Lichfield City v Highgate United (Play off, semi final)

​Lichfield City were looking for a huge result against Highgate United to progress to the play off final next Saturday and keep their unbeaten record at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium. The Staffordshire side had been outstanding at home throughout the league season with thirteen wins from 17 matches. They were looking to keep that going yesterday afternoon.  

Highgate United were looking to cause a bit of an upset against Lichfield City. It’s a big week for the visitors who are also involved in the MFL League cup final against Congleton Town at the Bescot Stadium. It’s been an excellent couple of weeks, and they got in the play offs courtesy of a eye catching 12-0 win against relegated Bewdley Town in their final game of the season.  

The Play-off format has been introduced this season at step five and it’s really benefited the MFL Premier and kept a lot of seasons alive for teams competing in the top half of the table in the hope of making the play offs. The other semi final involved Darlaston Town taking on Stourport Swifts at the Paycare Stadium.   

The atmosphere prior to kick off was brilliant and the set up at Lichfield City was friendly and welcoming. There was a programme, a club pin badge and the latest issue of MFL Matters available for supporters at the turnstiles which added to the experience. There was a notable number of Villa and Tamworth fans who turned up to support Lichfield which was good to see.  

​Starting Line Ups

Lichfield’s starting line up included James Beeson starting in goal and captaining the team. The formation appeared to be a 4-2-3-1 with Dan Smith playing up front and being supported by Jack Edwards and Liam Kirton on the wings. Jordan Clement was playing in a number ten role.

There were three changes from the team that started against Studley a few weeks ago with Jamie Elkes coming back into the team and playing in central defence.     

The starting line up for Highgate United featured Reece Francis starting in goal and Aaron Williams captaining the team from central defence. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Ryan Harkin and Aaron Brown.

There were three changes from the team that started against Bewdley Town a few weeks ago with Ben Vallance coming into the team and playing as part of a back three. 

​First Half

Lichfield started the match brightly and took the game to Highgate early on. They committed players into the box looking to take the initiative and were rewarded in the 7th minute when Dan Smith produced an excellent finish into the bottom left corner. It was promising start from Lichfield and helped them settle into the match within the opening ten minutes.

​They had a good chance to make it 2-0 in the 10th minute when Liam Kirton made a run down the right-hand side before playing a brilliant cross that found Dominic Lewis who headed over the bar.

A goalkeeping mistake by Reece Francis allowed Dan Smith to capitalise and he produced a composed finish in the 14th minute to make it 2-0 to Lichfield. The visitors were struggling early on and it was not quite clicking in the final third.

Their best chance to reduce the deficit and get into the match came in the twentieth minute when Bassit Manday did well to beat the offside trap and was one on one with James Beeson before having a shot saved. It was a snapshot into what Highgate were capable of in the final third and a warning for Lichfield.  

The hosts responded well and produced a timely goal to take control of the match a few minutes later. An excellent long ball was played to Jack Edwards on the left-hand side of the box who produced a quality finish into the net to make it 3-0.

Lichfield then got a penalty near the half hour mark to have the opportunity to make it 4-0. Jack Edwards stepped up and his effort was well saved by Reece Francis in the Highgate goal who made up for the earlier mistake and kept the visitors in the match.

The main concern for Lichfield in the first half was the injury to prolific forward Dan Smith who had to be taken off on a stretcher a few minutes before half time. He was substituted for Demitri Brown who filled in up front and looked promising. None the less, if Dan Smith is ruled out for next week’s play off final it could be a huge blow for Lichfield.

Second Half

The early stages of the second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Lichfield having a control of the match and looking to make things happen in the final third. A good corner into the box by Luke Childs found Dominic Lewis in the box who headed over the bar. 

The visitors had more clear-cut chances throughout the second half and Ryan Harkin had a good chance through on goal near the hour mark with his shot being saved by James Beeson.

Luke Childs had an excellent curling effort go over the bar for Lichfield from long range in the middle of the half.

Highgate were starting in build some momentum in the last twenty minutes of the match and showed character to keep going in search of a goal to set up a nervy finish. Lichfield were mainly content in holding on and seeing the match out to progress to the final.

The visitors were awarded with a penalty late on for their efforts with a push in the box resulting in a spot kick.  Aaron Brown stepped up and took a composed penalty into the left corner to make it 3-1 going into injury time. There was an excellent chance to set up a grandstand finish when substitute Jake Collins was in acres of space before having an effort go wide of the post.

Lichfield did enough to see the match out in the final stages to set up a crucial play off final against Darlaston Town on the 4th May who beat Stourport Swifts 3-1 yesterday afternoon.

Full Time

This was an excellent game to watch for the neutral and both teams were going for it and looking to make things happen rather than waiting for the mistake. Play off games can tend to be attritional due to the circumstances and the pressure of the occasion. This match was the complete opposite of that and it’s a credit to both sides that they were willing to be positive and play on the front foot.

Lichfield stuck to their possession style which has served them so well this season and were looking to build goal scoring opportunities in and around the box. Jordan Clement was brilliant yesterday and he’s got that quality on the ball to make a real difference in matches like this. His reading of the game stood out and he linked up the play effectively.

Highgate United showed character and resolve to make a game of it in the second half and caused Lichfield a few problems. Ryan Harkins looked a threat in the final third and was holding up the play well for the visitors. Bassit Manday also looked promising in the final third and was making some good runs off the ball to create chances.     

Ben Vallance had an underrated game from the left of a back three and looked defensively solid against some quality players at this level. He was making some big blocks and interceptions in the second half to keep Highgate in the match. George Cleet also looked good defensively and was blocking dangerous shots in the box.  

Overall, this was an enjoyable match yesterday and an excellent occasion to showcase Lichfield’s season in the premier division to a wider audience. One of the benefits of the play offs is the value of drawing more casual supporters in and it was encouraging to see yesterday.            

FT score: Lichfield City 3-1 Highgate United

Attendance: 424

Man of the match: Dan Smith (Lichfield City)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League