Nuneaton Town were looking to continue their brilliant form with a result against high-flying Kirby Muxloe yesterday afternoon. The Warwickshire side have really grown into the season and put together a consistent run of results over the last few months to sit top of the table. They were coming off five consecutive wins coming into this match and five points ahead of Heather St John’s in 2nd.   

Kirby Muxloe were one of the form teams in division one going into yesterday’s match and were coming off eight consecutive wins in the league. It’s been clicking up front for the Leicester side of late with 27 goals scored from their last ten league games. The visitors have been a welcome addition to division one and are firmly in the play-off hunt going into the final few months of the season.

Pre-match

The atmosphere around the Oval was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The people at the club were helpful and down to earth and the set-up is impressive for the level. There was a wide selection of Nuneaton Town merchandise and programmes available in the clubhouse which was beneficial for both regular followers of Nuneaton and more casual supporters of the club.   

The match day programme was informative and interesting to read yesterday. There was an update on where the club is at alongside it’s values such as striving for transparency and engagement with supporters.

The ‘Back to Nuneaton’ campaign fund was prevalent in the programme, and it mentioned how additional match day revenue would go towards it. There was also a mention of having a ‘fan forum’ where supporters can bring ideas forward for improving the club. It sounded positive and encouraging for the long-term future of Nuneaton Town.   

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Nuneaton included Brandon Bache starting in goal and Corey Currithers captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Danico Johnson leading the line up front and being supported by Stuart Hendrie and James Harrison on the wings.

There were three changes from their last league match against Wednesfield a fortnight ago with James Harrison coming back into the team and playing on the wing.

Kirby Muxloe’s starting line up included Charlie Andrews starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Zakari Adams leading the line up front and being supported by Brogan Greenwood and Lucca Watson-Quilter on the wings.

There was one change from their last league match against Sutton United a fortnight ago with Jack Gunn coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Tyler Love. 

​First Half

Nuneaton started the match positively and were looking to take the game to Kirby Muxloe early on.

They were committing players forward inside the opening fifteen minutes and putting pressure on the Kirby Muxloe goal. Danico Johnson looked a threat up front and did well to hold up the play to bring players into the game. Declan Somel was also moving the ball about well from midfield and has that quality to create space and create chances.

Nuneaton found the breakthrough in the 13th minute when left-back Callum Carsley struck a free kick from the edge of the box that found the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

​Josh Gunn was sin binned following the goal for an incident off the ball which reduced Kirby Muxloe to ten men and gave Nuneaton momentum in search of a second goal. The best chance for Nuneaton to make it 2-0 for the ten minutes that Kirby Muxloe had a player sin binned was when Declan Somel found some space in the box before squaring it to Callum Carsley who fired wide.

The visitors showed some character in the first half and gradually grew into the match at 1-0 down. Daryl Russell was defending well at centre back and reading the danger to cut out numerous Nuneaton attacks in the final third. The Leicester side had a half chance to get an equaliser when Tyler Love had a shot from range saved by Brandon Bache.    

​Just as Kirby Muxloe were building some momentum near the half hour mark, Nuneaton got them on the counterattack. Aaron Williams was fouled in the box for a penalty following a quick break. Loyiso Recci stepped up and took a powerful spot kick that deflected off Charlie Andrews and into the net for 2-0.

Nuneaton managed to make it 3-0 a few minutes before half time thanks to a moment of quality. Dominic Perkins played a defence splitting pass that found Danico Johnson who made a brilliant run off the shoulder. He raced through on goal before finishing across Charlie Andrews into the bottom right corner.    

Not long after the referee blew for the half time whistle with Nuneaton looking organised at the back and clinical up front to take a 3-0 lead going into the break.

​Second Half

Kirby Muxloe showed character in the early stages of the second half and got a quick goal to get back in the match. A well delivered corner was played to the back post and found Josh Gunn who headed into the bottom left corner to pull a goal back and make it 3-1.

This was a crucial moment in the match and completely changed the momentum with Nuneaton hanging on for parts of the second half.

Kirby Muxloe had a good fifteen-minute spell in front of goal where they were able to show their attacking quality in front of an impressive crowd of 418 supporters. Zakari Adams and Lucca Watson-Quilter were taking players on and looking to make things happen in the final third throughout the second half.

The visitors were building some pressure on the Nuneaton goal and pulled another goal back on the hour mark to make it 3-2. Zakari Adams took a quality free kick that sailed into the top right corner to stun the home crowd at the Oval.

Nuneaton looked to seal the match a few minutes later and had a guilt edged opportunity to make it 4-2 when a well worked corner found Dominic Perkins who couldn’t quite get his header on target.

Kirby Muxloe were going for the equaliser late on and threatening the Nuneaton goal. Dominic Perkins and Loyiso Recci did an underrated job of standing up to the pressure from the visitors and reading the danger well to keep it at 3-2.  

The best chance of a late equaliser came when Josh Gunn found some space on the edge of the box. He beat a few players before putting his shot over the bar from a decent position.

In a lengthy period of stoppage time, Nuneaton managed to make it 4-2 on the counter attack to seal the match. Danico Johnson raced through on goal before producing a clinical finish into the bottom left corner.       

Nuneaton Town made it 5-2 in the last few minutes of stoppage time when substitute James Spruce reacted quickest to a shot that came off the bar before finishing into the bottom left corner.

The referee blew for the full time whistle a few minutes later to make it six consecutive wins for Nuneaton and keep the five-point lead over Heather St John’s intact who beat Gornal Athletic 2-0 yesterday.  

Full Time

Nuneaton played well yesterday and showed both sides of the game to get a huge win against play off chasing Kirby Muxloe. They took their chances well with Danico Johnson and James Spruce impressing and Declan Somel offering quality from midfield. They also worked hard off the ball with Dominic Perkins and Loyiso Recci playing well at the back.

