​Lichfield were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Stone Old Alleynians with a result against Highgate United to get their title challenge back on track. The Staffordshire side had been one of the forms team in the MFL over the last month with four wins from their last five matches coming into this weekend.

They were also looking to better their points tally from last season where they finished on 73 points to come in 2nd before missing out on promotion in the play offs. Two wins from their last three matches would be enough to go up as league champions and get over the line.      

Highgate United have been more competitive of late and were not too far adrift of survival coming into this match. The visitors were only a point off Tividale in 16th with three matches remaining and were looking to cause an eye-catching upset against the league leaders yesterday.

The Gate were looking to build on last weekend’s momentum building 4-3 win over title challengers Shifnal Town to boost their chances of staying up. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Lichfield included Brendon Bunn starting in goal and Dan Lomas captaining the team from central midfield. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Jamie Spiers and Liam Kirton being supported by Callum Griffin in the number ten role.

There were three changes from their match against Stone Old Alleynians last weekend with Tom Brown coming back into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Dan Lomas.  

Highgate’s starting line up included Jack Sandell starting in goal and Jack Ricketts captaining the team at centre back.The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Ihsan Rehman and Kyle Hayden being supported by Randy Osei in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their match against Shifnal Town last weekend with Linton Chakki coming into the team and playing as part of a back three alongside Jack Ricketts and Jahmari Hyatt. 

​First Half

Lichfield got off to a strong start to settle any nerves and took the game to Highgate inside the opening ten minutes.

They were committing players forward and making numerous runs into the box to stretch the Highgate defence. The front two of Jamie Spiers and Liam Kirton were causing problems for the visitors throughout the first half and linking up the play well in the final third.  

​There was a good chance for Jamie Spiers to open the scoring for Lichfield early on. Jack Sandell reacted well and made a good save to keep it at 0-0 to give the visitors a chance of settling into the match.

Lichfield found the breakthrough a few minutes later when Joe Haines made an inspired run into the box before producing a quality finish into the top left corner for 1-0. 

The Staffordshire side made the most of their early momentum and found another goal to make it 2-0 after nine minutes. Callum Griffin found some space in the box before showing brilliant technique to get the ball down and finish into the top right corner for Lichfield’s second.

Highgate were struggling to build any momentum in front of goal to trouble Lichfield throughout the first half. Randy Osei looked a threat from attacking midfield and made some decent runs, but Lichfield were doing a good job of limiting the chances for Highgate and worked hard off the ball to stop the visitors growing into it.   

Leighton McMenemy was reading the danger well at centre back for Lichfield as part of a back three and constantly cutting out threatening Highgate attacks. Dan Lomas was also linking up the play well from holding midfield and using his experience to drive the team on.  

​It was all clicking for Lichfield up front yesterday and they made it 3-0 when Jamie Spiers made a brilliant run into the box before squaring it to Callum Griffin at the back post who finished well on 22 minutes.  

The league leaders made it 4-0 on the half hour mark when a quality corner found Leighton McMenemy at the back post who found some space before heading in to effectively settle the match.  

It was a tough situation for the visitors, but there were a few players who showed some character despite the scoreline. Jack Ricketts defended well at centre back and was leading by example at the back.  

Lichfield produced a moment of magic to make it 5-0 near the end of the first half when Joe Haines made another inspired run from centre back. He found some space down the left before crossing it to Jamie Spiers who produced a brilliant header into the bottom left corner.

Second Half

One of the most encouraging things about yesterday was how Lichfield didn’t let up in the second half and wanted to press on in search of more goals.

​Liam Kirton made a good run down the right where he beat a few players before squaring it to Jamie Spiers who calmy finished into the bottom right corner to make it 6-0 on 54 minutes.

They made it 7-0 in the middle of the second half when an inviting free kick found Callum Rudd who flicked the ball on into the back post.

Highgate had a good chance to make it 7-1 when a miscommunication at the back allowed Randy Osei through on goal with just Brendon Bunn to beat. The Lichfield keeper stepped up and made an instinctive save to keep the clean sheet intact.

Lichfield were clinical and made the most of their chances to make it 8-0 near the end of the second half when substitute Jordan Clement found some space from a direct throw in into the box before heading in at the back post.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Lichfield continuing their impressive home form this season and making it thirteen wins from sixteen matches at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium.

The league leaders are on 76 points with two games to go and have a chance of beating Congleton’s point tally of 81 from last season if they can win out.   

The gap at the top is still four points with 2nd placed Shifnal winning 2-0 at Stone Old Alleynians yesterday.    

Full Time

Lichfield were on it throughout this match, and they looked a threat every time they went forward. Every part of the team played well, and they looked like a team going for the league title.

Jamie Spiers really impressed as the number nine. He made some quality runs into the box and was linking up the play well in the final third. He’s been a good addition to the squad since joining from Studley and adds to their attacking options up front.   

Goal difference could play a huge part in the title race this season and the win yesterday gives Lichfield a marginally better goal difference than Shifnal.

Lichfield’s remaining fixtures include playing Whitchurch Alport (Away) and Romulus (Home) over the next few weeks to wrap up the season. A win would be enough to be crowned league champions.

It was a tough day at the office for Highgate United yesterday. Despite the scoreline, they showed some fight and it’s all about looking forward for the visitors in their hopes of avoiding the drop.

They have two fixtures left to try and finish above Tividale who lost against AFC Wulfrunians yesterday.

A win against either Brocton (Away) or Whitchurch Alport (Home) over the next few weeks could be enough to avoid relegation. It’s all about regrouping for the visitors and not letting this result derail their run in.                    

