​Silhill were looking for a result yesterday to continue their brilliant start to the season in division three. The Solihull side have been one of the standout teams at step eight so far with six consecutive wins in all competitions to leave them in 2nd going into yesterday. They also beat division two side AFC Solihull in the LJ Challenge Cup on the opening day.  

BNJS have been competitive in division three so far this season under manager Gurj Nagra. They beat AFC Birmingham at home 3-2 a few weeks back for their first league win and there’s some players to build around for the months ahead such as Randy Sarpong. Despite their league position of 13th there were reasons for optimism for BNJS

The atmosphere around Sharmans Cross was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The people at the club were helpful with any queries raised and do a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make it a good matchday experience. The clubhouse was well presented and is full of character that showcases the history of the club.

The ground is accessible to get to by public transport with plenty of options available. The best option would be to get the 4A from Birmingham to Solihull where the bus stops off right near the ground at Sharmans Cross Junior School where it’s only a short walk. It’s well worth a visit for supporters of non-league football across the West Midlands. 

Starting line ups

The starting line up for Silhill included Matt Pickford starting in goal and Lewis Williams captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Gilad Grant playing up front and being supported by Josh Sarmento and Ben Davis on the wings.

The starting line-up for BNJS featured Gopola Mensah starting in goal and Darryl Barnett captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Randy Sarpong and Jose Viegas being supported by Natnael Hagos from attacking midfield.          

​First Half

Silhill got off to a bright start in the early stages of the match and took the game to BNJS in search of the opener. They were playing a possession-based style and looked to work balls into the box under manager Leon Blake. BNJS were mainly looking to soak up the pressure and catch Silhill out on the break. There were a lot of runs off the shoulder from the visitors that worked well.  

Lewis Williams had an early chance for Silhill with his effort being well saved by Gopola Mensah in the BNJS goal. The hosts took the lead a few minutes later thanks to a free kick into the box that found Ben Davis who produced a quality header into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

​BNJS found an equaliser a few minutes later to make it 1-1. Jack Mason was caught playing out from the back and Randy Sarpong won the ball back before going through on goal. He produced a composed finish into the bottom right corner to make it all square in an action-packed start to the match.

Silhill re-took the lead in the middle of the first half thanks to a well taken corner into the box that found Jon Myrie at the back post who headed the ball to Josh Sarmento who finished well to make it 2-1. Set pieces were a main strength for the hosts yesterday and they looked an attacking threat in the box.

BNJS had a good chance to get an equaliser in the closing stages of the first half thanks to a brilliant passing move. Jose Viegas found space in the box and ran with the ball before crossing it to Natnael Hagos who put his effort wide. It was a key moment in the match a few minutes before half time. One of the most encouraging things for BNJS was that they created chances yesterday.

Silhill made it 3-1 just before half time by capitalising on a goalkeeping error at the back. There was a miscommunication between Nhlalwenhie Siso and Gopola Mensah with the keeper struggling to get to the ball and having to kick it out for a throw in. He was out of his box and Silhill took advantage by taking it quickly and giving it to Ben Davis who cut inside and scored into an empty net.

This gave Silhill some control of the match and ended an entertaining first half

​Second Half

The pattern of the match continued where it left off with a lot of happening in front of goal. A moment of quality on the ball from Silhill saw a brilliant through ball played to Ben Davis who finished well into the bottom right corner to make it 4-1.

BNJS showed character and responded with a classic poacher’s goal thanks to Jose Viegas getting first to a shot that hit the post by Mohammed Taj and finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 4-2.  Full credit to the visitors for committing players forward at 4-1 down and making a game of it in the second half.   

There were some good substitutions from Gurj Nagra that helped BNJS get up the pitch more in the second half. Victor Nwobilor was bought off the bench and played in central defence with Randy Sarpong being moved into midfield. Both players impressed for the visitors and helped them get a foothold in the match.

