MFL Weekend Preview (Division Two)

​Earlswood Town V Coventry Alvis

Earlswood have struggled recently in the league with four points from their last six matches. The Earls are in 7th with 17 points from 11 matches and well clear of any relegation worries. The squad could do with a result over the next few weeks to get back on track and aim for a top half finish come the end of the season.

Their home record has been ok at the Pavilions with just two losses from five matches. The club is coming off a 6-0 loss at AFC Coventry Rangers last weekend in the Birmingham Saturday Vase and could do with a win tomorrow to give the squad a bit of confidence.

Dan Elwell departing the club to join Knowle is a big loss up front with six goals scored in the league.  On a positive, the signing of Tommy Black from Balsall and Berkswell might help tighten up the defence over the next few weeks. He impressed at the Hornets in division three and is an astute signing by Earlswood.           

Coventry Alvis have been good in MFL Division Two and are comfortably in mid table. The Tankmen are in 8th with 16 points from 12 matches. Their away form has been good with three wins from six matches in the league. Their coming off a win in the Birmingham Saturday Vase last weekend where they beat Tipton Town on penalties.

The visitors have struggled in the league recently with three consecutive losses. Similar to Earlswood, they could do with a result to restore a bit of confidence and aim for a top half finish come the end of the season. 

Hampton V Coventrians

Hampton have been good in MFL Division Two this season and have competed well in a tough division. The Solihull club are in 6th with 19 points from 11 matches and are back playing at Field Lane following the clubhouse fire earlier in the season. Their recent league form is good with 9 points from their last five matches.

Their home record has been excellent with three wins from four matches in division two. Ciaran Lawless is a player to watch with eight goals from 11 league matches.

Coventrians have grown into the season since coming up from division three. Following a bit of a slow start, they have picked up 11 points from their last six matches to climb into mid table. The visitors are in 11th with 13 points from 11 matches. It’s been an excellent turnaround to move clear of the relegation zone. They are now five points clear of Lane Head in 15th.

The club’s main problem has been their away form with just one win from seven matches. Romano Graham is a player to watch who has impressed with four goals from 10 matches.         

Lane Head V Cadbury Athletic

Lane Head have had a tough season in MFL Division Two. None the less, they have played well over the last few weeks to give themselves a chance of staying up. Their currently in 15th with 8 points from 12 matches. One of the positives is having three games in hand over Inkberrow in 14th who have 10 points.

Their home form is going to have to improve to stay up with just one win from six matches. Goalscoring at home has also been an issue with just six goals scored compared to 12 on the road. Joshua Lewis a player to watch for the hosts who has stood out with seven goals from 11 matches.     

The Walsall club enter a crucial stretch in the league with games against Coventrians (Away), Inkberrow (Home) and Littleton (Away) over the next month.

Cadbury have played well this season and are comfortably in mid table. The Chocolate men are in 10th with 14 points from 12 matches.  Their away form has been good with three wins from seven matches. They also have a bit of breathing room over the relegation places with a six-point gap over Lane Head in 15th.

Their standout result away from home this season is the 3-0 away win at Redditch Borough in October. Callum Devlin has impressed up front with eight goals from nine league matches.     

Redditch Borough V Bolehall Swifts

Redditch Borough have played well in MFL Division Two and are near the top of the table. The hosts are in 4th with 26 points from 11 matches and have been excellent at home with five wins from six matches. The Borough have 13 points from their last six matches and are competing for the title alongside the likes of Knowle in division two.

James Ward is a player to watch for Redditch who has 10 goals from nine league matches.

Bolehall have had a challenging season in MFL Division Two and are involved in a battle to stay in the league. The Swifts are in 13th with 10 points from 12 matches and two points clear of the relegation places.

The two main issues for the Tamworth based club this season has been goalscoring and their away record. The Swifts have struggled up front with 13 goals scored and the retirement of David Yonwin up front is a bit of a blow. They also have just one point from six matches on the road and could do with the odd win away.

None the less, it’s going to be a tough test tomorrow at Redditch. The win against Solihull Sporting last weekend in the Birmingham Vase will hopefully give the squad a bit of confidence.      

Birmingham United V Knowle (Kick off Saturday, 3pm)

Birmingham United have done well in MFL Division Two this season and are near the top of the table. The Redditch based club are in 2nd with 29 points from 16 matches and play Knowle this weekend in a top of the table clash at the Trico Stadium.

The majority of the club’s matches have been away from home so far with 12 matches on the road to just four at home.

The hosts have 12 points from their last six matches and their home record is ok with two wins from four matches. Connor Doyle is a player to watch who has impressed since joining from Earlswood Town and scored a brace in the 5-1 win against Inkberrow a few weeks back.  

Knowle have been one of the standout teams in step seven of the national league pyramid this season. The Robins are top of the league with 34 points from 13 matches and have the best defence in division two with just six goals conceded.

The visitors were excellent last season and finished in 3rd with 65 points from 30 matches. At this stage last season they had 23 points from 12 matches. This shows how far the club has come.

The strike partnership of Jay Rendell and Tom Crane has stood out for the visitors with 19 goals scored in the league so far. 

Overall, it’s been impressive by the Solihull club. It’s just a case of keeping the standards high and being consistent to win the division come the end of the season.       

All matches kick off on Saturday at 2pm except where noted.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League