MFL Weekend Preview (Premier Division)

Bewdley Town V Uttoxeter Town

Bewdley have had a challenging start to the season and have won one of their five matches in the premier division so far. The hosts’ solitary win came at the Beeches against Tividale where they impressively won 4-1 and they have three points to sit in 14th. Ben Worthington has impressed for the club and has four goals from five starts in the league.

Uttoxeter have had a positive start to the season under new manager Phil Adams and have picked up seven points from four matches to sit 8th. The visitor’s form at home has been good with four points from two matches and they beat Stone Old Alleynians away from home 4-1 in August. Matthew Redshaw has impressed and has scored four goals from three starts in the league.

This should be an entertaining match at Ribbesford Meadow tomorrow afternoon and both teams want to climb up the table.  

Northwich Victoria V Tividale

Northwich have had a tough start to the season and are adapting to life in the MFL (Premier) having been transferred from the North-West Counties League (Premier). The club has picked up two points from three matches in the league. They drew against Studley at home and Stone Old Alleynians away before losing to Lichfield City last weekend. They currently sit 16th and this match is a good opportunity to get a result and push up the table.  

Tividale have also had a challenging start to the season and sit bottom of the table with one point from six matches. The visitors have shown flashes of quality in matches against the likes of Romulus away from home but have struggled to turn that into results so far. The visitors narrowly lost to Studley and Whitchurch Alport over the last few weeks and should take some encouragement from that to get a result against a team also struggling for form.

This match feels like an important one for both clubs to get their season underway and to build a bit of momentum in the division. A win would give either team a lot of confidence for the month ahead.     

Romulus V AFC Wulfrunians

Romulus have had a positive start to the season under new manager Neil Tooth and are currently 3rd with 10 points from four matches in the division. The Roms home form at CV Stadium has been impressive with seven points from three matches. Luke Keen has impressed for the club and has three goals from two matches started in the league.

AFC Wulfrunians have also had a good start to the season and are currently top of the table with 12 points from six matches. The club’s away form has been impressive with two wins from two matches, and they have picked up six points from four matches at home. This match feels like a big one for the visitors and will be a test against tough opposition. They currently have a two-point gap over the Roms and could make it five with a win.

This match should be an interesting contest near the top of the table and both teams look like challenging for the play offs at the minimum this season.  

Shifnal Town V Lichfield City

Shifnal have had an under the radar season so far. The hosts have been reliably consistent in the league and are set to challenge again this season and currently have seven points from three matches. They bowed out of the FA cup in mid-week against Nantwich Town in front of an impressive crowd of 455 supporters and will look to build on the positives of that performance against Lichfield.

Lichfield have had a good start to the season and picked up 8 points from four matches in the league. The visitors could be a dark horse for the play offs and have played well against Congleton Town (Home) and Northwich Victoria (Away). Daniel Smith has impressed for the visitors with three goals from four matches started in the division. The defence has also stood out with only three goals conceded so far.

This match looks really intriguing and involves two teams that have the quality to compete for the play offs this season.
   
Stone Old Alleynians V Highgate United

Stone Old Alleynians have had an ok start to the season in a tough division. They have picked up four points from six matches and have four draws and two losses so far. Some of the draws have come against notable opposition in Romulus and Shifnal Town who have had good starts to the season. The club will want to finish mid table at the end of the season and having a good home form will go a long way in helping the club stay up.

Highgate United have had a positive start to the season and are up there near the top of the division. They currently sit 5th with three wins from four matches and will look to cement their position in the table with a result at Kings Park tomorrow afternoon. The visitors recent form has been encouraging with six points from their last three matches in the league.

This match should be an interesting one as Stone Old Alleynians will look to make it difficult against Highgate and will want their first win of the season to build some momentum.    

Stourport Swifts V Dudley Town

Stourport have started the season ok and currently sit comfortably in mid table with 5 points from four matches to sit in 10th. The hosts have positively responded to a difficult away loss to Studley and pushed Hanley Town close in the FA cup before beating Congleton Town and drawing with Lichfield City in the league. The Swifts will want to continue their recent run of form in the last few weeks and push up the table.

Dudley Town have had an ok start to the season and are adapting to life in the premier division having been promoted as division one champions last season. They currently sit 13th with three points from fives matches. The standout result is the bank holiday Monday win against Bewdley town at the Guardian Warehousing Arena where they won 5-0. Harry Crook has continued his impressive form from last season and has four goals for the Robins from five matches started in the league.

This should be an exciting match as both teams will feel like they can get a result and climb up the table.     

Studley V Atherstone Town

Studley have been one of the standout teams in the division so far this season. The Bees have scored the highest total of goals in the league with 15 from just four matches and have 10 points to sit 2nd in the table. Zachary Guinan has impressed for the hosts with three goals from four matches started. They have been excellent at home, scoring 11 goals to win both of their matches at the Studley Sports Centre.

Atherstone have had a tough start to the season in the division. They have picked up two points from three matches to sit above the relegation zone in 15th. Their record away from home has involved getting one point from two matches. It’s early days for the club this season and they will be looking to push up the table this month.  

This match should be an intriguing one as it features a team in form against a team looking get a result and build some momentum.

Whitchurch Alport V Darlaston Town

Whitchurch have had a reliably good start to the season and are in the mix for the play offs this season. The Shropshire club have 10 points from five matches to sit 4th and their defence has been a real positive so far with just four goals conceded. The team have had notable wins against Dudley Town and Highgate United away from home. Luke Goddard has done a good job as manager, and it should be an exciting season at Yockings Park.

Darlaston are coming off the back of a narrow lost to Sporting Khalsa in the FA cup where they competed admirably across two games and lost on penalties. The club have had a fine start to their league season with six points from four matches with one win and three draws. The visitors have been steadily mid table so far and will want to push on and climb up the table.

This match should be an exciting match and involves two teams that are capable of going on a run and finishing in the play offs.  

Wolverhampton Casuals V Congleton Town

Wolverhampton Casuals have had a tough start to the season with two points from four matches to sit 17th in the table. There’s been a few positives for the team with Tom Cottam scoring two goals from three matches started in the league. Overall, it’s a young team competing in a tough division to stay in the league and their home form is going to be crucial to avoid relegation.

Congleton have had an ok start to the season and are comfortably in mid table. The Bears have picked up four points from four matches played with the highlight being a 4-0 home win over Uttoxeter Town at Booth Street. The visitor’s away form so far has been a bit of a struggle with one point from three matches. Daniel Needham has impressed for the Bears with three goals from four matches started. The club will be looking to get a result tomorrow afternoon and push up the table.

This should be an interesting match as both teams want to get a result to build a bit of momentum for the weeks ahead.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League