Sutton United were looking to continue their good home form with a result against Chelmsley Town at Coleshill Road. The Greens have been impressive of late and were five home matches unbeaten in division one. It’s a big month of the season for Sutton with a league cup semi-final match against Stapenhill next Tuesday alongside upcoming league games against Allexton and New Parks and Nuneaton Town. Chelmsley have been a side rejuvenated since the turn of the year with eye catching wins against Kirby Muxloe and Coventry Copsewood in the league. The visitors were on a good run of form coming into this match with just one loss from their last seven matches. The aim over the next few months will be to avoid finishing in the bottom three and building from there. None the less, the future is looking bright for Chelmsley in step six with Gary Holliday coming in as their new chairman and players such as Harry Jackson joining the squad. The atmosphere around Sutton United prior to kick off was friendly and welcoming. The facilities are impressive for the level with an inviting club house and a wide selection of drinks available for supporters. The programme on offer was informative and included an update on the season so far alongside a history of Chelmsley Town. Starting line ups Sutton’s starting line-up included Greg Lewis starting in goal and Matt Bishop captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Oli Jeeves and Hayden Froggatt being supported by Joe Gildea in the number ten role. There were two changes from their match against Gornal Atheltic with Harry Howard coming into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Sam Jeeves. Chelmsley’s starting line up included Harry Sulley starting in goal and Adam Keeley captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joel Maddocks playing up front and being supported by Toby Hulland and Louie Newbold on the wings. There were four changes from their match against Ingles with Josh Stewart coming into the team and playing in the number ten role. First Half Chelmsley started the match well and took a surprise lead in the opening stages of the first half. The visitors found some space on the break before Barry Fitzharris noticed Greg Lewis off his line and produced a quality finish into the top left corner from range to make it 1-0. It was a brilliant goal which helped Chelmsley settle into the match early on. Sutton gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and started to build some momentum in front of goal. Matt Bishop had a good chance to make it 1-1 when he found some space from a corner but couldn’t get his shot on target. The formation used by Sutton involved Zach Binns and Adbul Touaiti playing as wing backs and looking to stretch the play. They were causing some problems for Chelmsley down the wings with Abdul Touaiti playing a brilliant cross to Joe Gildea who couldn’t get his header on target. Chelmsley were working hard off the ball to limit the chances for Sutton throughout the first half and were mainly playing on the break thanks to the pace of Toby Hulland and Louie Newbold on the wings. They made it 2-0 in the middle of the first half when a well delivered throw in caused a bit of panic in the Sutton box before Barry Fitzharris was on hand to finish into the bottom right corner. The visitors were doing well to keep Sutton at bay throughout the first half and limit the clear-cut chances in front of goal. Courtney Lashley and Luke Cowley-Bryenton were playing well at the back and Barry Fitzharris was acting as a defensive shield for the back four. Sutton looked a threat in the first half with Joe Gildea holding up the play well and Hayden Froggatt making some good runs into the box. They were just searching for that final ball to cause Chelmsley problems defensively. Second Half The second half got off to a lively start and Chelmsley were reduced to ten men in the opening few minutes. Hayden Froggatt got through on goal before being brought down by Harry Sulley just outside the box which resulted in a red card. Sutton pulled a goal back a few minutes later when Zach Binns capitalised on a loose ball in the box before finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1. The momentum was with Sutton following the sending off and they made it 2-2 a few minutes later when Oli Jeeves received the ball before laying it off to Joe Gildea who guided it into the bottom right corner for the equaliser. There was a guilt edged opportunity to make it 3-2 a few minutes after the equaliser when Abdul Touaiti produced a brilliant cross from the right-hand side that found Oli Jeeves who couldn’t quite get his header on target. Chelmsley battled hard at 2-2 and showed character and resiliency to stay in the match and not let it getaway from them in the middle of the second half. Corey Solomon and Luke Cowley-Bryenton stepped up at the back to keep them in the game. Sutton were reduced to ten men when Harry Manton brought down substitute Mark Rose who was through on goal with twenty minutes to go. This gave Chelmsley a good ten-minute spell of momentum in front of goal. The best chance for Chelmsley to take the lead came when Oliver Burgundy played an inviting ball to Harry Jackson who dragged his shot wide of the left-hand post. The visitors showed their attacking depth with Mark Rose, Oliver Burgundy and Harry Jackson coming off the bench in the second half and causing Sutton a few problems on the break. It looked like they had done enough to gain a valuable point when a goal line clearance from a corner stopped Sutton making it 3-2 with just a few minutes to go. Sutton found a late breakthrough when an unfortunate own goal by Henry Walker made it 3-2 deep into stoppage time. Joe Gildea played a threatening low ball into the box and the Chelmsley defender diverted it into his own net. Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Sutton making it consecutive home wins in division one. Full Time Sutton United did just enough yesterday to get the three points and keep up their good form in division one. It’s now three wins from their last five matches in the league and the Greens will be pushing for a top ten finish over the next few months. Their upcoming fixtures include Allexton and New Parks (Home), Stapenhill (Away, League Cup), Nuneaton Town (Away) and Wednesfield (Home) over the next couple of weeks. Chelmsley Town will feel gutted not to get something from this match and they battled hard throughout the ninety minutes. They were a bit unlucky with the own goal in stoppage time and they offered an attacking threat on the counterattack. Toby Hulland impressed on the wing and the likes of Oliver Burgundy and Harry Jackson offered an attacking threat in the final third. Manager Steve Solomon has put together a competitive squad who can avoid finishing in the bottom three if they can keep up their impressive home form at Pack Meadow. Their upcoming fixtures include Lutterworth Athletic (Home), Birstall United (Away), Cradley Town (Home) and Ingles (Home) over the next few weeks. FT score: Sutton United 3-2 Chelmsley Town Man of the match: Joe Gildea (Sutton United) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Gornal were looking to cause an upset against promotion chasing Wake Green Amateur at the