Romulus V Shifnal Town (Premier Division)

Romulus were looking to build on their encouraging 3-1 win against Northwich Victoria at the weekend with a statement result against play off challengers Shifnal Town at Coles Lane. The Roms are going under a bit of a rebuild under the new management team of Joe Ballinger and George Evans and have recorded some eye-catching results so far such as winning at 1874 Northwich.  

Shifnal Town were a team in form coming into this match with four wins from their last five matches. The visitors have been one of the standout teams in the MFL so far this season and have been building some momentum to leave them only two points off the play offs going into yesterday.

​Coles Lane is a brilliant venue for non-league football with a welcoming clubhouse and two stands available to get a good view of the pitch. The facilities are impressive for the level and it’s an accessible ground to visit for groundhoppers across the West Midlands. Supporters can get the X14 bus from Birmingham City Centre before getting off at Sutton for a 14-minute walk to the ground.

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Romulus included Lewis Gwilliams starting in goal and Jordan Francis captaining the team from right-back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Sean Devlin leading the line up front and being supported by Reece Nunn and Finn Douglas on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Northwich Victoria at the weekend with Jack Sang coming into the team and playing in the number ten role.

Shifnal’s starting line up included Andy Wycherley starting in goal and Kyle Bennett captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Isaac Phillips playing up front and being supported by Joe Thomas and Theo Knight on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Uttoxeter Town at the weekend with Bradley Maslen-Jones coming back into the team and playing in central defence alongside Jack Rowley. 

​First Half

Romulus started the match brightly and nearly took the lead inside the opening five minutes. A quality passing move saw Sean Devlin work the ball well down the right-hand side before finding Jack Sang with a bit of space to work with. He played a quality through ball to Finn Douglas who was through on goal before firing narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

​Shifnal gradually grew into the match as it went on and had an early chance when Lewis Jarman got into the box before having his shot well saved by Lewis Gwilliams at the front post.

The visitors were well organised off the ball with Kyle Bennett doing a good job of breaking up the play from holding midfield. Bradley Maslen-Jones was also reading the game well and helping to clear the ball away from danger. They had the best defensive record in the league coming into this match with just 11 goals conceded from 13 matches.

The Shropshire side found the breakthrough in the middle of the first half when Isaac Phillips found some space in the final third before squaring it to Theo Knight in the box who produced a composed finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0. It was a good passing move by the visitors who moved the ball well to create the chance.

​Romulus found an equaliser near the half hour mark when Shifnal struggled to clear a long ball. Aaron Simms got caught playing out at the back and Finn Douglas capitalised and made a good run down the left. He squared it to Sean Devlin who finished well into the bottom right corner to make it 1-1. Despite the mistake by the visitors, Romulus took the chance well to get back in it.

Shifnal had a good chance to re-take the lead a few minutes later when Theo Knight cut inside from the right before having a curling shot go wide of the left-hand post.

Romulus were dealing with the Shifnal pressure well throughout the first half with Jordan Francis playing well at right back and helping to win the ball back. Louis Lake was also defending well at the back and clearing the ball away from danger.

There was a huge chance for Romulus to take the lead a few minutes before half time following some good build up play. A quality cross by Finn Douglas down the left found Reece Nunn who was free in the box before putting his header wide from a good position.

None the less, both teams went into the half time break with the score level at 1-1.

It was an even match going into the break and Romulus showed some character to get back in it following the early set back.

Second Half

Shifnal started the second half positively and were looking to take the game to the Roms in the early stages. Theo Knight made a brilliant run into the box before finding Isaac Phillips who fired wide at the front post.

They took the lead when a good cross by Joe Thomas found Isaac Phillips who managed to get in between two defenders before heading into the bottom right corner. It was a moment of quality from the visitors rather than any glaring mistake by the Roms.

Romulus kept going throughout the second half in search of an equaliser. Sean Devlin made a good run into the box before cutting inside from the right and having his shot go wide of the far post.

The visitors were doing a good job of breaking up attacks and stopping some of the Romulus momentum. Kevin Monteiro was working hard and tracking back to help Shifnal win the ball back and Aaron Simms filled in admirably at centre back following an injury to Jack Rowley.    

There was an instinctive save by Lewis Gwilliams to keep Romulus in the match in the latter stages of the second half. Substitute Kyle Byrne was through one on one with the Roms keeper stepping up and reading his shot well to keep it at 2-1.

Romulus were linking up well throughout the match and looked a threat in the final third. They just lacked that final ball into the box to trouble the Shifnal defence, but the effort and endeavour was there. Maradoche Mirpo was working hard in holding midfield to help the Roms get on the ball and build attacks.

Shifnal found a third goal when Bradley Maslen-Jones ran with the ball down the right-hand side and beat a few players before having an effort at goal. His shot took an unfortunate deflection off Joe Clarke and went into the net to make it 3-1 for an own goal.

The visitors did well to see the match out for a huge three points to climb into the play off positions.

Full Time

Romulus competed well against Shifnal yesterday and gave them a good game at Coles Lane. It feels like the club is building something under the new management team of Joe Ballinger and George Evans. There comfortably in midtable with an eleven-point gap over the relegation places which should take a bit of the pressure off them and help them develop at step five.   

Their upcoming fixtures include playing OJM Black Country (Away) in the league, Aston Villa (Home) in the Birmingham Senior Challenge Cup and Whitchurch Alport (Away) in the league.

Shifnal played well in this match and took their chances well to make it five wins from eight away matches. There were a lot of positives for the Shropshire side with Isaac Phillips looking a threat in the final third and holding up the ball well to help them build attacks. Theo Knight also looked a threat down the right and was making things happen with the ball.

Their upcoming fixtures include a run of home games against Dudley Town in the league, Continental Star in the JW Hunt Cup and Lichfield City back in the league.                        

FT score: Romulus 1-3 Shifnal Town

Man of the match: Isaac Phillips (Shifnal Town)

Attendance: 81

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League