MFL Weekend Preview (Division Three)

AFC Birmingham V Gornal

AFC Birmingham will be looking to respond to last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Feckenham with a convincing home win against Gornal at Illey Lane tomorrow afternoon. It’s been an excellent season from the hosts who are challenging for automatic promotion over the final few weeks. There only three points off Feckenham in 2nd with a game in hand over the Millers so it’s all to play for.

They have been strong at home throughout the campaign with sevens wins and three draws from twelve matches. It’s shaping up to be a big week with upcoming games against Silhill (Home) and Castle Vale Town (Away) in the league.

Regardless of what happens in the push for the top two, it’s been a successful season for AFC Birmingham who have been one of the standout teams at this level. 

Gornal will be looking to build on their encouraging mid-week win against Meadow Park on Wednesday with a statement result tomorrow afternoon. The visitors have been playing well of late and been competitive in losses to the likes of Castle Vale Town and Balsall and Berkswell over the last month.   

There’s been some positives for Gornal in their first season at this level. The likes of Habil Darboe and Jaden Muckley have impressed up front and Tyler Beach has been solid in goal and kept the visitors in matches.

They could be a tough team to play tomorrow if they can build some momentum and settle into the match.

AFC Solihull V Meadow Park

AFC Solihull will be looking to continue their excellent form with a result against Meadow Park tomorrow afternoon. The league leaders have shown consistency throughout the last month with 15 points from their last six matches. There in a brilliant position with an eleven-point lead over AFC Feckenham in 2nd.

Their main attacking threat to look out for is Jahvan Howell who has been excellent since joining from DSC United at the start of the season. He has 42 goals over the last two seasons in division three.

Meadow Park will be looking to get a statement result against AFC Solihull tomorrow. The visitors are comfortably in midtable for the final few weeks of the season and are challenging for a top ten finish.

It’s been a successful first season at this level for the Worcester club who have been competitive. One of their main issues has been away from home with ten points from twelve matches.  

There on a tough run of form over the last month and coming off six consecutive defeats. None the less, the season as a whole has been encouraging and it will be interesting to see how they get on next year.  

Balsall and Berkswell V Northfield Town

Balsall and Berkswell will be looking for a statement result against promotion chasing Northfield Town tomorrow at Lavendar Hall Lane. The Hornets are on an encouraging run of form over the last few weeks with 13 points from their last five matches. They have been brilliant at home of late with four consecutive wins and could be a real challenge for Northfield in this match.

They have been solid at home throughout the season with only three losses from thirteen matches and there challenging for a top half finish.

Jordan Featherstone is a player to watch who has been an excellent signing for Balsall from Leamington Hibernian. He has three goals from four matches for the Hornets.

Northfield are challenging for promotion to step seven over the next few weeks and are only a point off Feckenham with a game in hand. It’s going to be a huge two weeks with six matches left to play which includes a huge match away at Feckenham on the 2nd of April.  

They have responded brilliantly since losing 2-0 at Boldmere Falcons and are on a run of three consecutive wins going into the weekend.

A player to watch for the visitors is Ermand Kaloti who is hitting a good run of form with seven goals from his last three matches.

The main positive for Northfield is that promotion is in their hands if they can keep getting results and win away at Feckenham.  

Birmingham Tigers V Castle Vale Town

Birmingham Tigers will be looking to build on the positives of the 3-2 home loss to Solihull Sporting with a good performance against Castle Vale Town tomorrow. It’s been a challenging season for the Tigers who are mainly playing for pride over the next few weeks.

If they could tighten up at the back, they could cause the visitors some problems tomorrow. It’s not been too bad up front of late with five goals from their last two matches.

Castle Vale Town have been excellent in division three and are challenging for a top six finish over their three remaining games. The Spitfires have been strong away from home with nine wins from fourteen matches.

A key part of their success has been at the back with only 19 goals conceded on the road. When they have got the quality of Jordan McKenzie and Tarus Zaman up front in a tight match, they have a good chance of getting points.

Luke Smith is a player to watch in central defence who has started all of the Spitfires’ 29 league games. 

Continental Star V Feckenham

Continental Star will be looking for an eye-catching result against promotion chasing Feckenham tomorrow afternoon at the Holford Drive Community Hub. The Perry Barr club have a busy schedule over the next week with upcoming matches against BNJS (Away) and Meadow Park (Away).

It’s been a relatively good season for the hosts who have been competitive against a range of quality sides in division three throughout the campaign. One of the highlights was beating Feckenham away from home 3-1 at Mill Lane a month ago.

Given their league position, they have been tough to beat at home with four wins and four draws from fifteen matches.

Feckenham are in a good position for that second automatic promotion spot with five matches to go. It’s been an excellent season for the Millers in division three and there’s a lot to play for over the next few weeks. If they can keep on getting results and win at home against Northfield Town, they have an excellent chance of promotion to step seven.

The Millers are hitting a good run of form at the right time of the season with three consecutive wins going into this match. They got a crucial home win against AFC Birmingham last weekend alongside not dropping points at BNJS in mid-week.

William Skelton is a player to watch in this match who scored a hat-trick in the win against BNJS on Tuesday evening.

Silhill V Leamington Hibernian

Silhill will be looking to build on their excellent 5-0 win away at Gornal last weekend. The Solihull club are challenging for a top six finish over the next few weeks, and it’s been an excellent first campaign at this level. They have adjusted to step eight well and not looked out of place.

They have been excellent at home of late with eye catching wins against AFC Solihull and Northfield Town at Sharmans Cross. It’s been a tough place for teams to go with just two losses from thirteen matches for Silhill.

Gilad Grant is a key player to watch who has that quality on the ball to unlock defences.

Leamington Hibernian will be looking to respond to the mid-week losses against Balsall and Berkswell and Wake Green Amateur with a result against Silhill tomorrow. There’s been positives for the visitors under new manager Kyle King and they played well to beat Solihull Sporting last weekend at home.

They will be looking to frustrate Silhill and keep the match tight to see if they can get something out of it. It’s all about building for Leamington Hibernian with one eye on the bigger picture.

Solihull Sporting V Wake Green Amateur

Solihull Sporting will be looking to build on the 3-2 win at Birmingham Tigers with a result against Wake Green Amateur tomorrow. The hosts are comfortably in mid table and looking to see the season out with a good run of form.

One of their main strengths has been in the final third with a total of 61 goals scored from 27 matches which is encouraging.

A player to watch is Fiifi Kwofie who has 12 goals in all competitions for the hosts.

Wake Green Amateur will be looking for a result to cement their position in the top half of the table. There on an excellent run of form with three consecutive wins over the last week which includes away wins against Boldmere Falcons, Leamington Hibernian and DSC United.

Ashley Smith is a key attacking threat for the visitors with 36 goals scored over the last two seasons.    

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League