MFL Weekend Preview (Division Three)

​AFC Birmingham V Birmingham Tigers

AFC Birmingham will be looking for a result tomorrow to give their promotion hopes a boost. The hosts are currently two points off the top two and will have to rely on Feckenham and Northfield slipping up over the next few weeks to have a chance of promotion to step seven.

They have been consistent throughout the season with just three losses from 22 matches and have made Illey Lane a fortress with five wins and three draws from ten matches. They have been impressive near the top of the table and are looking for their third consecutive win.

It’s been a challenging season for Birmingham Tigers in division three. There in 17th with one point from 22 matches and it’s been a struggle both up front and defensively.

One of their issues has been away from home with 69 goals conceded on the road and 12 losses from 13 matches.    

BNJS V Meadow Park

BNJS will be looking for a result tomorrow to close the gap on the teams above them. There’s currently a four-point gap between themselves and Continental Star in 13th. The hosts have been ok in their first season at this level and have caused some notable upsets such as beating Northfield Town away.

Despite their league position of 16th, they have not been too bad at the Hadley Stadium with two wins from eight matches.

With ten matches remaining for BNJS, they will be looking for a few results so they can build on that for next season in division three.

Josh Sarmento is a player to watch with 11 goals in all competitions.

Meadow Park have been good since joining the MFL over the summer and are challenging for a top half finish between now and the end of the season.

Their away form has been ok with three wins and a draw from nine matches. None the less, there undoubtedly better at home where they have picked up 17 of their 29 points.

Tomorrow is a good opportunity to get a result to cement their position in the top half of the table which would be an excellent achievement. 

Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons V Solihull Sporting

Boldmere Falcons will be looking to respond to their 7-0 defeat against AFC Birmingham a few weeks back with a result against Solihull Sporting. The hosts have been making significant progress since the appointment of Jordan Lengthorn and have notably improved with convincing away wins against Gornal and Leamington since the new year.

Their home form has not been too bad with four wins and two draws from twelve matches.

With nine matches remaining, the hosts will be looking to build some form between now and the end of the season. It’s all about building for Boldmere Falcons so they can challenge going into next season.

Solihull Sporting have been good in division three and are comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the campaign. One of their strengths has been up front with the likes of Gabriel Harding and Louis Buck impressing in the final third.

One of their main issues has been away where they are yet to win from eight matches. This is a shame as their home form at the Tudor Grange Academy has been good with six wins from twelve matches.

Similar to Boldmere, the visitors are building for next season and have impressed in spells this season.   

Continental Star V DSC United

Continental Star will be looking for a statement result against DSC United tomorrow to make a push for a mid-table finish. Their currently four points off Boldmere Falcons in 12th and have been competitive against a range of teams in division three.

Their home form has not been too bad given their league position with three wins and four draws from fourteen matches at the Holford Drive Community Hub in Perry Barr.

The host’s main issue has been up front with a total of 33 goals scored from 24 matches which has stopped them challenging higher up the division.

DSC United have been good in division three and are challenging for a top half finish. They have gone under the radar due to the exciting promotion race but are having a solid campaign at this level.

Their away form has been good with five wins from eleven matches on the road.

Rabab Ali is a player to watch up front with 18 goals in all competitions. 

Feckenham V Silhill

Feckenham will be looking to continue their good form against Silhill at Mill Lane tomorrow afternoon. The Millers have been one of the form teams in division three with 16 points from their last six matches.

​There currently in 2nd and a point better off than Northfield in 3rd who have a game in hand. With AFC Solihull clear at the top, the race for 2nd is going to be intriguing over the next few weeks.

Their home form has been a key strength with eight wins from ten matches. Another strength has been their defensive record with just 19 goals conceded from 21 matches which is excellent and the best record in the league.

They’ve got a run of home matches over the next few weeks against Continental Star and DSC United in the race for the promotion places.

Silhill have been excellent since joining the MFL over the summer and have adapted to division three well this season. Their comfortably in the top six and challenging for a top five finish over the next few months with eleven matches remaining.

Their away form has been a strength with five wins from nine matches. They have also been good defensively away with just 13 goals conceded which is encouraging.

The visitors are on a decent run of form with just one loss from their last five matches and will be looking to get a statement result tomorrow against one of the standout teams in division three.     

Gornal V AFC Solihull

Gornal will be looking to get a statement result against league leaders AFC Solihull tomorrow at the Wombourne Leisure Centre. The hosts have been competitive in division three since joining the MFL and have managed to get results at home. Five wins and a draw from twelve matches is a good return given their league position of 15th.

The main issue which has stopped them competing higher up the table is their away form with seven consecutive losses.

They have also been better in front of goal at home compared to away with 28 goals scored at home to six goals scored on the road.

AFC Solihull have been brilliant since the new year and have been finding ways to win to keep their league title push on track. Alongside Feckenham, there one of the form teams in division three with 16 points from their last six league matches. Consistency has been their main strength with just three losses from 24 matches which is excellent.

They have been excellent away with ten wins from twelve matches. A key strength away from home has been at the back with just 12 goals conceded.

Jahvan Howell has been their main attacking threat with 24 goals scored in all competitions.

Leamington Hibernian V Castle Vale Town

Leamington Hibernian have been ok in division three this season and have been competitive against a range of quality teams higher up the table. Their only five points off DSC United in 10th and are capable of climbing up the table over their remaining 14 matches.

They have been playing at a new ground since the clubhouse fire of Field Lane and are now playing at Stockton football club based in Warwickshire. They have struggled at home so far with one win from five matches with their away form being notably better.

Their main issue has been in front of goal with just 20 goals scored which is one of the lowest in the division. If they can find a quality goal scorer, they’re capable of climbing up the table.

Castle Vale Town have been brilliant in division three and are comfortably in the top six. The Spitfires have been one of the stories of the season at step eight and were in 11th with nine points this time last season. Their currently in 5th with 45 points and challenging for a top five finish for their remaining eight matches.

Their away form has been a real strength with eight wins from eleven matches. They have also impressed at the back away from home with just 17 goals conceded.

Idris Oyeniyi is a player to watch on the wings who can make things happen in the final third.

Northfield Town V Wake Green Amateur

Northfield will be looking to continue their good form against Wake Green Amateur tomorrow afternoon at Shenley Lane in their hunt for the top two. The hosts are only a point off Feckenham in 2nd and have a game in hand over the Millers. They are unbeaten from their last six matches with four wins and two draws.

They have been brilliant at home since joining the MFL over the summer with seven wins from ten matches.

Wake Green will be looking to cause an upset against Northfield, and they have an outside chance of finishing in the top six. Their comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the season and will be looking to build on the positives going into next season.

They have been good away from home with three wins and one draw from six matches. One of their strengths on the road has been their defensive record with just 13 goals conceded.  

Adam Turner is a player to watch in the final third who has 13 goals in all competitions.    

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League