Lichfield City V Highgate United (Premier Division)

​Lichfield were looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 1-0 loss to Stone Old Alleynians with a result against Highgate United to get their title challenge back on track. The Staffordshire side had been one of the forms team in the MFL over the last month with four wins from their last five matches coming into this weekend.

They were also looking to better their points tally from last season where they finished on 73 points to come in 2nd before missing out on promotion in the play offs. Two wins from their last three matches would be enough to go up as league champions and get over the line.      

Highgate United have been more competitive of late and were not too far adrift of survival coming into this match. The visitors were only a point off Tividale in 16th with three matches remaining and were looking to cause an eye-catching upset against the league leaders yesterday.

The Gate were looking to build on last weekend’s momentum building 4-3 win over title challengers Shifnal Town to boost their chances of staying up. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Lichfield included Brendon Bunn starting in goal and Dan Lomas captaining the team from central midfield. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Jamie Spiers and Liam Kirton being supported by Callum Griffin in the number ten role.

There were three changes from their match against Stone Old Alleynians last weekend with Tom Brown coming back into the team and playing in central midfield alongside Dan Lomas.  

Highgate’s starting line up included Jack Sandell starting in goal and Jack Ricketts captaining the team at centre back.The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Ihsan Rehman and Kyle Hayden being supported by Randy Osei in the number ten role.

There were two changes from their match against Shifnal Town last weekend with Linton Chakki coming into the team and playing as part of a back three alongside Jack Ricketts and Jahmari Hyatt. 

​First Half

Lichfield got off to a strong start to settle any nerves and took the game to Highgate inside the opening ten minutes.

They were committing players forward and making numerous runs into the box to stretch the Highgate defence. The front two of Jamie Spiers and Liam Kirton were causing problems for the visitors throughout the first half and linking up the play well in the final third.  

​There was a good chance for Jamie Spiers to open the scoring for Lichfield early on. Jack Sandell reacted well and made a good save to keep it at 0-0 to give the visitors a chance of settling into the match.

Lichfield found the breakthrough a few minutes later when Joe Haines made an inspired run into the box before producing a quality finish into the top left corner for 1-0. 

The Staffordshire side made the most of their early momentum and found another goal to make it 2-0 after nine minutes. Callum Griffin found some space in the box before showing brilliant technique to get the ball down and finish into the top right corner for Lichfield’s second.

Highgate were struggling to build any momentum in front of goal to trouble Lichfield throughout the first half. Randy Osei looked a threat from attacking midfield and made some decent runs, but Lichfield were doing a good job of limiting the chances for Highgate and worked hard off the ball to stop the visitors growing into it.   

Leighton McMenemy was reading the danger well at centre back for Lichfield as part of a back three and constantly cutting out threatening Highgate attacks. Dan Lomas was also linking up the play well from holding midfield and using his experience to drive the team on.  

​It was all clicking for Lichfield up front yesterday and they made it 3-0 when Jamie Spiers made a brilliant run into the box before squaring it to Callum Griffin at the back post who finished well on 22 minutes.  

The league leaders made it 4-0 on the half hour mark when a quality corner found Leighton McMenemy at the back post who found some space before heading in to effectively settle the match.  

It was a tough situation for the visitors, but there were a few players who showed some character despite the scoreline. Jack Ricketts defended well at centre back and was leading by example at the back.  

Lichfield produced a moment of magic to make it 5-0 near the end of the first half when Joe Haines made another inspired run from centre back. He found some space down the left before crossing it to Jamie Spiers who produced a brilliant header into the bottom left corner.

Second Half

One of the most encouraging things about yesterday was how Lichfield didn’t let up in the second half and wanted to press on in search of more goals.

​Liam Kirton made a good run down the right where he beat a few players before squaring it to Jamie Spiers who calmy finished into the bottom right corner to make it 6-0 on 54 minutes.

They made it 7-0 in the middle of the second half when an inviting free kick found Callum Rudd who flicked the ball on into the back post.

Highgate had a good chance to make it 7-1 when a miscommunication at the back allowed Randy Osei through on goal with just Brendon Bunn to beat. The Lichfield keeper stepped up and made an instinctive save to keep the clean sheet intact.

Lichfield were clinical and made the most of their chances to make it 8-0 near the end of the second half when substitute Jordan Clement found some space from a direct throw in into the box before heading in at the back post.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Lichfield continuing their impressive home form this season and making it thirteen wins from sixteen matches at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium.

The league leaders are on 76 points with two games to go and have a chance of beating Congleton’s point tally of 81 from last season if they can win out.   

The gap at the top is still four points with 2nd placed Shifnal winning 2-0 at Stone Old Alleynians yesterday.    

Full Time

Lichfield were on it throughout this match, and they looked a threat every time they went forward. Every part of the team played well, and they looked like a team going for the league title.

Jamie Spiers really impressed as the number nine. He made some quality runs into the box and was linking up the play well in the final third. He’s been a good addition to the squad since joining from Studley and adds to their attacking options up front.   

Goal difference could play a huge part in the title race this season and the win yesterday gives Lichfield a marginally better goal difference than Shifnal.

Lichfield’s remaining fixtures include playing Whitchurch Alport (Away) and Romulus (Home) over the next few weeks to wrap up the season. A win would be enough to be crowned league champions.

It was a tough day at the office for Highgate United yesterday. Despite the scoreline, they showed some fight and it’s all about looking forward for the visitors in their hopes of avoiding the drop.

They have two fixtures left to try and finish above Tividale who lost against AFC Wulfrunians yesterday.

A win against either Brocton (Away) or Whitchurch Alport (Home) over the next few weeks could be enough to avoid relegation. It’s all about regrouping for the visitors and not letting this result derail their run in.                    

FT score: Lichfield City 8-0 Highgate United

Man of the Match: Jamie Spiers (Lichfield City)

Attendance: 352

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League