​Northfield were looking to continue their impressive home form at Shenley Lane with a result against Inkberrow yesterday to put pressure on league leaders Knowle in division two.

The South Birmingham side have been one of the forms teams in division two this season with seven wins from their last nine matches in all competitions. Their unbeaten home record has been one of the stories of the season at step seven.    

The management team of Ryan Smith and Tomasz Kempa have done a good job of turning Northfield into a contender at step seven since coming in over the summer following promotion from division three last season.

Inkberrow are a side that can go a bit under the radar in division two but can be a match for any side on their day. The Worcester side were sitting comfortably in midtable going into yesterday’s match with an eye on causing an upset against Northfield.

The visitors were coming into yesterday’s match on a decent run of form with only one loss from their last five matches in division two under manager Neil Davies. 

​Starting line ups

Northfield Town’s starting line up included Tom Walker starting in goal and Josh Westwood captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ethan Hanks playing up front and being supported by Josh Roberts and Rhys Forbes on the wings.

There were four changes from their last match against Birmingham United in the LJ cup a few weeks back with Lewis McPike coming into the team and playing in holding midfield.

Inkberrow’s starting line up included Louis Beresford starting in goal and Callum Davies captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Joel Hill and Raheem Spencer being supported by George Thomas in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their last match against Coventry Alvis a few weeks back with Flyn Powell coming into the team and playing as part of a back three. 

​First Half

The opening stages of the first half were scrappy with not that many clear-cut chances in front of goal. A lot of this was down to how Inkberrow were set up off the ball with a back three making it harder for Northfield to find space in the box early on. Callum Davies was reading the danger well at centre back and helping the visitors settle into the match.  

The formation for Inkberrow was attacking and positive on the ball which made for an entertaining match yesterday. The visitors were committing players forward with Joel Hill and Raheem Spencer offering a threat up front.

​They used wing-backs to provide width with Sahad Amir and Ethan McKeown playing high up the pitch and looking to make things happen.   

Northfield started to build some momentum in the middle of the first half and found the breakthrough after twenty-two minutes. Ethan Hanks made a good run off the shoulder to race through on goal before finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

The match was evenly balanced throughout the first half with both sides having spells of momentum going forward. Inkberrow had a promising fifteen-minute spell in the first half where they were applying pressure on the Northfield goal.

​They had a decent chance to make it 1-1 when a good ball into the box found Joel Hill who couldn’t quite connect with it to trouble Tom Walker.   

Northfield were working hard off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances for Inkberrow with Dan Morris helping to stop promising attacks at centre back and Lewis McPike doing well to break up the play from holding midfield.   

Inkberrow produced a moment of quality to make it 1-1 on thirty-three minutes when Raheem Spencer made a well-timed run into the box before finishing into the bottom right corner for the equaliser.    

Northfield responded well and created some good chances in front of goal. Josh Roberts beat a few players down the right before finding Ethan Hanks whose effort was instinctively saved by Louis Beresford in the Inkberrow goal. Rhys Forbes also cut inside from the left before having a shot go wide of the far post.

They made it 2-1 when Josh Westwood played a brilliant ball into the box that found Josh Roberts at the back post who headed into the net for Northfield’s second.

Inkberrow worked hard off the ball to keep it at 2-1 to have a chance of getting something from the match going into half time. Flyn Powell and James Wright were playing well at the back to keep the visitors in the match.

Second Half    

The early stages of the second half were similar to the first with the match feeling open and both sides creating good chances. Joel Hill found some space in the box before having a shot saved by Tom Walker to keep it at 2-1.

Northfield managed to make it 3-1 a few minutes later when Ethan Hanks made a good run into the box before squaring it to Josh Roberts who produced a composed finish for a two-goal lead.

It felt like Northfield were starting to take control of the match at 3-1 with Josh Darnbrough having a brilliant game at right back and regularly winning the ball back. Josh Westwood was also playing well from holding midfield and helping to link up the play.  

