Midland Football League Newsletter
26th October 2016 League News The draw has been made for Round 2 of the FA Vase. Fixture to be played the weekend of 11th/12th/13th November Long Eaton United vs Holbeach United Wolverhampton Casuals vs Nuneaton Griff Hucknall Town AFC vs Rocester Paget Rangers vs Hinckley AFC Westfields vs Sherwood Colliery Alvechurch vs Sporting Khalsa Radford vs Shepshed Dynamo Uttoxeter Town vs Coleshill Town Bromsgrove Sporting vs Lichfield City Quorn vs AFC Wulfrunians ------------------------ Les James Challenge Cup – Quarter Final Draw FC Stratford or Coton Green v Knowle Montpellier v Barnt Green Spartak or Northfield Town Bloxwich Town or Paget Rangers v Alvis Sporting Feckenham or Continental Star v Redditch Borough ------------------------ Challenge Vase – Quarter Final Draw Alcester Town vs Coventrians Enville Athletic vs NKF Burbage Northfield Town vs Montpellier Moors Academy vs Barton United ------------------------------- Presidents Cup – Quarter Final draw Paget Rangers or Fairfield Villa vs Continental Star Knowle vs Alvis Sporting Club Hampton vs Coton Green Droitwich Spa vs Barnt Green Spartak --------------------------------- Studley FC have parted with their manager Kevin Kingham by mutual agreement. Studley FC would like to go on record and thank Kevin for all his hard work and are sorry that things have not worked out for him this season and would like to wish Kevin all the best in the future and he will be welcomed at Studley anytime. Keith Draper has taken over in the interim with any interested applicants applying to [email protected] with the deadline being Friday 28th October. Travels of the Press Officer Saturday 22nd October FA Vase 1st Round (26) Shifnal Town 1 Quorn 4 The FA Vase proved to be a wonderful competition for the MFL last season and hopes are high that one of our teams can emulate Hereford and go all the way to Wembley. The first round is 8 matches away from Wembley and has give us some intriguing ties not least the game between West Midlands Regional League Shifnal Town and MFL Premier Division Quorn. Neither side were in great form coming into the game but league form goes out of the window in the Vase. Quorn made the perfect start taking the lead in the 6th minute. Liam Turner played a short ball into the stride of Leavi Oshungbure who controlled the ball and slid it under keeper Symkaitis Vytautas and into the net. Shifnal’s first attempt came via Seth Ellis but his shot was straight at keeper Leighton Smith. On the quarter hour mark, Shifnal came close to an equaliser when the impressive Tom Hill drove across the face of the goal but no-one was on hand for the final touch. Oshunbure almost created an opening for Turner but his cross went behind the ctriker. Hill was on target again for the home side in the 20th minute with Smith making a decent save. Simon Alcott looped a header over the bar for Quorn and also hit the sidenetting after a good piece of control. William Wells created an opening for Shifnal cuttin in from the left but dragging his right footed shot wide of Smith’s goal. Reece Medway was finding space down the right for Quorn but the final delivery failed to find his man. Oshungbure had a great chance for Quorn in the 37th minute but he couldn’t finish. With three minutes to go before the interval, Nathan Dale for Quorn had a shot comfortbaly saved. Shifnal went straight donw th other end and equalised. It was poor defending by Quorn which allowed Hill to nod the ball into an empty net. On the run of play, an equaliser Shifnal deserved. Shifnal started the second half on the front foot and Craig Love saw a volley saved withi a minute of the restart. Nick Goold was not quite so accurate for Quorn despathing a ball into the gardens of the new housing estate behind the goal. Shifnal were well on top and Hill and Wells had efforts saved or blocked. Quorn finallyregained some momentum and took the lead in the 68th minute. A free-kick from the right was headed home by Dale giving Vytautas no chance. The goal settled Quorn and they took the game to Shifnal. Vytautas saved twice from Turner, a header and a shot before Quorn extended their lead in the 75th minute. Oshungbure’s first effort was well saved but the rebound fell at the foot of the Quorn skipper and he made no mistake. In stoppage time, Medway intercepted a pass and drove forward but the finish was off targtet. Four minutes into added time, Quorn grabbed a fourth when Goold was on