Northampton ON Chenecks were looking to continue their brilliant run of form with a result in the FA Vase yesterday afternoon. The hosts have adapted well to step five following promotion from the Spartan South Midlands League Division One last season where they lost just once across 38 matches to win the league with 95 points.

Key players from last season’s title success have played well in step five with striker Lewis Irwin scoring 14 goals so far this season.  

They were on a nine-game unbeaten streak coming into yesterday and challenging for the play offs in the UCL Premier Division South.  

It’s also been a successful season for Heather St John’s who have been one of the form teams in MFL Division One. The Saints are challenging for a play off place in step six and have won twelve out of 16 matches in the league. They have done well in the FA Vase and knocked out step five side SC Inkberrow on their way to reaching the first-round proper.  

Key players from last season such as Kyle Jardine have stayed at the club, and it feels like their building something in step six.

​The Saints were on a good run of form coming into yesterday with four wins from their last five matches in MFL Division One to leave them in 5th place. 

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Starting line ups

The starting line up for Northampton included Bradley Lashley starting in goal and Luke Davis captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 with Lewis Irwin leading the line up front and being supported by Tyrell Bernard and Ray Poku on the wings.

There were four changes from their mid-week match against Oadby Town with Luke Andrews coming into the team and playing in central defence.

Heather St John’s starting line up included Tyler-Jack Weeks starting in goal and Kyle Jardine captaining the team in the final third. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Ethan Naylor playing as the main striker up front and being supported by Kyle Jardine and Nathan McGarrity on the wings.

There were four changes from their match against Nuneaton Town last weekend with Sam Hankin coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. 

​First Half

Heather St John’s settled into the match well inside the opening ten minutes and were willing to take the game to Northampton throughout the first half. They were positive on the ball and looking to commit players forward against a team from a higher division. One of their strengths was set pieces into the box and they were causing problems for Northampton.

​The early stages of the first half were understandably cagey with not that many clear-cut chances in front of goal. None the less, both sides were positive on the ball and looking to create chances in the final third. The first real chance came when Ryan Coxhill had a header just go over the bar for Northampton in the 21st minute.

The visitors had a notable chance when Kyle Jardine created some space on the left-hand side before getting a shot off that was tipped round the post by Bradley Lashley in the 25th minute.

The Saints took the lead on the half hour mark from a well worked throw in down the right-hand side. A quick throw in created some space and the second ball fell to Nathan McGarrity who produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 to Heather St John’s in a competitive first half.

Northampton had the chance to make it 1-1 a few minutes later when Lewis Irwin made a good run into the box. The striker found some space but couldn’t quite get his effort on target to trouble Tyler-Jack Weeks in the 34th minute.        

Heather St John’s were well organised off the ball throughout the first half and made some brilliant blocks at the back.

​Tyler-Jack Weeks gave the ball away when playing out from the back which left Northampton through on goal. Benjamin Whitehead Thompson read the situation well and made an instinctive recovery run to get a block in to stop a Northampton goal.

Northampton were linking up well in the final third in the latter stages of the first half. They were putting a sustained run of pressure on the visitors in the final ten minutes and had an effort hit the left-hand post in the 40th minute. Their momentum was paused when Ray Poku was sin binned for ten minutes.

None the less, Heather did well to hold on and went into the break with a 1-0 lead.

Second Half

Heather St John’s were looking to make the most of the sin bin to Ray Poku in the early stages of the second half and were committing players forward in search of the second goal. The Saints had a promising ten-minute spell in front of goal and created a few notable chances. The best chance fell to Jake Finnerty who got a shot off that was saved by Bradley Lashley.

There was a bit of pressure on Northampton to step up in the second half against a side from step six and they responded well. Lewis Irwin impressed up front and made some good runs into the final third alongside holding up the play to get Northampton up the pitch. Luke Andrews also stepped up at the back and read the game well to stop Heather St John’s building attacks.  

