MFL Weekend Preview

Division One
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AFC Bridgnorth V Heather St John’s

AFC Bridgnorth host Heather St John’s at Crown Meadow tomorrow afternoon looking to get a result to close the gap between them and Wolverhampton Sporting. It’s been a tough season for AFC Bridgnorth who are in 18th, and they have a six-point gap to make up over Wolves Sporting in 17th.

The main aim between now and the end of the season will be trying to stay in step six for the Shropshire club.

They have struggled at home recently with one point from their last three league matches at Crown Meadow. One of their main issues has been defensively with a total of 72 goals conceded from 25 matches. They will have to tighten up at the back and pick up a few results at home to have a chance of staying up come late April. 

Heather St John’s will be looking for a result to get their play off charge back on track following a few losses over the last few weeks. The Saints are currently five points off the play offs and have played a few games more than the teams above them. The Leicestershire side need to start picking up some points to put some pressure on the top five.

Their main problem has been away from home which has prevented them challenging near the top of the league. Four wins from 13 matches on the road is ok but could be better to challenge for the play offs. 

Cradley Town V Allscott Heath

Cradley Town have struggled a bit over the last month and could do with a result tomorrow afternoon against Allscott Heath. Five points from their last six matches has seen the Hammers fall outside the play offs and they are currently in 6th with two points to make up to get in the top five.

Their home form at Beeches View Avenue has been a strength this season with eight wins from 13 matches. This is a big match as Allscott are just above them in the table.

Allscott have been playing well over the last month and have picked up 11 points from their last six matches. They lost to fellow play off contenders Wednesfield last weekend and are currently in 5th. The Shropshire club have been consistent away from home with just three losses from 12 matches.

Both teams are capable of getting in the play offs and the battle for 5th is going to be an interesting battle over the next few weeks.

Hinckley AFC V Coventry Copsewood

Hinckley got an important result last weekend at Pack Meadow where they beat Chelmsley Town 2-1. The hosts are comfortably top of the table and have a 12-point gap over Ingles in 2nd. It’s just a case of keeping the performances consistent between now and April to win the league.

Their home form has been a strength this season with nine wins from 15 matches. None the less, Ingles managed to beat them a few weeks back and Allscott Heath got a draw which offers hope for visiting teams.

Coventry Copsewood are comfortably in mid table going into this match and have been good this season. Their well clear of any relegation worries with an 18-point gap over AFC Bridgnorth in 18th. Their away form has not been too bad with five wins and three draws from 14 matches.

Ingles V OJM Black Country

Ingles have been brilliant over the last month in division one and are up there competing with the likes of Droitwich Spa and Wednesfield. On paper the last few weeks looked tough for the Leicester side with Hinckley and Cradley Town away, but they managed to pick up results and are on a run of five consecutive wins to sit in 2nd.

It’s been a successful season for Ingles at step six and they have built on last season’s 13th place finish. Their run offers hope for the teams that are currently in mid table going into next season. Ingles’ main strength has been defensively with just 29 goals conceded from 25 matches.

OJM are challenging for the play offs and have a few games in hand over the teams currently in the top five. Their similar to Ingles with an excellent defensive record with just 25 goals conceded from 23 matches. Their away record is also encouraging with eight wins from 14 matches.

The visitors are currently in 8th and only four points off the play offs. It would not be surprising if they finish in the play offs as they have looked good this season and play a nice brand of football.  

Paget Rangers V Bilston Town

Paget got a huge win against Nuneaton Griff last weekend to give themselves a chance of staying up come the end of the season. The Bears will be looking to build on that result with a tough game against Bilston Town at Coles Lane tomorrow afternoon.

The hosts are currently in 19th and have a six-point gap to make up over Wolves Sporting in 17th. Their main problem has been defensively with 70 goals conceded across 26 matches. None the less, they got a clean sheet in the win over Nuneaton Griff which shows their capable of tightening up at the back.

