​Solihull Youth Academy were looking to continue their impressive form in division three with a statement result against Walsall Wood yesterday afternoon at Tudor Grange Academy. The league leaders were coming off six straight wins in division three which includes notable away wins against Kenilworth Sporting and Diamond Academy.

They’re entering a crucial stretch of the season over the next few months with just twelve matches to go. The league feels wide open at the minute with up to seven teams challenging for two promotion places.  

Their home form had been impressive under manager Reece Platt with four wins from six matches in the league.

Walsall Wood were looking to build on an encouraging 5-1 away win against AFC Birmingham with a result against Solihull. The visitors were looking to build some momentum in division three under Adam Pearce and Phil Male to challenge for the top two.  

The Wood had been consistent in the league with nine wins from twelve matches coming into yesterday. They notably beat Solihull at home to start the season and have beaten the likes of Silhill and Kenilworth Sporting at Oak Park so far to strengthen their hopes of promotion.

An impressive crowd of 92 supporters turned up to Tudor Grange Academy yesterday afternoon to watch the match in tough weather conditions.    

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Solihull included Josh Murtagh starting in goal and Luke Cowley-Bryenton captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Louis Weir and Arnaldo Primera Basilo being supported by Aon Abbas in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their last league match against Kenilworth Sporting a fortnight ago with Josh Murtagh coming into the team and playing in goal in place of Stanley Puleo.

The starting line up for Walsall Wood included Sam Cooksey starting in goal and Le’Shae Brown captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Colin Smith and Mac Lee being supported by Ricky Shinger from attacking midfield.   

There were four changes from their last league match against AFC Birmingham a fortnight ago with Kieron Carrell coming into the team and playing in the middle of a back three. 

First Half

Solihull got off to a quick start and took the lead in the first minute thanks to a brilliant counter attacking move. Arnaldo Primera Basilo ran through on goal with just Sam Cookey to beat before producing a composed finish into the top right corner for 1-0.

​Walsall were playing with a high line and Solihull looked to stretch the back three in the opening stages of the first half. Louis Weir made a brilliant run down the left-hand side before getting into the box and finding Salieu Jallow who finished into the bottom left corner for 2-0 on 14 minutes.

The pace of Solihull was causing the visitors problems in the opening twenty minutes, and they looked like a side in form yesterday. Joe Hemming made a good run from midfield before having a shot well saved by Sam Cookey on 15 minutes.

Walsall gradually grew into the game as the first half went on and showed some character to stay in the match at 2-0 down. They started to get a hold of Solihull’s attacking threat with Le’Shae Brown reading the danger well on the right side of a back three.

Colin Smith looked a threat up front and was making promising runs into the final third. He gave the Wood that physicality to make things happen up front and did a good job of holding up the ball as the number nine.

He instinctively ran onto a well weighted ball in the box before finishing into the bottom right corner to pull a goal back on 30 minutes.

Walsall were building some momentum in the closing stages of the first half and were causing Solihull some problems at 2-1 down. They had more control of the midfield with Dan Greatrex helping to link up the play and start off attacks.

Sam Cooksey also made a crucial save to keep Walsall in it on 42 minutes when he instinctively saved Louis Weir’s effort on goal and sent it round the post.   

Second Half

Solihull found another gear in the second half and started taking the game to Walsall Wood on the break after seeing out the opening fifteen minutes.

They were asked questions from Walsall at 2-1 up and showed character and grit to not let them back into the game. Luke Cowley-Bryenton read the danger well in the middle of the back three and was constantly heading dangerous balls away from goal. Joe Hemming also worked hard off the ball and broke up promising attacks from midfield.

There’s a good spine in this Solihull team that can see out challenging spells which felt encouraging against Walsall. They had one of the best defensive records in the league going into the weekend with just seventeen goals conceded and they looked well organised off the ball yesterday.  

Salieu Jallow found some space in midfield before playing a well weighted ball to Arnaldo Primera Basilo who ran through on goal. The Solihull forward rounded Sam Cooksey in the Walsall goal before calmly squaring the ball to Louis Weir who finished into the bottom right corner for 3-1.

It was a quality move by Solihull on the break which effectively sealed the game on the hour mark.

Sam Cooksey made an unfortunate mistake playing out from the back a few minutes later. Salieu Jallow reacted quickest to the loose ball before finding the bottom right corner from the edge of the box to make it 4-1 on 63 minutes.

The attacking quality of Solihull really shone in the second half, and they looked lively on the break.

Arnaldo Primera Basilo found some space on the edge of the box before having a curling shot tipped round the post by Sam Cooksey on 67 minutes.

There was also quality off the bench with Archie Greenway coming on and helping to control the midfield to close out the match.

A hand ball in the box by Sulayman Hangero-Cham resulted in a Solihull penalty late on. Arnaldo Primera Basilo stepped up and took a quality spot kick into the bottom left corner to make it 5-1 on 81 minutes.

Solihull were able to comfortably see out the match late on for a statement win in tough weather conditions.

Full Time

It’s now seven straight wins in division three for the current league leaders. Yesterday’s result also improves their goal difference which could be huge in a close promotion race.

It felt like an off day for Walsall Wood, and it was not quite clicking in front of goal yesterday. They had spells of pressure on the Solihull goal but struggled to create clear cut chances in the final third.

