MFL mid-season review (Division One, part two)

​Droitwich Spa

League position: 3rd

FA Vase: First qualifying round

MFL League cup: Third Round

Droitwich have been excellent in division one and are challenging for the play offs going into the second half of the season. The league title might be a step too far for the Saltmen with the form of Hinckley over the last few months, but a top three finish to set up a home play-off match would be a successful season.

Their main strength has been their home form with six wins from eight matches at the Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre. Another strength has been up front with 54 goals scored over 19 matches which has propelled the club into the play off race.

Charlie Tilley has been a key attacking threat for the Saltmen with 13 goals in all competitions.

The play offs can be a lottery, but the Saltmen came close last season before losing to Ashby Ivanhoe in the final. That experience might serve them in good stead if they do finish in the top five.

Upcoming fixtures:

6/1/24: OJM Black Country (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/24: Wolverhampton Sporting Community (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

20/1/24: Ingles (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/24: Smethwick Rangers (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

3/2/24: Coventry Copsewood (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

10/2/24: Wednesfield (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Heather St John’s

League position: 7th  

FA Vase: First qualifying round

MFL League cup: Second round

Heather have grown into the season since being relegated from the premier division north of the United Counties League last season. Similar to Bilston, it feels like the club is starting to build some momentum for the second half of the season and has emerged as a genuine play off contender.

The Saints are only two points off the play offs and have a crucial run of fixtures over the next month to cement their position as play-off chasers. Their main strength has been their home form at St John’s Park with eight wins from 12 matches to push them up the table. They have picked up 10 points from their last six league matches.

Their early exits from the cup competitions might help them with concentrating on the league and building some momentum. Kyle Jardine has been one of the standout strikers in the league and has 25 goals in all competitions.

Overall, it’s been a good season so far for Heather St John’s and a lot more enjoyable than last season.   

Upcoming fixtures:

6/1/24: Shawbury United (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/24: Smethwick Rangers (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

20/1/24: Cradley Town (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/24: Chelsmley Town (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

30/1/24: Allscott Heath (Away) (Division One) (7:45pm KO)

3/2/24: Sutton United (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Hinckley AFC

League position: 1st

FA Vase: First round proper

MFL League cup: Quarter Finals

Hinckley have been excellent in MFL Division One and are one of the standout teams at step six this season. The Leicester side have won 10 consecutive league matches going into this weekend and are well clear at the top of the table with a 15-point difference between them and Cradley in 2nd.

The main thing for the second half of the season is keeping the standards high. Courtney Belford made a good point in the club's programme last Saturday against Wednesfield and emphasised the need to stay humble and not get above their station. The main goal is to win the league and once that’s sealed, they can have an eye on building for next season at step five.

One of the main advantages of finishing as league winners is having more time to prepare for next season and Hinckley might have that luxury come the last month of the season.

Their home record and goalscoring have been their key strengths with nine wins at home and 79 goals scored in the league over 23 matches.  

When looking at the bigger picture, it’s brilliant for the loyal supporters of Hinckley AFC who have stuck with them following some near misses at promotion to step five. They have been playing at step six for a decade since the reformation of the club in 2014.        

Upcoming fixtures:

6/1/24: Stapenhill (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/24: Allscott Heath (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

20/1/24: Wolverhampton Sporting Community (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/24: Ingles (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

3/2/24: Chelmsley Town (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

10/2/24: Coventry Copsewood (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Ingles

League position: 4th  

FA Vase: First round proper

MFL League cup: Second round

Ingles have been excellent this season in division one and are competing for a play off place going into the second half of the season. The Leicester club have been brilliant since joining MFL Division one at the start of last season and have competed well against a host of tough teams.

They have been consistent home and away and have one of the best defences in the division with only 29 goals conceded over 21 matches. They have also been tough to beat at home with only two losses from eleven matches which has pushed them up the table.

