​Balsall and Berkswell were looking to build on their boxing day win against Birmingham Tigers with a result against Continental Star yesterday. It’s been an interesting few months for the Hornets who appointed Kev Kingham as their new manager last month who previously managed AFC Coventry Rangers in division two.  

Balsall will be looking to build a good side over the next few months with one eye on next season. The current league leaders Boldmere Falcons went through a rebuild in the second half of last season under manager Jordan Lengthorn. The Hornets are comfortably in mid table but could be a challenger next season if all clicks under the new set-up.          

Continental Star have been one of the surprise teams in division three this season and have been brilliant so far. The Perry Barr side are challenging for a top six finish and went on a six-game unbeaten run earlier in the season.

The visitors have struggled of late though with three consecutive losses coming into yesterday’s match but there’s quality with Rumal Johnson impressing up front.

The atmosphere at Lavender Hall Lane was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The people at Balsall were helpful with any media queries and the pitch looked in good condition given the weather over the last few days. It was cold and foggy throughout the afternoon but some of the fog started to clear prior to kick off.  

Lavender Hall Lane is worth visiting for groundhoppers across the West Midlands and is accessible to get to by public transport. Supporters can get on the train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston before getting off at the Berkswell stop for a fifteen-minute walk to the ground. 

​Starting line ups

Balsall’s starting line up included Zak Frost starting in goal and Daniel Povey captaining the team from left-back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Leon Edmond playing up front and being supported by Corey Perkins and Ethan Galloway on the wings.

Joe Savin and James Dunn were playing at centre back with Ryan Cranage playing in the holding midfield role. Ben Cobbett and Cole Cunningham made up the attacking midfield.  

The starting line up for Continental Star included Richard Gethin starting in goal and Rhys Hoyte captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Rumal Johnson leading the line up front and being supported by Kyle Hackett and Khadim Fall on the wings.

Rhys Hoyte and Henry Eze were at centre back with Kymani Hunter and Pharrell Grant playing in holding midfield. Marcel Simpson played in the number ten role. 

​First Half

Balsall got off to a quick start and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes when Cole Cunningham made a good run down the left-hand side before having a deflected shot go into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.

The Hornets made it 2-0 a few minutes later when an inviting cross from Corey Perkins found Leon Edmonds in the box who produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner for the Hornets’ second of the afternoon.

​It was all clicking for Balsall in the early stages of the first half and they were looking to make things happen in the final third. They made it 3-0 when a brilliant passing move saw the ball played to Ethan Galloway who found some space before finishing into the bottom right corner.

Continental Star showed character from 3-0 down and gradually grew into the match as the first half went on. Rumal Johnson was making some threatening runs off the shoulder to stretch the Balsall defence and Rhys Hoyte and Henry Eze were working hard at the back to keep the visitors in the game.

Balsall were playing a possession-based style in the first half with Ryan Cranage linking up well from holding midfield. Corey Perkins looked a threat down the right-hand side and Leon Edmonds was holding up the play well and bringing players into it.

Rumal Johnson had a few half chances for Continental Star throughout the first half but couldn’t quite test Zak Frost in the Balsall goal. Joe Savin was doing an under the radar job of reading the danger at centre back and not giving the visitors that many chances in front of goal.

Second Half

Balsall got off to a good start in the early stages of the second half and had a huge chance to make it 4-0 when Leon Edmonds had a header go wide of the far post.

Continental Star kept going in search of a way back into the match and were duly rewarded when substitute Kona Campbell was on hand to capitalise on a second ball from a well worked corner to make it 3-1.

Daniel Povey was sin binned for ten minutes in the middle of the second half which reduced Balsall to ten men and gave Continental Star the chance to build some momentum on the ball.

Kymani Hunter made an instinctive run off the shoulder before going through one on one with just Zak Frost to beat. The Balsall keeper stepped up and made a crucial save to keep it at 3-1.

The visitors pulled a goal back when Kona Campbell was on hand to score on the rebound from a free kick to make it 3-2 with twenty minutes to go.

Continental Star were working hard both on and off the ball to have a chance of getting something from this match in the latter stages of the second half. Kona Campbell came off the bench for Rhys Hoyte who picked up an injury and filled in admirably at centre back. Alex Reid also impressed at left-back and was tough to beat when crossing into the box.

Balsall had a good chance to seal the match and make it 4-2 when Ben Cobbett had a shot from the edge of the box narrowly go over the bar.

A few minutes later Rumal Johnson made an inspired run from midfield where he beat a few players before getting into the box. He beat Zak Frost before finishing into the bottom left corner to make it 3-3 with five minutes to go.

He’s been one of the best strikers in the division this season and the equaliser yesterday showed why.  

Balsall responded well to the set-back of losing a 3-0 lead and showed character to search for the winner going into injury time. A late corner was played to the back post and found Joe Savin who headed into the net for a momentum building win late on.

Full Time

Balsall played well yesterday and are starting to build some momentum in division three under new manager Kev Kingham. They passed the ball around well in this match and created numerous chances in front of goal which is encouraging for Hornets supporters.  

It feels like the club is building something at step eight and are worth checking out over the next few months. They play promotion chasing Wake Green Amateur next Saturday at Lavender Hall Lane before games against Boldmere Falcons (Away), Meadow Park (Home) and Castle Vale Town (Home).   

Continental Star competed well with a good Balsall side and showed character to comeback in the second half. They couldn’t hold on for a point but there’s plenty to be positive about for the visitors who are challenging for a top six finish. It’s squad full of quality that can cause teams problems when it all clicks.

Their upcoming fixtures include Kenilworth Sporting (Home), BNJS (Home) and Leamington Hibernian (Away).      

