​Chasetown were looking to cap off an impressive season in the MFL development division with a piece of silverware. The scholars came close to lifting the challenge trophy last season before falling short to Sutton United Reserves on penalties. 

The Staffordshire side have been consistent in the league with only two losses from sixteen matches to finish in 2nd behind division champions Tamworth Academy U23s. Their home form has been impressive with only nine goals conceded and just one loss from eight league matches.

Solihull Academy have been a good addition to the division since joining last summer. The visitors have made a notable impact at this level and have managed to get some eye-catching results this season. This includes doing the league double over Chasetown and beating Tamworth in the challenge trophy 2-1 a few weeks back. 

The visitors were looking to cause an upset yesterday to reach the final of the challenge trophy.

The winner will play Harborough Town U23s who beat Hednesford Town development on Friday to reach the final which is due to be played at Bedworth United on the 24th of May with a 2pm KO.

​Starting line ups

Chasetown’s starting line-up included Harley Gray starting in goal and Oscar Wyton captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Remmiko Harper playing up front and being supported by Kaireice Cunningham and Ahmed Ayaan on the wings.

There were four changes from their match against Paget Rangers development last weekend with Jovan Shocker coming into the team and playing at right back.

The starting line-up for Solihull included Cian Quinn starting in goal and Luke Cowley captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Daniel Olaloko playing up front and being supported by Arnaldo Primera Basilo and Mason Chisholm on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Tamworth a fortnight ago with Mac McNulty-Hartnett coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Alex Murray. 

​First Half

The match got off to a lively start with both sides having good chances to take an early lead.

Ahmed Ayaan found some space in the box before dragging a shot wide of the left-hand post for Chasetown inside the opening five minutes.

Solihull came close to making it 1-0 at the other end when Mac McNulty-Hartnett got a shot off that hit the crossbar on 10 minutes. 

The visitors were positive on the ball and looking to make things happen throughout the first half. Mason Chisholm was taking players on down the right-hand side and looked a threat for Solihull. He raced through on goal before having his shot well saved by Harley Gray in the Chasetown goal.

​The game was open for a semi-final with both sides going for it. Chasetown created a good chance when Remmiko Harper made a brilliant run into the box before having a shot well blocked for a corner after 13 minutes.

Chasetown managed to find the breakthrough on 19 minutes when Remmiko Harper found some space in the final third before playing a well weighted ball to Kaireice Cunningham. He had just Cian Quinn to beat and produced a classy finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0. 

Solihull showed character and kept going at 1-0 down in search of a way back into the match. Emmanuel Olaloko impressed from attacking midfield and was driving the visitors on in search of an equaliser. He helped link up the play and create space for other players from the number ten role. 

A defensive mix up at the back allowed Daniel Olaloko through on goal who anticipated the mistake well. He ran into the box before having his shot saved by Harley Gray to keep it at 1-0 after 22 minutes.

The visitors made the most of their momentum in the middle of the first half and scored thanks to a direct corner that went into the top right corner. It caught Chasetown off guard and offered Solihull a way back into the match.

Solihull were committing players forward and taking the game to the scholars in the first half. Chasetown were standing up to the pressure well thanks to the likes of Tyler Clarke. He read the danger well at centre back and managed to get some crucial blocks in when it mattered.

Solihull took the lead near the end of the first half thanks to a quality finish from Emmanuel Olaloko into the bottom left corner to make it 2-1 on 39 minutes.

Chasetown’s best chance of an equaliser came when Daniel Clarkson struck a curling shot that was saved by Cian Quinn to keep it at 2-1 going into half time.

Second Half

Chasetown stepped it up in the second half and were looking to cause Solihull problems.

The scholars looked a bit more organised off the ball and were taking players on a bit more than the first half.

The scholars were awarded a penalty when Fabian Davis handballed in the box for a spot kick on 54 minutes. Kaireice Cunningham stepped up and took a quality spot kick into the top right corner to make it 2-2.

