MFL Weekend Preview (Division Three)

​AFC Birmingham V Northfield Town

AFC Birmingham have had a good season so far in MFL Division three and are 5th in the table with 21 points from 11 matches. Their defence has played well with only 15 goals conceded and they have lost only two league matches this season.

The hosts have 11 points from their last six matches in the league and are coming off a competitive 1-1 draw with Balsall and Berkswell last weekend. Rahiem Faulder is a player to watch with seven goals from eight matches.

Northfield Town have been one of the standout teams in division three this season and are currently top of the league with 31 points from 12 matches. They are currently unbeaten away from home in the league with six wins and one draw from seven matches. The visitors are one of the form teams in the division along with AFC Solihull and have lost just once in ten matches.

Patrick Behan is a player to watch for Northfield who has 13 goals from 12 matches. He’s adapted to the MFL excellently since being part of the Northfield team promoted from the Birmingham District and Football League last season.

This is one of the standout matches this weekend in division three and a chance for AFC Birmingham to test themselves against one of the strongest teams in the league.    

Balsall and Berkswell V AFC Solihull

Balsall and Berkswell have been ok this season and are comfortably in mid table in 9th with 12 points from seven matches in the league. One of the positives for the hosts is that they are unbeaten at home in the league and have 12 points from their last six matches.

The Hornets also have three games in hand over the likes of Silhill and Castle Vale Town higher up the table and could catch them if they build up a run of form. Lucas Van Spelde is a player to watch with six goals from five matches.

AFC Solihull have been one of the standout teams in division three this season and are competing for the league title and promotion to division two. They have been brilliant so far and are in 2nd with 30 points from 11 matches and have lost just once. The visitors have the best defence in the league with just 10 goals conceded and are unbeaten away from home so far.

Dean Newman has done an excellent job since coming in for Joe Ballinger who left to join the coaching staff at Romulus over the summer. Jahvan Howell has been clinical up front since joining from DSC United in the summer and has 11 goals from 9 matches to help the club’s title charge.

This should be an exciting match with Balsall and Berkswell looking to get a statement win against one of the standout teams in the division.      

Continental Star V Silhill

Continental Star have had a challenging start to the season and are 16th in the table with three points from 11 matches. One of the main positives this season has been their record at home with three draws from six matches. This reflects how competitive they have been at home despite their position in the table.

Their main issue has been defensively with 35 goals conceded in the league. Kemarl Campbell is a player to watch for Continental Star who has three goals from six matches.  

Silhill have adapted to the MFL excellently since coming up from the Birmingham District and Football League last season and have been a breath of fresh air in a revamped division this season. The Solihull club are 3rd in the table with 24 points from 10 matches and have lost just twice in the league. They have been good up front with 32 goals scored and also at the back with just 13 goals conceded and have found a way of winning matches.

From a Silhill perspective, it’s a shame that Northfield and AFC Solihull have been so impressive as they could be a dark horse for promotion. None the less, they have a game in hand over AFC Solihull in 2nd and are six points off them so it’s not over just yet. Gilad Grant is a player to watch for the visitors who has eight goals from seven matches started in the league.      

Feckenham V Solihull Sporting

Feckenham have played well throughout the season since coming up from division two of the Hellenic Football League last season. Similar to Silhill, the Worcester club have offered something different to the division and have been a positive addition to an expanded division three. They are in 6th with 20 points from 10 matches and have lost just twice in the league.

Their record at home has been impressive with just one loss from six matches and 27 goals scored. Their defence has also stood out with just 11 goals conceded at the back for both home and away matches. David Phelan is a player to watch with six goals from ten matches.

Solihull Sporting have been fine in division three and are comfortably in mid table in 11th. The visitors have 11 points from ten matches and their main strength has been at home this season with three wins from seven matches. They have not played many matches away from home so far with only two matches on the road. Louis Buck is a player to watch who has seven goals from nine matches and has been one of their standout players. 

Leamington Hibernian V Birmingham Tigers (Saturday, 3pm Kick off)

Leamington Hibernian have had a tough start to the season and are in 13th with 9 points from 9 matches. Similar to Hampton in division two, they have been affected by the unfortunate clubhouse fire at Field Lane this season and have played only one match at home so far. Goal scoring has been an issue in the league with only 8 goals scored.

The club is now playing at Stockton Football and Cricket Club in Southam, Warwickshire and could do with some local support to gain a bit of confidence and climb up the table.

Birmingham Tigers have struggled in division three so far and are currently bottom of the table. The visitors have no points from 12 matches and have struggled going forward and at the back with 7 goals scored and 66 goals conceded.

Their defensive record at home is not too bad for a team at the bottom of the league with 17 goals conceded from four matches. However, they have conceded 49 goals from eight matches on the road.

Despite their struggles in front of goal, one of the positives for the visitors is the form of Bilal Ibrahim who has four goals from seven matches.

This is a match where both teams could do with a result to build a bit of confidence to climb up the table.           

Castle Vale Town V Meadow Park (Saturday, 3pm kick off)

Castle Vale Town have played well this season and are near the top of the table in 4th with 22 points from 10 matches. The majority of their matches so far have been away from home and to be where they are in the league is impressive. Out of their nine matches on the road the Spitfires have picked up seven wins and got results against quality teams such as AFC Birmingham and DSC United.

​Jordan McKenzie has been excellent with 11 goals from ten matches and has continued his fine form from last season.

Meadow Park have been good in division three since joining the MFL and are comfortably in mid table in 10th with 12 points from ten matches. The Worcester club’s main strength has been at home with three wins from six matches compared to one win from four matches on the road.

​Daniel Lowe is a player to watch who has eight goals from seven matches with Ellis Blakemore also impressing in front of goal for the visitors.

This should be an entertaining match between two teams that have done well in division three this season and are in good positions in the league.

​(Matches this weekend take place on Saturday at 2pm except where noted)

Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League