​Lewis Irwin made a brilliant run off the shoulder and was through on goal before being bought down for Tyler-Jack Weeks for a Northampton penalty on the hour mark. He stepped up and took a composed penalty into the top left corner to make it 1-1.

Northampton were in the ascendancy following the goal and it was the first time they had some control over the match. They were linking up well across midfield and Ray Poku was looking to make things happen down the left-hand side and taking players on.

​Kai Thomas was in charge of marking him and did an admirable job at right back. He went a bit under the radar but made some good blocks to keep Heather in the match. Another player who impressed for the visitors was Josh Baker who was making some good clearances at the back to take the pressure off the saints.

There was a good chance for Northampton to make it 2-1 when Ray Poku found some space down the left-hand side before squaring it to Lewis Irwin who fired wide from a good position. Despite the miss it was another good run from the striker who was able to create chances for Northampton yesterday.

The pressure eventually told and a well worked corner made it 2-1 to Northampton with twenty minutes to go. A corner from the right found Lewis Irwin who headed the ball on to Luke Davis at the back post who finished well into the bottom right corner.  

The visitors responded to the setback well and showed character to stay in the game going into the latter stages of the second half. Josh Baker and Benjamin Whitehead Thompson played well at the back and gave Heather the chance to find an equaliser in the closing stages. They were one of the best defences in MFL Division one with just 14 goals conceded going into yesterday.

The best chance for Heather to take the game to penalties came when Jake Finnerty had a header go wide from a long throw in.

Northampton held out well in the final stages to make history and reach the second round of the FA Vase. The hosts have not lost at home in the league so far this season but were pushed by Heather St John’s yesterday who gave them a good game. They responded well to going a goal down and showed character in the second half to get the win.           

​FT score: Northampton ON Chenecks 2-1 Heather St John’s

Man of the match: Lewis Irwin (Northampton ON Chenecks)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

​Lichfield were looking to continue their eye-catching form against Brocton yesterday at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium. The Staffordshire side have been one of the form teams in step five and were coming off eleven consecutive wins in the premier division to sit top of the table.

It’s been a brilliant start for Lichfield who have built on the success of last season where they just missed out on promotion in the play-off final to Darlaston Town.

Brocton have carried on the momentum of last season where they won the NWCL Division One South title and have adapted well to step five so far. The Badgers were in the play off positions going into yesterday’s match and have been a positive addition to the MFL since joining over the summer.   

They were looking for a statement result yesterday against Lichfield and were coming off a momentum building 7-0 home win against Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend.

Lichfield’s home league form has been incredible since the beginning of the 22/23 season and they have only lost to Lye, Darlaston and Walsall Wood who have all been promoted to step four. Brocton were looking to put an end to that streak yesterday to cement their position near the top of the table.

The atmosphere around the Trade Tyre community was brilliant yesterday and there’s a real community feel to Lichfield. There was an encouraging attendance of 360 supporters who turned up to watch the match with Brocton bringing along a good following as well. The facilities are good for the level with a welcoming café that offers hot and cold beverages.       

Starting line ups

Lichfield’s starting line up included James Beeson starting in goal and Dan Lomas captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation appeared to be a 5-3-2 with a front two of Jack Edwards and Liam Kirton being supported by Dan Lomas in the number ten role.

There was one change from their match against Shifnal Town last weekend with Josh Mansell coming into the team and playing at right-back.

Brocton’s starting line up included Tony Allsopp starting in goal and Christian Blanchette captaining the team up front. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Christian Blanchette playing as the main striker and being supported by William Whieldon and Lucas Green-Birch down the wings.

There was one change from their match against Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend with Connor Haddaway coming into the team and playing in the number ten role. 

​First Half

The opening ten minutes of the match were cagey with both sides settling into it and working out where to find the space. Brocton had the first good chance when Christian Blanchette played a good ball to Lucas Green-Birch who fired narrowly wide of the left-hand post. It was an encouraging counter attacking move by the visitors early on who worked the ball well in the final third.

