​Atherstone Town were looking to continue their impressive form with a result against Studley yesterday afternoon. It’s been a brilliant few months for the Adders who were coming off five consecutive wins in the premier division going into this match. The Warwickshire side have been building something at step five since the appointment of manager Mitch Thomson last season.  

Studley were looking to build on last weekend’s 1-0 home win against Northwich Victoria. It’s been an interesting season for the visitors with Mike Fowler leaving at the end of November and the club going through a bit of a rebuild. None the less, the Bees were sitting in the top half of the table going into the weekend and have the potential to cause teams problems.  

The atmosphere at the GAMS Civils Stadium was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The clubhouse looked inviting with a wide selection of drinks and sandwiches available.

It’s a ground full of character to make it stand out. The sports bar has references to the club’s history alongside scarfs and pin badges to buy. There’s a nostalgic feel to the ground in a positive way.    

It’s a brilliant ground to visit for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands and is accessible to visit by either train or bus. Supporters can get the 65-bus route from Tamworth to Nuneaton before getting off at the Sheepy Road stop which is just near the ground. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Atherstone included Finn Osborn starting in goal and Connor Gudger captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-4-2 with a front two of Lewis Collins and Ryan Harkin being supported by Ryan Quinn and Chris Cowley on the wings.

There were three changes from their mid-week match against Highgate United with Lewis Noon coming into the team and playing in central midfield.  

Studley’s starting line up included Brendon Bunn starting in goal and captaining the side. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Kyle Moseley leading the line up front and being supported by Szhem Whyte-Hall and Jamie Spiers on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Northwich Victoria last weekend with Ash Demulder coming into the team and playing in a holding midfield role.   

​First Half

Studley got off to a brilliant start inside the opening ten minutes and took the lead when Kyle Moseley made a good run off the shoulder to go through one on one with just Finn Osborn to beat. He kept his composure well before finishing into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 to the Bees.

Atherstone grew into the match as the first half went on and started to build some momentum in front of goal. Lewis Collins looked a threat in the final third and was getting into some promising positions in and around the box.

​The Adders made it 1-1 after fifteen minutes when Brendon Bunn struggled to claim a long ball into the final third. The ball fell to Lewis Collins who produced a clinical finish into an empty net for the equaliser.

It was an even match in the first half with Studley looking a threat on the counterattack and working the ball down the wings. Kyle Moseley looked a threat in the final third and Jamie Spiers was causing problems down the left-hand side.
  
Atherstone were playing a possession-based style throughout the first half. They were playing out from the back and looking to find space to create chances in the final third. Ryan Harkin found some space in the box before having a shot well saved by Brendon Bunn who managed to tip it round the post for a corner.

Studley looked well organised off the ball throughout the opening 45 minutes with Dexter Dudley-Toole reading the danger well at centre back and Mickey McGuigan having a good game at right-back.

Atherstone were building some momentum in the final fifteen minutes and were searching for a lead going into the half time break.

The central midfield partnership of Lewis Noon and Tom Smith was working well for Atherstone in the first half and helped them take control of the match. Lewis Noon was working hard off the ball to break up the play with Tom Smith having that quality on the ball to create chances and find space.

A quality attacking move saw a brilliant ball played to Chris Cowley who found Lewis Collins with just Brendon Bunn to beat. He produced an instinctive finish into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1 with just a few minutes to go.

Atherstone did a good job of seeing out the first half to go into the break with the lead.

Second Half

Studley started the second half with a promising fifteen-minute spell in front of goal in search of an equaliser. Ash Demulder was moving the ball around well from holding midfield and finding some space for the Bees. The best chance came when Harry Eden had a shot at goal go over the bar.

Atherstone grew into the second half and made it 3-1 on the hour mark. Lewis Collins found some space in the final third before playing an intricate through ball to Ryan Harkin in the box. He had a shot saved by Brendon Bunn before scoring on the rebound to effectively seal the match for Atherstone.

There was a lot of hard work going on off the ball from the Adders yesterday. They were pressing high up the pitch to keep the pressure on Studley and Connor Gudger was reading the danger well at centre back to limit the chances for the Bees.

Studley threatened from a couple of set pieces into the box, but Finn Osborn was on hand to claim the ball and take the pressure off Atherstone.

Atherstone made it 4-1 when Ryan Harkin capitalised on a loose ball in the box before producing a quality finish for his second of the match.

Studley had a chance late on with a few minutes to go and had an effort hit the left-hand post.

The referee blew for the full-time whistle not long after with Atherstone continuing their impressive home form and cementing their position in the top five.  

Full Time

Atherstone played well yesterday and looked like a team in form. They have been one of the standout teams at this level over the last month and are coming off six consecutive wins in the league. There’s now a seven-point gap between Atherstone in 5th and Whitchurch in 6th in the race for the play offs.    

The Adders will be looking to keep up their momentum throughout the festive period with upcoming away games against Lichfield and Brocton.

Yesterday was a tough day at the office for Studley who came up against a team in form. None the less, they competed well throughout first half and in the early stages of the second half and have quality on the ball to cause teams problems.

At this stage of the season the play offs might be a stretch but it’s a promising squad with a lot of potential to develop over the coming months. There’s quality with Kyle Moseley and Jamie Spiers impressing yesterday and causing Atherstone some problems at the back.

