MFL Weekend Preview (Play off, semi finals)

​Premier Division

Lichfield City V Highgate United

Lichfield will be looking to continue their unbeaten home record at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium against Highgate United tomorrow afternoon. It’s been an excellent season for the Staffordshire side who finished 2nd at the end of the league season. Beating Studley was important in gaining some confidence and momentum going into the play offs following defeats at Highgate and Darlaston.  

They have been incredible at home with thirteen wins and four draws in the league. A key part of their success has been at the back with just 11 goals conceded from 17 home matches. 

In a squad full of quality, Dan Smith has been excellent up front with 34 goals in all competitions.

The loss of captain Daniel Lomas due to injury is going to be the main concern for Lichfield but they have more than enough quality in midfield to make up for it with Dominic Lewis and Jordan Clement impressing this season.

Highgate are going into this match with some momentum following a huge result against Hinckley AFC in the MFL League cup semi-finals on Tuesday. A place at the Bescot is secured for the visitors against Congleton Town on Wednesday and they have a huge match this weekend in the play offs.

It’s going to be an exciting week for Highgate supporters, and it will be interesting to see how they get on. They notably got in the play offs following an eye catching 12-0 win against relegated Bewdley Town last week to beat Studley to 5th on goal difference.

The main concern for Highgate going into this match is their away record which has been a bit hit and miss throughout the league season. Sevens wins, one draw and nine losses from 17 matches is ok but contrasts from their home form with only two losses from 17 matches.

With the play offs being a one-off match, the visitors have a good chance of causing an upset and momentum is huge at this stage of the year.

Ryan Harkin is their main attacking threat and he’s been incredible at step five over the last few seasons. He has a total of 67 goals across two seasons for Highgate United in all competitions.       

Darlaston Town V Stourport Swifts

Darlaston are going into the play offs as the form team in the premier division. It’s been an incredible month for the Citizens with seven consecutive wins to finish the league season in 3rd. The most impressive thing about their run is their defence with seven consecutive clean sheets going into this match.

They have been strong at the Paycare Stadium all season with thirteen wins from seventeen matches. There’s quality in the squad with Tom Allsopp impressing in goal and Alexander Foreshaw and Ben Podmore having good seasons at the back.

The main concern is the injury to attacking player James Rowland who had the ability to unlock defences. None the less, there’s more than enough quality to step in with Kieron Miller playing well up front and Aaron Bishop a threat in the final third.

Stourport Swifts finished the season strongly to get in the play offs. The visitors finished the league campaign with three consecutive wins to finish in 4th and have some momentum going into this match.

The most pleasing thing was the three wins coming away from home which has been one of their main issues this season. They battled to beat the likes of Atherstone and Stone Old Alleynians and put in a professional performance to beat Bewdley Town. 

Alongside having a notable run in the FA Vase where they reached the last sixteen before bowing out to Worcester City, the visitors have had an excellent season at this level and will be looking to cause a bit of an upset tomorrow.

Benjamin Tilbury is one of their main attacking threats with 16 goals in all competitions. Another notable player is Ben Jevons at the back who has been excellent for the Swifts in his last season in non-league football.          

Division One

Allscott Heath V Droitwich Spa

Allscott Heath have been excellent since coming up to division one from the West Midlands Regional League and have been one of the stories of step six. To finish in 2nd is an excellent achievement from the Shropshire side in their first season at this level.

​They have been strong at home throughout the season with fourteen wins from nineteen matches at Shawbirch Road. It’s been brilliant at the back with only 25 goals conceded at home. There also on a run of four consecutive clean sheets at home.

They have got some momentum going into the play offs with fifteen points from their last six matches. 

The main concern is losing to Droitwich Spa in the league away from home which could be a psychological factor. None the less, throughout the campaign they have proved they can take the game to anyone on their day.

Droitwich go into the play offs looking to bounce back from the mid-week loss to Wednesfield on Tuesday. The Saltmen have been hit and miss over the last few weeks and a bit unpredictable in terms of results. On their day they can beat anyone in the league and there on a good run of form with ten points from their last six matches.

One of the encouraging factors for Saltmen supporters at the weekend is Droitwich’s away form. The visitors have won ten and drawn four of their 19 matches on the road. 

Another positive for Droitwich is the experience they had last season in the play offs when they lost to Ashby Ivanhoe in the final. This could serve them in good stead in a tight match and make a real difference.

Josh Hurdman is a player to watch for Droitwich who has 14 goals in all competitions.

OJM Black Country V Ingles

OJM will be looking to continue their excellent form against Ingles tomorrow at the Triplex Sports Association. They have been one of the form teams in the league coming into this play-off match and are on a four-game unbeaten run. Their home record is excellent with ten wins and six draws from 19 matches.

Their main strength throughout the season has been their defensive record with 40 goals conceded across 38 matches which is the best in division one. OJM have really stood out at the back throughout the league campaign with Callum Nimmo captaining the team and making a real difference. With a solid defensive platform, it gives OJM a brilliant chance of play off success if it all clicks up front.

They like to play a possession brand of football and work the ball through the opposition to create chances. It’s an eye-catching style and brilliant to watch for OJM supporters and neutral spectators.

It’s a squad full of quality with the likes of Jordan Sangha and Blake Kindred impressing in midfield.

Taylor Homer is also a key attacking threat down the wings and has 17 goals in all competitions.

Ingles have been excellent this season and go into the play offs with a bit of momentum. The Leicester side are four matches unbeaten and will be looking to cause an upset tomorrow to advance to the play off final.

One of the positives for the visitors is their record on the road with twelve wins and three draws from nineteen matches. They also have one of the best defensive records in the league with only 48 goals conceded across 38 matches which is excellent.

A key part of Ingles’ success has been their ability to stay in matches and keep it tight at the back. There well set up off the ball and defend as a team which can go a long way in picking up results.

There’s also quality on the ball to cause teams problems with Jack Allen having a brilliant season and emerging as one of Ingles’ main attacking threats. He has 17 goals in all competitions this season.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League