hand to sidefoot home a cross from James Hicks. A comfortable scoreline for Quorn but a game that was anything but. A good cup tie played in an excellent spirit Shifnal are a friendly club and well worth a visit if you are ever in Shropshire. Tuesday 25th October Staffordshire Senior Cup Round 1 (27) Sporting Khalsa 0 Stoke City 1 A rare chance to see Premier League opposition at an MFL ground albeit the Stoke City Under 23 side and a chance for Sporting Khalsa to test themselves against full-time professionals. It was Khalsa that made the first inroads with Marvin Nisbett racing down the right and sending in a low cross which was easily cut out. Nice control by Nisbett carved out a chance for himself which Hungarian keeper Dan Gyollai saved well. Stoke responded with an effort by Danny Jarvis which Sheridan Martinez palmed around the post. Craig Bannister stung the palms of Gyollai with a shot which the keeper saved at the near post. Khalsa wasted a good chance in the 16th minute when Simeon Townsend made poor contact on an excellent corner from Danny Ashton. Khalsa were looking far more dangerous with Stoke content to play passing football around the middle of the park with no end result. Elliot Turner was off target with a free-kick in the 20th minute. An excellent cross field ball from Joel Taylor picked out Lewis Banks but he was superbly marshalled by the imposing Tes Robinson. Against the run of play, the impressive Oliver Shenton rattled the woodwork with a shot out of nothing. The second half continued in the same vein with Khalsa the more dangerous and Stoke more content on playing keep ball. The introduction of Belgian midfielder Thibaud Verlinden added some much needed energy to the Premier league side. On the hour, banister hit a free-kick into the defensive wall and then hammered the rebound high over the bar. An excellent turn and cross from Verlinden was well handled by Martinez in the Khalsa goal. In the 69th minute, an Ashton corner was headed fractionally wide by Carlo Franco. Khalsa continued to ask questions and a low cross from Bekir Halil was turned behind for a corner. Garfield Robinson attempted to chip Gyollai but the big keeper caught it underneath his cross bar. With the crowd expecting a penalty shoot out, Stoke took the lead with 2 minutes to go. A poor back pass let in Tyrese Campbell, son of former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell, and he showed great composure with a classy finish. All of a sudden, we had a game of football on our hands instead of chess as Khalsa went for the equaliser. Three minutes into time added on, a superb effort from banister was tipped onto the post by Gyollai, a stunning save, and Stoke were through to round 2 and a trip to Hanley Town. A valiant effort by Khalsa who looked the most likely winners all game. The pass, pass, pass style of Stoke may be great for the purists but give me the cut and thrust of the Midland football League any day. Review FA Vase Pride of place in the first round of the FA Vase has to go to 2nd Division Paget Rangers who won 2-1 at Premier Division St Andrews courtesy of a Daniel Carter double. Division 1 front runners Lichfield City were also giantkillers, a late Luke Chapman goal giving them a 2-1 win over premier Division Shawbury United. There was a 9 goal thriller at Oldfields as Uttoxeter Town got the better of Leicester Road winning 5-4. Luke Lewis and Harry Price scored twice for Uttoxeter while Matty Stenson scored twice for Leicester Road. Bromsgrove Sporting and Cadbury Athletic were involved in a topsy-turvy game at The Victoria Ground. The Chocolatemen were 2-0 up at half-time and 3-2 into the final minutes of the game. The Rouslers equalised late on and two goals in extra-time saw them through to the next round, 5-3 the final score with two goals for Jason Cowley. There were 9 goals at Hillsfield but this one was wasn’t close as Rocester beat Oakham United 8-1. The visitors took the lead in the 4th minute but braces from Rob Ritchie Smith and Karl Ashton saw the Romans into Round 2. Shepshed Dynamo were involved in a tight encounter at Handsworth Parramore. Sam Denton scored a hat-trick for the home side but a Ben Haseley double plus goals from Karl Whymark and Liam Read gave Dynamo a 4-3 win. Westfields continued their sparkling cup form with a 6-0 win at Allpay Park over league rivals Walsall Wood, Aidan Thomas and Nick Harrhy with a couple each. Two goals from skipper Leavi Oshungbure were