Lichfield responded and were committing players forward in search of the opener. There was a good chance from a free kick on the edge of the box where Jack Edwards had a good effort well saved by Tony Allsopp in the Brocton goal.

Lichfield were playing a high line against Brocton and the visitors were looking to catch them out throughout the first half with runs off the shoulder to beat the offside trap.

They managed to take the lead on 22 minutes when William Wheldon managed to find some space in the final third before producing an instinctive finish into the bottom left corner.

The visitors were linking up well in the first half and causing Lichfield a lot of problems defensively who were a bit stretched at times. Jake Thomas played an inviting through ball to Lucas Green-Birch who found some space in the box before firing wide.

None the less, the chances were coming for Brocton against one of the best defences in the league with just 11 goals conceded going into yesterday.

It was all clicking for the visitors throughout the first half who were producing a vintage away performance and taking the game to Lichfield. One of their key strengths was how organised they were off the ball with players regularly closing the space to not allow Lichfield to build some momentum.

Ben Haddaway was brilliant at the back for Brocton in this match. He read the danger well and made some big clearances to give them a foothold in the match throughout the first half.  

The visitors were given a penalty when Charlie King was fouled in the box by Josh Mansell just after the half hour mark. Connor Haddaway stepped up and had his penalty well saved by James Beeson who went the right way to keep Lichfield in the game.

Not long after Brocton made it 2-0 thanks to a moment of magic from a set piece. Connor Haddaway took a corner from the left that evaded everyone and went straight into the far corner in the 36th minute.  

There were a few bright sparks for Lichfield in the first half and they created some notable chances in front of goal. Dan Lomas was free in the box before getting a shot off that was saved by Tony Allsopp.

Brocton were given a penalty just before half time. Lucas Green Birch made a run into the box before being fouled by Jamie Elkes for a spot kick. William Whieldon stepped up and took a composed penalty into the bottom right corner to make it 3-0 at the break.

Second Half

Lichfield had a notable chance early on which could have sparked a comeback. Joe Haines caught Tony Allsopp off his line before having a shot from the halfway line hit the cross bar. It was a brilliant effort from the Lichfield defender and would have been a memorable goal.

Jack Edwards also had a good chance when he got a shot off in the box that was saved by Tony Allsopp. Despite it being a challenging match for Lichfield they were creating chances in front of goal yesterday.

Brocton made it 4-0 on the hour mark thanks to a brilliant counter attacking goal to seal the match. Substitute Jude King made a good run off the shoulder before having a deflected shot go into the bottom left corner. He impressed off the bench for the visitors throughout the second half and made some good runs down the channels.

Lichfield kept going in the final half hour of the match, but it was not quite clicking in the final third. Their best chance to get a goal back came when substitute Jude Taylor was free from a well delivered corner into the box. He made a good run into the box but couldn’t quite get it on target to trouble the keeper.

The visitors had a good control of the match in the latter stages of the second half. Josh Simcox impressed from left-back and did well to stop Lichfield building anything down the right-hand side. Jake Thomas also played well from holding midfield and was regularly breaking up the play for Brocton.

There was a bad looking injury to Joe Haines for Lichfield in the closing stages of the second half. He’s a key player for the hosts and hopefully it’s nothing too serious for their upcoming matches.

The visitors did well to hold Lichfield out in the second half and get a memorable clean sheet against one of the best attacks in the league.  

Full Time

This match was a tough day at the office for Lichfield and possibly a blip in what is otherwise an incredible season for the club. There still in a strong position and have a nine-point lead over Brocton. Shifnal and 1874 Northwich also played out a draw yesterday, so the league title is still within reach for the club.

Brocton were brilliant in this match and this win strengthens their position in the play offs. It’s been an encouraging few months for the Badgers and if they can keep this form going throughout the season, they could be a real threat at step five.  

FT score: Lichfield City 0-4 Brocton

Man of the match: Ben Haddaway (Brocton)

Attendance: 360

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League