They arguably have the toughest fixture list in January of the teams challenging for the play offs and have a four-game stretch where they play teams currently in the top five from the 16th of January to the 3rd of February.  

Even if they fall short of the play offs it’s been a brilliant season for Ingles. They also had a notable run in the FA vase for a club at step six before bowing out to Boston Town at home, so it’s mostly been positive from the Leicester side who are set for an exciting second half of the season.      

Upcoming fixtures:

6/1/24: Nuneaton Griff (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/24: Paget Rangers (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

16/1/24: Allscott Heath (Home) (Division One) (7:45pm KO)

20/1/24: Droitwich Spa (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/24: Hinckley AFC (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

3/2/24: Cradley Town (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Nuneaton Griff

League position: 14th

FA Vase: First qualifying round

MFL League cup: Third Round

Nuneaton Griff have been ok in division one and are comfortably in mid table going into the second half of the season. The Heartlanders are well clear of any relegation worries with a 14-point difference between them and Paget in 18th. Similar to Chelmsley, there a club that goes under the radar but have an excellent record of developing players.

The main highlight has been the goal scoring form of Nathan McGarrity who has been excellent since joining over the summer from Coventrians and has 16 goals in all competitions.

Their capable of pushing for a top half finish between now and April. They have a good chance to climb up the table over the next month and come up against teams they can beat to get a run of form going.

Upcoming fixtures:

6/1/24: Ingles (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/24: Coventry Copsewood (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

20/1/24: Shawbury United (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/24: Bilston Town (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

3/2/24: Paget Rangers (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

10/2/24: Smethwick Rangers (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

OJM Black Country

League position: 8th  

FA Vase: N/A

MFL League cup: Second Round

OJM have grown into the season and are challenging for the play offs between now and the end of the April. Their currently two points off the play offs with a few games in hand over the teams above them. They have been consistent at home and on the road and have only lost five games from 19 matches.

Their key strength has been at the back with the best defensive record in the division with only 19 goals conceded. Stefan Cameron and Callum Nimmo have been excellent at the back so far.  

Having a quality defence is a good foundation for a play off charge and OJM also have a lot of quality going forward and play a nice brand of passing football.

Taylor Hommer is a player with a lot of quality in the final third and has 11 goals in all competitions.

They have a good run of fixtures throughout January to continue their recent form which includes 11 points from their last six matches.  

Upcoming Fixtures:

6/1/2024: Droitwich Spa (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

13/1/2024: Shawbury United (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

17/1/2024: Cradley Town (Home) (Midweek floodlit challenge cup) (7:45pm KO)

20/1/2024: Bilston Town (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/2024: AFC Bridgnorth (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

3/2/2024: Coton Green (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Paget Rangers

League position: 18th

FA Vase: Second qualifying round

MFL League cup: Second round

It’s been a tough season for Paget in division one. The Bears are in the relegation places on goal difference and have the same amount of points as Wolves Sporting in 17th. None the less, there’s signs that they might be able to get out of the relegation places with the 2-0 win at Smethwick and the 2-2 draw with Sutton United over the festive period.

Their main issue has been on the road with one win from nine matches and 29 goals conceded. They have managed to pick up more points at home but have also struggled at the back with 30 goals conceded. If they could be tougher to break down and pick up some results from now until April, they have a good chance of achieving safety.

The main positive for the Bears is that they are not too far adrift of safety and staying up would be an excellent achievement at the end of the season.

It’s going to be a big few months for Paget. Relegation to step seven can be hard to come back from as shown by the strength of division two this season. The main goal is safety and building in step six from next season onwards.    

Upcoming Fixtures:

6/1/2024: Coton Green (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

11/1/2024: Warstones Wanderers (Away) (Fazeley Charity Cup) (7:45pm KO)

13/1/2024: Ingles (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

20/1/2024: Stapenhill (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

23/1/2024: Wednesfield (Away) (Division One) (3pm KO)

27/1/2024: Allscott Heath (Home) (Division One) (3pm KO)

Review feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League