the highlight of Quorn’s 4-1 win at Shifnal Town. Two goals from Rob McCormick gave Long Eaton United the victory over Coventry United at Grange Park, 2-1 the final score. Hinckley AFC needed extra time to beat Wolverhampton Sporting Community at St Johns Park with Sam Agar scoring twice in a 3-1 win. A goal from Carlo Franco was enough for Sporting Khalsa to edge past Hanley Town at The Aspray Arena. It wasn’t all good news for the MFL as three sides were knocked out by teams from other leagues. Biggest shock came at The Town ground where Heanor Town were surprisingly beaten 4-0 by Central Midlands side Blidworth Welfare. Chelmsley Town took the lead at Brinsford Lane against Wolverhampton Casuals but couldn’t hold on as Casuals ran out 2-1 winners. Coventry Copsewood couldn’t quite bridge the gap against United Counties League Holbeach united who returned to Lincolnshire with a 2-0 win. Premier Division The only game in the Premier Division gave us new leaders as Alvechurch took over top spot with a 2-0 win over Coleshill Town. Josh March scored both for the home side as former ‘Church striker Jordan Nadat saw red late on in the game. On Tuesday evening, Rocester and Shawbury United shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw at Hillsfield Division 1 Atherstone Town climb into the top three following a 4-2 win at Stafford Town. Stafford led 2-1 before the Adders finished the game strongly. Alex Naughton continued his excellent goalscoring form with another double. Bolehall Swifts are 8th after a 2-1 win at Heath Hayes. Southam United remain rooted to the bottom after they went down 2-0 to Littleton at 5 Acres. Studley are one place above Southam as they went down 2-1 at home to Pershore Town. Division 2 Alvis Sporting Club are the new leaders of Division 2, following a 1-0 win over Droitwich Spa, Rickie Cutting with the goal. Fairfield Villa are up to 4th after they beat Barnt Green Spartak 2-1 with both goals courtesy of Stuart Hall. Leamington Hibernian are off the bottom as they picked up a point in a 1-1 draw at Feckenham. There was a 9 goal thriller between Smithswood Firs and Sutton United with Sutton winning the game 5-4 in stoppage time. Graham Deakin scored twice for Sutton while David Barfield bagged a brace for Smithswood. Bloxwich Town are moving up the table and now sit 11th following a 3-1 win at home to Hampton. Division 3 NKF Burbage maintained their 100% record with a 5-2 win at bottom club AFC Solihull. The home side took the lead from the penalty spot but two penalties from Nathan Astill and a double from Jack Whitehurst ensured that NKF have a 12 point lead at the top of the table. Northfield Town are up to 3rd after putting 8 goals past Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Three players scored twice – Will Parker, Dan Lawrence and Stephen Deeley. Enville Athletic are up to 8th after their 4th win in 5, 2-0 at home to FC Stratford with both goals coming from Adam Wooldridge. Coventrians move up to 11th following a 2-0 win over Castle Vale Town, Dale Wigmore with both goals. Les James Challenge Cup In the 2nd round of the Les James Challenge Cup, Division 3 Montpellier were giantkillers winning 2-1 away at Division 2 Earlswood Town. A double from Tom Craine helped Knowle on the way to a 3-1 victory over Alcester Town. Redditch Borough were 2-1 winners at Shipston Excelsior to set up an away quarter final at Continental Star or Feckenham. Presidents Cup Hampton made it through to the quarter final of the Presidents Cup, beating Redditch Borough 4-1 on penalties after the game ended goalless. Other Cups In the Worcestershire Senior Urn, Highgate United got the better of Lye Town at Stourbridge Road winning 4-3 on penalties after the sides had been level 1-1 at full time. Chelmsley Town were knocked out of the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup losing 2-0 at Packmeadow to Cradley Town. In the same competition, Coventry Copsewood had an excellent 3-0 victory over Atherstone Town. Nuneaton Griff proved too strong for Gornal Athletic running out 5-0 winners with doubles for Mitch Thomson and Tom Bates. Jake Brown scored four and Wade Malley two as Racing Club Warwick beat Dudley Town 6-1 at Townsend Meadow. A double from Jordan Francis helped Bolehall Swifts to a 3-1 win at Smethwick Rangers. In the Birmingham Senior Cup, Highgate United overcame Coleshill Town 3-2 at Pack Meadow with Lei Brown scoring twice. A young Coventry United side were beaten 