MFL Weekend Preview (Premier Division)

​Bewdley Town V Wolverhampton Casuals

Bewdley Town have a huge match against Wolverhampton Casuals at Ribbesford Meadow tomorrow in their bid to stay in the division. The Worcester side have struggled in the MFL Premier this season and are currently bottom of the table with 4 points from 13 matches.

The main issue has been defensively with the highest goals conceded in the league with 53. The loss of Ben Worthington to AFC Wulfrunians last month was a big blow as he was a key source of goals for the club. One of the positives for Bewdley is that there’s a long portion of the season left and their only 5 five points from safety.

Bewdley’s home form has been another issue this season with five losses from five matches. They need to make Ribbesford Meadow a tough place to go to have a chance of staying up.

Wolverhampton Casuals have played well over the last month. The Cassies have picked up some big away wins to move clear of the relegation places. Their currently in 15th with 10 points from 11 matches and five points clear of Dudley Town in 17th. Their away form has been a strength so far with only two losses from five matches.

This feels like a big match within the relegation battle to stay in the MFL Premier division. Bewdley desperately need a win to build some confidence while Wolverhampton Casuals want to move further clear of the relegation places.     

Congleton Town V Romulus

Congleton have been excellent so far this season and are starting to get on a run of form. The Bears have 15 points from their last six matches and are through to the third round of the FA Vase. Their main strength has been their home form. Six wins from six matches at Booth Street has propelled the club to the top of the table with 32 points from 15 matches.

There’s no team running away with the division as there’s been in previous seasons. Despite the Bears playing well, their being challenged by the likes of Highgate United and Lichfield for the title so far. Having consistency in terms of results is going to be key come the end of the season to be promoted to step four.

Daniel Needham is a player to watch who has impressed up front with 9 goals from 15 matches in the league.

Romulus have been good in the MFL Premier so far and are in the mix for the play offs. They are currently in 8th with 21 points from 14 matches and only a point off Stourport Swifts in 5th.

The Rom’s record on the road has been a mixed bag so far with three losses from seven matches. None the less, their capable of causing an upset and beat Shifnal Town a few weeks back. Luke Keen is a player to watch for the visitors who has seven goals from ten matches.               

Darlaston Town V Dudley Town

Darlaston have been good this season and are challenging for the play offs. The Citizens are in 6th with 21 points from 12 matches and have had one loss so far. Their main strength has been their home form at the Paycare Stadium where their currently unbeaten from six matches. Aaron Bishop is a player to watch with 8 goals from 12 matches.  

Dudley have struggled in the MFL Premier division since coming up from division one last season. The Robins have found life in step five tough and are involved in a relegation battle to stay in the division.

Their currently in 17th with five points from 12 matches and four points off Tividale in 16th. Their away form has been an issue with seven consecutive losses in the league and 28 goals conceded on the road.

None the less, there’s still reasons to be optimistic for Dudley supporters. There’s quality throughout the team as showed by the win against Darlaston Town in the FA Vase and they have an excellent support base. The Robins are capable of getting out of trouble but need a few results in the league to build a bit of confidence.  

Shifnal Town V Highgate United

Shifnal have been good in the MFL Premier division this season and are competing for the play offs. The Shropshire club are currently in 9th with 20 points from 13 matches. Their only two points off the play offs and are competing in the top half of the table.

Their home form has been patchy so far with three wins and three losses from seven matches. Their coming off a surprise home loss to Uttoxeter Town in mid-week and have seven points from their last six matches. It’s been very hit and miss in terms of recent results which includes wins against Studley and Stourport Swifts and losses to Atherstone Town and Romulus.

Kevin Hemagou is a player to watch who has played well since joining from Atherstone Town.

Highgate have been excellent in the MFL Premier this season and are in the title race for the division. The Gate are in 2nd with 29 points from 13 matches and have two games in hand over Congleton Town. Their away form has been excellent so far with four wins from five matches on the road. The visitors also have one of the best defences in the league with just 16 goals conceded.

They have 13 points from their last six league matches and come into this match in good form. None the less, this could be a tough match as Shifnal have been unpredictable at home this season and are capable of causing an upset.       