The Staffordshire side had the momentum and made the most of it to take a crucial lead a few minutes later. Kaireice Cunningham beat a few players down the right before sending a dangerous low ball into the box that was diverted into the net by Luke Cowley for an own goal.

It was unfortunate from a Solihull perspective who competed well with Chasetown up to that point. It came down to the fine margins in an even match. A few costly mistakes at the back resulted in the visitors chasing the game at 3-2 down.

Outside of the unlucky own goal, Luke Cowley impressed at centre back and lead by example for Solihull across the ninety minutes.

Chasetown had the chance to seal the game on 65 minutes when Remmiko Harper made another well-timed run into the box before sending a shot wide of the top right corner.

Solihull kept going in search of an equaliser and created some good chances in the final twenty minutes. Daniel Olakolo broke free at the back post before having a shot instinctively tipped round the post by Harley Gray. The Chasetown keeper stepped up yesterday and made some crucial saves for the scholars.         

The visitor’s best chance came when Emmanuel Olaloko sent a rebounded shot over the bar on 80 minutes.

Chasetown managed to see the game out and put in a professional performance to seal the match.

Jovan Shocker and Alfie Bunch did a good job of helping the scholars defensively in the second half. Both players made it harder for Solihull to play through them and managed to break up promising attacks to give Chasetown a control of the game late on.

The scholars sealed their place in the final in stoppage time when substitute Joe Worley produced a composed finish into the bottom right corner for 4-2.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Chasetown reaching their second consecutive challenge trophy final.

Full Time

The scholars will play Harborough Town at the Oval in late May. It promises to be an entertaining match with both sides finishing in the top three of the development division.

A lot of players stepped up for Chasetown in the second half when it mattered to get over the line. Kaireice Cunningham was brilliant and made a difference out on the wing. He was willing to take players on and stretch the Solihull defence which went a long way in deciding the result yesterday.   

Solihull will be gutted and just fell short against a quality Chasetown side. The visitors did themselves proud and played to their strengths against the scholars yesterday. They went for it and committed players forward in search of the win. It was just a few mistakes that cost them in the second half.               

FT score: Chasetown U23s 4-2 Solihull Academy

Man of the match: Kaireice Cunningham (Chasetown U23s)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League

Leicester St Andrews were looking to return to step five for the first time since 2018 with a statement result against Coton Green in the division one play off final. The Drews have been one of the standout teams this season and went on an unbelievable run of 14 matches unbeaten with 11 wins from January to April.      

It’s been a successful season for the Leicester side who have been a brilliant addition to the MFL since joining last summer from the UCL (Division One). They have built on last season’s 11th place finish to be competing near the top of division one. The summer additions of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills have helped them up front with 104 goals scored from 42 league games.    

Coton were looking to build on last weekend’s eye catching 2-0 win against Heather St John’s with another upset against Leicester St Andrews. The Green Army have been competing near the top of division one this season following some clever signings to boost the squad.

The Tamworth side have been on an upward trajectory since manager Nic Oakley joined the club sixteen months ago following a tough start to the 23/24 season.

One of the keys to their success has been their consistency with only 10 losses from 42 league matches to finish in 5th. The visitors have one of the best defensive records in the league with only 55 goals conceded. Cameron Lee and Matt Hunt have had impressive seasons at the back and there a tough side to break down. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Leicester St Andrews included Luke McAdam starting in goal and Tom Hill captaining the team from central midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with a front two of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills being supported by Jorrin John in the number ten role.

There were no changes from their semi final match against Cradley Town last weekend.

Coton’s starting line up included Lewis Landers starting in goal and Matt Hunt captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with a front two of Ollie Roome and James Henry being supported by Bashir Mohammed in the number ten role.

There was one change from their semi final match against Heather St Johns last weekend with Luke Fox coming into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Dean Morris.  

​First Half           

Coton started the match on the front foot and were taking the game to Leicester in the opening fifteen minutes. They settled into the play off final well and had an early chance when Ollie Roome found some space in the box before having a shot instinctively saved by Luke McAdam to keep it at 0-0 after eight minutes.