FT score: Balsall and Berkswell 4-3 Continental Star

Man of the match: Joe Savin (Balsall and Berkswell)

Attendance: 40

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

Silhill were looking for a result yesterday against Castle Vale Town to keep up the pressure on Wake Green Amateur in the race for the top two. It’s been a brilliant season for the Solihull club so far with 13 wins from 17 matches to leave them in 3rd going into Boxing Day. Their home form at Sharmans Cross has been eye catching with seven wins from nine matches in the league.

Castle Vale Town had some momentum going into yesterday with three consecutive wins to leave them in the top four. The Spitfires recorded an impressive 2-1 home win against Continental Star last weekend and had only conceded one goal from three matches. Manager Luke Evans is doing a good job, and the visitors are looking to challenge for a top six finish.

The atmosphere at Sharmans Cross was friendly and welcoming with the people at the club doing a lot of hard work behind the scenes to make it a good matchday experience. The clubhouse was well presented and there’s a wide selection of drinks available at the bar.

The weather conditions were mainly cold and foggy yesterday in Solihull. The match was able to go ahead, and the pitch looked brilliant given the circumstances.

Sharmans Cross is one of the more accessible grounds to visit in division three by public transport. Supporters can get the 4A from Birmingham City Centre before getting off near Sharmans Cross Junior School.  

​Starting line ups

Silhill’s starting line-up included David Stratford starting in goal and Lewis Williams captaining the side from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Kyle Porter and Ben Davis being supported by Jon Myrie in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their last league match against Meadow Park a month ago with Ben Davis coming back into the team and playing on the right-hand side of a front two.  

Castle Vale’s line up included Joel Chadwick starting in goal and Jordan McKenzie captaining the side up front. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Jordan McKenzie being supported by Owen Reynolds and Chris Tabberner from attacking midfield.

There were two changes from their league match against Continental Star last weekend with Tamjir Malik coming back into the team and playing on the left of a back three. 

​First Half

Silhill got off to a fast start and took the lead inside the opening ten minutes. A brilliant run down the right-hand side by Ben Davis saw him square the ball to Jon Myrie who had his shot saved by Joel Chadwick. Kyle Porter was on hand to score the rebound to make it 1-0 in a well worked team goal.

​The Solihull side looked organised off the ball throughout the first half with Brandon Williams impressing at centre back and reading the danger well as part of a back three.

Not long after the opener Silhill made it 2-0 thanks to a moment of quality from Ben Davis who ran into the box before producing a finish across Joel Chadwick into the bottom right corner.

Kyle Porter played an inviting cross into the box from the right which found Ben Davis who couldn’t quite get it on target to make it three.  

Castle Vale gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and looked a threat going forward with Jordan McKenzie holding up the play well. They were causing Silhill a few problems, but Brandon Williams and Owen Fackrell were on hand to stop the danger.    

​Silhill made it 3-0 after half an hour when Kyle Porter capitalised on a rebound in the box to finish into the top left corner.  

Castle Vale showed some character near the end of the first half and created a few notable chances in front of goal. Leadun Dunlevy found some space on the edge of the box before having a shot saved by David Stratford in the Silhill goal.

A well worked free kick into the box found Daniel Wyatt who finished well to pull a goal back for Castle Vale near the end of the first half.

The back three for the visitors were working hard off the ball to keep the Spitfires in the game going into half time. Daniel Wyatt was getting some good blocks in and Abdoullah Kchikech filled in well at left-back following Tamjir Malik going off with an injury.

​There was a late chance for Kyle Porter to make it 4-1 to Silhill when he had an effort hit the left-hand post. Not long after the referee blew for the half time whistle.

Second Half

Silhill got off to another fast start in the early stages of the second half and effectively sealed the match inside the opening five minutes. A well worked goal found Ben Davis in the box who produced a composed finish into the bottom left corner to make it 4-1.

The Solihull side continued where they left off in the first half and looked well organised off the ball to stop any Castle Vale momentum. Lewis Williams was doing a good job of breaking up the play from holding midfield and Jamie O’Neil has that quality on the ball to cause Castle Vale problems at the back.

The chances in the second half were more limited than the first with Castle Vale having a half chance when Jordan Evans had a shot from range saved by David Stratford.

It was tighter in the second half with both teams cancelling each other out and Silhill having a control of the match following the early goal.

​Silhill were able to see the match out for a huge three points to keep up the pressure on Wake Green Amateur who won 6-1 at Continental Star in the race for that second promotion spot.

Full Time

Silhill played well yesterday and looked like a side full of quality both on and off the ball. They had a control of the match against a dangerous Castle Vale team and are capable of going on a run over the next month. Manager Leon Blake is doing an underrated job, and the Solihull side have been a welcome addition to division three since joining in the summer of 2023.

It’s shaping up to be a close race between Silhill and Wake Green with just one point separating them and Wake Green currently holding that promotion place.

Silhill’s upcoming fixtures include Meadow Park (Away), Gornal (Home and Away) before playing Kenilworth Sporting (Home) and AFC Birmingham (Away).

Castle Vale worked hard in this match but were undone by moment of quality from Silhill. The Spitfires are having another good season under manager Luke Evans and a top half finish is a realistic aim going into the second half of the campaign.

The visitors are a good side to watch when it all clicks in front of goal with Jordan McKenzie one of the best strikers in the division.

Their upcoming fixtures include a run of home games against Solihull Sporting, Feckenham and Birmingham Tigers over the next few weeks.          

FT score: Silhill 4-1 Castle Vale Town

Man of the Match: Ben Davis (Silhill)

Attendance: 28

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League