A free kick for BNJS from the right-hand side was delivered into the box and found Jose Viegas who finished well to make it 4-3 and set up a nervy finish for Silhill. The hosts struggled to clear the ball from the free kick, and it bounced in the box before the striker made no mistake and finished it.

Silhill were put under some pressure in the second half and had to show character to hold on and weather the storm from BNJS who had a fifteen-minute spell in front of goal. The best chance for an equaliser came when Nathan McBean couldn’t quite connect with a corner delivered into the box.  

The hosts produced the quality when it mattered in the closing stages of the second half. Josh Sarmento beat a few players down the left-hand side before playing a good ball into the box that found Ben Davis who finished well at the back post to make it 5-3.

Silhill scored a sixth goal in the final stages of the match when a handball from Luiz Junior in the box resulted in a penalty. Josh Sarmento took a composed penalty into the bottom left corner to make it 6-3. He was brilliant yesterday and a real threat for Silhill down the left-hand side.

Not long after the referee Simon Tibke blew for the full-time whistle with Silhill getting their sixth league win of the season to go top of the table following Boldmere Falcons drawing 2-2 against Wake Green Amateur.

Full Time

It was an entertaining match at Sharmans Cross yesterday with both sides playing well and being positive on the ball. A player who went under the radar for Silhill was Jon Myrie who was dominant in the air and constantly heading the ball away. Ben Davis played well and looked a real threat in the box for the hosts. There was a lot of quality on show from Silhill in this match which is encouraging.

BNJS competed well against one of the standout teams in division three and made a game of it. The game plan worked well and they were close to getting something from this match. They had a few chances to find an equaliser in both the first and second half. Darryl Barnett and Victor Nwobilor also impressed at the back.    

FT score: Silhill 6-3 BNJS

Man of the match: Ben Davis (Silhill)

Attendance: 81

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

​Birstall United were looking for a result yesterday to get their season back on track following a challenging run of form in division one. The Leicester side started the season well and were unbeaten from their first three matches under new manager Paul Pallett. It’s been difficult since then with fifteen goals conceded and three consecutive losses going into yesterday to leave them in 17th.   

It’s been a similar story for Dunkirk who have endured a tough start in UCL Division One under new manager Paul Rockley. The main positive for the visitors was being competitive in their six matches so far and only conceding eleven goals going into yesterday. Despite being in the bottom three with two points there were reasons for encouragement.

The atmosphere around Meadow Lane prior to kick off was friendly and relaxed with both sets of supporters looking forward to the match. It’s a nice set up at the ground with good facilities for the level and it felt welcoming yesterday. It’s also got a bit of character about it and the clubhouse was well presented and included references to the club’s history.   

It’s well worth a visit for groundhoppers throughout the midlands and especially the Leicester area. Supporters can get the 127 bus from St Maragaret’s bus station to Shepshed and get off at the Greengate Lane stop. From there it’s a fifteen-minute walk to the ground. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Birstall included Charlie Doherty starting in goal and Reif Armstrong captaining the team from left back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Aaron Preston playing up front and being supported by Evan Mansfield and Jackson Parkin.

There were two changes from the team that started against Coton Green in mid-week with Alistair Tierney coming into the team and playing in central defence alongside Owen Dewing.

Dunkirk’s starting line-up featured Charlie English starting in goal and Lewis Wilcox captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like an attacking 4-1-3-2 with a front two of Kyle Stovell and Max Taylor being supported by the likes of James Rafferty in midfield.

There were three changes from the team that started against Pinxton in mid-week with Darragh Walsh coming into the team and playing in central defence alongside Lewis Wilcox. 

​First Half

The visitors started the match well and settled into it in the early stages. The Boatmen were positive and committed a lot of players forward in search of the opening goal to get a foothold in the match.

They were duly rewarded when a mistake at the back was capitalised on which set up Kyle Stovell in the box who finished well into the top left corner to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute. It was a clinical attacking move from the visitors but a disappointing goal to concede from a Birstall perspective who were a bit stretched defensively.

