MFL NEWSLETTER 7TH AUGUST

Midland Football League Newsletter
7th August 2015

League News
Unfortunately, Kenilworth Town Kings Heath have resigned from the league with immediate effect. This means that Division 2 will run with 14 clubs this season. Westfields have broken the 800 ticket barrier after a few days of sales for their Bank Holiday Monday local derby with Hereford.

The travels of the Press Officer
Saturday 1st August
Stafford Rangers 4 Mickleover Sports 1
As a Stafford Rangers supporter, it was only right that I should see the first game played on the re-laid Marston Road pitch before the season begins. Rangers entertained last season’s Evostik Div 1 South champions Mickleover who were expected to provide a stern test. It never materialised as Rangers flew into a 4-0 lead in the first half. Sports were marginally better after the break but it was the home side that can look forward to the season with more confidence based on this encounter.

Tuesday 4th August
Heath Hayes 3 Ellesmere Rangers 1

My first visit to Heath Hayes in the dry and I wasn’t disappointed. A game of four goals, missed chances galore, tasty tackles, handbags at dawn and a brawl. What more could the neutral want? Most of the tackles were just on the right side of legal but the Ellesmere right back seemed intent on a running battle with a number of the home side. On the park, Heath Hayes look in a good position to bounce back after last year’s relegation.

I am taking in a number of league games over the next week. They are as follows:-

Walsall Wood vs Bardon Hill
Coventry Sphinx vs Quorn
Stourport Swifts vs Hereford FC
Continental Star vs Alvechurch

Weekend Preview Premier Division
Alvechurch have had an excellent pre-season taking some notable scalps and remaining unbeaten. They entertain AFC Wulfrunians which is always a tight affair. Boldmere St Michaels have gone under the radar a little in pre-season and they entertain Heanor Town, for their first game in the Midland Football League. Both sides are full of goals so expect an entertaining game. Brocton face Lye Town at Silkmore Lane. The Badgers came out on top in both matches last season but there is unpredictability about both sides which make this a very watchable game. Continental Star face a Shepshed Dynamo side well fancied to do well this season. Dales Lane is never an easy place to visit and both sides will be hopeful of getting something out of the game. The biggest crowd of the day will undoubtedly be at Edgar Street for the first official fixture for Hereford FC at home to Dunkirk. Both sides have had a good pre-season with Dunkirk scoring heavily. Should be a cracker. One of a last season’s title challengers, Long Eaton United take on Coventry Sphinx at Grange Park. Both sides have had mixed results in pre-season but both are expected to challenge for honours. Another side that have gone under the radar during pre-season is Quorn who face promoted Highgate United at Farley Way. Stourport Swifts make the journey north to Staffordshire to tackle Rocester at Hillsfield. The Romans finished pre-season on high with a win over Step 4 Loughborough Dynamo but may find Swifts tougher opposition. A first MFL game for Sporting Khalsa following their promotion from the West Midlands Regional League as they host last season front runners Coleshill Town at the Aspray Arena. Both sides have looked good in pre-season and will want to set down a marker from the outset. Newly promoted Bardon Hill make their debut in the MFL with a trip to Walsall Wood, who are hoping to build on last season’s fourth placed finish.

Division 1
Bromsgrove Sporting begin with a home game against Southam United after an excellent pre-season. The Saints have had mixed friendly results but they will count for nothing at The Victoria ground. Two sides that have impressed in pre-season are Cadbury Athletic and Hinckley AFC and they meet at the TSA Sports Ground. Pelsall Villa had a difficult 2014/15 and will be looking for significant improvement this campaign. They start with a tough game at much changed Heather St Johns who are looking good for a promotion push. Relegated Heath Hayes start their campaign at home to Coventry Copsewood hoping to bounce back to the Premier Division at the first attempt. Promoted Leicester Road make their Division 1 bow at home to Pershore Town. Both clubs have a fair amount of forward momentum and will have their eyes set towards the top half of the table.
Two sides in fine form in pre-season are Lichfield City and Atherstone Town and they meet at The City Ground. Coventry United are many people’s favourites to gain back to back promotions but they face a tough opening day with a trip to Worcestershire to face Littleton. Pre season has gone well for Nuneaton Griff who entertain Stafford Town at the Pingles Stadium. Town will be keen to start this season better than last. Racing Club Warwick host Pilkington XXX in a game which is very hard to call. The Pilks ended pre-season with a 6-0 victory so are likely to go into the game with more confidence. A new look Bolehall Swifts travel to Studley for their opener. With most of last season’s squad moving to pastures new, Swifts will be an unknown quantity however a trip to a strong Studley would not have been their first choice for a season debut.

