Midland Football League Weekend Preview (Division Two)

AFC Coventry Rangers V Hampton

​AFC Coventry Rangers go into this match following a challenging few weeks in the league. They are coming off losses against Earlswood Town and away at Fairfield Villa last weekend. The hosts will be looking to get a result this weekend to get their season back on track.

Their home form at the Coventry Technical Sporting Club has been good this season with five wins out of six home matches in the league. There’s plenty of quality in the squad with Jordan Powell and Curtis Cutts having four goals each in the league.  

Hampton are coming off the back of an excellent away win against Earlswood Town last weekend where they came from 2-0 down at HT to win 4-3 in a thriller. The visitor’s away form has been really good so far in the league with 10 points from six games. Both Ciaran Lawless and Cameron Seivwright have impressed for the Solihull club up front so far this season.

This should be a really interesting match as both clubs will want to build a bit of momentum and push up the table.         
Birmingham United V Bolehall Swifts

Birmingham United sit comfortably in midtable and will look to get a result this weekend to climb up the table against a Bolehall Swifts team that have had a difficult start to the season. The hosts currently have eleven points from seven matches to sit 8th. They will be looking to build some momentum following last weekend’s surprising loss away at Coventrians.

Bolehall have had a challenging start to the season and sit 12th in the table with four points from six matches in the league. The main highlight of the season so far was a 1-0 home win at Rene Road against Inkberrow on August Bank holiday Monday. David Yonwin is the team’s top goal scorer with four goals from six matches started in the league. The Swifts could do with a confidence building win away from home to push up the table.

This match should be an intriguing one as it involves two teams that are looking to build some form in the league and push up the table.       

Cadbury Athletic V Lane Head

Cadbury make a welcome return to the iconic Bournville recreation ground this weekend against Lane Head. The hosts had a challenging start to the season but have picked up some form over the past few weeks to sit in lower mid table. They are coming off consecutive away wins at Littleton and Bolehall Swifts and will be looking to get a result this weekend to climb up the table.

The team has been turning good performances into results over the past few weeks which should be encouraging for Cadbury supporters.

Lane Head have had a difficult start to the season and have struggled to push on from the 1-0 home win against Fairfield Villa in August. They currently sit in 14th with three points from seven matches in the division. Joshua Lewis has stood out for the visitors with four goals from seven matches started in the league and the team could do with a result over the next few weeks to climb up to mid table.

This should be an interesting match as both teams have shown moments of quality during the season so far and both are capable of pushing up the table.     

Coventry Alvis V Earlswood Town

Coventry Alvis have had a positive start to the season and sit in 7th with 12 points from seven matches in the league. The hosts have been an exciting team to watch this season with 22 goals scored which is the second highest in the league. However, they have also conceded 16 goals and been a bit inconsistent over the past few weeks.

Jagit Aujla and Jack Low have impressed in front of goal and there’s a lot of quality in the squad to get Alvis supporters hopeful for the coming months.

Earlswood Town have been excellent throughout the first six weeks of the season under new manager Joel Hughes. Despite losing to Hampton last weekend, the Solihull club currently sit top of the table and have scored the highest total of goals in the division with 24.

Overall, it’s been really good from the visitors this season and this match should be an early test to see if they can sustain their form going into the Autumn.    

Inkberrow V Alcester Town

Despite Inkberrow having a difficult start to the season, they have shown moments of quality over the past few weeks. They beat Central Ajax 4-1 a few weeks back before losing to an in-form Knowle 4-0 at home last weekend. George Thomas has impressed for the hosts going forward and has 3 goals from six matches started in the division in a team that struggles for goals with a total of 7.

If they could tighten up at the back and get key players to step up in front of goal, they have a chance of staying up.

Alcester are coming off the back of an eye-catching win against Coventry Alvis last weekend and the visitors have been reliably consistent in the division this season. They currently sit 4th with 15 points from seven matches and the Romans have been good so far in a tough division.

The visitors have picked up 12 points from their last five matches in the league. Odane Barnes is the team’s top scorer with six goals from five matches.       

Knowle V Central Ajax

Knowle have grown into the season following a surprising opening day loss to Alcester Town at the Robins Nest. The Robins are currently one of the form teams in the division with 16 points from their last six matches. It’s been impressive from the Solihull club who sit 2nd in the table with 16 points.

Jay Rendell is the team’s top goal scorer with five goals from six matches started in the division. The hosts will want to keep their form going this weekend at home against Central Ajax. 

Central Ajax have had a tough September so far following an incredible run of form in August. The visitors are currently 9th in the table with 11 points from seven matches. Shaye Eden is the division’s top goal scorer with 11 goals from seven matches started and he scored a brace at home against Redditch Borough last weekend.

The Warwickshire club have got the quality to cause Knowle some problems this weekend and will look to get a statement win tomorrow afternoon.

Littleton V Coventrians

Littleton got a huge win away at Lane Head last weekend to climb up the table. They currently sit in 14th with four points from seven matches and have also impressed in the Les James Challenge Cup where they beat Castle Vale Town from division three 4-1.

Goalscoring has been an issue for the hosts throughout the season with five goals scored. None the less, Michael Boyd scored a brace last weekend which is something to build on for the Worcester club.

Coventrians have shown a lot of character over the last few weeks and have competed admirably against tough opposition following a difficult start to the season. The visitor’s effort was rewarded last weekend with a confidence building win against Birmingham United at the Colliery Sports Ground in front of a decent crowd of 53 supporters.

Similar to Littleton, goal scoring has been an issue this season with a total of 5 goals, but they have shown moments of quality in front of goal which is encouraging.

This match feels like a big one as both teams are in similar positions and coming off the back of momentum building wins last weekend. Both clubs will have aspirations of avoiding relegation.    

Redditch Borough V Fairfield Villa

Redditch have had a positive start to the season under new manager John Edwards and have gone a bit under the radar. The hosts have been quietly efficient with 14 points from six matches to sit 5th in the table and they have a game in hand over the teams above them.

A total of just six goals conceded from six matches is outstanding and is tied for the division’s best goals conceded total alongside Knowle. James Ward has also impressed with four goals from six matches started.

Fairfield Villa have had a fine start to the season and sit comfortably in mid table. The visitors are currently 10th with 10 points from seven matches and go into this match as the underdogs. The Swans are coming off a notable home win against AFC Coventry Rangers in front of 56 supporters and should be going into this match with a bit of confidence.

They have been competitive throughout the season so far and will look to make it a tough afternoon for Redditch tomorrow.

Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League