FT score: Lichfield City 8-0 Highgate United

Man of the Match: Jamie Spiers (Lichfield City)

Attendance: 352

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

​Boldmere Falcons were looking to seal the division three title yesterday afternoon against Feckenham as part of an incredible season for the club at step eight. The league leaders were also looking to go unbeaten at home throughout the season in their final home game yesterday under manager Jordan Lengthorn.   

It’s been an eye-catching season for Boldmere in division three with 23 wins from 25 matches coming into yesterday’s game against Feckenham. The Falcons needed two points to win the league and go up as division three champions.   

Feckenham are going through a bit of a rebuild in division three following last season’s success which included a close promotion race with Northfield Town that went to the final few games. The Millers eventually finished fifth and have a chance of another top six finish if they can finish the season strongly.

The Worcester side are more than capable of causing an upset on their day and have taken points off the likes of Silhill this season. The Millers have been tough to beat away from home with only two losses from eleven matches going into this weekend.  

​Starting line ups

Boldmere’s starting line up included Jimmy Griffiths starting in goal and Ben Rea captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Liam Draper playing up front and being supported by Shaun Reid and Lamin Barrow on the wings.

There were no changes from their last match against Balsall and Berkswell a few weeks ago.

Feckenham’s starting line up included Will Haycock starting in goal and Kian Davies captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with a front two of Ibby Akhlaq and James Lev being supported by Tommy Fergie in the number ten role.  

There were three changes from their match against Silhill last weekend with Josh Bowen coming back into the team and playing in central midfield. 

​First Half

Boldmere started the match strongly and were on the front foot inside the opening twenty minutes. They were creating chances in front of goal and looked like a side in form with Ryan Day having a half chance from the edge of the box that went over the bar in the first minute.

​The pressure from the league leaders eventually told and they found the breakthrough in the seventh minute when a neat passing move resulted in a good ball being played to Mouhamadou Kandiaye. He found some space in the box before finishing into the bottom right corner for 1-0.

The Falcons were on top throughout the first half with Feckenham looking to hold on and grow into the match at 1-0 down.

The Millers were mainly playing on the counter attack and looking to draw Boldmere onto them so they could catch them on the break. They had a few dangerous moments with James Lev doing well to build up the play and create space, but they lacked that final ball into the box to trouble the Boldmere defence.

​Boldmere found a second goal in the middle of the first half when Liam Draper made a brilliant run in between the two centre backs before looping the ball over Will Haycock and finding the top left corner for 2-0. He was brilliant for the Falcons yesterday and made things happen up front by holding up the play and working the channels.     

There was a lot of hard work going on off the ball by Boldmere throughout the first half with Ryan Day and Karol Blicharski constantly breaking up the play and stopping Feckenham building some momentum. The back three also impressed with Ben Rea, Sean Graver and Aaron Payne reading the danger well and bringing a sense of assurance defensively.  

Feckenham were competing well with Boldmere in the first half and were working hard to not let the match get away from them at 2-0 down. Kian Davies was leading by example at centre back and helping to clear the ball away from danger to keep the millers in it.

Boldmere were pressing for a third goal to effectively seal the match in the final stages of the first half and created some quality chances. Shaun Reid made a brilliant run down the right before crossing the ball to Liam Draper who put his header narrowly wide of the right-hand post.

A moment of quality made it 3-0 in the final few minutes of the half when Sean Graver made an inspired run from centre back and beat a few players before setting up a chance in the box. Feckenham struggled to clear the danger, and the Boldmere defender followed through by instinctively running into the box and producing a composed finish.  

The visitors had a decent chance to pull a goal back in the closing stages of the first half when a dangerous corner into the box created some space for Tommy Fergie whose shot from a second ball was well saved by Jimmy Griffiths in the Boldmere goal to keep it at 3-0.

Second Half

Boldmere pushed on in the early stages of the second half and managed to make it 4-0 when Lamin Barrow showed some brilliant movement in the box before anticipating a loose ball and finishing into the bottom left corner.

It was clicking for the league leaders in front of goal, and they showed no signs of rust following a three-week break from competitive action in division three. Mouhamadou Kandiaye was finding space to create chances and has that quality to hurt teams at this level in the number ten role. He impressed yesterday and played a central role in Boldmere’s win over a good Feckenham side.

The best chance for Feckenham to pull a goal back came when Josh Bowen beat a few players from midfield before having a shot well saved by Jimmy Griffiths who stayed alert to keep the clean sheet intact for the Falcons.                

Boldmere had some good chances to add a bit of gloss to the scoreline late on when substitute Dale Huckfield was through on goal. Will Haycock stepped up and made a good save to keep it at 4-0.

Fellow Boldmere substitute Adeola Diya found some space at the back post before having a shot well saved by the Feckenham keeper to not let the scoreline get out of hand for the visitors.   

The Falcons managed to see the match out late on to seal the division three title on a memorable day for the club.  

​Full Time

It’s been an incredible season for Boldmere Falcons in division three and the reasons for their success were on display yesterday against Feckenham. The league leaders were constantly looking to make things happen up front and not letting up throughout the match.

They also worked hard off the ball to not allow Feckenham a route back into the match with Ryan Day and Karol Blicharski impressing and acting as a shield for the back three.    

The Falcons looked the part yesterday in their final home match of the season to win the division three title.

They conclude their season with a final away match at Meadow Park next weekend.

Feckenham battled well but were ultimately undone by moments of quality from Boldmere rather than any glaring mistakes. The Millers have been a competitive side in division three and are challenging for a top six finish over their remaining games.

There’s things to be positive about for Millers supporters with James Lev looking a threat up front and Kian Davies a reliable presence at the back.

The Worcester side wrap up their season with away matches against Kenilworth Sporting and Wake Green Amateur which are good opportunities to test themselves against quality opposition.           

FT score: Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons 4-0 Feckenham

Man of the match: Mouhamadou Kandiaye (Boldmere Falcons)

Attendance: 40

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League