Division Two

Birmingham United 1-3 AFC Coventry Rangers

AFC Coventry Rangers got an excellent away win at the Trico Stadium against Birmingham United on Saturday afternoon. They have struggled away from home this season, so this result is encouraging for the visitors and something to build on going into next season.

Second half goals from Andy Matthews, Connoll Farrell and Alpha Wurie gave AFC Coventry Rangers the three points and their second away win of the season. Ricardo Richards scored a consolation goal for Birmingham United to make it 2-1 in the middle of the second half.

It’s a good result for AFC Coventry Rangers and shows they can compete with the top teams in division two. They have 14 matches left this season and are capable of a top four finish if they can build on this result away from home.

Despite the loss, Birmingham United are still in a good position in division two and are challenging for a top four finish come the end of the season.    

Inkberrow 2-1 Cadbury Athletic

Inkberrow got a crucial win at the weekend to continue their impressive recent form at Sands Road and build a 13-point gap over the bottom two. It’s a boost to Inkberrow’s aim of staying up and moves them up to 9th in the table. A decent crowd of 36 supporters turned up on Saturday to watch Inkberrow get their fourth home win of the season.

Cadbury Athletic took the lead in the first half thanks to a penalty by Callum Devlin to make it 1-0. Inkberrow found an equaliser just before half time through Sahad Amir to make it 1-1 at the break. George Skelton scored the winner for Inkberrow in the 72nd minute to give them the three points. It’s been a brilliant month for the hosts with 13 points from their last six league matches.

Cadbury Athletic still have a bit of breathing space over the bottom two with a 10-point gap over Littleton in 15th. It’s just a case of picking up a few wins to make it a comfortable end to the season.

Division Three

AFC Birmingham 7-0 Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons

AFC Birmingham got a brilliant win against Boldmere Falcons at Illey Lane to have an outside chance of finishing in the top two. The win leaves the hosts only two points off Feckenham in 2nd having played a game more than the Millers. They have ten matches left to put pressure on the likes of Feckenham and Northfield in the promotion race.

A good crowd of 41 supporters turned up at Halesowen to watch AFC Birmingham get their fifth home win of the season. It’s been a fortress with only two losses from ten matches.

The win was capped off by Finbarr McCarthy scoring a hat-trick for AFC Birmingham. Further goals from Rahiem Faulder, Kyle Field and substitutes Jahrome Faulder and Ricardo Heaven made it a convincing home win and one of the standout results of the weekend.

It was a tough day at the office for Boldmere Falcons and nothing to be too concerned about. Over a long season, teams are going to have a few matches that are going to be challenging but it’s more about the response rather than the defeat. They have a chance to get a statement result this Saturday against Northfield Town.  

AFC Solihull 5-2 Continental Star

AFC Solihull continued their impressive home form at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre with a convincing win against Continental Star at the weekend. The result makes it ten wins from twelves matches at home and their now twelve points clear at the top of the table.

The hosts took a 3-0 lead going into half time thanks to goals from Owen Williams, MD Shimuel and Jahvan Howell. Continental Star managed to get a goal back to make it 3-1 before Cherno Say scored to restore the three-goal lead. The visitors got another goal back early in the second half before Lee Chakmak scored late on to seal the three points.

It’s looking good for AFC Solihull in their aim for promotion to step seven and they have been excellent in division three this season. Only three losses from 24 matches is brilliant and it’s just a case of staying consistent to win the division title.

Continental Star competed well in this game against a top team, and they have caused some upsets on the road this season. Despite their league position, they have not been too bad over the last few months.

Castle Vale Town 1-2 Wake Green Amateur

Wake Green got a win at CV Stadium at the weekend against Castle Vale Town to cement their position in the top half of the table.

The visitors got their third away win of the season thanks to goals from Nathaniel Percival and Adam Turner before Jordan McKenzie scored a late consolation goal for Castle Vale Town in the second half. Wake Green have been tough to beat away from home with just two losses from six matches and it continued here.

Despite the loss, Castle Vale Town are still in a good position in the league and a top six finish would be an excellent achievement come the end of the season. The Spitfires have been one of the stories of the season near the top of the league. They have eight matches left and have been consistent to be in 5th going into late February.  

Gornal 0-4 Northfield Town

Northfield got a crucial away win against Gornal on Saturday to boost their chances of finishing in the top two. The result continues Northfield’s unbeaten record on the road from ten matches and leaves them only a point off Feckenham in 2nd. They have a game in hand over the Millers so it’s all to play for over the next few months.

A decent crowd of 30 supporters turned up to the Wombourne Leisure Centre at the weekend to watch Northfield get their eighth away win of the season. A brace from Tyler Stevens and further goals from Louis Jones and substitute Joel Harrison gave Northfield the three points.

The visitors have been a brilliant addition to division three and are well in the mix for promotion to step seven come late April.

Gornal have been decent in division three and have been competitive in their first season at this level. Their main strength has been their home record with all their 16 points coming at the Wombourne Leisure Centre and the club is constantly adapting to step eight football. 

Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

​Lane Head were looking for a result yesterday afternoon to cement their position in the top half of the table and make it consecutive home wins in the league. It’s been an excellent season from the Walsall club so far and they were sitting in 5th place coming into yesterday’s match.  

Hampton were looking to get a result to challenge for a top six finish come the end of the season. The visitors had been competitive on the road with three wins and one draw from seven away matches going into yesterday.  

