MFL Weekend Preview (Division Two)

​Central Ajax V Alcester Town

Central Ajax host Alcester Town at Ajax Park on Saturday looking to get a result and climb up the table. The Warwickshire club have been good so far in Division Two and started the season excellently with 10 points from their first four matches.

None the less, their main aim will be to stay in the division come the end of the season and their currently in 12th with 15 points from 11 matches. They have a five-point gap over Littleton in 15th who have played three games more. Their also in the quarter finals of the Les James challenge cup and a mid-table finish alongside a good cup run would be a successful season for Central Ajax.

Shaye Eden has come back into the team following a spell at Stourport Swifts and is excellent at this level in front of goal. He has 15 goals from 12 matches in all competitions.  

Alcester have been brilliant in division two this season and are challenging for the league title alongside Knowle and Redditch Borough. The Romans are in 4th with 27 points from 12 matches and have three games in hand over league leaders Knowle on 35 points.

This feels like a crucial stage of the season for the visitors as they have a stretch of three league games between now and the 6th of January. Their also in the quarter finals of the Les James Challenge cup where they will play defending champions Knowle at the Robins Nest.

Their form in the league has been good with fifteen points from their last six matches.

Ricardo Richards is a player to watch with 17 goals from 11 matches in all competitions.    

Coventrians V Littleton

Coventrians have been playing well recently and have picked up 13 points from their last six league games. Their in the top half of the table following a tough start to the season and are pushing for a top half finish come the end of the season. The hosts are currently 8th in the table with 19 points from 14 matches.

Their main strength has been their home form at the Colliery Sports Ground with four wins from six matches. They notably beat Knowle last weekend at home and are coming into this match in an excellent run of form.

Romano Graham is a player to watch up front who has grown into the season and has 8 goals from 14 matches in all competitions.

Littleton are involved in a relegation battle to stay in the division and are currently in the relegation places. The Worcestershire club are 15th in the table with 10 points from 14 matches. One of the positives for the visitors is that they are not too far from safety and have three games in hand over Inkberrow in 14th who are a point better off.

Their coming into an interesting part of the season with four games between now and the 6th January. They also have a big match in the quarter finals of the Les James Challenge cup against Fairfield Villa away from home on the 3rd February.  

Michael Boyd is a player to watch who has impressed in front of goal with six goals from 8 matches.

Earlswood Town V Inkberrow

Earlswood have struggled in the league recently and are looking for a result to get their season back on track. The Earls have two points from their last six league matches and are 9th in the table with 18 points from 13 matches. Their more than capable of aiming for a top half finish come the end of the season.

Their also involved in the Les James Challenge cup and have a quarter final tie against Central Ajax on the 3rd of February.

Louis Bridges is a player to watch up front who has seven goals from 12 matches in all competitions.

Inkberrow have battled well over the last few weeks to be just above the relegation zone. The visitors are 14th in the table with 11 points from 17 matches and have a crucial run of matches over the festive period to climb up the table.

They have four points from their last three league matches and have quality up front to give themselves a chance of staying up. George Thomas has been good in front of goal with five goals and four assists from 16 matches and the return of last season’s top scorer for Inkberrow Jay Higgins-Pugsley should help the team up front.

They play Central Ajax on boxing day at home before travelling to Alcester Town on the 30th December.    

Fairfield Villa V Cadbury Athletic

Fairfield have struggled in the league recently with four points from their last six league matches. Their currently involved in a relegation battle but have a few games in hand to steer clear of it. The Swans are currently 13th in the table with 11 points from 12 matches and only a point better off from Littleton in 15th.

A comfortable mid table finish and a good cup run would be a successful season for Fairfield. They have a crucial fixture against Littleton away on Boxing Day before playing AFC Coventry Rangers away (30th December) and Lane Head at home (6th January). The Swans are also in the quarter finals of the Les James Challenge cup and are at home to Littleton on the 3rd February.

There’s quality in the team with Liam Slade impressing at the back and Samson Omotayo providing a threat in front of goal with 8 goals from 11 matches in all competitions.

Cadbury have been good in Division two and are comfortably in mid table. The chocolate men are in 10th with 17 points from 14 matches and are capable of aiming for a top half finish come the end of the season. Their form on the road has been their main strength with four wins from nine matches.

They have 9 points from their last six league matches with the highlight being the away win at Redditch Borough. Their fixture schedule includes consecutive games against Coventrians home and away on the 26th and 30th December. They also have a three-game home stretch against Inkberrow, Littleton and Hampton throughout January.

Callum Devlin a player to watch for Cadbury who has been reliable in front of goal with 9 goals from 12 matches in all competitions.

Lane Head V Redditch Borough

Lane Head have been one of the form teams in division two over the last month and have climbed up the table into a mid-table position. The Walsall club have picked up 13 points from their last six league matches and are in 11th with 17 points from 16 matches. Their form at home recently has been eye catching with seven points from their last three matches.

Josh Lewis is a player to watch for Lane Head with 9 goals from 18 matches in all competitions.

Redditch Borough have gone a bit under the radar but are well involved in the title race alongside Knowle and Alcester Town. The key to Borough’s success this season has been consistency with only one loss from 12 matches which leaves them in 3rd with 29 points. They have three games in hand over Knowle with a six-point gap to make up.

Their form on the road has been one of their strengths with four wins from six matches away from home. They have fifteen points from their last six league matches and are coming off three consecutive wins away from home going into this match.

James Ward has been brilliant since signing from Alcester Town over the summer with 14 goals from ten matches in all competitions.

They play Earlswood Town both home and away over the festive period before a big local derby against Birmingham United at home on the 6th of January.

Birmingham United V Coventry Alvis (Saturday, 3pm kick off)

Birmingham United have been good in division two and are firmly in the top five. Their currently 2nd in the table with 30 points from 17 matches and have been one of the standout teams in the league this season.

Their recent form in the league has been good with ten points from their last six league matches.

They also have a quarter final tie against Hampton in the Les James Challenge cup on the 3rd February.  

Connor Doyle is a player to watch for Birmingham United who has impressed throughout the season with 9 goals from 14 matches in all competitions.

Coventry Alvis have been good in division two and are comfortably in mid table. The Tankmen are 7th in the table with 19 points from 14 matches and are capable of finishing in the top half of the table come the end of the season.

They have a tough run of games for the festive period which includes playing AFC Coventry Rangers at home on boxing day before playing Knowle away on the 30th of December.

Jack Low is a player to watch for Coventry Alvis who has seven goals from 13 matches in all competitions. He could be excellent on the counterattack for the visitors in this sort of match.

Matches kick off on Saturday at 2pm except where noted

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League