MFL Weekend Preview (Division Two)

​AFC Coventry Rangers V Coventrians

AFC Coventry Rangers will be looking to continue their recent form against local rivals Coventrians on Saturday. The hosts are currently on a run of two consecutive wins and will be looking for a result to challenge for the top four.

They have been excellent at home throughout the season with eight wins from nine matches at the Coventry Technical Sporting Club. It’s their record on the road which has stopped them challenging for the league title this campaign.

Their a brilliant team to watch on their day and have quality in the final third with Jordan Powell and Connoll Farrell impressing this season.

Coventrians will be looking to stay up for the remainder of the season and avoid being involved in a relegation battle in the final few weeks. There currently seven points better off than Littleton in 15th and will be looking for a few wins over the next month.

If they can finish above the bottom two it will be a successful season for the visitors who will be looking to establish themselves at step seven.

Romano Graham is a player to watch with 10 goals in all competitions.

Alcester Town V Birmingham United

Alcester Town will be looking for a result against Birmingham United at the weekend so they can challenge for a top three finish. The Romans have been strong at Stratford Road with seven wins from ten matches to challenge near the top of the table.

They have lost a few players recently with Odane Barnes joining Knowle last week so it will be interesting to see who steps up in front of goal.

There on a decent run of form and are unbeaten in their last three matches with two wins and a draw.

Birmingham United have been excellent since the new year with five wins from their last six matches to sit in 2nd and only a point off Knowle.  There one of the form teams in the division coming into this weekend and will be looking to continue it against Alcester Town.

Their record on the road has been impressive with seven wins from twelve matches to challenge near the top of the table.

A key positive for the Blinders has been their recruitment and they have brought in a lot of quality players to challenge at this level. Rico Richards is class at step seven and has continued his good form from Alcester since joining a few months ago.  

Bolehall Swifts V Fairfield Villa

Bolehall will be looking to build on their mid-week win against Central Ajax with a result against Fairfield Villa at the weekend. The result on Tuesday was huge for the Swifts and gives them a genuine chance of staying up come the end of the season. There now only three points off Fairfield Villa in 14th with a lot of matches left to play.

Their home form has been one of the main positives for Bolehall in a challenging season. Four wins from seven matches is good given their league position and making it a fortress will give them a chance of avoiding the drop over the next month.

They have not been too bad defensively over their last six matches with just seven goals conceded.

There’s genuine hope of Bolehall staying up if they can get a few wins.

Fairfield have had an interesting season and are competing on a lot of fronts. There in the semi finals of the LJ Challenge Cup alongside the Worcester Saturday Cup and in a battle to stay in division two over the final few weeks of the season. The Swans currently have a three-point gap over the bottom two.

One of their main issues has been away from home with just one point from seven matches on the road. An area where they’ve struggled has been up front with six goals scored away from home.

None the less, there’s quality in the squad to give supporters hope with Darren Green and Samson Omotayo impressing in the final third.     

Cadbury Athletic V Coventry Alvis

Cadbury will be looking to build on their encouraging goalless draw with Alcester Town last weekend with a result against Coventry Alvis at the Bournville Recreation Ground. The main aim for Cadbury is to avoid relegation and build in division two under manager Daniel Moses. They have an eight-point gap over the bottom two with seven matches remaining.

They have struggled for wins at home with two wins from ten matches. None the less, there’s quality in the squad with Callum Devlin impressing as the main striker with 11 goals in all competitions for the Chocolate Men.

Similar to a lot of teams, it’s all about building for Cadbury and looking at the bigger picture.

Coventry Alvis have been reliably good in division two and are in the top half of the table. The Tankmen are on a decent run of form with three wins from their last five matches.

The visitors have been competitive on the road with five wins and a draw from twelve matches.

Jagit Aujla is a player to watch with 14 goals in all competitions.  

Central Ajax V Knowle

Central Ajax will be looking for a statement result against Knowle at Ajax Park on Saturday afternoon. It’s been a positive season for the Warwickshire club at step seven and they have adapted to division two well since coming up from division three last season. They will be looking to respond to the away loss at Bolehall in mid-week going into this weekend.

They have been tough to beat at Ajax Park in the league with just three losses from nine matches.

They have a bit of breathing space over the bottom two with an eight-point gap over Littleton in 15th.

There’s quality up front with Shaye Eden and Adam Taylor impressing this season with a combined total of 25 goals in all competitions.

Knowle will be looking to continue their excellent form this weekend against Central Ajax. The Robins have been one of the form teams in division two since the New Year and are unbeaten from their last six matches. It’s all about keeping pace with Redditch Borough so they can have a shoot of challenging for the league when they play them home and away.

They have been brilliant away from home with six wins from nine matches and just 4 goals conceded.

Jay Rendell is a player to watch who has 12 goals in all competitions for Knowle.

Earlswood Town V Redditch Borough

Earlswood will be looking to cause a shock result against title challengers Redditch Borough at the Pavilions at the weekend. It’s been a transitional season for the Earls in division two and there comfortably in mid table. A top ten finish would be a good season for Earlswood come early May.

There on a tough run of form with one win from their last six matches. It’s been a stop and start season with the number of games called off stopping them from building some momentum.

They have struggled at home with two wins from seven matches and are better on the road.

Redditch Borough are on a seven-game winning run going into this weekend and will be looking to continue it against Earlswood Town on Saturday. The Borough are eight points off league leaders Knowle with five games in hand over the Robins.

Their away record has been excellent with seven wins and two draws from nine matches.

They have impressed at the back throughout the season with just 16 goals conceded in the league from 16 matches.

Hampton V Littleton

Hampton will be looking to build on the home win against Cadbury Athletic a few weeks ago with a result against Littleton. There on a decent run of form with three wins from their last five matches.

They will be looking to finish in the top half of the table and make a run in the LJ Challenge Cup for the remainder of the campaign.

The Solihull club have been strong at Field Lane and temporary home New Mill Lane with six wins from ten matches.

​Ciaran Lawless is a player to watch with 14 goals in all competitions.

Littleton will be looking to build on the encouraging win against Bolehall Swifts last weekend. There’s hope for the Worcestershire side with a three-point gap to make up over Fairfield Villa in 14th. 

They have not been too bad away from home given their league position with two wins from seven matches and have been tough to break down with just 17 goals conceded.

It’s going to be an interesting few weeks for the visitors who are also in the semi finals of the Worcester Saturday Cup. 

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League