MFL Weekend round up (FA Vase and Premier Division)

​FA Vase (Third round proper)

Lichfield City 3-1 Highgate United

Lichfield got an excellent win against Highgate United at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium to advance to the fourth round of the FA Vase. The win makes it the first time Lichfield have reached the fourth round in the Vase and they can look forward to playing Worcester City at Claines Lane on the 13th of January.

Lichfield took the initiative early on and went into a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Dan Lomas and Dan Smith in the opening 25 minutes. Highgate responded later in the first half with last season’s top scorer in the premier division Ryan Harkin scoring to make it 2-1 at half time.

Lichfield managed to see the match out in the second half thanks to an early goal by Dan Smith in the 55th minute and held on for a huge win for the club. The result continues their excellent home form at the Trade Tyre Community stadium this season in both the league and the FA Vase where their unbeaten in ten matches.

Despite the loss, Highgate can now concentrate on the league and challenging Congleton for the league title. The Gate are only three points off Congleton with two games in hand and enter a crucial stretch of the season. Their at home to Shifnal Town on Saturday before playing Studley away on Boxing day.     

Tividale 1-2 Ashby Ivanhoe

Ashby Ivanhoe got a huge win against Tividale at the Beeches to progress to the fourth round. Like Lichfield this is the first time the club has reached the fourth round of the FA Vase, and they can look forward to a huge match against Stourport Swifts on the 13th of January at Walshes Meadow.

The Knights were playing at step six last season and have made the transition to step five brilliantly in the United Counties League Premier Division North where they are comfortably in mid table. The Leicestershire side’s run in the FA Vase is testament to how well the squad is playing this season against a range of tough opposition.

The visitors took the lead in the 34th minute through Will Grocock to take a 1-0 lead going into the half time break. Tividale responded early in the second half and found an equaliser through Ryan Snape in the 55th minute to make it 1-1.

Ashby responded through Sam Grouse who managed to beat the offside trap and finished well to make it 2-1. From there the Knights managed to see out the match to continue their record FA Vase run.

Despite the loss, it’s been a good run in the FA Vase from Tividale who can now concentrate on the league. Their aim will be to move clear of the relegation zone over the coming months and finish the season in mid table. Their currently four points ahead of Dudley Town with two games in hand and are 16th in the table with ten points from 13 matches.

There’s quality on the ball with the likes of Ryan Snape and Ewan Edwards capable of opening defences up from midfield and on the wing. They have a backlog of fixtures due to a few postponements and have five league matches between now and the 6th of January to pull clear of the relegation places.      

Premier Division

Darlaston Town 4-0 Wolverhampton Casuals

Darlaston Town got a statement win at the Paycare Stadium against an in-form Wolverhampton Casuals to cement their position as a play off chasing team. The win keeps the Citizens unbeaten run at home in the league going and extends to eight matches.

The win leaves Darlaston in a good position in the league where their in 5th with 27 points from 15 matches. They have three games in hand over the teams around them and the introduction of the play off system for step five will make the rest of the season interesting for Darlaston supporters.

Darlaston took the lead in the middle of the first half through Aaron Bishop who scored in the 23rd minute to make it 1-0. James Rowland scored from the penalty spot late on in the second half before a brace from new signing Tom Cottam against his former team made it 4-0 to Darlaston at the full-time whistle.  

Despite the loss, Wolverhampton Casuals are still in a good position in the league and have a bit of distance from the relegation zone. Their currently in 14th with 16 points from 14 matches and have done well this season in a tough division. 

Dudley Town 0-0 Studley

Dudley Town managed to hold play off chasing Studley to a draw at the Guardian Warehousing Arena on Saturday afternoon. It’s an encouraging result for the Robins who need a good home record to have a chance of staying in the division come April. An impressive crowd of 151 supporters turned up for the match at the weekend.

Despite their position in the league where they’re in 17th with 6 points from 15 matches, it still feels like they could get out of it with the quality of the squad. It’s been a tough season at step five for Dudley and most matches are judged on the fine margins but they’re not far off.

This result shows they can compete with the quality teams in the division and is something to build on for a crucial Christmas stretch. Their away at Wolverhampton Casuals on Saturday which feels like a big match.

