​Sutton United were looking to cause another upset in the MFL league cup yesterday evening against premier division side Atherstone Town. It’s been a brilliant season for the Greens under the management team of Richard Heath and Liam Burke so far at step six. The club went on a historic run to the fourth-round proper of the FA Vase and are challenging for a top half finish in division one.

Atherstone Town are challenging for a play off spot in the premier division and are building something under manager Mitch Thomson who was appointed in the middle of last season. The Adders notably beat Brocton 2-1 in their last competitive match on the 28th of December with the weather causing havoc since the turn of the year.

The atmosphere around Coleshill Road was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The facilities in the clubhouse are impressive for the level and there’s a wide selection of drinks available for supporters. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton included Aidan Jeynes starting in goal and Matt Bishop captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Hayden Froggatt playing up front and being supported by Abdul Touaiti and Oli Jeeves on the wings.

There were five changes from their match against Saffron Dynamo at the weekend with Tion Pearce coming back into the team and playing at right-back.

Atherstone Town’s starting line up included Finley Osborn starting in goal and Lewis Noon captaining the team from central midfield. The formation looked like a 4-4-2 with a front two of Ryan Harkin and Mitchell Woakes being supported by Toby Nicoll and Jack Edwards on the wings.

There were two changes from their last match against Brocton with Toby Nicoll and Jack Edwards the only changes.  

​First Half

Sutton United settled into the match in the early stages of the first half and were moving the ball around well thanks to the passing of Sef Semlali and Sam Jeeves from holding midfield.

Atherstone started to build some momentum in the middle of the first half and were pressing high up the pitch to limit the space for Sutton when playing out from the back. Their best chance to make it 1-0 came when Jack Wells found some space in the box before firing over the bar.

​The Adders showed their quality in the first half with Tom Smith building attacks from midfield and creating space down the channels. Niall Rowe was also defending well at centre back and alert to the danger of Sutton up front.

The visitors had a lot of the ball throughout the first half and were looking to break down a resolute Sutton side who were working hard off the ball to limit the space available. The Greens were mainly playing on the counter attack in the first half but looked a threat up front with Joe Gildea holding up the play well and bringing players into the game.

Sutton United were able to keep the match tight thanks to the defending of Matt Bishop and George Ray at centre back who were putting in blocks and cutting out dangerous balls into the box.  

The Greens had a few half chances in the first half when Joe Gildea had a shot from the edge of the box saved by Finley Osborn and Matt Bishop had a header go wide from a free kick into the box.  

Sutton were able to take the lead a few minutes before half time thanks to a brilliant run by Matt Bishop down the left-hand side who beat a few players before finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

It was not quite clicking for Atherstone in the final third throughout the first half and they were mainly limited to half chances. Their lack of matches due to the weather might have played a part alongside Sutton using the offside trap to stop promising attacks.

Second Half

Atherstone had a huge chance to get back into the match in the early stages of the second half when Tom Smith was free in the box with just Aidan Jeynes to beat at the back post. He made a well-timed run into the box but couldn’t quite connect with the ball for the equaliser.  

Sutton United scored on the break a couple of minutes later to make it 2-0. Hayden Froggatt found some space down the left-hand side before crossing to Oli Jeeves who finished at the front post for Sutton’s second.

The visitors showed some character and kept going in search of a way back into the match. They created some decent chances in and around the box but were lacking that ruthlessness in front of goal. Jack Edwards made a good run into the box but couldn’t get his shot on target to test Aidan Jeynes in the Sutton goal.  

Sutton were brilliant off the ball in this match and stayed focused throughout the ninety minutes to limit the clear-cut chances for Atherstone. Tion Pearce had an underrated game at right-back and defended well to stop some of Atherstone’s momentum down the left-hand side. Abdul Touaiti was also tracking back to take some of the pressure off Sutton defensively.  

There was a late chance to make it 3-0 when Hayden Froggatt ran into the box before getting a shot off that was saved by Finley Osborn a few minutes before full time.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Sutton United being one match away from a visit to the Bescot Stadium.  
Full Time

Sutton United have been brilliant at causing cup upsets this season against a range of teams higher up the pyramid and it continued yesterday with an eye-catching result against Atherstone. To reach the semi finals of the MFL league cup is a notable achievement for a division one side and puts them one win away from being in the final at the Bescot near the end of the season.

There’s a lot to play for over the next few months for the Greens who are pushing for a top half finish alongside getting to the semi-finals of the league cup.

Their upcoming league fixtures include Heather St John’s (Away), Gornal Athletic (Home), Chelmsley Town (Home) and Allexton and New Parks (Home) over the next few weeks.

Atherstone will feel a bit disappointed with the result yesterday but their having a good season and are well in the mix for a play off place in the premier division. There’s still a lot to play for and they should be an exciting side to follow over the next few months.  

Their upcoming league fixtures include Shifnal Town (Away), Northwich Victoria (Away), Shifnal Town (Home) and Uttoxeter Town (Away) over the next couple of weeks.                       

FT score: Sutton United 2-0 Atherstone Town

Man of the Match: Matt Bishop (Sutton United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League 

Nuneaton Town were looking to continue their brilliant form with a result against high-flying Kirby Muxloe yesterday afternoon. The Warwickshire side have really grown into the season and put together a consistent run of results over the last few months to sit top of the table. They were coming off five consecutive wins coming into this match and five points ahead of Heather St John’s in 2nd.   

Kirby Muxloe were one of the form teams in division one going into yesterday’s match and were coming off eight consecutive wins in the league. It’s been clicking up front for the Leicester side of late with 27 goals scored from their last ten league games. The visitors have been a welcome addition to division one and are firmly in the play-off hunt going into the final few months of the season.

