​Shifnal Town were looking to continue their impressive form with a result against Stourport Swifts at the Acoustafoam Stadium yesterday. It’s been an incredible few months for the Shropshire side with six wins from their last eight matches to be in a strong position for the play offs. They also have an outside chance of winning the league if Lichfield drop points over the next few weeks.   
The Reds notably beat play off chasers Brocton last weekend at Silkmore Lane and are one of the form teams in the premier division under manager Connor Patterson.

Stourport Swifts are going through a transitional period with Ben Jevons coming in as their new manager earlier in the season. None the less, the Swifts have been competitive in step five throughout 24/25 and have picked up some eye-catching results such as beating Brocton.

The visitors are challenging for a top half finish over the final few weeks of the season alongside the likes of Studley, AFC Wulfrunians and Stone Old Alleynians. 

​Starting line ups

Shifnal’s starting line up included Andy Wycherley starting in goal and Kyle Bennett captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Josh Beamond playing up front and being supported by Lewis Jarman and Kyle Byrne on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Brocton last weekend with Jack Rowley coming back into the team and playing at centre back alongside Bradley Maslen-Jones.

Stourport’s starting line up included George Tideswell starting in goal and Aaron Birch captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-4-2 with a front two of Joe Phillips and Connor Deards being supported by George Baker and Jim Hanson on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Atherstone Town last weekend with Connor Deards coming into the team and playing in the number ten role. 

​First Half

Shifnal started the match on the front foot and had the momentum inside the opening twenty minutes. They took the lead early on when Kevin Monteiro made a brilliant run into the box before having his initial shot saved by George Tideswell. He reacted quickest to the rebound before finishing into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 in the 7th minute.  

The Shropshire side looked like a side in form and were taking the game to Stourport. Josh Beamond was making some good runs into the final third and they looked a threat going forward.  

Stourport showed character at 1-0 down and gradually grew into the match as the first half went on. Aaron Birch was stepping up to the Shifnal pressure well at centre back and managing to read the danger to keep the Worcester side in the match.   

​The visitors had a good chance for an equaliser when Joe Phillips played a well weighted ball for Connor Deards whose shot was blocked by Bradley Maslen-Jones for a corner.

Shifnal had a control of the game at 1-0 and were working hard off the ball to limit the chances for Stourport. Kyle Bennett was constantly breaking up the play and starting off attacks from holding midfield while Bradley Maslen-Jones was playing well at the back.

Stourport had a half chance when a neat passing move resulted in Jim Hanson finding some space down the left before cutting inside and firing wide from range. The visitors were moving the ball around well throughout the first half and asking some questions of Shifnal. Jack Cresswell was linking up the play from midfield and helping Stourport to build some momentum on the ball.

Shifnal had some good chances to make it 2-0 near the end of the first half. Kyle Byrne found some space in the box before having a deflected shot instinctively saved by George Tideswell in the 33rd minute.

Kevin Monteiro also put a header wide of the far post from a good ball delivered into the box a couple of minutes later.

The best chance for a second goal came a couple of minutes before half time when Kyle Bennett made an inspired run down the right before playing a low cross to Sam Fitzgerald in the box. He had his shot saved by George Tideswell who did well to narrow the angle at the back post.

Shifnal were building some momentum in front of goal, but Stourport did a good job of containing them throughout the first half to keep it at 1-0 going into the half time break.

Second Half

A moment of quality made it 2-0 to Shifnal in the early stages of the second half to give the Reds some breathing space. A ball was played to Sam Fitzgerald on the edge of the box with a couple of players to beat. He showed brilliant technique to get the ball down before producing a quality volley into the top right corner.

Stourport had a good chance to pull a goal back a few minutes later when Jack Cresswell found some space in the box before putting his effort wide of the left-hand post. One of the main positives from the visitors yesterday was their build up play and composure on the ball against a tough Shifnal side.

There was a clever tactical change by Shifnal manager Connor Patterson early in the second half with Sam Fitzgerald playing more centrally as the number nine and Josh Beamond moving to the wing. This arguably made them more dynamic up front and asked different questions of the Stourport backline with Sam Fitzgerald more of a target man up front and creating space for other players.    