3-0 at Sphinx Drive by Walsall. Burton Albion beat Lye Town 2-0 at Stourbridge Road while Tividale went down to Rugby Town courtesy of a 10th minute goal from Leigh Phillips. In the Staffordshire Senior Cup, a goal two minutes from time from Tyrese Campbell gave Stoke City victory over Sporting Khalsa. In the Leicestershire Westerby Cup, St Andrews, reduced to 10 men, pulled off a remarkable 5-4 victory at Ashby Ivanhoe with both Sam Hollis and Shay Brennan scoring twice. Two goals from Brad Munn gave Coalville Town victory over Loughborough University. In the Worcestershire Senior urn, Bromsgrove Sporting edged past Bewdley Town winning the game 3-2 on penalties. A penalty shoot out was the order of the day too as Stourport Swifts beat Alvechurch 5-3 on spot kicks after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes. In the Leicestershire Jelson Homes Senior Cup, Leicester Road ran riot beating Ingles 8-0 with hat-tricks for Darryll Thomas and Jake Holt. Two goals from Ahkeem Rose helped Heather St Johns to a 3-1 win at FC Guru Nanak Gurdwara. Hinckley AFC suffered a surprise home defeat at the hands of Lutterworth Town, 2-1 the final score. A hat-trick from Callum McFarlane helped AFC Wulfrunians top a 3-2 win over Wellington Amateurs in the JW Hunt Cup. Lichfield City Reserves knocked the holders Barton United out of the Fazeley Charity Cup, 3-1 the final score. Westfields progressed in the Herefordshire Challenge Cup beating Fownhope 4-1 at Allpay Park. Reserves CHALLENGE TROPHY ROUND 1, Group "B" TIPTON TOWN 2 v 5 CADBURY ATHLETIC RESERVE DIVISION CONTINENTAL STAR 0 v 4 ROCESTER COTON GREEN 0 v 1 WALSALL WOOD ROMULUS 2 v 1 GRESLEY Leading scorers Ezekiel Agyemang Tipton Town 14 Terence Davies Tipton Town 13 Oliver Roome Rocester 13 Daniel Craythorne Lichfield City 9 Zain Thomas Romulus 9 Under 21 CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1 Group "A" ALVECHURCH 2 v 0 HIGHGATE UNITED COVENTRY UNITED 4 v 2 KETTERING TOWN SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 3 v 3 AYLESTONE PARK Group "B" DROITWICH SPA G & B 1 v 9 HEATH HAYES KINGS HEATH CONCORDE 1 v 1 BROCTON TAMWORTH 3 v 1 BEDWORTH UNITED Group "C" AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 1 v 2 BROMSGROVE SPORTING LEEK TOWN 2 v 2 COLESHILL TOWN Leading Goalscorers (all competitions) Premier Division Josh March Alvechurch 16 Kieran Debrouwer Heanor Town 14 Andrew Bridge Loughborough University 14 Richard Greaves Westfields 13 Jamie Molyneux Westfields (now Hereford) 12 David Meese Sporting Khalsa 12 Jack Till Lye Town 12 Division 1 Alex Naughton Atherstone Town 22 Ryan Seal Hinckley AFC 16 Matthew Stenson Leicester Road 16 Sam Agar Hinckley AFC 13 Kyle Turner Atherstone Town, Bolehall Swifts 12 Luke Lewis Uttoxeter Town 12 Division 2 Thomas Craine Knowle 18 Daniel Carter Paget Rangers 14 Joseph Wright Leamington Hibernian 10 Jak Albutt Redditch Borough 10 Division 3 Stuart Hendrie Montpellier 8 Montel Okoro Moors Academy 8 Tom Smith NKF Burbage 8 Lee Hendrie Montpellier 7 Lewis Fathers Shipston Excelsior 7 Jess Adcock NKF Burbage 7 Preview Premier Division Match of the week in the Premier Division is undoubtedly Westfields vs Coleshill Town at Allpay Park. Westfields dropped to 2nd place last week With Alvechurch taking over top spot. Coleshill were the side beaten by Alvechurch and they are in a healthy fourth place. Leaders Alvechurch have a difficult looking game at home to Coventry United who are settling into life in the Premier Division and sit in 8th place with loads of games in hand. 3rd place Lye Town travel to Oak Park to face a Walsall Wood side that have dropped off the pace in recent weeks. There’s an attractive looking game at The Aspray Arena as 5th placed Sporting Khalsa welcome in-form Rocester to Willenhall. AFC Wulfrunians have won their last two league games and they welcome Quorn to Castlecroft with the visitors having lost 3 out of the last 4. Basement team Brocton suddenly find themselves 7 points adrift of safety and they get back to league action with a trip to mid table St Andrews. Two wins in the last three has lifted Tividale off the bottom and they can close the gap on visitors Shawbury United to just 2 points with a victory at The Beeches. Boldmere St Michaels have drawn their last three games and they travel to Coventry Sphinx where a win could lift them out of the bottom three. Highgate United find themselves just two points above the relegation zone and they face a tough trip to