Upcoming fixtures

It feels like a big month within Solihull’s season, and they play a couple of promotion contenders over their next few matches.

They have a run of home matches against Silhill (Saturday 6th December) and AFC Birmingham (Saturday 13th December) before travelling to AFC Balsall on Saturday 27th December.

Walsall Wood will be looking to bounce back from yesterday’s loss with a statement result against step five side Romulus at home in the JW Hunt Cup on Tuesday 2nd December.

They return to league action with a home match against Arden Forest Sporting on Saturday 6th December before playing Kenilworth Sporting (Saturday 13th December) and Diamond Academy (Saturday 27th December) away from home over the next month.            

FT score: Solihull Youth Academy 5-1 Walsall Wood

Man of the Match: Arnaldo Primera Basilo (Solihull Youth Academy)

Attendance: 92

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

It has become increasingly apparent over the last few seasons, that the fluid geographical boundaries that define the borders between various leagues are starting to cause concerns for Leagues, Clubs, Players and Supporters alike.

For nearly a decade now The FA have been trying to create the perfect non-league pyramid with a structure that rationalises the expectations for clubs to enter, and then progress, through the National League System. 

This season, the North West Counties League continues to operate with 24 teams in its Step 5 Division, with its Most Southerly members in line with the path of the River Mersey.  We have recently seen Clubs such as Northwich Victoria and Winsford United migrate over to the Midland Football League Premier Division. Clubs such as South Liverpool and City of Liverpool recently were provisionally allocated to the Midland League but, with last minute reprieves, have subsequently left the NWCFL top heavy with member Clubs and the Midland Football League with 18 members.

At Step 6, The NWCFL has clubs on the Wirral Peninsula travelling to places such as Wolverhampton, Telford and Wellington.  Places of which should be synonymous with the Midland Football League.

With resource management, a key part of the operations of the Midland Football League and the NWCFL, we are seeing our Clubs travelling further, we are seeing Clubs, who are appealing every season against their placement in various leagues, struggling financially to keep up with travel requirements and disengagement with Players and local fan bases.  Local derbies are being reduced and as such clubs are seeing evolution with their traditional support being affected.

We are seeing memberships evolve around big cities with clusters of clubs in 10 mile radius’ and regional and provincial clubs becoming more and more in the minority.  With predictions for future club allocations at both Steps Five and Six further clouding over operational areas and with Match Official arrangements already becoming increasingly difficult to source and manage, we feel that the time is right for discussions with The Football Association to talk openly with Leagues about the current and future issues.  Discussions that aren’t limited by a marginalised agenda and discussions that address logistical concerns.

Is a Perfect Pyramid the perfect shape for the National League System? Maybe, maybe not. There is a great case for it by way of a symmetrical shape, but our memberships are not always conveniently located.  There are clubs such as Kendal Town, Carlisle City and Penrith, all heading over to the North East every weekend.  If matters were addressed by simple geographical branding, why would North West Clubs be playing in the North East and this is what we at the NWCFL and Midlands League have been talking about.

In recent discussions between NWCFL Chairman Chris Stirrup and Midland Football League Chairman, Mike Joiner, it has become apparent that both leagues are finding the same operational frustrations regarding Club allocations. 

NWCFL Chairman Chris Stirrup is calling for an exploratory set of talks to take place, stating that “Following recent dialogue with our friends and Counterparts at the Midland Football League, it has become apparent that we are both having the same concerns regarding Club allocations and the knock-on effect that this is having.  Regionally, it is apparent that our respective Steps Five and Six Divisions are covering each other’s area.  We have a situation where in the NWCFL, any team promoted from our Step Six First Division South Division will now go into the Midland Football League Step Five Division, whilst Clubs relegated from the Midland League Step Five could end up playing as far away Runcorn.”

“We have a similar issue at the Northern lying regions of our Step 5 Division, with Clubs being placed into the Northern Leagues.  All of these placements need transport, need match officials, need Players and need Supporters.  Mike Joiner and I would be interested in speaking with other leagues about the effect that club migrations are having on their operations as well as speaking with The FA about how we can support them in finding a more suitable and sustainable way of integrating new clubs into the NLS whilst providing the best possible support, logistics and development opportunities for existing clubs. If the FA is truly For All, then we want to make that happen” 

Mike Joiner, Chairman of the Midland Football League added “In addition to our concerns regarding the current boundaries between the Midland Football League and the North West Counties League, we also have the same concerns regarding movement of clubs between ourselves and both the United Counties League and The Hellenic League. This is also having a detrimental effect on progressive clubs at Step 7 and below, who are unable to effectively plan for their future, when they do not have any guarantees as to which Step 6 Division they will be allocated to. Over the past few years, the FA have spoken on numerous occasions about the sustainability of Clubs at all levels. The current policy of moving clubs each season between leagues, with the extra costs incurred, which they can ill-afford, does not aid the sustainability of clubs towards the bottom of the pyramid.

This is all about opening a dialogue and discussion to continue to support one of the most open and competitive Non-League Systems in word football.  We want to ensure that all clubs have a chance to keep their operational costs down whilst retaining their regional identities.  We want to ensure that Match officials don’t travel wide and varied distances. We want to ensure Players don’t give up on the game due to travelling or lack of games and also, for Supporters to go along and not have to change generational allegiances because a traditional derby opponent has been changed by Administration rather than Competitive football.