The change worked when Josh Beamond made a brilliant run down the right-hand side before squaring it to Sam Fitzgerald who produced a composed finish into the top right corner to make it 3-0 in the middle of the second half.

It was starting to click in the final third for Shifnal and they really stepped it up in the second half. The likes of Taylor Need and Theo Knight came off the bench and impressed up front for the Shropshire side in the final half hour.

Shifnal made it 4-0 when Theo Knight beat a few players down the right before finding Kevin Monteiro on the edge of the box who produced a brilliant finish into the top left corner.    

Jack Rowley was fouled in the box for a late Shifnal penalty. Sam Fitzgerald stepped up and took a composed spot kick into the bottom right corner to make it 5-0 and complete his hat-trick.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle for Shifnal’s fourth straight win in the premier division.

They’ve been brilliant at home this season with eleven wins from fifteen matches and are building momentum for the play offs.  

Full Time

Shifnal were impressive yesterday and looked like a team in form. It’s a settled squad and the likes of Kevin Monteiro, Bradley Maslen-Jones and Sam Fitzgerald played well yesterday to make it 21 wins from 29 league matches this season. They will be looking to continue their momentum for a play-off run in late April.  

Their remaining schedule includes matches against Whitchurch Alport (Home), Highgate United (Away), Stone Old Alleynians (Away), Northwich Victoria (Home) and Studley (Away) to close the regular season.

Stourport battled well in this match and showed moments of promise despite the result. They moved the ball about well throughout midfield with Matt Harland and Jack Cresswell impressing and creating space for the visitors. Joe Phillips looked a threat up front and was holding up the ball well in the final third.

The visitors are an interesting team to follow in step five and could be a challenger next season.

There are players to build around for the long-term future under manager Ben Jevons and they could be a team to watch for a potential play off push if it all clicks.   

Their remaining schedule includes matches against Studley (Home), Dudley Town (Home), Romulus (Away) and Uttoxeter Town (Away) to close the season.               

FT score: Shifnal Town 5-0 Stourport Swifts

Man of the match: Sam Fitzgerald (Shifnal Town)

Attendance: 127

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

​Cradley Town were looking to continue their momentum against local rivals Gornal Athletic. The Hammers were coming off back-to-back wins going into yesterday’s match and had a five-point gap over Smethwick Rangers in 6th. It’s been a brilliant season for the club so far under manager Stuart How who was appointed during the summer.

The Hammers are also in the final of the mid-week Floodlit challenge cup at the Bescot Stadium where they will play Nuneaton Town on Wednesday 30th April. It’s an exciting time for the supporters with the club challenging in both division one and the midweek floodlit cup over the next few months.   

It’s been a tough couple of months for Gornal Athletic in division one who were struggling for form coming into yesterday’s match. The Peacocks got off to a strong start this season with four wins from their first five matches in division one following promotion from the West Midlands Regional League, but it’s been a bit of a struggle since.  

There’s been a change of manager with Jamie Oliver coming in for former Tividale manager Dave King who was sacked last month. Their last win in division one came on Boxing Day against Wednesfield at Garden Walk Stadium. None the less, Gornal have a chance to build for next season over their remaining games and were comfortably in midtable coming into this match.  

The Peacocks were looking to cause a huge upset against play off chasing Cradley to give them some momentum for the rest of the season. 

​Starting line ups

Cradley’s starting line up included Reece Francis starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Traevay Wright playing up front and being supported by Callum North and Brad Ward on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Nuneaton Griff in mid-week with Nathaniel Hewett coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Charlie Aston.

Gornal’s starting line up included Louis Connor starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with Luke Sidaway and Henry Ikeije playing up front and being supported by Charlie Bache in attacking midfield.

There were two changes from their match against Coton Green last weekend with Ibrahim Almane coming into the team and playing at left back. 

First Half

Gornal settled into the match well and held their own against a Cradley side coming off four wins from their last six league matches. They had a good chance to take the lead when a free kick into the box found Charlie Bache who headed over the cross bar in the 10th minute.

