MFL Weekend Preview (Premier Division)

​AFC Wulfrunians V Tividale

AFC Wulfrunians are coming into this match in a good run of form and are unbeaten in their last three league games. The Wulfs are comfortably in the top half of the table and a top ten finish will be the aim between now and April.

They have been good at Castlecroft this season with five wins and two draws from 12 matches.

Daniel Munday is a player to watch up front who has looked good as the main striker for AFC Wulfrunians in the final third.

Tividale are in a relegation battle to stay in step five. They are currently five points off Northwich Victoria in 16th. The visitors have not been too bad over the last few matches and came back from 3-0 down to get a point at Booth Street against Congleton a few weeks back.

They have struggled away from home with one win from 12 matches on the road. They could do with a scrappy 1-0 away win to give themselves a chance of staying up over the next month. The visitors have been better up front away from home with 20 goals scored compared to 8 goals scored at the Beeches.     

Bewdley Town V Atherstone Town

It’s been a challenging season for Bewdley who are fifteen points off safety with 13 matches to go. The hosts have struggled in the premier division with just one win from 21 matches.

It’s also been a struggle up front and defensively with 14 goals scored and 90 goals conceded for a negative goal difference of -76. Their home form at Ribbesford Meadow has also been an issue with eight consecutive losses and 3 goals scored.

With the division getting tougher every season, it’s a shame that Bewdley have struggled as much as they have. Credit to the supporters who have turned up every Saturday to cheer the team on. Hopefully they can rebuild in step six next season and turn their fortunes around. 

Atherstone have been excellent since the managerial appointment of Mitch Thomson in December. The Adders have picked up 15 points from their last six league matches and have beaten Highgate and Whitchurch over the last few weeks.

The visitors are currently in the top half of the table and have an outside chance of finishing in the play offs. Their currently seven points off Darlaston Town in 5th.  A top half finish at the end of the season would be a good achievement by Atherstone.

They have not been too bad away from home with just four losses from ten matches.     

Dudley Town V Stourport Swifts

Dudley Town have been excellent over the last few months and have really built some momentum at step five. Following a difficult start to life in the premier division, the Robins are now the form team in the league and are unbeaten from their last six league games. The turnaround since December has been incredible and they are now in the top half of the table.

A key to their success has been making the Guardian Warehousing Arena more of a fortress over the last few months and making it a tough place to get a result. The likes of Lichfield and Highgate have lost there this season.

Daniel Danks is a player to watch who can make things happen in the final third.

Stourport Swifts are challenging for the play offs following their exit in the FA Vase last weekend to Worcester City.  It’s been a brilliant season so far by the Swifts and they have been challenging in both the league and the FA Vase since the start of the campaign.

Their currently one point off Darlaston Town in 5th. The visitor’s main issue has been away from home where they have won two out of ten matches on the road.   

Lichfield City V Highgate United

Lichfield City are currently in the play off positions and have an outside chance of winning the league. The hosts are in 2nd and seven points off Congleton with two games in hand. An encouraging factor for Lichfield is their goal difference which is similar to Congleton’s so automatic promotion to step four is still on the cards.

None the less, a top three finish will be the main priority between now and April as they have been excellent at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium this season. Their currently unbeaten from 13 matches at home with ten wins and three draws. If they can finish in 2nd, it will make them strong favourites for the play offs given their home form. 

There’s a nice balance throughout the team but Jordan Clement has stood out from midfield over the last few weeks.

Highgate are challenging for the play offs going into the final few months of the season. The Gate are currently in 4th and three points better off than Stourport in 6th. Their away form has been solid with five wins from ten matches.

Similar to Lichfield, the visitors are challenging for a top three finish to set up a home semi-final play-off match. They have three games in hand over Studley in third and if they could finish in 3rd, it would aid their play off chances. The visitors have lost once all season at the Coppice from 11 matches.  

Northwich Victoria V Uttoxeter Town

Northwich are looking to stay up at step five over the next few months. It’s been a challenging season for the Vics who are currently in 16th and five points better off than Tividale in 17th.

One of the main positives for the Vics has been their home form which has played a big part in them being above the bottom two. Four wins and three draws from ten matches is notably good and they have picked up 15 of their 19 points at home. 

