FA VASE AND LEAGUE ACTION ON SATURDAY

The Isuzu FA Vase 4th Round kicks off on Saturday with Midland Football League interest retained by three clubs. Premier Division leaders Walsall Wood travel to Tring Athletic, whilst AFC Wulfrunians and Atherstone Town both have home ties against Anstey Nomads and Hartpury University respectively.

In league action, second placed Shifnal Town will be hoping to close the gap on Walsall Wood when they travel to Tythe Barn Lane for an early 2pm kick off against Highgate United who sit in seventh. Only six points separate Shifnal Town in second from Lichfield City in ninth so there is all to play for at the top of the table. Several of those in the chasing pack play each other on Saturday with Lichfield City hosting Racing Club Warwick (5th), and Lye Town (8th) hosting Stourport Swifts (4th). At the other end of the table there is a huge game at the Greenfields Sports Ground when Market Drayton (20th) play Wolverhampton Casuals (19th) in a match with real importance in the relegation battle. 

Saturday's Isuzu FA Vase 4th Round fixtures:

AFC Wulfrunians vs Anstey Nomads
Atherstone Town vs Hartpury University
Tring Athletic vs Walsall Wood

Saturday's Midland Football League Premier Division fixtures:

Highgate United vs Shifnal Town - 14:00
Lichfield City vs Racing Club Warwick - 15:00
Lye Town vs Stourport Swifts - 15:00
Market Drayton Town vs Wolverhampton Casuals - 15:00
Stone Old Alleynians vs Darlaston Town (1874) - 15:00
Tividale vs Romulus - 15:00
Whitchurch Alport vs Bewdley Town - 15:00
Worcester City vs Studley - 15:00

There is a reduced programme in Division 1 with only six fixtures scheduled to take place. At the top, league leaders travel to bottom club Haughmond. Play-off chasing OJM Black Country and Droitwich Spa both face potentially tricky away trips to Paget Rangers and Shawbury United respectively, whilst ever-improving Heath Hayes will be looking to pull away from the bottom three when they host Nuneaton Griff at the Coppice Colliery Ground. 

Saturday's Midland Football League Division 1 Fixtures:

Coventry Copsewood vs. Cradley Town - 15:00
Haughmond vs. Dudley Town - 15:00
Heath Hayes vs. Nuneaton Griff - 15:00
Ingles vs. Coton Green - 15:00
Paget Rangers vs. OJM Black Country - 14:00
Shawbury United vs. Droitwich Spa - 15:00

There is a massive game at the top of Division 2 on Saturday when Cadbury Athletic (2nd) host Sutton United (1st), a win for the hosts will close the gap at the top to just four points, however a win for the visitors will see Sutton United extend their lead at the top to a massive ten points. AFC Coventry Rangers may be sitting in mid-table, but they have up to four games in hand on the teams above them and will be looking to close the gap when they travel to Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Two more of the chasing pack meet as Fairfield Villa (5th) host Knowle (3rd).

Saturday's Midland Football League Division 2 fixtures:

​Alcester Town vs. Barnt Green Spartak - 14:00
Boldmere S & SF vs. AFC Coventry Rangers - 14:00
Cadbury Athletic vs. Sutton United - 14:00
Earlswood Town vs. Inkberrow - 14:00
Fairfield Villa vs. Knowle - 14:00

The promotion race in Division 3 is probably the most exciting one for many years. Just six points separate the top six clubs, not bad in a division which only has 13 teams. None of the six promotion chasing sides face each other on Saturday, so it could be all change at the top come the weekend's end. DSC United (6th) travel to AFC Birmingham (9th), AFC Solihull (2nd) host Sutton Rangers (8th) and divisional leaders Coventrians (1st) travel to bottom club Birmingham Tigers (13th). Elsewhere, Wake Green Ameturs (2nd) travel to the Hub to face Continental Star (10th) and there's a local derby at Vale Stadium where Castle Vale Town (12th) entertain Solihull Sporting (7th).

Saturday's Midland Football League Division 3 fixtures:

AFC Birmingham vs. DSC United - 14:00
AFC Solihull vs. Sutton Rangers - 14:00
Birmingham Tigers vs. Coventrians - 14:00
Castle Vale Town vs. Solihull Sporting - 15:00
Continental Star vs. Wake Green Amateurs - 14:00

Fixtures for other matches taking place in the Midland Football League can be found via the links below:

Reserve Division - Midland Football League RFL (thefa.com)
Under 21 East - Midland Football League RFL (thefa.com)
Under 21 West - ​Midland Football League RFL (thefa.com)