant season so far by the Swifts and they have been challenging in both the league and the FA Vase since the start of the campaign. Their currently one point off Darlaston Town in 5th. The visitor’s main issue has been away from home where they have won two out of ten matches on the road. Lichfield City V Highgate United Lichfield City are currently in the play off positions and have an outside chance of winning the league. The hosts are in 2nd and seven points off Congleton with two games in hand. An encouraging factor for Lichfield is their goal difference which is similar to Congleton’s so automatic promotion to step four is still on the cards. None the less, a top three finish will be the main priority between now and April as they have been excellent at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium this season. Their currently unbeaten from 13 matches at home with ten wins and three draws. If they can finish in 2nd, it will make them strong favourites for the play offs given their home form. There’s a nice balance throughout the team but Jordan Clement has stood out from midfield over the last few weeks. Highgate are challenging for the play offs going into the final few months of the season. The Gate are currently in 4th and three points better off than Stourport in 6th. Their away form has been solid with five wins from ten matches. Similar to Lichfield, the visitors are challenging for a top three finish to set up a home semi-final play-off match. They have three games in hand over Studley in third and if they could finish in 3rd, it would aid their play off chances. The visitors have lost once all season at the Coppice from 11 matches. Northwich Victoria V Uttoxeter Town Northwich are looking to stay up at step five over the next few months. It’s been a challenging season for the Vics who are currently in 16th and five points better off than Tividale in 17th. One of the main positives for the Vics has been their home form which has played a big part in them being above the bottom two. Four wins and three draws from ten matches is notably good and they have picked up 15 of their 19 points at home. One of their issues has been up front with just 24 goals scored. The Vics have signed Christophe Aziamale from Whitchurch Alport this week which could help their goalscoring problems. Uttoxeter have not played much since the turn of the new year with a lot of their matches being postponed. They have played twice since New Year’s Day in the league and are coming off consecutive losses to Darlaston and AFC Wulfrunians. Despite Uttoxeter struggling in the league of late, their main aim was to stay up following a tough campaign last season. This season has been a success for Uttoxeter who are 14 points above the bottom two. Their currently in 11th and a top half finish would be a bonus. One of their issues has been on the road where they have lost eight out of 12 matches away from home. None the less, their capable of getting a result tomorrow and could cause any team problems on their day. Romulus V Studley It’s been a tough month for Romulus, and they have picked up four points from their last six league games. None the less, the Roms are comfortably in mid table and in no real danger of getting drawn into a relegation battle. Their currently 12 points ahead of Tividale in 17th. It’s all about building for next season for Romulus and looking at the bigger picture. If they can build on the positives of this season, they could be challenging for the play offs next season. Tomorrow is a good opportunity to get a statement result against a team challenging for the play offs. Studley have been excellent this season and are currently in the top five. The Bees are in 3rd and four points better off than Stourport in 6th. Getting in the play offs would be a brilliant achievement by the visitors come April. One of their issues has been their away form where they have won three out of ten matches on the road. They have also struggled a bit in front of goal away from home with 14 goals scored. None the less, their unbeaten from their last eight league games and will undoubtedly be a tough test for Romulus tomorrow. Shifnal Town V Darlaston Town Shifnal are currently in the top half of the table and go into tomorrow’s match with Darlaston Town looking to get a result. The Shropshire club have an outside chance of the play offs, but a top ten finish is a more realistic aim between now and April. It’s been a stop and start season by Shifnal and inconsistency has prevented them getting in the play offs. However, they have been playing well of late and have tightened up at the back with just three goals conceded from their last six league matches. The hosts will be looking for a statement result tomorrow afternoon against play off chasers Darlaston Town. Darlaston have been good over the past month and are in form going into this match. The Citizens are coming off an impressive 9-0 win against Bewdley Town last weekend and have 12 points from their last six league games. The visitors are 5th in the table and a point better off than Stourport Swifts in 6th. One of their issues this season has been their away form and they have won three matches out of 11 on the road. Their very similar to Stourport with an outstanding home form and an ok away form. If they could win tomorrow, it would give their play off chances a brilliant boost. Stone Old Alleynians V Wolverhampton Casuals Stone Old Alleynians have struggled over the last month and are getting drawn into a relegation battle. Six consecutive losses in the league have dragged the Stoke club down to 15th and their now six points better off than Tividale in 17th. The hosts need to pick up some results over the next month to give themselves some breathing space over the bottom two. On a positive, their home form at Kings Park has been decent throughout the season with just four losses from eleven matches. Wolverhampton Casuals are another club that are looking over their shoulders in the premier division. The visitors have done well to be outside the bottom two and are currently seven points better off than Tividale in 17th. They had a huge win at home against Bewdley Town a few weeks back. In terms of away form, they have been competitive on the road and picked up 12 points from 11 matches. Whitchurch Alport V Congleton Town Whitchurch are comfortably in mid table going into this match. It’s been a transitional season from the Shropshire club and there’s been some positives since new manager Adam Shillcock came in during the Autumn months. Their run in the FA Vase where they reached the last 32 is an excellent achievement. Their league form has not been too bad either with 9 points from their last six league matches. Their home form at Yockings Park has also been a huge positive. Just three losses from eleven matches is notably good and building a fortress at step five can go a long way to being successful. Congleton have been brilliant throughout the season since joining the MFL over the summer. The Bears are top of the table and seven points better off than Lichfield in 2nd. It’s just a case of keeping performances consistent over the last ten matches to win the league and gain promotion to step four. Their away form has been good with just three losses from ten matches on the road. Being excellent at home and competitive on the road has been a key part of Congleton’s season. The Bears go into this match as one of the form teams and are unbeaten from their last eight league games with six wins and two draws. Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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March 2024
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