MFL Division Two (Weekend Preview)

AFC Coventry Rangers V Earlswood Town

​AFC Coventry Rangers are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the season having won every game of the season so far. All of the club’s games have been at the Coventry Technical Sporting Club and they have made it a fortress throughout the first month of the season with six wins from six matches.

In total they have scored 19 goals and conceded just 5 in their six matches and are in good form going into this match. Jordan Powell, Samuel Dunkley and Curtis Cutts have started the season well and have four goals each for the hosts.

Earlswood have had a positive start to the season under new manager Joel Hughes and are competing near the top of the division. The club’s form throughout August was excellent and they remained undefeated against tough opposition such as Central Ajax. The Earls have picked up 13 points from their last five matches in division two and Louis Bridges and Daniel Elwell have impressed with four goals each.

This match is one of the standout fixtures from the division this weekend. Hopefully there’s a good turnout to see two teams in form and challenging near the top of the league.       

Bolehall Swifts V Coventry Alvis

Bolehall got a vital win against Inkberrow on bank holiday Monday to kickstart their season in division two following a challenging start to the season. The Swifts have a new look squad this season and building a run of momentum could be key to pushing up the table throughout September.

The Tamworth based club have homes games this month and play the likes of Cadbury Athletic and Coventrians at Rene Road alongside tough away trips to AFC Coventry Rangers and Birmingham United. David Yonwin is the club’s top goal scorer with four goals which included a brace on Monday.

Coventry Alvis had a tough bank holiday weekend and were surprisingly beaten by Feckenham away from home in the LJ cup and lost at home to an in-form Hampton on Monday. The club were in a good run of form prior to that with three wins from their last four matches in division two. Jagit Aujla is the club’s top scorer with six goals and Jack Low has also impressed with four goals for Alvis. 

Both teams will want to get a result from this match and push up the table.   

Central Ajax V Inkberrow

Central Ajax have adapted well to MFL Division two and are unbeaten at home so far this season with 9 points from four matches in the league at Ajax Park. The club’s only loss of the season was away to Earlswood Town on Monday and the Warwickshire club have made their ground a fortress.

Shaye Eden is the team’s top scorer with 11 goals from six matches started. The hosts will want to continue their impressive home form against Inkberrow on Saturday and continue challenging near the top of the table.

Inkberrow have had a challenging start to the season and are yet to get a win in division two. They also lost to Gornal in the Les James Challenge cup last Saturday. The visitors have conceded a total of 18 goals in division two from five matches and will be up against it on Saturday against the division’s top goal scorer in Shaye Eden.   

Coventrians V Alcester Town

Coventrians are another club who have had a challenging start to the season, and have lost all of their games in division two. They have conceded 15 goals from four matches and scored three in the league. One of the positives for the hosts was the result on bank holiday Monday where they narrowly lost to Fairfield Villa. The result showed Coventrians are capable of competing in the division and was something to build on.

This match is the club’s first home game of the season and hopefully a good crowd of home supporters can turn up and cheer the team on at the Colliery Sports Ground.

Alcester have had a positive start to the season in division two with 9 points from five matches. They lost to AFC Coventry Rangers and Redditch Borough who should be challenging near the top of the division and beat Knowle, Cadbury Athletic and Bolehall Swifts.

​The Romans have had a steady first month and are up there competing near the top of the division. Ricardo Richards is the team’s top scorer with five goals for the club.     

Fairfield Villa V Birmingham United

Fairfield Villa have grown into the season and have picked up seven points from their last three matches in division two. The Bromsgrove based club are comfortably in mid table and will look to push on and challenge for a top half finish. The hosts have been steady at home with seven points from four matches in the division and are through to the second round of the LJ cup, beating Coventrians last weekend.

Birmingham United had a positive bank holiday weekend and beat Lane head on Monday to climb up the division. They have eight points from five matches and are also through to the second round of the LJ cup. Similar to Fairfield, they are comfortably in mid table and will look to push up the table throughout September.   

Knowle V Hampton

Knowle have grown into the season. The Robins had a positive bank holiday weekend where they beat Cadbury Athletic in the division and progressed to the second round of the LJ cup. The Solihull based club have picked up 10 points from five matches and are well placed to be challenging near the top of the division this season. The club are going a bit under the radar but having a good season so far. 

Hampton have started the season well and are up there competing near the top of the table. Similar to Knowle, the visitors have ten points from their last four matches in the league and Ciaran Lawless has been excellent up front. He’s got seven goals for the Solihull club who are currently playing their home games at New Mill Lane. The club are also safely through to the second round of the LJ cup and should be going into this one with a lot of confidence. 

Littleton V Cadbury Athletic

Littleton have had a challenging start to the season in the league but played well in the LJ cup last Saturday where they beat an in-form Castle Vale Town from division three 4-1 at Five Acres. The Worcester club have admittedly played tough opposition throughout August and will look to get a result this Saturday.

The club have teams they will be looking to pick up points against in September and play Lane Head (Away) and Coventrians (Home) in the next few weeks.

Cadbury have also had a challenging start to the season and have lost all four of their matches in division two. There’s been a few encouraging signs in terms of the performances, and they narrowly lost to Knowle on Monday.

All of the club’s matches have been away from home so far with the club’s first home game against Lane Head on the 16th September at the Bournville Recreation Ground. Similar to Littleton, this will be a game where the club will be looking to get a result and push on from sitting near the relegation spots.      

Redditch Borough V Lane Head

Redditch Borough have had a positive start to the season and have been building a bit of momentum in the league with seven points from their last three matches. The hosts have been good at the back with two clean sheets from four matches and conceded just two goals this season.

​John Edwards has got the squad playing well and they have a game in hand over their rivals near the top of the division. New signing James Ward has impressed with five goals for the team having played well for Alcester Town last season. 

Lane head have an ok start to the season with a few highlights throughout the month of August. They beat Fairfield Villa at home with Josh Lewis scoring the winner and performed well against a quality Wake Green Amateur team from division three last Saturday to reach the second round of the LJ cup. Josh Lewis is the team’s top scorer with three goals scored in the league. 

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League