MFL Weekend Preview (FA cup)

Atherstone Town V Kidsgrove Athletic

Atherstone Town will be looking for an upset this weekend against step four side Kidsgrove Athletic.

The Adders got a brilliant result in the previous round where they beat AFC Wulfrunians 3-0 away from home. It’s been a slightly difficult start to the league with one point from two games but there’s a long way to go. This match is a good opportunity for players such as Ryan Harkin to impress against a team from a higher league. Their manager Mitch Thomson is building something at Atherstone.   

Kidsgrove are coming into this match with a bit of confidence following a 4-0 home win against Witton Albion in mid-week. They beat Hellenic League side Pershore Town in the previous round 2-0 to reach this stage of the competition. The Stoke side have established themselves at step four over the years and should be a tough test for Atherstone Town tomorrow.     

Barnoldswick Town V Northwich Victoria

Barnoldswick play Northwich Victoria tomorrow in an all step five tie in the FA cup.

The hosts are managed by former Vics manager Steve Pickup and beat NPL side Brighouse Town in the previous round on penalties following a replay to reach this stage of the competition. They have been steady in the NWCL Premier Division over the last few years and have finished comfortably above the relegation places.  

Northwich Victoria will be looking to bounce back from a 3-0 home loss to Whitchurch Alport in mid-week. The Vics had an eye-catching start to the season where they beat Squires Gate in the FA cup. They also had a second half comeback to beat Uttoxeter Town on the opening day of the league season.

There building something under manager Matt Barnes and have a good chance tomorrow with the likes of Sam Unwin and Callum Parker in the squad.   

Brocton V Coleshill Town

Brocton will be looking for an upset tomorrow against NPL side Coleshill Town at Silkmore Lane.

The Staffordshire side have been brilliant over the last few months and will be looking for a statement result under manager Alex Curtis. They started the season well with wins against Tividale in the FA Cup and Highgate United in the league before narrowly losing to 1874 Northwich in mid-week. Their a team to keep an eye on for followers of local non-league football around the Midlands.

Coleshill Town have had an encouraging start to the season in the NPL Division One Midlands under new manager Grant Joshua. He’s well known to followers of the MFL and did an incredible job of getting Lye Town promoted to step four a few seasons back. The Warwickshire side beat UCL side Eastwood in the previous round at the end of extra time following a replay.

Longridge Town V 1874 Northwich

1874 Northwich go away to Longridge Town in the FA cup tomorrow in an all step five tie.

Longridge Town are an established NWCL Premier Division side that have finished comfortably in mid table over the last few seasons. The Ridge beat Cheadle Town in the previous round to reach this stage of the competition and will be hoping to progress to the first qualifying round tomorrow.

1874 Northwich have started the season well in both the league and the FA Cup. The Greens are coming off a three-game winning run in all competitions and have beaten Lichfield City and Brocton in the league over the last week. They did well in the previous round of the FA cup and beat newly promoted Stockport Town away to reach this stage of the competition.    

Rugby Town V Stone Old Alleynians

Stone Old Alleynians will be hoping for an upset against step four side Rugby Town at Butlin Road tomorrow.

Rugby Town have been making the step up to the NPL Division One Midlands since the beginning of 23/24 following an impressive season in the UCL where they won the Premier Division South. The hosts have made a fine start to the season with a huge win against Darlaston Town last weekend alongside beating Wolverhampton Casuals in the previous round of the FA cup. 

Stone Old Alleynians have been one of the surprise teams in the early stages of the MFL season. The Stoke side are coming off three consecutive wins in both the league and the FA cup. The visitors have beaten the likes of Romulus and Wolverhampton Casuals in the MFL Premier alongside beating NPL side Bedworth United in the previous round of the FA cup. 

Shifnal Town V Sutton Coldfield Town

Shifnal Town will be looking to cause an upset at home to NPL side Sutton Coldfield Town at the Acoustafoam Stadium on Saturday.

The Shropshire side have made an encouraging start to the season and have beaten the likes of Tividale over the last week in the MFL Premier. They will be looking to bounce back from a narrow loss at Stourport Swifts in mid-week with a statement result tomorrow. They beat UCL side Belper United in the previous round to reach this stage of the competition.

Sutton Coldfield Town are building something at step four under manager Cameron Stuart who was appointed last season. The Royals had an encouraging home win against Coventry Sphinx in mid-week which should give them some confidence going into tomorrow. They put in a professional performance to beat Romulus in the previous round of the FA cup a few weeks back.     

Whitchurch Alport V Pilkington

Whitchurch will be looking to build on their eye catching away win against Northwich Victoria with a result against Pilkington tomorrow afternoon in the FA Cup.

This is another match which features an all step five tie and presents a good opportunity for both clubs to progress to the first qualifying round.

The Shropshire side are building something under manager Adam Shillcock in the MFL Premier and bounced back from an opening day loss to Stourport Swifts with a result against Northwich Victoria in mid-week. They beat NWCL Side Irlam 3-0 at home in the previous round to reach this stage of the competition. The hosts have a good chance of going on a cup run with Jack Sheward in goal.

Pilkington caused an upset in the previous round of the FA cup and notably beat NPL Division One West side Wythenshawe following a replay. The Merseyside club have progressed up the pyramid over the last few seasons. They established themselves at step five last season following promotion from NWCL Division One North in 22/23.        

​Worcester City V Dudley Town

Worcester City host Dudley Town tomorrow afternoon at Claines Lane in the FA cup.

The hosts are adjusting to step four football following a brilliant campaign in the Hellenic League last time out where they won the premier division by 19 points alongside getting to the semi finals of the FA Vase. They have started the season well with an eye-catching win against Anstey Nomads in the league. They also beat Walsall Wood in the previous round of the FA cup following a rescheduled replay.

Dudley Town have made a bright start to the season in the MFL Premier with four points from two matches headlined by an away win against Studley last weekend. The Robins beat Sporting Club Inkberrow in the previous round of the FA cup where they put in a professional performance to get a result against the FA cup debutants.

It’s a tough draw for them tomorrow but they will hope to cause an upset against one of the standout sides at step four/five level.      
Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League