MFL Weekend preview (Division One)

Cradley Town V AFC Bridgnorth

Cradley have had an excellent season so far in MFL Division One and are 4th in the table with 27 points from 14 matches. The Hammers have been one of the standout teams in the league this season. Their record at Beeches View Avenue has been one of their main strengths with five wins from seven matches.

The signing of players like Darren Whitley has helped the team defensively with only 25 goals conceded this season compared to 37 this time last season.

AFC Bridgnorth have battled well throughout the season and are just above the relegation zone. The visitors are in 17th with 12 points from 13 matches and two points above Coton Green in 18th. The Shropshire club have struggled away from home this season with only one win from seven matches and have conceded 24 goals on the road compared to just 11 at Crown Meadow.

Luke Morris is a player to watch for the visitors who has five goals in the league.       

Heather St John’s V Wednesfield

Heather St John’s have been good in MFL Division One and are only three points off the play off places. The Leicester club have competed well following relegation from the premier division north of the United Counties League and are 9th in the table with 21 points from 14 matches. Kyle Jardine has been excellent up front with 14 goals and is the top scorer in the division.

Wednesfield have gone a bit under the radar within the division. They are 10th in the table with 20 points from 12 matches and just four points off the play offs. Jay Holdcroft has played well up front and has six goals in the league. The visitors have also been solid defensively with just 21 goals conceded so far this season.  

This should be an interesting match with both teams in the mix for the play offs and looking to build on some momentum in the league.

OJM Black Country V Allscott Heath

OJM Black Country have been good this season in MFL Division one and are competing for the play offs. They are 5th in the table with 24 points from 14 matches and have the best defensive record in the division with only 14 goals conceded. Taylor Homer has been excellent up front with 10 goals in the league and the club is unbeaten at home this season.

Allscott have been excellent and one of the standout teams in MFL Division one this season. The Shropshire club have adapted to life in division one brilliantly following promotion from the West Midlands Regional League last season.

The visitors are 2nd in the table with 28 points from 14 matches and are competing near the top of the division alongside the likes of Hinckley and Droitwich Spa. Thomas Fallon is a player to watch with seven goals from 13 matches in the league.

Paget Rangers V Hinckley AFC

Paget have had a challenging season so far and are involved in a relegation battle to stay in the division. The Bears have 10 points from 14 matches and are 19th in the table. Despite the difficult start, Paget are only two points from safety and there’s a long way to go with 24 matches left. Their home form at Coles Lane has been one of their strengths with three wins from seven matches.

Hinckley have been one of the standout teams in the division and are involved in a title race with Droitwich Spa this season. The visitors are currently 3rd in the table with 27 points from 13 matches and four points off Droitwich in 1st. The Leicester club have lost just twice in the league this season.

Goalscoring has been their main strength with 46 goals scored in the league this season. Brady Middleton is a player to watch who has played well over the last few weeks.   

Shawbury United V Stapenhill

Shawbury have grown into the season and are comfortably in mid table in 14th with 15 points from 14 matches. The Shropshire club are five points above the relegation places and their recent form has been impressive with 11 points from their last six matches. Reece Jacobs is a player to watch who has seven goals in the league.

Stapenhill have had a positive start to the season and are in 7th with 22 points from 14 matches. The visitors are only two points off the play offs and have got quality throughout the squad. Samuel Birks has been excellent so far with seven goals in the league. None the less, the visitors have struggled defensively on the road with 21 goals conceded compared to just 6 at Maple Grove.

Smethwick Rangers V Sutton United

Smethwick have had a tough start to the season but have shown moments of quality. The hosts are currently in a relegation battle to stay in the league and are in 20th with 9 points from 13 matches. The appointment of Francino Francis as their new manager might help the squad and the club are only three points from safety. Their home form is going to be crucial to stay up come the end of the season and they could do with being difficult to beat at home.

Sutton have been excellent since coming up from MFL Division two last season. The visitors are in 11th with 19 points from 14 matches and have grown into the season. They have 11 points from their last six matches to be comfortably mid table.

Their away form has been noticeably good so far with just seven goals conceded and 8 points from five matches. Joe Gildea has adapted to Division One brilliantly and has 12 goals in the league. He was part of the team promoted from division two last season and is a player to watch in this match.  

Wolverhampton SC V Bilston Town

Wolverhampton SC have been ok this season in division one and despite the league position there’s quality in the squad. The hosts are in 15th with 14 points from 14 matches and four points above the relegation places. Their main strength has been their home form at Pride Park with just two losses from eight matches. Reagan Wardle is a player to watch out on the wings who has six goals in the league.

Bilston have been ok in MFL Division one this season and are in mid table. The Steelmen are in 13th with 16 points from 12 matches. Samuel Yankson has been excellent up front since joining from Dudley Town in the summer and has nine goals in the league.

Their recent form has been good with 10 points from their last six matches. None the less, the Steelmen had a tough start to the season with four losses from their first six matches to leave them in mid table so far.   

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League