MFL Weekend Preview (Division Three)

AFC Birmingham V Feckenham

AFC Birmingham host Feckenham in a huge match for the promotion places at Illey Lane, Halesowen. The hosts are currently in 4th and only five points off Feckenham in 2nd with a game in hand over the Millers. If they can win on Saturday, it gives them a good chance of competing for the top two for the final few months of the season.  

Their home form has been good so far with just one loss from six matches and includes three wins and two draws.

​They also have one of the best defensive records at home with just 9 goals conceded.

Rahiem Faulder is a key player for AFC Birmingham with 14 goals in all competitions.

Feckenham have been brilliant since joining the MFL over the summer and are in contention for promotion to step seven. The Millers are currently in 2nd with 45 points and have adapted to division three well this season.

Their main strength has been up front with a total of 71 goals scored in the league. They have also been good at the back with just 17 goals conceded from 19 matches. 

William Skelton is a key threat for the visitors with 19 goals scored in all competitions.  

AFC Solihull V Balsall and Berkswell

AFC Solihull will be looking to keep their title charge on track against Balsall and Berkswell at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre on Saturday. The hosts are currently in 1st with 49 points and have a seven-point gap over Northfield Town in 3rd who have a few games in hand.

Their home form has been a strength this season with seven wins from nine matches. Another positive for AFC Solihull has been their consistency with just three losses from 20 matches which has put them in a good position in the league. 

They have impressed up front with 63 goals scored in the league. It’s been a team effort from the hosts with Jahvan Howell, Owen Williams and Cherno Say scoring goals in the final third.

Balsall and Berkswell are comfortably in mid table going into this match. The Hornets are in 8th and have been solid on the road with three wins and two draws from eight matches.

Goalscoring has been the main issue for the visitors which has stopped them competing higher up the table with 28 goals scored from 17 matches.

Jack Archer is a player to watch for the Hornets who is a threat in the final third.  

Birmingham Tigers V Northfield Town

It’s been a tough season for the Tigers in division three who have struggled to get a run of form going to climb up the table. The hosts are currently bottom of the league with one point from 19 matches.

It’s been a struggle up front and defensively with the worst records in the league with 15 goals scored and 102 goal conceded.

None the less, they have players up front who can cause problems. Ahmed Mohamed and Bol Karbinho have stood out so far this season.

Northfield are challenging for promotion and have been excellent since joining the MFL over the summer. The visitors are in 3rd and only three points off 2nd place Feckenham with a game in hand.

Their away form has been a key strength, and they are currently unbeaten on the road from eight matches with six wins and two draws. If they can get a result tomorrow it will put pressure on the top two to keep up their form.

Ashley Prince is a player to watch from midfield for the visitors who can go a bit under the radar.  

Continental Star V Meadow Park

Continental Star will be going into tomorrow’s match with Meadow Park with a bit of confidence having competed well with Balsall and Berkswell last weekend.

Given their league position of 14th, their home at the Holford Drive Community Sports Hub is not too bad with one win and four draws from eleven matches. As shown by the narrow 1-0 defeat to AFC Solihull on Boxing Day it can be a tough place to go for visiting teams.

Their main issue has been goalscoring with 23 goals scored from 20 matches which has prevented them climbing higher up the table.

Meadow Park have been a welcome addition to the MFL since joining over the summer and have competed well against a number of teams. The visitors are comfortably in mid table going into this match and could be dark horses for a top half finish.

They have struggled on the road with just one win from seven matches. Their main issue away from home has been goalscoring with just 10 scored on the road compared to 28 at home.

Mason Taylor is a player to watch for Meadow Park who has six goals in all competitions.    

DSC United V Silhill

DSC United have gone a bit under the radar due to the battle at the top of the table. They are having a good season in division three. Their currently in 9th and are challenging for a top half finish between now and the end of the season.

Their home form at the Triplex Sports Association has been ok with two wins and three losses from five matches. None the less, they have been tough to break down with just six goals conceded at home.

Rabab Ali is their main attacking threat with 18 goals in all competitions.

Silhill have been excellent since joining the MFL over the summer and are comfortably in the top six. The visitors are in 6th with 36 points and have a 13-point gap over Wake Green Amateur in 7th who have a few games in hand. A top six finish would be an excellent achievement by Silhill.

Their away form has been a notable strength with four wins from six matches on the road. A key part of their success has been at the back with just five goals conceded on the road.

Gilad Grant is a key threat for the visitors who can change matches up front.   

Wake Green Amateur V Solihull Sporting

Wake Green have been good in division three and are in the top half of the table. Their currently in 7th with 23 points from 15 matches and similar to DSC United, have gone a bit under the radar.

Their home form at the Holloway has been decent with five wins from eleven matches. A key strength has been in the final third with 44 goals scored which has helped them climb up the table.

Adam Turner is a key threat with 10 goals scored in all competitions.

Solihull Sporting have been fine in division three and are comfortably in mid table. The visitors are in 10th with 21 points and a key strength has been up front with a total of 46 goals scored.

Their main problem has been struggling to get results away from home which has prevented them climbing into the top half of the table. No wins from six matches away contrasts with their home record where they have six wins from 12 matches.

Gabriel Harding has emerged as their main attacking threat this season with 12 goals scored in all competitions.

Castle Vale Town V Leamington Hibernian (Saturday 3pm Kick off)

Castle Vale Town have been excellent over the last few weeks and will be looking to continue their recent form against Leamington Hibernian tomorrow. The Spitfires have picked up 13 points from their last five games and have cemented their position in the top six over the last month.

Their home form at CV Stadium was an issue earlier in the season but they have been playing well there of late with three consecutive wins against Silhill, DSC United and Boldmere Falcons.

Another strength has been up front with 49 goals scored from 21 matches.

Tarus Zaman has been playing well over the last few weeks up front and is a player to watch in this match.

Leamington Hibernian are comfortably in mid table going into this match. The Hibs are 12th in the table with 16 points from 16 matches.

Their main strength has been their away form with four wins and one draw from twelve matches which has helped them avoid being near the bottom of the table.

Their main problem has been goalscoring and they have one of the lowest records in the league with 18 goals scored. 

Kyle King is a player to watch with five goals scored in all competitions.

Gornal V Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons (Saturday 3pm Kick off)

Gornal are currently transitioning to step eight and have been ok so far this season. Their currently in 16th with 10 points from 14 matches and have a few games in hand over the teams above them to climb up the table.

One of their main strengths has been their home record at the Wombourne Leisure Centre with three wins and one draw from eight matches.

Their main problem has been up front with 22 goals scored from 14 matches which has stopped them climbing up the table.

None the less, they have quality up front to cause teams problems and Habil Darboe is a player to watch with 12 goals in all competitions.

Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons have been playing well over the last few weeks and competed well against Silhill and Castle Vale Town.

The Falcons are currently adapting to the level and transitioning to a new coaching set up. Their league position doesn’t tell the full story and they are currently in 13th with 15 points. None the less, the signs are looking positive and there’s quality throughout the side to suggest they could be competing next season.

Their away form has been a problem with one win from eight matches. However, they have been competitive away over the last few weeks.  

Marvelous Omoregie is a player to watch who is a threat for the visitors and played well last weekend against Castle Vale Town.

Matches kick off at 2pm on Saturday except where noted.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League