The atmosphere around Bloxwich United was friendly and relaxed prior to kick off with both sets of supporters looking forward to the match. The ground is full of character and the clubhouse was well presented with good facilities available to supporters. One of the main benefits of the set-up at Lane Head is the connection it provides between the squad and the supporters.

The ground is one of the more accessible places to visit in division two and is easy to get to by public transport. It’s a perfect location for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands with Walsall Bus Station nearby and offering either the X51 or the 31. Supporters can get off at Leamore Park and it’s only a short three-minute walk to the ground. 

Starting Line Ups

​Lane Head’s starting line-up included Chris Adamson starting in goal and Craig Tuckley captaining the team up front. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Craig Tuckley playing as the number nine and being supported by Terell Wright and Jamie-Lee Tomkinson on the wings.

There were five changes from the team that started against AFC Coventry Rangers a few weeks back with Ashley Bellingham coming into the team and playing in central defence alongside Liam Harpin.

The starting line up for Hampton featured Conor Bashford starting in goal and James Morris captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 4-3-3 with a front two of Joe Reynolds and Matt Garbett being supported by Alex Considine in the attacking midfield role.

There were three changes from the team that started against Coventry Alvis last weekend with Corey Perkins coming into the team and playing at right back. 

​First Half

Lane Head started the match brightly in the opening 15 minutes and took the game to Hampton. The hosts were on the front foot and started well with Hampton gradually growing into the match as it went on.

They managed to take the lead where an accurate ball found Jamie-Lee Tomkinson on the left who accelerated into the box before finishing across Conor Bashford into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 in the 4th minute. It was a quality move by the hosts and caught the visitors off guard in the opening stages of the match.

Lane Head were getting a lot of joy from the left-hand side in the first half and could have made it 2-0 a few minutes after the opening goal. Good combination play between Chrishawn Coleman and Jamie-Lee Tomkinson resulted in the latter having a shot at goal that was well saved by Conor Bashford.

Following a sustained run of pressure on the Hampton goal in the early stages of the first half, the hosts managed to find a second goal. Jamie-Lee Tomkinson took an excellent free kick from the right-hand side that went in off the post to make it 2-0. It was a moment of quality from Lane Head and arguably the highlight of the match.     

From that moment on the visitors were mainly chasing the game and looking to get something out of it. To their credit they kept going and showed plenty of effort despite the scoreline. It was not quite clicking in the final third for them in the first half and they struggled to get both Joe Reynolds and Matt Garbett into the game to cause problems.

Lane Head were well organised off the ball and offered a threat on the counter-attack. The two central backs of Liam Harpin and Ashley Bellingham were brilliant at the back and effectively cancelled out most of the visitor’s attacks in the final third. They were reading the game well and proactively clearing the ball away from danger to have a control of the match.

Hampton’s best chance of the first half was when Alex Considine had a half chance on the edge of the box that was saved by Chris Adamson in the 37th minute. Apart from that, the chances were few and far between for the visitors.

​At the end of an entertaining first half, the referee blew for half time with Lane Head taking a 2-0 lead at the break.

Second Half

Hampton had a few more notable chances in front of goal in the second half. They started well and looked to cause Lane Head problems defensively to get back in the match. There was a good chance for Cameron Seivwright at the back post from a well delivered corner into the box which was fired wide.

Lane Head were a bit more pragmatic in the second half and were looking to keep their lead and preserve the clean sheet. They had a few moments in front of goal and Craig Tuckley produced a brilliant volley in the box that was instinctively saved by Connor Bashford in the Hampton goal.

The most clear-cut chance for the visitors to get back into the match was in the middle of the second half. Matt Garbett broke into the box and was through on goal before having an effort go wide from a good position.   

To Lane Head’s credit they managed to see out the remaining 25 minutes of the match fairly comfortably and the pattern of play was similar to the latter stages of the first half with Hampton having a decent amount of the ball but struggling to break down a stubborn backline.

The most impressive thing about yesterday was how well the hosts were set up off the ball and how they managed the match. They could have easily of conceded a soft goal in the final few moments, but they kept their concentration to get the clean sheet.

Full Time

Lane Head played well in this match and demonstrated why their having such a successful season at step seven. They have a lot of quality on the ball and are good at creating chances down both wings and the formation played to their strengths.

Craig Tuckley had an underrated game as the number nine and was good at bringing players into the game and holding the ball up in the final third to start off attacks.

The organisation and work rate off the ball was brilliant and helped them get the three points. Liam Harpin and Ashley Bellingham were reading the game well and clearing the ball out of play to break up attacks. Jack Nixon also went under the radar from defensive midfield and provided the team with a lot of industry to chase players down on the ball to stifle attacks.

Hampton had an off day yesterday and it felt like they had a few extra gears to go into. Most of this was down to Lane Head and not allowing the visitors to settle into their natural passing game. Their arguably at their best when they get into a passing rhythm which has played a big part in their LJ cup success this season.

None the less, they showed plenty of effort and endeavour and had a go early in the second half to try and get back into it. It was the sort of match where it was just not clicking but they have the chance to respond next weekend in the LJ cup.

Overall, an entertaining match yesterday from division two at Lane Head and a brilliant place for supporters to watch step seven football.

FT score: Lane Head 2-0 Hampton

Man of the Match: Jamie-Lee Tomkinson (Lane Head)  

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League