mid table Heanor Town. Two sides whose league position is somewhat lower than either would expect or accept are Shepshed Dynamo and Long Eaton United and they meet at The Dovecote. Loughborough University are in 7th position in the table and could put pressure on the top 6 with a win at home to Stourport Swifts. Division 1 There is a huge game in Division 1 where the top two go head to head. Leaders Bromsgrove Sporting travel to the McDonalds Community Stadium to face 2nd place Lichfield City days after the two sides were drawn to face each other in the FA Vase. Should the game involving the top two end in a draw, Atherstone Town could take over at the summit if they beat managerless Studley at Sheepy Road. Leicester Road travel to Uttoxeter Town in a rematch of last week’s FA Vase game. Uttoxeter came out on top in that one but Leicester will want revenge to keep their excellent league run going. Hinckley AFC can close the gap on the leaders when they entertain bottom side Southam United at St Johns Park. Coventry Copsewood are in the bottom three but will be confident of improving their position with a home game against Pelsall Villa. Stafford Town are ahead of Copsewood on goal difference and they have a short journey to Bolehall Swifts who are comfortably in the top half of the table. Racing Club Warwick are in 7th and looking upwards and a home win over Littleton will certainly help their ambitions of the top 6. Ten points in their last 5 games has lifted Pershore Town up to 14th in the table. They face a Heath Hayes side who have lost their last two. Heather St Johns are unbeaten in 6 matches in all competitions and they take this improved form to Cadbury Athletic. When the two sides met three weeks ago it finished all square. Division 2 FA Vase heroes Paget Rangers can retake top spot with a win at 14th place Hampton. Fairfield Villa can move joint second should they beat Smithswood Firs at The Recreation Ground. Barnt Green Spartak can also move into the top three with a win at home to bottom club Earlswood Town. With four sides level on 7 points at the bottom of the table, Continental Star can pull away should they manage to beat free-scoring Feckenham at The Hub. Leamington Hibernian will move ahead of visitors Bloxwich Town if they come out on top at Bishop Tachbrooks. Coton Green have played fewer games than all other sides in Division 2 and they can move up the table with a win at home to Redditch Borough. Knowle have won 6 out of the last seven in all competitions and they travel to Hollyfield Road to face Sutton United Division 3 Runaway leaders NKF Burbage welcome Barton United to Kirkby Road eager to maintain the league’s remaining 100% record. Third meets fourth at Shenley Lane with Northfield Town welcoming visitors Shipston Excelsior. Enville Athletic have won 4 out of their last 5 and they travel to The Beehive to face 5th place Moors Academy. The sides immediately off the bottom in 12th and 13th meet as Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons host Castle Vale Town Challenge Vase The first quarter final of the Challenge Vase takes place with Alcester Town hosting Coventrians. Alcester are without a win in their last 5 games while Coventrians have won their last three. Alcester will start favourites with home advantage but expect it to be close. Other Cups COVENTRY EVENING TELEGRAPH CUP ROUND 2 AFC WOODS v CHELMSLEY TOWN 2.15 AMBLESIDE SPORTS v NUNEATON GRIFF 1.30 STOCKTON v ALVIS SPORTING 1.30 WHITNASH TOWN v FC STRATFORD 1.30 WORCESTERSHIRE JUNIOR CUP ROUND 2 INKBERROW v WORCESTER RAIDERS 2.30 MONTPELLIER v BROMSGROVE SPORTING u21 2.30 WELLAND v DROITWICH SPA 2.30 Reserves CHALLENGE TROPHY ROUND 1 Group "A" GRESLEY v WALSALL WOOD 3.00 ROCESTER v LICHFIELD CITY 3.00 Group "B" CADBURY ATHLETIC v CONTINENTAL STAR 2.00 ROMULUS v TIPTON TOWN 2.00 RESERVE DIVISION BROCTON v COTON GREEN 3.00 Under 21s CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1 Group "A" AYLESTONE PARK v KETTERING TOWN 12.30 COVENTRY UNITED v HIGHGATE UNITED 10.30 GORNAL ATHLETIC v SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 10.30 Group "B BROCTON v DROITWICH SPA G & B 10.30 TAMWORTH v KINGS HEATH CONCORDE 9.45 Group "C" WEST MIDLANDS ACADEMY v LEEK TOWN 10.30 UNDER 21 DIVISION NORTH HEATH HAYES v COLESHILL TOWN 10.30 UNDER 21 DIVISION SOUTH BEDWORTH UNITED v AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS 11.00 Comments are closed.
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