Louis Connor was reading the danger well in the Gornal goal and coming for long balls into the box to take the pressure off the visitors. Harry Higginson was also playing well at centre back and heading away dangerous balls into the box.
The visitors were well organised off the ball and doing a good job of limiting the chances for Cradley throughout the first half.

Cradley had a good chance to make it 1-0 when Brad Ward found some space in the box before having his shot instinctively saved by Louis Connor who managed to tip it over the bar in the 25th minute.

Gornal showed character in the first half and didn’t look like a side coming off six straight losses in division one. They stepped up yesterday in a local derby and took a surprise lead in the 31st minute.   

A good free kick into the box found Harry Higginson in the box who produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to the Peacocks.

It looked like the visitors were going to see the first half out for a 1-0 lead before a moment of quality made it 1-1 in the closing stages. Luke Carter played an intricate ball to Callum North in the box who produced a composed finish across Louis Connor into the bottom left corner for the equaliser.

Second Half

Cradley stepped it up in the second half and had the momentum in the early stages. Joe Fitzpatrick was building up the play from midfield and driving them on in the final third.   

​Callum North capitalised on a second ball from a corner delivered into the box and produced a quality low finish into the bottom right corner to make it 2-1 in the 52nd minute. He’s been brilliant since joining from Smethwick Rangers and took his chances well yesterday.   

Cradley were looking to make it 3-1 to pull clear and had some decent chances for a third goal. Luke Carter had a shot from the edge of the box well saved by Louis Connor in the Gornal goal to keep the visitors in the game.

Gornal showed character and took the game to Cradley at 2-1 down in the second half. They found an equaliser when a brilliant free kick into the box found Luke Sidaway who produced a quality header into the bottom right corner to make it 2-2 on the hour mark.

Luke Sidaway was a real attacking threat for Gornal yesterday and impressed up front as the main target man. He was holding up the play well and looked dangerous from set pieces into the box.

He found some space from a long throw into the box before putting his header wide of the far post in the 66th minute.

The visitors were building some momentum in front of goal at 2-2 and Cradley were doing a good job of not letting the match get away from them. Nathaniel Hewett was playing well at centre back and breaking up promising Gornal attacks to keep the visitors at bay.  

Cradley rallied late on and were looking to re-take the lead in the closing stages of the second half. The back three of Gornal were defending well with Josh Godwin and Jyon Ebo impressing and helping to clear the ball away from danger.

The hammers had to work hard to find openings in front of goal and found the breakthrough late on to make it 3-2 with a few minutes left. A brilliant corner found Charlie Aston who headed into the top right corner for Cradley’s third.

The quality off the bench made a difference for Cradley yesterday and helped them pull clear late on to make it 4-2. Jordan Crump made an inspired run down the right where he beat a few players before squaring it to Callum Powell who finished at the near post to seal the match.  

There was a late chance to add a bit of gloss to the scoreline when Jordan Crump made a brilliant run off the shoulder to go through one on one with just Louis Connor to beat. He went for a chipped finish which just looped over the crossbar.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle for Cradley’s third straight win in division one.

Full Time

Cradley had to work hard for the win yesterday and produced the quality when it mattered to get the result. It’s a huge boost for the Hammers’ play-off hopes and gives them a six-point lead over Kirby Muxloe who climbed to 6th with a 2-0 win at Smethwick Rangers yesterday.    

They have a tough run of fixtures coming up in division one with upcoming matches against Heather St John’s, Bilston Town and Coton Green over the next few weeks. The win yesterday could be huge in their hunt for the play offs and keeps up their momentum in the league.

Beeches View Avenue has been a fortress this season for Cradley with fourteen wins from seventeen matches in division one so far.  

Gornal played well yesterday and showed fight and resiliency to give Cradley a good match. They were a lot of positive signs to build on with the back three playing well and Luke Sidaway offering a threat up front.

If they play like they did against Cradley they will eventually break that winless streak in the league.

​Credit to the away supporters as well with the Peacocks bringing along a good following to cheer the team on.               

​     
FT score: Cradley Town 4-2 Gornal Athletic

Man of the match: Callum North (Cradley Town)

Attendance: 170

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League