Romulus V Stourport Swifts (Premier Division)

​Romulus were looking to continue their recent good form with a result against Stourport Swifts at Coles Lane yesterday. It’s been an encouraging start for new manager Ty Belford with an upturn in results over the last month. The Roms had won three of their last four matches and were coming off a 1-1 draw with Studley over the weekend.    

The hosts were comfortably in midtable thanks to an impressive three game winning streak against Winsford United, Highgate United and Uttoxeter to move them away from the bottom two

Stourport have been competitive this season under new manager Craig Gregg and have picked up some encouraging results in the league. Their standout win so far was the 2-0 home win against newly promoted Abbey Hulton United at Walshes Meadow. The Swifts also gave league leaders Northwich Victoria a good game a few weeks ago and came close to getting something before a late injury time winner for the Vics.    

The visitors were sitting a point above the bottom two going into yesterday’s match and were looking to bounce back from their 5-1 loss to Dudley Town at the weekend in the FA Vase. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Romulus included Lewis Gwilliams starting in goal for the Roms. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Brad Mansell playing up front and being supported by Alfie Taylor and Tom Ricketts on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Studley at the weekend with Reece Nunn coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Charlie Gardner.

The starting line up for Stourport included Tom Hayward starting in goal for the visitors. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with a front two of Kai Adams and Josh McKenzie being supported by Kobi Love in the number ten role.

There were six changes from their match against Dudley Town at the weekend with Perez Mills-Andoh coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Mason Straker. 

First Half

Romulus got off to a good start in the early stages of the first half and were causing some problems for Stourport. Ryan Nesbitt found some space in the box before having a shot go wide of the right-hand post on 5 minutes.

The visitors looked a threat at the other end and created a good chance when Kai Adams made a good run into the box before having his header well saved by Lewis Gwilliams in the 7th minute who tipped it round the post for a corner.

​The Swifts looked well organised off the ball in the opening twenty minutes with Perez Mills-Andoh impressing at centre back and reading the danger well.

Romulus took the lead thanks to a moment of a quality on 22 minutes. Alfie Taylor played a brilliant diagonal ball into the box from the right-hand side that found Brad Mansell in the box. The Roms striker ran through on goal before producing a low finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0.   

Stourport nearly found an equaliser a few minutes later when Josh McKenzie had a shot well saved by Lewis Gwilliams on 25 minutes. The Roms keeper stepped up yesterday and made some big saves in the first half to not let the match getaway from them.

The visitors kept pressing for an equaliser and found the breakthrough in the 30th minute when Kai Adams made a well-timed run off the shoulder. He rounded Lewis Gwilliams before finishing low into the bottom left corner for 1-1.

Charlie Gardner impressed for Romulus throughout the first half and was doing a good job of building up the play from holding midfield. He made a good run down the right-hand side before playing a dangerous ball to the back post that just evaded Alfie Taylor on 38 minutes.   

Ryan Nesbitt also looked a threat up front for the Roms and made some good runs into the box. He had a shot from the edge of the box that was just wide of the top left corner on 40 minutes.

Stourport had a good late chance to take the lead at the end of the first half when Josh McKenzie broke free at the back post from a well delivered corner before putting his header over the bar.

Second Half

Romulus made a couple of substitutions at the start of the second half with Fahme Ibrahim coming on for Tom Ricketts and playing on the left wing.

The second half was a lot cagier than the first with fewer clear-cut chances in front of goal and both sides cancelling each other out for large spells.

Ryan Nesbitt struck a free kick from the edge of the box that was tipped over the post by Tom Hayward on 58 minutes.

Josh McKenzie was doing a good job of holding up the play for Stourport up front. He looked a threat for the visitors throughout the second half and was making things happen in the final third.

Substitute Fahme Ibrahim was making an impact for Romulus late on and had a shot from the edge of the box well saved by Tom Hayward on 75 minutes.

He was causing all sorts of problems down the left-hand side and taking players on in the final twenty minutes of the second half.

The Roms took a decisive lead in the 77th minute when Fahme Ibrahim produced a brilliant finish into the bottom right corner for 2-1. He took a player on before cutting inside and finishing past Tom Hayward for a late winner.

Stourport had a few half chances to get a point late on and came close with a few dangerous throw ins delivered into the box in stoppage time. 

Romulus were able to see the match out late on for their fourth win in five games to move into the top half of the table. It’s been a brilliant few weeks for the Roms who extend their unbeaten run to five matches in the premier division.

Upcoming matches

Romulus will be looking to continue their momentum at Stone Old Alleynians on Saturday before playing Hanley Town (Away) the following Saturday. They then play league leaders Northwich Victoria (Away) on Saturday 11th October before a run of away matches in the county cups.

They play former MFL side Atherstone Town (Away) in the Birmingham Senior Cup on Tuesday 14th October before going to Rushall Olympic in the Walsall Senior Cup on Tuesday 21st October.

Stourport Swifts will be looking to bounce back with a home game against Coton Green on Saturday before playing Dudley Town (Away) the following Saturday. The Swifts then travel to Worcester Raiders in the Worcester Senior Cup on Tuesday 7th October before returning to league action with a home game against Brocton on Saturday 11th October.

The visitors then have a run of away games against Studley (League Cup) on Tuesday 27th October and Coton Green (League) on Saturday 1st November.   

FT score: Romulus 2-1 Stourport Swifts

Man of the match: Fahme Ibrahim (Romulus)

Attendance: 110

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League