Northfield Town V Inkberrow (Division Two)

​Northfield were looking to continue their impressive home form at Shenley Lane with a result against Inkberrow yesterday to put pressure on league leaders Knowle in division two.

The South Birmingham side have been one of the forms teams in division two this season with seven wins from their last nine matches in all competitions. Their unbeaten home record has been one of the stories of the season at step seven.    

The management team of Ryan Smith and Tomasz Kempa have done a good job of turning Northfield into a contender at step seven since coming in over the summer following promotion from division three last season.

Inkberrow are a side that can go a bit under the radar in division two but can be a match for any side on their day. The Worcester side were sitting comfortably in midtable going into yesterday’s match with an eye on causing an upset against Northfield.

The visitors were coming into yesterday’s match on a decent run of form with only one loss from their last five matches in division two under manager Neil Davies. 

​Starting line ups

Northfield Town’s starting line up included Tom Walker starting in goal and Josh Westwood captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ethan Hanks playing up front and being supported by Josh Roberts and Rhys Forbes on the wings.

There were four changes from their last match against Birmingham United in the LJ cup a few weeks back with Lewis McPike coming into the team and playing in holding midfield.

Inkberrow’s starting line up included Louis Beresford starting in goal and Callum Davies captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 5-3-2 with a front two of Joel Hill and Raheem Spencer being supported by George Thomas in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their last match against Coventry Alvis a few weeks back with Flyn Powell coming into the team and playing as part of a back three. 

​First Half

The opening stages of the first half were scrappy with not that many clear-cut chances in front of goal. A lot of this was down to how Inkberrow were set up off the ball with a back three making it harder for Northfield to find space in the box early on. Callum Davies was reading the danger well at centre back and helping the visitors settle into the match.  

The formation for Inkberrow was attacking and positive on the ball which made for an entertaining match yesterday. The visitors were committing players forward with Joel Hill and Raheem Spencer offering a threat up front.

​They used wing-backs to provide width with Sahad Amir and Ethan McKeown playing high up the pitch and looking to make things happen.   

Northfield started to build some momentum in the middle of the first half and found the breakthrough after twenty-two minutes. Ethan Hanks made a good run off the shoulder to race through on goal before finishing into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0.

The match was evenly balanced throughout the first half with both sides having spells of momentum going forward. Inkberrow had a promising fifteen-minute spell in the first half where they were applying pressure on the Northfield goal.

​They had a decent chance to make it 1-1 when a good ball into the box found Joel Hill who couldn’t quite connect with it to trouble Tom Walker.   

Northfield were working hard off the ball to limit the clear-cut chances for Inkberrow with Dan Morris helping to stop promising attacks at centre back and Lewis McPike doing well to break up the play from holding midfield.   

Inkberrow produced a moment of quality to make it 1-1 on thirty-three minutes when Raheem Spencer made a well-timed run into the box before finishing into the bottom right corner for the equaliser.    

Northfield responded well and created some good chances in front of goal. Josh Roberts beat a few players down the right before finding Ethan Hanks whose effort was instinctively saved by Louis Beresford in the Inkberrow goal. Rhys Forbes also cut inside from the left before having a shot go wide of the far post.

They made it 2-1 when Josh Westwood played a brilliant ball into the box that found Josh Roberts at the back post who headed into the net for Northfield’s second.

Inkberrow worked hard off the ball to keep it at 2-1 to have a chance of getting something from the match going into half time. Flyn Powell and James Wright were playing well at the back to keep the visitors in the match.

Second Half    

The early stages of the second half were similar to the first with the match feeling open and both sides creating good chances. Joel Hill found some space in the box before having a shot saved by Tom Walker to keep it at 2-1.

Northfield managed to make it 3-1 a few minutes later when Ethan Hanks made a good run into the box before squaring it to Josh Roberts who produced a composed finish for a two-goal lead.

It felt like Northfield were starting to take control of the match at 3-1 with Josh Darnbrough having a brilliant game at right back and regularly winning the ball back. Josh Westwood was also playing well from holding midfield and helping to link up the play.  

Inkberrow showed character from 3-1 down and took the game to Northfield in the middle of the second half. They were positive on the ball and looking to make things happen in the final third.

Aidan Forrest found some space on the edge of the box before producing a quality finish into the top right corner to pull a goal back and make it 3-2.

The visitors had the momentum and found an equaliser a few minutes later when Joel Hill produced a clinical finish across Tom Walker into the bottom right corner.

Northfield responded well at 3-3 and kept going in search of a fourth goal. Josh Roberts made a promising run into the box before having a shot well saved by Louis Beresford to keep it level.

They made it 4-3 when Rhys Forbes put in an inviting cross to James Ward who headed into the bottom right corner after seventy-one minutes.

Inkberrow responded well and were putting pressure on the Northfield goal in search of an equaliser. Their best chance came when Raheem Spencer saw a shot go narrowly wide of the left-hand post.   

Northfield were able to pull away late on for a huge three points when Josh Westwood found substitute Louis Jones in the box who guided his header into the bottom left corner to make it 5-3 a few minutes before stoppage time.

Not long after the referee blew for the full-time whistle with Northfield keeping their unbeaten home run intact and keeping in touch with Knowle who won 3-2 at Earlswood Town yesterday.  

Full Time

Northfield had to work hard to get the win yesterday and they showed character in the second half after being pegged back to 3-3. They found a way to win against an impressive Inkberrow side who took the game to them yesterday.

Josh Westwood has that quality on the ball to create chances and experienced players such as James Ward can make the difference at this level.   

It’s been an incredible season for the club so far with just one loss from twenty matches in division two. They have an outside chance of winning the league if they can win their eight remaining matches from now until the end of April.

Inkberrow played well yesterday and will feel slightly disappointed not to get something from this match. None the less, there’s plenty to be encouraged about with Raheem Spencer and Joel Hill offering quality up front. Callum Davies also impressed at the back and helped them settle into the match.

It was a good performance and there’s a lot to build on for the Worcester side.

FT score: Northfield Town 5-3 Inkberrow

Man of the match: Josh Westwood (Northfield Town)

Attendance: 54

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League