Inkberrow showed character from 3-1 down and took the game to Northfield in the middle of the second half. They were positive on the ball and looking to make things happen in the final third.

Aidan Forrest found some space on the edge of the box before producing a quality finish into the top right corner to pull a goal back and make it 3-2.

The visitors had the momentum and found an equaliser a few minutes later when Joel Hill produced a clinical finish across Tom Walker into the bottom right corner.

Northfield responded well at 3-3 and kept going in search of a fourth goal. Josh Roberts made a promising run into the box before having a shot well saved by Louis Beresford to keep it level.

They made it 4-3 when Rhys Forbes put in an inviting cross to James Ward who headed into the bottom right corner after seventy-one minutes.

Inkberrow responded well and were putting pressure on the Northfield goal in search of an equaliser. Their best chance came when Raheem Spencer saw a shot go narrowly wide of the left-hand post.   

Northfield were able to pull away late on for a huge three points when Josh Westwood found substitute Louis Jones in the box who guided his header into the bottom left corner to make it 5-3 a few minutes before stoppage time.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Northfield keeping their unbeaten home run intact and keeping in touch with Knowle who won 3-2 at Earlswood Town yesterday.  

Full Time

Northfield had to work hard to get the win yesterday and they showed character in the second half after being pegged back to 3-3. They found a way to win against an impressive Inkberrow side who took the game to them yesterday.

Josh Westwood has that quality on the ball to create chances and experienced players such as James Ward can make the difference at this level.   

It’s been an incredible season for the club so far with just one loss from twenty matches in division two. They have an outside chance of winning the league if they can win their eight remaining matches from now until the end of April.

Inkberrow played well yesterday and will feel slightly disappointed not to get something from this match. None the less, there’s plenty to be encouraged about with Raheem Spencer and Joel Hill offering quality up front. Callum Davies also impressed at the back and helped them settle into the match.

It was a good performance and there’s a lot to build on for the Worcester side.

FT score: Northfield Town 5-3 Inkberrow

Man of the match: Josh Westwood (Northfield Town)

Attendance: 54

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

​Bilston were looking to build on their 3-2 home win against Gornal Athletic at the weekend with a result against play off chasing Kirby Muxloe at Queen Street. The Steelmen’s home form had been good of late with three wins from their last four matches coming into yesterday.  

It’s a big few months coming up for Bilston who were only three points off the play offs going into this match. If they can build some momentum, they could have a good chance of finishing 5th which feels up for grabs at this stage of the season.

It feels like a three-way battle for that final play off spot between Cradley, Kirby Muxloe and Bilston Town going into the final few months.   

Kirby Muxloe were looking for a momentum building win to boost their play off hopes. The Leicester side were in a similar situation to Bilston and only a point off Cradley in 5th before kick-off.

The visitors have put themselves in a good position to challenge for the play offs over the next few months. Earlier in the season they went on a run of eight consecutive wins. If they can continue their impressive home form and pick up a few points away they could have a good chance. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Bilston included Dominic Cooper starting in goal and Lewis Wall captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 5-2-3 with Nehemia Zazi playing as the main striker and being supported by Adam Nazir and Eesa Sawyers on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Gornal Athletic at the weekend with Joe Scriven coming into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Mitch Evans.

The starting line up for Kirby Muxloe included Jude O’Connor starting in goal and Daryl Russell captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Lucca Watson-Quilter playing up front and being supported by Jack Gunn and Mark Foster on the wings.

There was one change from their last match against Stapenhill a few weeks back with Karum Shankar coming into the team and playing in the number ten role. 

​First Half

Bilston started the match brightly and created some good chances early on. Nehemia Zazi looked a threat up front and made a brilliant run into the box before shooting wide of the far post in the 8th minute. He was a focal point for the Steelmen up front and did a good job of holding up the play to bring players into the game.  

​Kirby Muxloe gradually grew into the game as the first half went on and were able to see out the early pressure from Bilston to keep it at 0-0 with twenty minutes gone. Daryl Russell was reading the danger well at centre back and the visitors offered a threat on the break to cause Bilston a few problems.  

