MFL Weekend Preview (Premier Division)

​Darlaston Town V Wolverhampton Casuals

Darlaston Town are chasing the play offs, and it’s been a good season by the Citizens so far. Their currently in 6th with 24 points from 14 matches and only a point off Uttoxeter Town in 5th.

One of their main strengths has been their home form at the Paycare Stadium with five wins and two draws from seven league matches. They will be looking to keep their unbeaten run at home going but face a tough test this weekend against Wolverhampton Casuals.

Aaron Bishop is a player to watch for Darlaston who has nine goals from 13 matches in the league.

The Cassies have grown into the season and are now comfortably in mid table. The visitors are in 12th with 16 points from 13 matches and one of their strengths has been getting results on the road. They have won three out of six matches away from home which includes notable wins against Romulus and Dudley Town.

Their recent run of form has been eye catching with 14 points from their last six league matches. The Cassies have been excellent over the last month and could cause an upset tomorrow afternoon.

Tom Cottam is a player to watch with six goals from nine league matches.   

Dudley Town V Studley

Dudley Town will be looking to get a result against Studley at the Guardian Warehousing Arena on Saturday to narrow the five-point gap between them and Tividale in 16th. The Robins are in 17th with five points from 14 matches and in the relegation zone. With Tividale in FA Vase action against Ashby Ivanhoe, this match is a good opportunity to close the gap.

The Robins have struggled at home in the league with one win from six matches. On a positive, they have been better defensively with 9 goals conceded compared to 31 on the road.

Harry Crook is a player to watch with 9 goals from 13 matches.

Studley got a momentum building win against Northwich Victoria at the Studley Sports Centre last weekend to get their season back on track. The Bees were struggling in the league throughout November, but it’s been a good season in general and their firmly in the mix for the play offs.

The visitors are 4th in the table with 29 points from 17 matches and have a five-point gap over Darlaston Town in 6th. The Bees have a crucial run of fixtures over the next few weeks and play both Darlaston and Highgate United at home.

Zac Guinan is a player to watch with 8 goals from 13 matches.      

Northwich Victoria V Stourport Swifts

Northwich have had an interesting season in the MFL Premier since transferring from the NWCL premier over the summer. The Vics are comfortably in lower mid table in 14th with 16 points from 13 matches. Their well clear of any relegation worries with a 11-point gap over Dudley Town in 17th.  

One of the positives for Northwich has been their home form with four wins from seven matches. Their away form has been their main issue with no wins from six league matches. Samual Connor Unwin is a player to watch with seven goals from 12 matches.  

Stourport have been excellent this season in both the league and the FA Vase. Their through to the fourth round where they will play either Tividale or Ashby Ivanhoe on the 13th January and well in the hunt for the play offs. The Swifts are in 7th with 24 points from 14 matches and only a point off Uttoxeter in 5th.

Their away record has been one of their main issues with one win from seven matches. However, they have been competitive on the road with four draws which is a positive. They have also only lost two matches throughout the league campaign so far.

Benjamin Tilbury is a player to watch up front with seven goals from 13 matches. 

Shifnal Town V AFC Wulfrunians

Shifnal have been ok in the MFL Premier division and are comfortably in mid table. The Shropshire club are in 10th with 20 points from 14 matches and five points off the play off places. Their form has been a mixed bag at the Acoustafoam stadium with three wins from seven matches.

Joe Ellis Cuff is a player to watch up front who has been excellent since signing from Shawbury United over the summer. He has ten goals from 12 league games.

AFC Wulfrunians are having a good season and are well in the mix for the play offs. The Wulfs are in 7th with 23 points from 17 matches with a lot of the season left to play. They have been playing well since the appointment of Carl Abbott in October and have 10 points from their last six league matches.

Ben Worthington is a player to watch with 8 goals from 12 league matches.  

Stone Old Alleynians V Atherstone Town

Stone Old Alleynians have gone a bit under the radar within the premier division but their having a brilliant season. The Staffordshire side are comfortably in mid table in 11th with 18 points from 15 matches and well clear of the relegation zone with a 13-point gap over Dudley in 17th.

Their home form at Kings Park has been a strength with only three losses from nine matches. Jack Tomlinson is a player to watch up front with six goals from nine league matches.

Atherstone Town have been ok in the MFL Premier division and are comfortably in mid table. The Adders are 13th in the table with 16 points from 14 matches. Their main strength has been their form at Sheepy Road with three wins and two draws from eight matches. Their form on the road has been an issue with just one win from six matches.

Another strength of Atherstone Town this season has been finding reliable goal scorers which has propelled the club away from a relegation battle. Tom Smith is a player to watch with five goals from 12 league matches.     

Whitchurch Alport V Uttoxeter Town

Whitchurch are coming off the back of a thrilling win at Biggleswade United in the FA Vase last weekend to reach the fourth round. This is arguably the highlight of the season so far for Whitchurch who have been hit and miss in the league. They have struggled at Yockings Park with one win from six league matches and are in 15th with 12 points from 13 matches.

Jack Sheward is a player to watch in goal who stood out in the FA Vase win last weekend. He made three crucial saves in the penalty shootout for Alport.

Uttoxeter have been one of the surprise teams this season in the MFL Premier and are in the mix for the play offs. The Staffordshire side are in 5th with 25 points from 17 matches. It’s been an excellent season so far and they were battling relegation throughout last season.

They were ultimately saved by a reprieve with Winsford United dropping into step six, but they have seized the opportunity brilliantly and been a breath of fresh air so far.

Their away form has been good with four wins and five losses from nine matches, and they have genuinely been competitive on the road. They were a bit unlucky to lose at Lichfield a few weeks back. None the less, it showed their capable of competing with the top teams in the division.

Their recent form in the league has been good with ten points from their last six matches. They have a crucial run of home fixtures throughout the festive period with games against Bewdley Town (23rd December), Romulus (30th December) and Stourport Swifts (6th January).    

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League