MFL Weekend round up (Division One)

Chelmsley Town 0-1 Allscott Heath

​A good crowd of 110 supporters turned up to Pack Meadow on Saturday to watch Allscott Heath continue their impressive start to the season with an excellent away win against Chelmsley Town. The Shropshire club are now level with Droitwich Spa on 28 points.

Chelmsley is a tough place to go with only two home losses from eight matches this season. Harry Morris scored the only goal of the game for the visitors in the 12th minute and the defence held on for the win. The form the Monners have been on since coming up from the West Midlands Regional League has been incredible this season.       

Coton Green 5-1 Paget Rangers

A crowd of 60 supporters were at New Mill Lane on Saturday to watch Coton Green get a huge win to climb up the table and build some momentum for the weeks ahead. The win moves the Green Army closer to safety and only two points off AFC Bridgnorth in 17th.   

Paget started the match brightly with Shevron Channer scoring in the 13th minute to give the Bears the lead. Coton responded to get an equaliser a few minutes later with Sahel Yessen scoring to make it 1-1 going into half time.

The Green army were excellent throughout the second half with Callum Thorpe scoring early on to give the Tamworth based club the lead. Sahel Yessen completed his hat-trick for the hosts in the second half and a further goal from Kyle Crawford gave them a confidence building win for the weeks ahead. 

Coventry Copsewood 1-3 Ingles

Ingles got an excellent away win at Allard way at the weekend against Coventry Copsewood to continue their fine form and push for the play off positions. They are now only two points off OJM Black Country in 5th with a game in hand. It’s been an excellent start to the season from a club that can go a bit under the radar.

Coventry Copsewood started the match well and went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead in search of their first home win of the season. Bryan Kohyrelon produced a moment of individual quality for the hosts in the first half to put them ahead.

All of the visitor’s goals came late in the second half and they battled back to get a crucial win. Substitute Oliver Unwin scored in the 90th minute before Aaron Windram scored in the 94th minute to seal the win for the visitors. Coventry Copsewood were caught on the counter attack deep into injury time, with Oliver Unwin scoring in the 98th minute to make it 3-1.

It’s a tough result for Coventry Copsewood and they are three points above the relegation zone. There’s quality in the squad but they could do with getting a result to build confidence.   

Droitwich Spa 3-2 Heather St John’s

Droitwich got a huge win against Heather St John’s at the Droitwich Spa Leisure Centre on Saturday to continue their title challenge. An excellent crowd of 254 supporters turned up to watch the Saltmen continue their excellent form. One of the team’s strength has been at home this season with only one loss from five matches.

The hosts produced a remarkable comeback from 2-0 down to get the three points and move top of the table. Lewis Hopewell opened the scoring for Heather St John’s in the 15th minute before Jake Finnerty made it 2-0 just before half time. Droitwich responded with an excellent second half performance to get back into the match and get the win.

Charlie Tilley scored early in the second half in the 47th minute to make it 2-1 before Connor Collins scored from the penalty spot to make it 2-2 near the hour mark. The hosts took the lead in the 68th minute through a long-range effort from Perry Moss from 30 yards out. Kyle Jardine had a chance to equalise late on but headed wide from a good position.

Droitwich showed a lot of character to come back against good opposition and results like this could be huge come the end of the season.        

Hinckley AFC 2-2 Sutton United

Sutton United got a statement result against Hinckley on Saturday and managed to pick up a point at one of the toughest places to go in the league. Hinckley have lost one home game from seven matches this season.

An excellent crowd of 221 supporters turned up for the match at Barwell Cricket and Sports club. Sutton United started the match brightly and took the lead in the first half when Matt Bishop scored from a loose ball from a corner. Hinckley equalised later in the first half when Brady Middleton finished well from the left-hand side of the penalty box to make it 1-1.

Sutton United were awarded a penalty early in the second half which was well taken by Joe Gildea to give the visitors the lead. Hinckley managed to find an equaliser when Jack Edwards scored from a well taken free kick by Tom Weale to make it 2-2.

It was an entertaining match between two quality teams who have had good starts to the season.  

Nuneaton Griff 4-3 Smethwick Rangers

A good crowd of 82 supporters turned up to the Pingles stadium on Friday night to watch Nuneaton Griff beat Smethwick Rangers to move within two points off the play off positions.

Joe Miles gave the Heartlanders the lead in the first half when he tapped home at the back post from an excellent cross to make it 1-0. Smethwick Rangers were awarded a penalty later in the half which was well taken by Dylan James Green to make it 1-1. Lewis Commins gave Nuneaton Griff the lead and made it 2-1 near the end of the first half.

Joe Miles headed home from a free kick early in the second half to make it 3-1 to Nuneaton Griff. Nathan McGarrity scored from a great finish to make it 4-1 to effectively give the hosts the three points despite a late comeback from the visitors.

Two late goals from substitutes Osaze Aigbe and Jahmaal McIntosh-McMahon made the FT score 4-3 in Francino Francis’ first game in charge of Smethwick. The visitors have shown moments of quality this season despite being in the relegation zone and are not too far adrift with only three points off safety.     

Shawbury United 1-1 OJM Black Country

Shawbury United battled well with play off chasing OJM Black Country to get a point and move further clear of the relegation zone. The Shropshire club are now five points from the relegation places and have grown into the season to be comfortably mid table.  

OJM Black Country took the lead in the 15th minute through Jaber Ahmed and went into the half time break with a 1-0 lead. Shawbury responded in the second half and managed to equalise through Harry Woodburn who scored well from the penalty spot to make it 1-1 late on. OJM were given a penalty late on, but Taylor Homer missed from the spot. 

It was an entertaining match and Shawbury battled well to get something from it.    

Stapenhill 3-2 AFC Bridgnorth

Stapenhill got a positive result against AFC Bridgnorth on Saturday who battled well against tough opposition. The Swans appointed Mick Wood as their new manager in the week and he got off to a good start to help them push for the play off places.

A good crowd of 90 supporters turned up for the match at Maple Grove on Saturday. Ryan King gave the Swans the lead in the first half, and he scored again early in the second half to make it 2-0 before AFC Bridgnorth responded through Charlie Swingwood to make it 2-1. Substitute Jude Ayetine scored a few minutes later for Stapenhill to make it 3-1.

AFC Bridgnorth scored late on in the 90th minute through Chris Sterling to set up a nervy finish. None the less, the Swans managed to hold on to get the three points and move within two points of the play off places. 

Wednesfield 2-1 Bilston Town

Wednesfield got a statement win against Bilston Town on Saturday to climb up the table and be a dark horse for the play offs. The team are in 9th and only four points off the play offs with two games in hand over OJM Black Country in 5th. A good crowd of 73 supporters watched Wednesfield get their third home win of the season in division one. 

Kie Houlihan and new signing Freddie Cockerell scored to give Wednesfield the win. Samuel Yankson continued his fine form for the season with another goal for Bilston Town to make it nine in the league.

​It was a close game and there were limited chances throughout. None the less, Wednesfield continued their good record at home this season with only two losses from seven matches at the Cottage ground. 

Round up feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League