MFL Weekend round up (Division One)

​Nuneaton Griff 0-5 Ingles

Ingles got their sixth away win of the season at the Pingles Stadium to continue their play off push in division one. A good crowd of 68 supporters turned up on Saturday to see Ingles get the win.

The win leaves the Leicestershire side in 4th with 40 points and with a four-point advantage over 6th place Sutton United. The teams below Ingles have a few games in hand so it was crucial they got the win on Saturday to put pressure on the likes of OJM and Wednesfield. 

​The visitors took a two-goal lead going into half time thanks to goals from Daniel Chapman and Joshua Bowley. Further goals in the second half from Billy Snaith, Jack Allen and substitute Aaron Windram gave them the three points in a convincing win.

One of the strengths of Ingles is how well they play as team, and this continued on Saturday with them gaining another clean sheet. They have a crucial home stretch starting this Saturday where they play three games against Paget, Allscott Heath and Droitwich Spa.

Despite the defeat, Nuneaton Griff are still comfortably in mid table with a 14-point gap over the relegation places. The Heartlanders have a good run of fixtures coming up with home games against fellow mid table teams Coventry Copsewood and Shawbury United.    

OJM Black Country 3-3 Droitwich Spa

OJM missed the chance to get a statement win to continue their push for the play offs. OJM were leading 3-1 at half time at the Triplex Sports Association against one of the best teams in the division. None the less, the point leaves them in 9th with a four-point gap to make up over Bilston Town with three games in hand.

Louis Conway scored early on for OJM to take a 1-0 lead. Droitwich responded a few minutes later with Perry Moss scoring to make it 1-1 in an action-packed opening ten minutes. Goals from Eshan Greer and Jordan Sangha gave OJM a 3-1 lead at half time.

Droitwich showed character to get back into it in the second half and scored from two penalties. Connor Collins stepped up and took both well to give the Saltmen a point.

The result cements Droitwich’s position in the play offs and the Saltmen could be aiming for a top three finish between now and April to set up a home semi-final play off match.

Paget Rangers 2-3 Coton Green

Coton Green got a crucial win at Coles Lane against Paget Rangers to move out of the relegation zone. The win leaves the Green Army in 17th with 15 points and they’re now a point above the bottom three. A crowd of 35 supporters turned up to watch the relegation six pointer in step six.  

Paget Rangers took the lead in the 13th minute through Harry Jackson who was excellent for the Bears last season. Coton equalised just before half time thanks to a penalty from skipper Corey Powell that was well taken into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1.

The Bears were reduced to ten men early in the second half for a high tackle. The Green army took the lead in the 67th minute from an excellent header by Matt Gardner before Sahel Yessen made it 3-1 to Coton with a classy finish. Paget managed to get a goal back through Harry Jackson to set up a nervy finish, but Coton held on for their third away win of the season.

Despite the defeat, Paget are not too far adrift of safety and are one point from Coton in 17th. They have a three game away stretch starting with Ingles this Saturday before playing Stapenhill and Wednesfield over the next few weeks. 

Shawbury United 2-2 Heather St John’s

Shawbury got a good point against play off chasing Heather St John’s on Saturday to cement their position in mid table.

Eric Mensah scored from the spot for Shawbury before Heather found an equaliser to make it 1-1 going into half time. Shawbury took the lead late on from a corner that was headed home by Jack Howse to make it 2-1. Heather managed to find a late equaliser at the start of injury time to take home a valuable point.

Sutton United 5-2 AFC Bridgnorth

Sutton United got their fifth home win of the season at Coleshill Road to cement their position in the top half of the table. The hosts have been one of the most consistent teams in the division this season with just six losses from 24 matches and continued their reliable form here.

The result makes it seven games unbeaten for Sutton and moves them up to 6th in the table with 36 points.

AFC Bridgnorth got a few consolation goals thanks to a brace from Luke Morris which is something to build on from Saturday’s match. The result leaves them three points above the relegation zone and they have a huge match against Coton Green this Saturday.

Review feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League