Kirby Muxloe showed character to come back in the second half and set up a tense ending to the game. They worked hard with Daryl Russell and Tyler Love breaking up the play to give them a foothold in the match. Zakari Adams and Lucca Watson-Quilter impressed in the second half and have that attacking quality to cause teams problems.

This was a brilliant match to watch yesterday at the Oval and a good advert for MFL Division One football.    

FT score: Nuneaton Town 5-2 Kirby Muxloe

Man of the Match: Danico Johnson (Nuneaton Town)

Attendance: 418

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

Sutton United were looking to build on the positives of their loss to Bourne Town in the FA Vase with a result against play off chasing Leicester St Andrews. It’s been a positive season so far for Sutton who are looking to challenge for a top half finish over the next few months. The Greens have also got an eye catching MFL league cup tie with Atherstone Town next week.   

Leicester St Andrews were looking to build a run of form to challenge for the play offs. The Drews were only two points off Cradley Town in 5th coming into this match and have a good opportunity to get in the top five if they can finish the season strongly. The visitors have been a good addition to MFL division one and are in the hunt for promotion if they can string some results together.  

The atmosphere at Coleshill Road was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The facilities are impressive for the level and both sides bought a decent following for a mid-week game in January. It’s well worth a visit for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands.  

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton United included Aidan Jeynes starting in goal and Matt Bishop captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joe Gildea leading the line up front and being supported by Leyton Hines and Joe Delaney on the wings.

There were eight changes from their FA Vase match against Bourne Town with Reiss Hick coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Matt Bishop.

Leicester St Andrews’ starting line-up included Luke McAdam starting in goal and Marco Henry captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills being supported by Jake Warren in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their last league match against Birstall United on Boxing Day with Dean Clark coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. 

​First Half

The match got off to a lively start inside the opening twenty minute with several chances for both sides to take the lead.

Sutton had a good chance to make it 1-0 when a brilliant ball into the box by Leyton Hines found Joe Gildea who had a shot hit the right-hand post and go out of play.  

Leicester also had a good opportunity to take the lead when Josh Crossley found some space in the box before having a shot go wide of the far post. Greg Mills also had a shot hit the post for the visitors a few minutes later.

The match started to settle down in the middle of the first half and the chances in front of goal became more limited. Matt Bishop and Reiss Hick were defending well at the back for Sutton and worked hard off the ball to stifle some of the Leicester momentum.  

Leyton Hines had a good chance for Sutton where he was free at the back post before having a shot go wide.

The Greens were applying pressure on the Leicester goal in the latter stages of the first half and found a breakthrough when substitute Tom Massey found Joe Delaney on the edge of the box. He made no mistake and produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 with a few minutes of the half left.

Leicester St Andrews were working hard to stay in the match with Dean Clark and Ethan Ballantine breaking up the play from holding midfield to give them something to build on going into half time.

Second Half

Sutton managed to make it 2-0 at the start of the second half thanks to a quality counter attacking goal. They found some space on the break before a neat passing move saw Joe Delaney race clear down the left-hand side. He accelerated into the box before unleashing a quality strike into the top left corner.

Leicester St Andrews showed character from 2-0 down and kept going in the second half in search of a way back in the match. Dean Clark was building up the play well from holding midfield and starting off attacks down the channels.

With the likes of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills up front, the Drews had a chance of coming back if they could build some momentum.

The visitors made a crucial substitution in the middle of the second half which changed the pattern of the match. They bought on Liam Canavan to shore up the midfield and stifle some of Sutton’s momentum going forward which helped them get on the ball more.

Leon Fray also impressed for the visitors at centre back and was reading the danger well to give them a chance of getting something late on.  

Sutton United still offered an attacking threat through Joe Gildea who was doing well to hold up the play and bring players into the game.

The Greens got a bit deeper in the second half and looked to catch Leicester out on the break thanks to the pace of Joe Delaney and Harry Howard.

There was a good chance for Leicester to pull a goal back in the middle of the second half when a dangerous corner into the box found Ethan Ballantine who put his header wide of the far post.

The Drews had a good fifteen-minute spell in front of goal in the latter stages of the second half and were getting into some threatening positions in and around the box. They were duly rewarded when Greg Mills produced a good finish across Aidan Jeynes into the bottom right corner to pull a goal back.

Leicester had the momentum late on and Greg Mills made the most of a rebound to finish at the near post to make it 2-2.

The chances for a late winner were limited going into stoppage time and it finished with both sides taking home a point.

Full Time

Sutton United will feel a bit disappointed not to get the three points having been 2-0 up in the second half. None the less, it’s a good point against a play off chasing team and they created numerous chances in front of goal which is encouraging.

It’s a squad full of quality with Matt Bishop impressing at centre back and the likes of Joe Gildea, Leyton Hines and Joe Delaney providing them with an attacking threat up front. A top half finish is a realistic aim and something to build on going into next season.

Their upcoming fixtures include Saffron Dynamo (League) and Atherstone Town (MFL League Cup) at home before playing Heather St John’s (Away) and Gornal Athletic (Home) in the league over the next few weeks.

Leicester showed character from 2-0 down in the second half and battled back to get what could be a valuable point in their hunt for the play offs. The Drews have quality up front thanks to Josh Crossley and Greg Mills.

There’s also a lot of hard work that goes on off the ball to keep them in matches which should serve them well over the next few months.             

They have a huge match against Cradley Town (Away) on Saturday before playing Chelmsley Town (Home), Smethwick Rangers (Away) and Coton Green (Home) over the next few weeks.  

FT score: Sutton United 2-2 Leicester St Andrews

Man of the Match: Joe Delaney (Sutton United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League