Pre-match

The atmosphere around the Oval was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The people at the club were helpful and down to earth and the set-up is impressive for the level. There was a wide selection of Nuneaton Town merchandise and programmes available in the clubhouse which was beneficial for both regular followers of Nuneaton and more casual supporters of the club.   

The match day programme was informative and interesting to read yesterday. There was an update on where the club is at alongside it’s values such as striving for transparency and engagement with supporters.

The ‘Back to Nuneaton’ campaign fund was prevalent in the programme, and it mentioned how additional match day revenue would go towards it. There was also a mention of having a ‘fan forum’ where supporters can bring ideas forward for improving the club. It sounded positive and encouraging for the long-term future of Nuneaton Town.   

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Nuneaton included Brandon Bache starting in goal and Corey Currithers captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Danico Johnson leading the line up front and being supported by Stuart Hendrie and James Harrison on the wings.

There were three changes from their last league match against Wednesfield a fortnight ago with James Harrison coming back into the team and playing on the wing.

Kirby Muxloe’s starting line up included Charlie Andrews starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Zakari Adams leading the line up front and being supported by Brogan Greenwood and Lucca Watson-Quilter on the wings.

There was one change from their last league match against Sutton United a fortnight ago with Jack Gunn coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Tyler Love. 

​First Half

Nuneaton started the match positively and were looking to take the game to Kirby Muxloe early on.

They were committing players forward inside the opening fifteen minutes and putting pressure on the Kirby Muxloe goal. Danico Johnson looked a threat up front and did well to hold up the play to bring players into the game. Declan Somel was also moving the ball about well from midfield and has that quality to create space and create chances.

Nuneaton found the breakthrough in the 13th minute when left-back Callum Carsley struck a free kick from the edge of the box that found the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

​Josh Gunn was sin binned following the goal for an incident off the ball which reduced Kirby Muxloe to ten men and gave Nuneaton momentum in search of a second goal. The best chance for Nuneaton to make it 2-0 for the ten minutes that Kirby Muxloe had a player sin binned was when Declan Somel found some space in the box before squaring it to Callum Carsley who fired wide.

The visitors showed some character in the first half and gradually grew into the match at 1-0 down. Daryl Russell was defending well at centre back and reading the danger to cut out numerous Nuneaton attacks in the final third. The Leicester side had a half chance to get an equaliser when Tyler Love had a shot from range saved by Brandon Bache.    

​Just as Kirby Muxloe were building some momentum near the half hour mark, Nuneaton got them on the counterattack. Aaron Williams was fouled in the box for a penalty following a quick break. Loyiso Recci stepped up and took a powerful spot kick that deflected off Charlie Andrews and into the net for 2-0.

Nuneaton managed to make it 3-0 a few minutes before half time thanks to a moment of quality. Dominic Perkins played a defence splitting pass that found Danico Johnson who made a brilliant run off the shoulder. He raced through on goal before finishing across Charlie Andrews into the bottom right corner.    

Not long after the referee blew for the half time whistle with Nuneaton looking organised at the back and clinical up front to take a 3-0 lead going into the break.

​Second Half

Kirby Muxloe showed character in the early stages of the second half and got a quick goal to get back in the match. A well delivered corner was played to the back post and found Josh Gunn who headed into the bottom left corner to pull a goal back and make it 3-1.

This was a crucial moment in the match and completely changed the momentum with Nuneaton hanging on for parts of the second half.

Kirby Muxloe had a good fifteen-minute spell in front of goal where they were able to show their attacking quality in front of an impressive crowd of 418 supporters. Zakari Adams and Lucca Watson-Quilter were taking players on and looking to make things happen in the final third throughout the second half.

The visitors were building some pressure on the Nuneaton goal and pulled another goal back on the hour mark to make it 3-2. Zakari Adams took a quality free kick that sailed into the top right corner to stun the home crowd at the Oval.

Nuneaton looked to seal the match a few minutes later and had a guilt edged opportunity to make it 4-2 when a well worked corner found Dominic Perkins who couldn’t quite get his header on target.

Kirby Muxloe were going for the equaliser late on and threatening the Nuneaton goal. Dominic Perkins and Loyiso Recci did an underrated job of standing up to the pressure from the visitors and reading the danger well to keep it at 3-2.  

The best chance of a late equaliser came when Josh Gunn found some space on the edge of the box. He beat a few players before putting his shot over the bar from a decent position.

In a lengthy period of stoppage time, Nuneaton managed to make it 4-2 on the counter attack to seal the match. Danico Johnson raced through on goal before producing a clinical finish into the bottom left corner.       

Nuneaton Town made it 5-2 in the last few minutes of stoppage time when substitute James Spruce reacted quickest to a shot that came off the bar before finishing into the bottom left corner.

The referee blew for the full time whistle a few minutes later to make it six consecutive wins for Nuneaton and keep the five-point lead over Heather St John’s intact who beat Gornal Athletic 2-0 yesterday.  

Full Time

Nuneaton played well yesterday and showed both sides of the game to get a huge win against play off chasing Kirby Muxloe. They took their chances well with Danico Johnson and James Spruce impressing and Declan Somel offering quality from midfield. They also worked hard off the ball with Dominic Perkins and Loyiso Recci playing well at the back.

Kirby Muxloe showed character to come back in the second half and set up a tense ending to the game. They worked hard with Daryl Russell and Tyler Love breaking up the play to give them a foothold in the match. Zakari Adams and Lucca Watson-Quilter impressed in the second half and have that attacking quality to cause teams problems.

This was a brilliant match to watch yesterday at the Oval and a good advert for MFL Division One football.    

FT score: Nuneaton Town 5-2 Kirby Muxloe

Man of the Match: Danico Johnson (Nuneaton Town)

Attendance: 418

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League