Studley are still in the hunt for the play offs. The Bees are 4th in the table with 30 points from 18 matches. None the less, the teams below them are starting to make a bit of ground on them. AFC Wulfrunians are in 7th with four points less and the same number of games played. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens with Studley over the next month.      

Northwich Victoria 2-2 Stourport Swifts

Stourport got a draw on the road with Northwich Victoria on Saturday to continue their good record on the road. The Swifts have only lost two out of eight matches away from home which has put them in contention for the play offs. Their currently in 8th with 25 points from 15 matches and their games in hand are going to be vital.

An excellent crowd of 110 supporters turned up for the match at the Barton Stadium in Cheshire. The Vics took a 2-0 lead going into half time thanks to goals from Callum Parker and Sam Unwin.

Stourport responded late on in the second half and gained a point thanks to two late goals from the bench. Elliott Lees scored in the 89th minute before Matt Hanson scored a dramatic injury time equaliser to rescue a point for the Swifts.

This result will feel like two points dropped for Northwich and they will be disappointed with it. None the less, their comfortably in mid table and are in 13th with 17 points from 14 matches.  

Shifnal Town 1-3 AFC Wulfrunians

AFC Wulfrunians got a brilliant win away at Shifnal Town to continue their recent run of form. The Wulfs have really grown into the season and have been getting better with each match since Carl Abbott was appointed back in October. They now have 12 points from their last six league matches and are in the conversation for a play off place.

A good crowd of 91 supporters turned up to watch AFC Wulfrunians get their fourth away win of the season. Joe Ellis Cuff opened the scoring for Shifnal Town early on and scored in the 14th minute to make it 1-0. Shifnal managed to see the first half out to take a 1-0 lead going into half time.

AFC Wulfrunians responded in the second half and found an equaliser through Daniel Munday who got into a good position in the box and tapped home to make it 1-1 in the 57th minute. The visitors were awarded a penalty a few minutes later which was taken well by Daniel Munday to make it 2-1 to AFC Wulfrunians and turn the game on its head.

The Wulfs got a third late on thanks to a brilliant finish by new signing Lee Chilton who scored deep into injury time to make it 3-1 to the Wulfs. Their now in 6th with 26 points from 18 matches and only a point behind Darlaston in 5th.

Consistency has been the main issue for Shifnal Town so far but their comfortably in mid table. The Shropshire side are 10th in the table with 20 points from 15 matches.

Stone Old Alleynians 1-1 Atherstone Town

Stone Old Alleynians played out a draw with Atherstone Town at Kings Park at the weekend. An excellent crowd of 127 supporters turned up at Stoke to watch this match.

Sam Wilson scored for Stone early in the first half to make it 1-0 in the 15th minute. Atherstone responded later in the first half thanks to a goal by Lewis Noon to make it 1-1. It was a fairly tight match, and it finished all square at the full-time whistle.

The result makes it only three losses from ten league matches at Kings Park for Stone Old Alleynians. Atherstone battled well for a point on the road and have played well recently with ten points from their last six league matches. 

Whitchurch Alport 1-0 Uttoxeter Town

Whitchurch got a brilliant home win against play off chasing Uttoxeter Town at Yockings Park at the weekend. An excellent crowd of 145 supporters turned up to watch Whitchurch get their second home win of the season in the league.

It’s been an impressive few weeks for Whitchurch manager Adam Shillcock and this result gives the team something to build on for the festive period with the aim of climbing up the table. No doubt a lot of eyes will be on the FA Vase home tie with Great Wakering Rovers on the 13th of January but having a good run in the league is going to be important with five games between now and the 6th January. 

In a tight match at Yockings Park, Whitchurch substitute Callum Knowle scored late on give Alport the three points with Harry Bower playing a good cross into the box. They have a match against Atherstone Town tomorrow evening which is an opportunity to build some form. Their currently 15th with 15 points from 14 matches.

Despite the result, Uttoxeter are having a good season and in the chase for the play offs. The Staffordshire side are in 7th with 25 points from 18 matches and have a crucial home stretch for the festive period. Their at home to Bewdley (23rd December), Romulus (30th December) and Stourport Swifts (6th January) which could be pivotal come the end of the season.    

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