​Lewis Wilcox impressed at the back for the visitors and was reading the game well which helped them settle into the match. He was brilliant yesterday and was constantly heading the ball away to take the pressure off Dunkirk.

They can also create chances on the ball and did not look like a side near the bottom of UCL Division One in this match.  

Birstall gradually grew into the match as the first half went on with the chances in front of goal being limited in the opening twenty minutes. The best chance came in the 11th minute when Jackson Parkin capitalised on a second ball in the box that was spilled by Charlie English before firing wide of the right-hand post.

Alistair Tierney impressed at the back for Birstall United and helped them settle into the match. He was pro-active at the back and made a lot of clearances and headers away which helped the hosts get a foothold. Another player who helped the Leicester side grow into the game was Aaron Preston who stood out in the first half with his hold up play and how he bought players into the game.

Momentum can have a tangible impact in non-league football and the hosts got off to a nervy start early on before settling in the middle of the first half. This was understandable coming off a few tough results which included a 4-0 loss to Coton Green. The visitors would have had a bit more confidence following their 1-1 draw with Pinxton in mid-week, and it showed in the opening stages.

Birstall found a huge equaliser in the 37th minute to get back into the match. It was a moment of genuine quality on the ball with Ryan Seal playing a composed through ball that found Jackson Parkin on the right-hand side who went through one on one with Charlie English. He produced a brilliant finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.     

Dunkirk had a guilt edged chance to re-take the lead straight after the equaliser with Kyle Stovell getting into a promising position in the box before having his effort well saved by Charlie Doherty in the Birstall goal. It was a crucial moment in the match a few minutes before half time.

Second Half

The pattern of the second half was similar to the first with Dunkirk getting off to a positive start and Birstall gradually growing into it. A free kick from Corey Newman was tipped over the bar by Charlie Doherty and the visitors were threatening the Birstall goal. There were a lot of runs off the shoulder from Dunkirk and playing two up front worked well and stopped them playing too deep.

Paul Pallett made some good substitutions on the hour mark and bought on Plamedi Kambulu to shore up the midfield and Sheunesu Kanonda to offer an attacking threat on the wings. Both players impressed throughout the second half and helped Birstall build some momentum in front of goal.

The chances in the second half were few and far between for both sides but they were both going for it in the final third. It was just that final ball and composure in the box that was missing but the effort was there from both teams.

Charlie Doherty stood out in the second half for Birstall and made some brilliant claims of the ball. He came out of goal at the right times to get the ball and stopped promising Dunkirk attacks which made a difference.

The best chance for Birstall to win it came in the final few minutes when a good ball into the box from the right-hand side found substitute Paul Pallett at the back post. He had a good chance to score but fired wide which resulted in the match going to penalties.

The opening penalties by both teams were saved to start the shootout. Both keepers were looking to step up and make the decisive saves and it made for an entertaining penalty shootout. Birstall were 2-1 up at one stage before Owen Dewing and Billy Tebbatt put their efforts wide to give Dunkirk the chance to win it which they duly took.

Full Time

It was a tough day at the office for Birstall who competed well with Dunkirk throughout the match. They had to show a lot of fight and resiliency to get to the penalty shootout which is the main positive for the Leicester side yesterday. There are players to build around such as Charlie Doherty, Alistair Tierney and Aaron Preston who all impressed in this match.

It’s a huge win for the visitors and should give them a lot of confidence for the months ahead. There’s signs of a good team being built under Paul Rockley and they impressed yesterday against Birstall. Kane Bartholomew played well at left-back and went a bit under the radar for the Boatmen. He was good at the back all game and took his penalty kick well in the shootout.

It was an entertaining match at Meadow Lane yesterday with the format of the FA Vase working well to set up a tense second half and penalty shootout.

FT score: Birstall United 1-1 Dunkirk (Dunkirk win 3-2 on penalties)

Man of the match: Lewis Wilcox (Dunkirk)  

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League