Division 2
Only one fixture in Division 2 but it is a tasty one between promoted Austrey Rangers and Coton Green at Austrey Fields. Coton Green finished bottom of the pile in Division 2 last season in contrast to Austrey who were Division 3 champions. Should be an excellent start to what will be a very competitive division.

Pre- season results
Saturday 1st August
AFC Bridgnorth 3 Pelsall Villa 0
AFC Solihull 4 Studley United 1
Alvechurch 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 1
Alvis Sporting Club 2 RC Warwick 0
Atherstone Town 0 Halesowen Town 1
Austrey Rangers 4 (Stroud, Minshull, Ocean, Heaton) Ashby Ivanhoe 0
Aylestone Park 2 Coleshill Town 3
Barton United 6 (Roberts 2, Williams, Jackson, Martin, Warrington) Norton Canes 2
Boldmere St Michaels 3 (OG, Clarke, Birch) Leicester Nirvana 2
Brocton 3 (Fife, McMahon, Farrell) Wolverhampton Casuals 3
Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (Williams) Runcorn Town 0
Burntwood Town 1 Rostance Edwards 5 (Plimmer 2, Baxter, Evans, Ball)
Coton green 5 Enville Athletic 1 (Boden)
Coventry Copsewood 2 (Farrell 2) Coventry Sphinx 2 (Cain, Jeys)
Dudley Town 4 Heath Hayes 1
Dunkirk 1 (Hemagou) Witton Albion 4
Ellesmere Rangers 0 Walsall Wood 6 (Butlin 3, Harris, Adams, Holgate)
FC Stratford 1 (Tilbury) Wake Green 1
Feckenham 3 (Higgins 3) Tipton Town 0
Folly Lane OB 1 Heather St Johns 2
Graham Street Prims 3 Long Eaton United 2
Hanley Castle 0 Perrywood 4 (Martin 2, T.Corbett, J.Corbett)
Hereford FC 2 (Page, Mills) Hull City U21 3
Highgate United 3 Barnt Green Spartak 1
Holbrook Sports 2 Rocester 3
Lichfield City 2 (Richards, Evans) Bardon Hill 2 (Moore 2)
Littleton 0 AFC Wulfrunians 1
Loughborough University 0 Coventry United 0
Mickleover Royals 7 Hampton 3 (Craine 3)
Nuneaton Griff 3 (Moore 2, Ruff) Anstey Nomads 4
Pilkington XXX 2 Alcester Town 2 (Mumford, Brown)
Quorn 1 Real United 1
Rainworth MW 0 Heanor Town 2 (Debrouwer, Hawkins)
Shepshed Dynamo 2 Brackley Town 0
Southam United 0 Daventry Town 1
Sporting Khalsa 4 (Westwood 2, Bannister 2) Thornaby 2
Stafford Town 1 (Hulme) Shifnal Town 0
Stourport Swifts 1 (Maund) Bewdley Town 3
Studley 1 Cradley Town 3
Sutton United 0 Cadbury Athletic 3
Westfields 4 (Cuss 2, Birch, Jones) Brislington 1

Tuesday 4th August
Bolehall Swifts 0 Sutton united 1 (McGivern)
Chasetown 2 Hinckley AFC 2 (Adaggio, Richards)
Continental Star 4 Wolves Sporting 1
Coton Green 4 Burntwood 2
Cradley Town 5 Paget Rangers 2
Dudley Sports 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (Corbett)
Evesham United 4 Westfields 0
FC Stratford 1 Highgate United 5
Feckenham 1 (Bennett) Inkberrow 1
Halesowen Town 0 Alvechurch 2 (Penney, Priest)
Heanor Town 3 (Debrouwer, Cooper 2) Mansfield Town 2
Heath Hayes 3 Ellesmere Rangers 1
Long Eaton United 0 Nottingham Forest U18 1
Loughborough University 3 Oadby Town 2
Pelsall Villa 0 Rushall Olympic 3
Quorn 2 South Normanton Athletic 1
Rocester 4 Loughborough Dynamo 1
Stourbridge 1 Lye Town 0

Wednesday 5th August
Barnt Green Spartak 0 Pilkington XXX 6
Hampton 4 (Craine 2, Hinsley, Richardson) FC Dunlop 0
Rostance Edwards 9 Homeserve 0
Pre-season friendlies
Saturday 8th August
AFC Solihull vs Feckenham
Alcester Town vs Moreton Rangers
Burntwood Town vs Newhall United @ Four Ashes
Chelmsley Town vs CT Shush
Daventry Town vs Barnt Green Spartak
Folly Lane vs Paget Rangers
Hawksmill Sports vs FC Stratford (1400)
Rostance Edwards vs Enville Athletic
Smithswood Firs vs Alvechurch reserves
Sutton united vs Walsall Phoenix

Tuesday 11th August
Smithswood Firs vs Birmingham Elite