​Leicester gradually grew into the match as the first half went on and did a good job of dealing with the early pressure from Coton. Justin Peace was reading the danger well at centre back and helping the Drews settle into the match.

The first notable chance for Leicester came on 22 minutes when Greg Mills made a promising run on the edge of the box before having a shot comfortably saved by Lewis Landers.

Leicester capitalised on a goalkeeping mistake from Lewis Landers who missed his goal kick on 23 minutes. The Coton keeper tried to kick the ball forward but missed it and Josh Crossley finished into an open net to make it 1-0.

The Drews were well organised off the ball throughout the first half and did a good job of breaking up promising Coton attacks. Liam Canavan and Tom Hill were working hard and constantly tracking back to stop the visitors from building momentum in the opening 45 minutes.

Greg Mills was leading the line well for Leicester in the first half and made another promising run into the box. He found some space before playing a low ball to the back post where Matt Hunt diverted it into his own net for 2-0. It was a bit unlucky from a Coton perspective, but Leicester offered a genuine threat up front and were pressing for a third near the end of the first half.  

Corey Bucalossi took a free kick from the edge of the box that sailed just wide of the top left corner for Leicester on 40 minutes.

Coton showed character and were searching for a way back into the match before half time. Dean Morris struck a free kick that hit the crossbar on 42 minutes in one of the visitor’s best chances of the first half.

​Second Half

Leicester had a good chance in the early stages of the second half when Greg Mills played an intricate ball to Liam Canavan who fired over the bar on 50 minutes.

Coton found a way back into the match on 54 minutes when Ollie Roome put a clinical header into the top left corner to pull a goal back. He’s been brilliant in division one this season and produced when it mattered for the Green Army in the second half.

The visitors did a good job of closing down the midfield more in the second half with Dean Morris impressing in central midfield. He did well to break up the play and start off attacks for Coton and helped them build some momentum on the ball to trouble the Leicester goal.

Coton were pressing for the equaliser and found it when a quality ball into the back post found Ollie Roome who produced a classy finish for 2-2 on the hour mark.

The Tamworth side looked a bit more cohesive up front in the second half and were constantly pressing Leicester high up the pitch to stop them playing out from the back.

James Henry was also making some inspired runs with the ball down the right-hand side and helping Coton get up the pitch.

Luke McAdam had a good game in goal for Leicester yesterday and was reading the danger well to take the pressure off them in the second half. He was claiming balls from dangerous set pieces and kept the Drews in the game at 2-2.  

The best chance of a winner for Coton came when a good ball into the box by Tyrike Richards-Burke found Corey Powell who headed marginally wide of the right-hand post on 80 minutes.

Leicester applied some late pressure on the Coton goal in the final fifteen minutes and had some momentum in front of goal. Greg Mills looked a threat in the box, and the Drews were committing players forward. They were just missing that final ball into the box to stretch the Coton defence.

The second half finished with both sides level after ninety minutes and the play off final went to a penalty shootout.

The quality of the shootout should get plaudits with both sides producing brilliant spot kicks into the top corners. It came down to fine margins with Archie Wood having his effort saved by Lewis Landers who went the right way. The kick was on target, and the Coton keeper did well to save it.

Coton substitute Luke Keen stepped up to take the play off winning penalty. He took a brilliant spot kick into the top left corner to win the shootout 5-3 and seal promotion.

Full Time

The play-off loss was heartbreaking from a Leicester St Andrews perspective following an impressive season in division one. They gave it everything yesterday and just came up short in an evenly contested match.  

It’s been an impressive season overall and they will be looking to go again next year in step six.

Coton have been brilliant over the last few weeks. The Green Army have beaten the likes of Heather St John’s and Leicester St Andrews on their way to play off success.

Full credit to Nic Oakley, the coaching staff and the players for turning Coton into a promotion contender this season and getting it over the line for a historic promotion into step five.

FT score: Leicester St Andrews 2-2 Coton Green (Coton win 5-3 on penalties)

Man of the match: Ollie Roome (Coton Green)

Attendance: 923

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League