The visitors made it 1-0 following a defensive mix up at the back between Ben Priest and Dominic Cooper from a long ball into the box. This allowed Lucca Watson-Quilter through on goal who made no mistake and finished into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 after 25 minutes.

The Steelmen showed some character and stuck to their attacking game at 1-0 down. They were making things happen in the final third with Eesa Sawyers offering pace down the left and wing-back Tarique Hunter taking players on and crossing into the box down the right-hand side.  

Tarique Hunter was brought down in the box for a Bilston penalty a few minutes after the opening goal. Nehemia Zazi stepped up and produced a composed finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1 after half an hour.

Bilston had a guilt edged chance to take the lead in the 37th minute when Jude O’Connor was caught playing out from the back which allowed Eesa Sawyers through on goal. He ran towards the box before having a shot saved to keep it at 1-1.

The Steelmen were building some momentum near the end of the first half and creating some good openings. Nehemia Zazi made another good run into the box before having a shot saved by Jude O’Connor.

The visitors were doing just enough to stay in the match going into half time with Tom Carroll working hard off the ball and breaking up the play from holding midfield.

​Second Half

Both teams went for it in the second half which made for an entertaining end to the match with plenty of chances in front of goal.

Kirby had a brilliant chance to take the lead when Lucca Watson Quilter beat a few players down the right before squaring the ball to Karum Shankar who fired over the bar in the 49th minute.

Bilston also had a good chance to take the lead when Tarique Hunter put in an inviting cross to the back post where Nehemia Zazi had a volleyed effort hit the crossbar in the 55th minute.  

The Steelmen found the breakthrough in the 66th minute when Eesa Sawyers found some space in the box before finding Nehemia Zazi who finished into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1. Kirby thought it was offside, and Daryl Russell was sin binned for ten minutes following the goal.

The visitors responded well to being a goal down and temporarily reduced to ten men.

​They found a moment of inspiration to score straight from kick off with Karum Shankar producing a low finish into the bottom left corner from the edge of the box to make it 2-2. It was an unbelievable response from Kirby when taking the circumstances into account to find the equaliser.  

Bilston responded well to the set back and kept going in search of a third goal. The momentum was fully with Bilston during the ten minutes that Daryl Russell was sin binned for the visitors.  

They threatened from a couple of set pieces into the box with Jude O’Connor stepping up and making some instinctive saves to keep it at 2-2. The best one came from a corner when the ball looked destined to find the back post before the Kirby keeper pushed it over the bar.

The pressure from Bilston eventually told and they found the breakthrough to make it 3-2 thanks to a well worked corner that found Mitch Evans at the front post who headed in to give them the lead.

It looked like Bilston might see the match out at 3-2 going into the latter stages of the second half with the likes of Lewis Wall and Aaron Weston having a good game at the back.

Kirby Muxloe found an equaliser to make it 3-3 a few minutes after the goal to turn the match on its head with Jack Gunn noticing the keeper of his line before producing a looping finish into the top left corner. The fight and character shown by the Leicester side kept them in the match and they took their chances well to have a chance of gaining a huge point late on.

Bilston pushed for a winner in the closing stages of the second half and had some good opportunities to take home the three points. Substitute Max Dixon impressed up front since coming off the bench and gave the Steelmen that target man in the box. He found some space before putting a shot wide of the far post.

​Eesa Sawyers also had a late chance where he had a shot go narrowly wide from the edge of the box.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with both sides taking home a point in an entertaining match at Queen Street.  

Full Time

The visitors battled well for a valuable point away from home against Bilston which is a tough place to get a result. It moves them level on points with Cradley Town in 5th.

The Steelmen will feel like it’s two points dropped from yesterday’s match but there’s plenty to be encouraged about up front. Nehemia Zazi offered an attacking threat and Tarique Hunter played well.        

FT score: Bilston Town 3-3 Kirby Muxloe

Man of the match: Nehemia Zazi (Bilston Town)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League