Bilston are challenging for the play offs and are not too far off the top five. The Steelmen are currently in 7th with a four-point gap to make up to get in the top five. Their away form has not been too bad with just four losses from eleven matches.

​The visitors need to pick up some points to put pressure on the current play-off teams over the next few weeks.

Shawbury United V Chelmsley Town

Shawbury have been good this season and are currently in the top half of the table. The Shropshire side are in 10th and have really grown into the season. On the 6th of October, they were in 14th with 11 points, and they have picked up 30 points since then.

A top half finish at the end of the season would be an excellent achievement for Shawbury. Their home form has not been too bad with just five losses from 13 matches.

The hosts are also a team in form with four consecutive wins coming into this match.

Chelmsley are comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the season. Their currently in 15th and have some breathing space over the relegation places with a 11-point gap over AFC Bridgnorth in 18th.

Their away form has been their main issue this season which has prevented them from challenging for the top half of the table. They have won once from ten matches away from home which is a shame as their home record is notably good.

None the less, the visitors have been competitive in step six over the last few seasons and not being in a relegation battle is an achievement that can get overlooked.  

Smethwick Rangers V Nuneaton Griff

It’s been a challenging season for Smethwick Rangers. The hosts are currently bottom of the table and have a 11-point gap to make up to finish outside the bottom three. If they can get a run of form going over the next month, they might have an outside chance but it’s going to be tough between now and April.

Their main problems have been defensively with a total of 82 goals conceded over 27 matches. Their home form at CV Stadium and the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground has also been an issue with two wins from 14 matches.

Nuneaton Griff are comfortably in mid table going into this match and are well clear of any relegation concerns. The Heartlanders have a 14-point gap over the bottom three and can have one eye towards building for next season.

Their away form has been good and it’s a bit under the radar. They have lost three out of 12 matches on the road despite their league position of 14th.    

Stapenhill V Coton Green

Stapenhill host Coton Green at Maple Grove in the second of two matches between the teams this week. The Swans are comfortably in mid table and in no real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle. Their currently in 13th and their home form has been a positive with just two losses from ten matches.

Coton Green have played well over the last month to drag themselves out of the bottom three. Fifteen points from their last seven matches leaves the Green Army in 16th place with a ten-point gap over the bottom three.

Nic Oakley has done a brilliant job of turning the season around for Coton Green and their now unbeaten in seven league matches. They have also tightened up at the back with just seven goals conceded from their last seven matches.

Wednesfield V Droitwich Spa

Wednesfield have been brilliant over the last month to cement their position in the top five. Fifteen points from their last six matches leaves the hosts in 4th with 46 points and a two-point advantage over Cradley Town in 6th.

They have four consecutive wins coming into this weekend’s match and includes wins against Stapenhill and Allscott Heath. They have also been excellent at the back with three clean sheets from their last four matches.

Droitwich are coming into this match in a decent run of form with 11 points from their last six league matches. The Saltmen are challenging for the play offs and are currently in 3rd with a two-point advantage over Cradley Town in 6th.

Their away form has not been too bad with just four losses from 13 matches on the road.

Wolverhampton Sporting Community V Sutton United

Wolves Sporting have picked up some huge results over the last few weeks to give themselves a bit of breathing space over the bottom three. Wins against Droitwich Spa, Coventry Copsewood and Smethwick Rangers has created a six-point gap between them and AFC Bridgnorth in 18th.

Their home form at Pride Park has been their main strength with just five losses from twelve matches. They are also better defensively at home compared to away with 15 goals conceded to 34 goals conceded on the road.

Sutton United have been brilliant since joining division one in the summer and have adapted to step six well. They have established themselves in the division and are comfortably in mid table. The visitors are challenging for a top half finish, and it would be an excellent achievement if they could get in the top ten.

A main theme of Sutton United away from home is how tough they have been to break down. They have conceded just 14 goals away from 12 matches and lost twice which is excellent.

Their a bit more pragmatic on the road compared to Coleshill Road and they have struggled up front with 16 goals scored away from home.  

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League