The Bees have upcoming games against OJM Black Country (Home) and Stone Old Alleynians (Away) over the festive period and are worth checking out for groundhoppers across the Redditch area.      

FT score: Atherstone Town 4-1 Studley

Man of the Match: Lewis Collins (Atherstone Town)

Attendance: 235

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

Solihull Sporting were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 6-0 defeat against promotion chasing Wake Green Amateur with a result against Kenilworth Sporting at Tudor Grange Academy Kingshurst yesterday afternoon.

It’s been an encouraging season for the hosts under manager Gavin Heath with eye catching wins against Lane Head in the LJ Cup alongside league wins against the likes of Gornal and Balsall and Berkswell. They were comfortably in mid table going into this match with 17 points from 16 matches.     

Kenilworth Sporting have been one of the form teams in division three under manager Ryan Dowsing of late and were coming off three consecutive wins coming into this match. It’s been a promising season for the visitors who have adapted well to step eight following promotion from the Stratford Upon Avon Football Alliance last season.

​They were in the top five going into this match and notably beat Wake Green Amateur 2-1 away from home a few weeks back. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Solihull Sporting included Cobie Braddish starting in goal and Keenan Latouche captaining the team from centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Roman Robinson leading the line up front and being supported by Tyler O’Neil and Harley Byrne on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Wake Green Amateur last weekend with Amahri Thomas coming into the line-up and playing in the number ten role.    

Kenilworth’s line up included Paul Lawrence starting in goal and captaining the side. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Dan Turner and Joe Gardner being supported by Brendan Luff from attacking midfield.

There were seven changes from their last league match against BNJS a month ago with Tom Hackett coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Sean Woodfield. 

​First Half

There were a few half chances for both teams in the early stages of the first half with Brendan Luff finding some space in the box before firing over the bar for Kenilworth Sporting. Harley Byrne made a positive run down the left-hand side for Solihull Sporting at the other end before squaring it to Amahri Thomas who fired wide.

The host were committing players forward and threatening from set pieces throughout the first half. They looked well organised off the ball and limited Kenilworth Sporting to half chances in the opening half hour. Keenan Latouche was reading the danger well at centre back with Jacob Brownhill doing a good job of breaking up the play from holding midfield.

The visitors gradually grew into the match as it went on and started to build some momentum in the latter stages of the first half. Jake Comasky was linking up well from holding midfield and helping them build attacks in the final third.

Dan Turner also looked a threat for Kenilworth and was getting into some promising positions in and around the box. He got a shot off that was instinctively saved by Cobie Braddish in the Solihull goal to keep it at 0-0 and was doing well to hold up the play throughout the first half.

The visitors managed to take the lead in the closing stages following a couple of dangerous corners into the box. Solihull failed to clear a corner and Keenan Latouche got caught playing out from the back. Tom Hackett reacted well to the loose ball before producing a composed finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 going into the break.

Second Half

Solihull Sporting had a good fifteen-minute spell in the second half and were taking the game to Kenilworth Sporting in search of the equaliser. They were just lacking that final ball into the box, but the effort and endeavour was there yesterday from the hosts.

Kenilworth managed to see out the pressure from Solihull with Sean Woodfield and Tom Hackett reading the danger well at the back. The visitors had one of the best defensive records in the division coming into this match with just 25 goals conceded from 15 matches and looked well organised defensively.      

The visitors had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the middle of the second half when Brendan Luff played a brilliant ball to Dan Turner who headed wide of the left-hand post.

It was starting to click for Kenilworth in the latter stages of the second half and they had a promising twenty-minute spell in front of goal. Former AFC Coventry Rangers striker Jordan Powell was bought off the bench for the visitors with half an hour to go and looked a threat in the final third.

The visitors made it 2-0 when a good cross field ball found Sean Woodfield at the back post who headed into the net to effectively seal the match. Jordan Powell also found some space in the box before firing wide of the right-hand post.  

The chances kept coming for Kenilworth late on. Tom Hackett made an inspired run from centre back and beat a few players before going through one on one with just Cobie Braddish to beat. He produced a quality finish into the bottom left corner to round off the scoring for Kenilworth.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Kenilworth getting their fourth consecutive win and cementing their position in the top five.

Full Time

Solihull Sporting competed well with Kenilworth Sporting yesterday and were undone by moments of quality from the visitors alongside the odd mistake at the back. None the less, it was an encouraging performance from Solihull who showed character coming off the 6-0 loss against Wake Green.

There were a lot of good performances with Keenan Latouche reading the game well at centre back and Henry Bird having an underrated game from left back. Jacob Brownhill also played well from holding midfield and offered composure on the ball to build attacks.

Their upcoming schedule includes games against Feckenham (Away) and Castle Vale Town (Away) before playing AFC Birmingham (Home) and Wake Green Amateur (Away) in the new year.

Kenilworth Sporting were able to produce when it mattered to get the win yesterday. They looked well organised defensively with Sean Woodfield and Tom Hackett impressing at centre back. There’s attacking quality on the ball with Jake Comasky and Dan Turner making things happen in the final third.            

Their upcoming games include the likes of AFC Birmingham (Away), Leamington Hibernian (Home), Feckenham (Home) and Continental Star (Away) over the next few weeks.      

FT score: Solihull Sporting 0-3 Kenilworth Sporting

Man of the match: Tom Hackett (Kenilworth Sporting)

Attendance: 25

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League