Wombourne leisure centre yesterday. They notably beat Castle Vale Town a few months ago and pushed Wake Green Amateur in the reverse fixture before losing 3-2 at the Holloway. Despite four straight losses coming into yesterday, they are a brilliant team to watch when it all clicks and can be a match for most teams in division three. Manager Matt Thompson has put together a competitive squad that can give teams a game on their day. Wake Green Amateur were one of the form teams in division three with nine consecutive wins under manager Scott Ward. The Solihull side have been building at this level over the last couple of seasons with consistent finishes of 5th (22/23) and 6th (23/24). It’s shaping up to be an exciting end to the season for the supporters with Wake Green competing for a top two finish alongside challenging for the Birmingham Saturday Vase. They have a better goal difference to Silhill in 2nd and a few games in hand to move level on points with them. There’s a crucial home game coming up against unbeaten Boldmere Falcons which could go a long way in deciding the promotion race. They also play Coventry Phoenix on the 15th of March in the semi-finals of the Saturday Vase which is a good chance to get to the final where they will play either Hampton or Central Ajax. Starting line ups The starting line-up for Gornal included Ashkon Larmour starting in goal and Raman Mohammed captaining the team from the right side of midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Logan Muckley leading the line up front and being supported by Raman Mohammed and Theo Yiadom on the wings. There were four changes from their league match against AFC Birmingham last weekend with Elias Myers coming into the team and playing at left back. The starting line up for Wake Green Amateur included Joe Beale starting in goal and Dan Dineen captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ashley Smith playing up front and being supported by Damian Kelly and Harry Prew on the wings. There were six changes from their cup match against Crown Coldfield Rangers last weekend with Jamal Ismail coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. First Half Gornal started the match well and took a surprise lead within the opening few minutes. Theo Yiadom made a brilliant run down the left-hand side where he beat a few players before getting into the box and squaring it for Jantay Wellington who finished into the right corner to make it 1-0. It was a brilliant move that showed what Gornal are capable of when it clicks in front of goal. Wake Green had a guilt edged chance to make it 1-1 a few minutes later when Josh Crampton found some space in the box before dragging his shot wide of the right-hand post. Gornal were working hard off the ball to keep the visitors at bay inside the opening twenty minutes. Jaden Muckley was working hard to break up the play and offered quality on the ball to build attacks. Elia Myers also impressed from left back and was reading the danger well to stop Wake Green getting through on goal. The visitors always posed an attacking threat thanks to the quality of players such as Ashley Smith who was doing well to hold up the play and bring players into the game. There’s a lot of experience and leadership in the Wake Green squad which helped them settle into the match at 1-0 down. Dan Dineen was playing well at centre back and gave them that assurance off the ball. The Solihull side were starting to build some momentum after 25 minutes and putting pressure on the Gornal goal. A player who went under the radar for the visitors was Jamal Ismail who was working hard off the ball to win the midfield battle. He was constantly breaking up promising Gornal attacks and winning the ball back to give Wake Green a platform to build from. The visitors found a crucial equaliser to make it 1-1 when he capitalised on a loose ball in the box before finishing into the right corner. Not long after Wake Green made it 2-1 thanks to an unfortunate mistake at the back from Gornal. Esley Liwala got caught playing on the ball and Josh Crampton was on hand to finish across Ashkon Lamour into the bottom left corner. The goals kept coming for the visitors and they made it 3-1 thanks to a moment of quality. Ashley Smith received the ball before laying it off to Josh Crampton who produced a chipped finish into the top left corner. Any hopes of a Gornal comeback were dashed near the end of the first half when Wake Green were given a penalty for a foul in the box. Damian Kelly stepped up and took a composed spot kick into the bottom right corner for 4-1. The visitors were brilliant in the final twenty minutes of the first half and clinical in front of goal to have a three-goal lead going into the break. Second Half The visitors kept their form going at the start of the second half and found a fifth when Damian Kelly produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner to make it 5-1. Gornal kept going throughout the second half and showed character to keep going in search of some positives to take from the match. They created some decent half chances in front of goal with the best one falling to substitute Ellias Ibrahim who put a header over the bar from a free kick into the box. Logan Muckley also had some chances in and around the box which is something to build on. He made some good runs and looked a threat but couldn’t quite test Joe Beale in the Wake Green goal. Damian Kelly impressed for the visitors throughout the second half and showed his quality in front of goal. He beat a few players down the right-hand side before squaring it to Josh Crampton who fired wide. He scored a quickfire brace near the end of the second half to benefit the visitors’ goal difference which could prove pivotal in a close promotion race. The first goal involved a volley at the back post where he found the bottom left corner. He cut inside before calmly finishing into the bottom right corner for the second goal to make it 7-1. Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Wake Green getting their tenth consecutive win in division three. Full Time Wake Green showed their quality yesterday against Gornal and having that consistency in terms of performances and results can go a long way in non-league football. Their upcoming fixtures include home games against Solihull Sporting and Boldmere Falcons over the next few weeks. There’s also an away semi final game against Coventry Phoenix in the Birmingham Saturday Vase in the middle of next month. Gornal will feel disappointed with the result, but they came up against a quality side and caused them some problems in the opening half an hour. There are still positives to take with the likes of Enoch Danso and Elias Myers impressing at the back. Jaden Muckley also has that quality from midfield to build attacks and Logan Muckley looks promising up front. Their upcoming fixtures include Silhill (Away) and AFC Birmingham (Home) which is a good opportunity for the squad to test themselves against tough opposition. FT score: Gornal 1-7 Wake Green Amateur Man of the match: Damian Kelly (Wake Green Amateur) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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February 2025
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