Stourport Swifts V Lichfield City

Stourport have been good in both the league and the FA Vase this season. They had an excellent away win at AFC Wulfrunians in the FA Vase last weekend to progress to the third round. They will play against United Counties League side Eastwood Community at Coronation Park on the 2nd December.

The Swifts are 5th in the table with 22 points from 12 matches and are challenging for the play offs. Their recent form in the league has been impressive with 13 points from their last six matches. Their main strength has been at Walshes Meadow where their unbeaten in the league and have picked up 16 points.

Lichfield have been excellent in the MFL Premier division and on an eye-catching run in the FA Vase. The visitors got through to the third round and will face Highgate United away on the 2nd December. They are also the form team in the division with 16 points from their last six league matches.

The visitors are in 3rd with 28 points from 13 matches and have the best defence in the league with just 15 goals conceded. Their away form has been good with just one loss from six matches.

Daniel Smith is a standout player to watch with 14 goals in 12 matches. Joe Haines is another player to watch who reads the game well at the back.    

Studley V Stone Old Alleynians

Studley have been good in the MFL Premier division and are challenging for the play offs. The Bees are in 4th with 25 points from 13 matches. Their record at the Studley Sports Centre has been impressive so far with five wins from seven matches and a key part of their success this season.

They started the season incredibly well but have struggled a bit in the league recently. They have nine points from their last six matches and could do with a result this weekend to give the squad a bit of confidence to continue the push for the play offs.

When looking at the season as a whole, it’s been excellent so far. It’s just having that consistency to finish in the play offs which the squad is capable of achieving. Goalscoring has been their main strength with 35 goals scored which is the second highest in the league. Zac Guinan is a player to watch with six goals from eight matches.

Stone Old Alleynians have been good in the MFL Premier Division and are comfortably in mid table. The division is very competitive this season so to be in mid table is a testament to how well the squad is playing. The visitors are in 11th with 14 points from 13 matches and 9 points clear of the relegation places.

Their away form has been patchy in the league with one win from five matches. However, they have been excellent defensively with just seven goals conceded. They could make it tough for Studley tomorrow and play on the counterattack. Jack Tomlinson is a player to watch with five goals from seven matches.      

Tividale V Northwich Victoria

Tividale have had a challenging season in the MFL Premier. The club are involved in a relegation battle to stay in the division and are currently in 16th with 9 points from 12 matches.

Their home form has been an issue with just one win from six matches and only seven goals scored at the Beeches.
Despite struggling, there’s quality in the squad to push on into midtable and they have played well in patches this season. They were excellent in the home win over Uttoxeter back in September and could do with making the Beeches more of a fortress to move clear of the relegation places.

Their run in the FA vase should give the squad a bit of confidence. The club are through to the third round where they will play either Ashby Ivanhoe or Brocton away on the 2nd December. Ewan Edwards is a player to watch who has three goals from eight matches.   

Northwich have been ok in the MFL Premier division and are comfortably in mid table. The Vics are in 12th with 13 points from 11 matches and their main strength has been at home so far. Their record on the road has been an issue with no wins from five matches. None the less, the visitors have played well at the back with just 19 goals conceded.

Samual Connor Unwin is a player to watch up front who has seven goals from ten matches.

Uttoxeter Town V AFC Wulfrunians

Uttoxeter got an excellent win away at Shifnal in mid-week to be part of the play-off picture. The Staffordshire side are in 7th with 21 points from 13 matches and have been one of the surprise teams in the division this season.

They were in a relegation battle throughout last season and survived thanks to a reprieve, with Winsford United taking a voluntary relegation to the North West Counties League Division One South. Phil Adams has done a brilliant job turning the team into a play off contender and there’s quality in the squad. Mikey Conlon is a player to watch from midfield with five goals from 11 league matches.

AFC Wulfrunians have been playing well since the appointment of Carl Abbott last month and are comfortably in mid table. The Wulfs are in 10th with 20 points from fifteen matches. Their away form has been good with just three losses from eight matches and only eight goals conceded. Bradley Maslen-Jones is a player to watch for the visitors.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League