MFL Weekend Preview (Division One)

Nuneaton Griff V Smethwick Rangers (Friday, kick off: 8pm)

​Play off chasing Nuneaton Griff play Smethwick Rangers at the Pingles Stadium this evening. The Heartlanders have had a positive start to the season and are in 8th with 19 points from 12 matches and only four points off the play offs. Nathan McGarrity has impressed since joining from Coventrians over the summer and has 7 goals from 12 matches started. The club will want to respond to the 6-0 home loss against Droitwich Spa last weekend.

Smethwick have had a challenging start to the season and are in 19th with nine points from twelve matches. The team have shown moments of quality so far this season but have struggled at the back with 34 goals conceded and are battling to stay in the division. They appointed Francino Francis as their new manager in the week to help climb up the table. The club will be looking to get a statement win against Nuneaton Griff on Friday and cause an upset. 

Chelmsley Town V Allscott Heath

Chelmlsey have had a positive start to the season and have been competitive this season against tough teams. The club are comfortably mid table in 11th with 18 points from 13 matches played and well clear of the relegation places. Their main strength has been consistency with only three losses so far this season. Oliver Jeeves has impressed with five goals from seven matches started.

Allscott have been one of the standout teams in the division this season and have been brilliant so far since being promoted from the West Midlands Regional League. The Shropshire club are in 3rd with 25 points from 13 matches and are challenging for the play offs. Thomas Fallon and Ryan Mansell are players to watch with both scoring seven goals each for the club so far.   

Coton Green V Paget Rangers

Coton are going into a big match this weekend against Paget Rangers at New Mill Lane. The club have had a challenging start to the season and are in 20th with seven points from 13 matches. They are yet to win at home and the defence has struggled with 34 goals conceded. The Green Army have made some good signings to help climb up the table such as Leyton Hines joining from Sutton United who is a player to watch in this match.

Paget have had a tough start to the season but have shown moments of quality this season. They are currently in 18th with 10 points from 12 matches. Their recent form has been a problem with one win from their last six matches and the Bears have struggled away from home this season with one point on the road. There’s quality in the squad and Shevron Channer has played well. The club could do with a result to build some confidence and move up the table.  

Coventry Copsewood V Ingles

Coventry Copsewood have had an ok start to the season and are in 15th with 13 points from 12 matches. The club have struggled at home so far with no wins in the league from four matches and have picked up 11 points away from home. Sean Kavanagh has played well up front with seven goals from 11 matches started and has added to the squad since joining from Coventrians in the summer.

Ingles have had a positive start to the season and are competing for a play off spot this season. The Leicester based club are in 6th with 19 points from 12 matches and have got one of the best defences in the league with only 16 goals conceded. The club are only four points off the play offs and Jack Allen is a player to watch with six goals from 11 matches started.

Droitwich Spa V Heather St John’s

Droitwich have had a positive start to the season and go into a big match against Heather St John’s this weekend. The Saltmen are in 2nd with 25 points from 11 matches and are involved in a thrilling title race with Hinckley this season. The club have lost only twice this season and have been clinical up front with 33 goals scored. Charlie Tilley is a player to watch with 8 goals from 12 matches started.

Heather St John’s have had a good start to the season and are competing for the play offs. The Leicester based club are in 10th with 18 points from 12 matches and five points off the play off positions. Kyle Jardine is a player to watch for the visitors who has 9 goals from 10 matches started.

Hinckley AFC V Sutton United

Hinckley have been one of the standout teams in the division this season. The Leicester club are top of the table with 26 points from 12 matches and have been excellent in front of goal with 44 goals scored. The team have also been consistent with just two losses this season to help their title charge. Lewis Rankin has stood out with six goals from eight matches started in the league.

Sutton United have grown into the season and played well over the last few weeks to move up the table. They are currently in ninth with 18 points from 13 matches and have picked up 13 points from their last six matches. The club have adapted brilliantly to life in Division One having been promoted from division two last season. Joe Gildea has impressed in front of goal and is the division’s top scorer with 11 goals scored. 

Shawbury United V OJM Black Country

Shawbury have picked up some big results over the last few weeks to push up the table and move clear of the relegation zone. They are currently in 14th with 14 points from 13 matches and have picked up 10 points from their last six matches to move four points clear of the relegation places. The Shropshire club will want to build on the momentum building wins against Smethwick and Paget Rangers over the last few weeks.

OJM Black Country have been excellent this season and are challenging for a play off spot. They are 5th in the table with 23 points from 13 matches and are unbeaten from their last six matches in the league. Taylor Homer is a player to watch for the visitors who has six goals from 8 matches started in the league.  The team’s main strength has been their defence with only 12 goals conceded.

Stapenhill V AFC Bridgnorth

Stapenhill have had a positive start to the season and are up there competing for a play off place. The Swans are in 7th with 19 points from 13 matches and only four points off OJM Black Country in 5th. The club have struggled for form recently with four points from their last six matches and could do with a result to get back on track in the league and build confidence. Samuel Birks is a player to watch for the hosts who has seven goals from 11 matches.

AFC Bridgnorth have battled well to move clear of the relegation places and got a huge win at home against Wednesfield last weekend. The Shropshire club are currently in 17th with 12 points from 12 matches and are two points from the relegation zone. Luke Morris a player to watch with five goals scored in the league.  

Wednesfield V Bilston Town Community

Wednesfield have had a positive start to the season and are in 12th with 17 points from 11 matches. The club are comfortably mid table and well clear of the relegation places with a seven-point difference. The team will be looking to respond to the 3-2 loss away at AFC Bridgnorth last weekend and get a statement win against Bilston tomorrow afternoon. Jay Holdcroft has impressed up front with six goals from 12 matches started.

Bilston have had an ok start to the season and are comfortably in mid table in 13th with 16 points from 11 matches. The Steelmen are seven points off the play off places and are not out of it just yet. It’s a long season and if the club can build a run of momentum over the next few months, they could be a dark horse for the play offs.

Samuel Yankson has played well since joining from Dudley Town over the summer and has eight goals from six matches started. Eesa Sawyers is also a brilliant player to watch for the visitors. 

Wolverhampton Sporting Community V Cradley Town

Wolverhampton SC have had a tough start to the season and are currently in 16th with 13 points from 12 matches. The club got a momentum building win at home against Stapenhill last weekend which could be the catalyst for a run of form to push up the table. Their record at home this season has been good with only two losses from seven matches. Reagan Wardle is a player to watch with six goals from eight matches started.

Cradley Town have been one of the standout teams in the division so far this season. They are coming off the back of a thrilling 4-4 draw with Hinckley last weekend and are competing for a play off spot. The Hammers are currently in 4th with 23 points from 12 matches and have only lost three league matches this season. The transformation of a team that was fighting relegation last season has been incredible and one of the stories of the season.   

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League