MFL Weekend Round Up

​Premier Division

Dudley Town 2-1 Stone Old Alleynians

Dudley Town got their fourth home win of the season at the Guardian Warehousing Arena on Saturday to climb up the table. The Robins are now in 12th and have some breathing room over the relegation places. They now have an eight-point gap over Tividale in 17th and are looking forward to the final few months of the season.

An excellent crowd of 203 supporters turned up at the weekend to watch Dudley get the win. A brace from prolific forward Harry Crook in the second half gave the Robins the three points. Stone Old Alleynians got a consolation goal late on through an effort by Ryan Goodwin to make it 2-1 but the day belonged to Dudley Town. 

Shifnal Town 3-0 Northwich Victoria

Shifnal got a big win against Northwich Victoria on Saturday to have a chance of finishing in the play offs. An early goal by Jordan Jones and a second half brace from Joe Ellis Cuff gave the Shropshire side the three points. A good attendance of 150 supporters turned up to watch Shifnal get their fifth home win of the season.

Shifnal are now only four points off the play offs and might have a chance if they can build a run of form over the next month.

The away problems continue for Northwich, but they still have some breathing room over the relegation places. If they can pick up some big results at home over the next few months, they should be fine. 

Studley 2-2 Congleton Town

Studley and Congleton played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the weekend which leaves both teams in good positions in the division. A notable attendance of 161 supporters turned up to the Studley Sports Centre on Saturday.

Studley took an early two goal lead in the first half thanks to goals from Romario Martin and Finley Holmes. The Bears got a goal back near the end of the first half thanks to an effort from McKenzie Faulkner and found an equaliser in the second half through a Dan Cocks penalty to take home a point. 

Both teams are on target to achieve their aims for the remainder of the season and it’s just a case of staying consistent.

Division One

Coton Green 1-1 Chelmsley Town

Chelmsley Town battled to a point against Coton Green at New Mill Lane on Saturday afternoon. A good crowd of 50 supporters turned up for the match in Fazeley, Tamworth.

Matt Gardner gave the Green Army a 1-0 lead going into half time before the visitors found an equaliser in the second half from the penalty spot to take home a point.

Both teams are above the relegation zone and if they can pick up a few results between now and April they should be fine at step six.

Nuneaton Griff 1-2 Shawbury United

Following a tough week with the problems at Nuneaton Borough, the hosts saw an excellent turnout of 130 supporters at the Pingles Stadium on Saturday to cheer on the Heartlanders.

A goal from Reiss Corfield gave the visitors the lead in the first half before an early equaliser by Jacob Dumbleton in the second half made it 1-1. Nuneaton Griff were reduced to ten men in the middle of the second half and Shawbury United took advantage late on thanks to an injury time goal from Jack Howse to take home the three points.

Both teams are comfortably in mid table going into the final few months of the campaign.  

Smethwick Rangers 2-3 Allscott Heath

Allscott Heath got a big away win at the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground on Saturday to continue their push for the play offs. The Monners had to battle for their fifth away win of the season in tough weather conditions against Smethwick Rangers.

The win leaves them in 5th with a few games in hand over the teams above them.

Armando Wood scored a first half brace for the visitors to make it 2-1 at half time with Smethwick getting an equaliser in the middle of the first half before Allscott scored again late on to lead at the break. The hosts managed to make it 2-2 from a free kick late in the second half before Leigh Brindley scored a crucial late winner for the visitors to take home the three points.

The goals from Smethwick came from efforts by Khenan Barrett and Joseph Daley in a tough defeat. It’s looking like a struggle for the final few months of the season, but they have competed well in a tough division and if they do go down it’s not for a lack of effort.

Their now five points from safety and have played a few more games than the teams above them.  

Division Two

Alcester Town 3-3 Inkberrow

Inkberrow got an excellent battling point against Alcester Town to give themselves a chance of staying up. They came back from 2-0 down at half time and where leading late on before a late equaliser from the Romans made it 3-3. The goals for the visitors coming from second half efforts by substitute Josh McKeown, Robert Guy, and Harry Bradley.

The goals from Alcester came from efforts by Adam Bourn, Jimmy Ward and Ricardo Richards to get a point. They will feel disappointed not to get all three points. None the less, at this stage of the season a point could be a good result in their push for the league title. They have seven games in hand over Knowle with 18 points to make up.

Inkberrow have been battling well over the last few weeks and have been picking up some results to give themselves a chance. In addition to the away win at Cadbury, this draw now leaves them on 15 points with a four-point gap over Littleton in 15th. The teams below them have a lot of games in hand but they still have a chance. 

Fairfield Villa 1-1 Knowle

Fairfield got an excellent point against Knowle on Saturday to help them avoid relegation to step eight. The Swans are now five points better off than Littleton in 15th and their home form has played a big part in staying above the relegation places with only four losses from eleven matches.

Darren Green gave the hosts the lead in the first half before Nathan Corry equalised for Knowle to give the Robins a point at full time. A notable crowd of 78 supporters turned up to Stourbridge Road over the weekend to watch Fairfield get the draw.

Following a few draws over the last few weeks, the visitors have left the door open for the teams below them to challenge for the league title. None the less, if they can beat the teams around them, they still have a good chance of promotion to step six. 

Division Three

AFC Solihull 1-1 Silhill

AFC Solihull and Silhill played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre on Saturday in a local derby match.

Andrew Fraher gave the visitors a 1-0 lead going into half time and set up a potential upset of the league leaders. AFC Solihull showed character to get back into it in the second half and found an equaliser through Owen Williams to take home a point.

It’s a good result for AFC Solihull in their quest for the league title and leaves them in a good position. Their now in 1st with 49 points and have a seven-point gap over Northfield who have a few games in hand. 

Silhill are still capable of competing for the top four but promotion this season might be a stretch. None the less, if they can build on the positives, it could set them up for next season.

Balsall and Berkswell 0-0 Continental Star

Continental Star got an excellent battling draw against Balsall and Berkswell to take home a point on Saturday. The visitors have not been too bad away from home over the last month and this continued here against Balsall and Berkswell where they managed to keep a clean sheet over the Hornets.

Out of the two, the result suits Continental Star more with Balsall and Berkswell looking to challenge for the top six. The Hornets might now have to be contempt with a top half finish in a competitive division this season.

Birmingham Tigers 2-5 BNJS

BNJS built on their eye catching 2-2 draw with Northfield Town last weekend and got a momentum building win against Birmingham Tigers at the Hadley Stadium over the weekend. The visitors are now in 15th with 10 points and got their second away win of the season on Saturday.

To BNJS’ credit they have competed well this season and are adjusting to the level having joined over the summer.

It’s been a tough season for Birmingham Tigers, and they have one point from 17 matches. It’s a shame for the Tigers as the teams above them are on 10 points which leaves them in a challenging position to get off the bottom of the table. 

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