One of their issues has been up front with just 24 goals scored. The Vics have signed Christophe Aziamale from Whitchurch Alport this week which could help their goalscoring problems.

Uttoxeter have not played much since the turn of the new year with a lot of their matches being postponed. They have played twice since New Year’s Day in the league and are coming off consecutive losses to Darlaston and AFC Wulfrunians.

Despite Uttoxeter struggling in the league of late, their main aim was to stay up following a tough campaign last season. This season has been a success for Uttoxeter who are 14 points above the bottom two. Their currently in 11th and a top half finish would be a bonus.

One of their issues has been on the road where they have lost eight out of 12 matches away from home. None the less, their capable of getting a result tomorrow and could cause any team problems on their day.     

Romulus V Studley

It’s been a tough month for Romulus, and they have picked up four points from their last six league games. None the less, the Roms are comfortably in mid table and in no real danger of getting drawn into a relegation battle. Their currently 12 points ahead of Tividale in 17th.

It’s all about building for next season for Romulus and looking at the bigger picture. If they can build on the positives of this season, they could be challenging for the play offs next season.

Tomorrow is a good opportunity to get a statement result against a team challenging for the play offs.

Studley have been excellent this season and are currently in the top five. The Bees are in 3rd and four points better off than Stourport in 6th. Getting in the play offs would be a brilliant achievement by the visitors come April.

One of their issues has been their away form where they have won three out of ten matches on the road. They have also struggled a bit in front of goal away from home with 14 goals scored.  

None the less, their unbeaten from their last eight league games and will undoubtedly be a tough test for Romulus tomorrow.

Shifnal Town V Darlaston Town

Shifnal are currently in the top half of the table and go into tomorrow’s match with Darlaston Town looking to get a result. The Shropshire club have an outside chance of the play offs, but a top ten finish is a more realistic aim between now and April.

It’s been a stop and start season by Shifnal and inconsistency has prevented them getting in the play offs. However, they have been playing well of late and have tightened up at the back with just three goals conceded from their last six league matches.

The hosts will be looking for a statement result tomorrow afternoon against play off chasers Darlaston Town.

Darlaston have been good over the past month and are in form going into this match. The Citizens are coming off an impressive 9-0 win against Bewdley Town last weekend and have 12 points from their last six league games.

The visitors are 5th in the table and a point better off than Stourport Swifts in 6th.

One of their issues this season has been their away form and they have won three matches out of 11 on the road. Their very similar to Stourport with an outstanding home form and an ok away form.

If they could win tomorrow, it would give their play off chances a brilliant boost.

Stone Old Alleynians V Wolverhampton Casuals

Stone Old Alleynians have struggled over the last month and are getting drawn into a relegation battle. Six consecutive losses in the league have dragged the Stoke club down to 15th and their now six points better off than Tividale in 17th. 

The hosts need to pick up some results over the next month to give themselves some breathing space over the bottom two. On a positive, their home form at Kings Park has been decent throughout the season with just four losses from eleven matches.

Wolverhampton Casuals are another club that are looking over their shoulders in the premier division. The visitors have done well to be outside the bottom two and are currently seven points better off than Tividale in 17th.

They had a huge win at home against Bewdley Town a few weeks back. In terms of away form, they have been competitive on the road and picked up 12 points from 11 matches.  

Whitchurch Alport V Congleton Town

Whitchurch are comfortably in mid table going into this match. It’s been a transitional season from the Shropshire club and there’s been some positives since new manager Adam Shillcock came in during the Autumn months.

Their run in the FA Vase where they reached the last 32 is an excellent achievement. Their league form has not been too bad either with 9 points from their last six league matches.

Their home form at Yockings Park has also been a huge positive. Just three losses from eleven matches is notably good and building a fortress at step five can go a long way to being successful.

Congleton have been brilliant throughout the season since joining the MFL over the summer. The Bears are top of the table and seven points better off than Lichfield in 2nd. It’s just a case of keeping performances consistent over the last ten matches to win the league and gain promotion to step four.

Their away form has been good with just three losses from ten matches on the road. Being excellent at home and competitive on the road has been a key part of Congleton’s season.

The Bears go into this match as one of the form teams and are unbeaten from their last eight league games with six wins and two draws.  

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League