League News
Pershore Town are hosting a charity match on Sunday September 6thwith the proceeds going to a number of local charities.Growers Utd, is a group of local companies based in & and around the Pershore/Evesham area that undertake at their own cost,considerable charity work for local good causes & have previously raised substantial funds. The match referred to on the poster relates to three young children suffering from cerebral palsy but Growers has in the past & will in the future continue to raise money for a variety of other charities both locally & also, amongst others, the Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Brocton are proud to announce that Terry Homer has finished joint 3rd in the FA Groundsman of the Year for Step 5 and 6 clubs – congratulations Terry! At the time of writing,
Westfields have only 400 tickets remaining for their Bank Holiday Monday clash with Hereford at Allpay Park.
Coleshill Town striker, Luke Barlone, has attracted significant media interest following his four goals in the FA Cup on Friday. Look out for coverage in local and national media.
The travels of the Press Officer
Friday14thAugust
Coleshill Town 11 Ellesmere Rangers 0
With Coleshill having a new pitch installed at Packmeadow, their home FA Cup tie against West
Midland regional league premier division Ellesmere was moved to The Lamb ground, home of Tamworth FC. After watching the Meresiders in pre-season, a close game was anticipated. No-one told Coleshill this as they raced into a 3 goal lead inside 10 minutes, Luke Edwards, Luke Barlone and Thomas Weale on the scoresheet. Barlone grabbed his second in the 21stminute and then the ‘home’ side contrived to hit the woodwork twice before Barlone grabbed his hat-trick and Coleshill’s 5thafter just 24 minutes. Demetrious Smikle and Barlone again gave Coleshill a 7 goal lead at the break. Substitute Simeon Colbourne scored number 8 and 10 (but missed three sitters), Smikle grabbed number 9 and Dean Rathbone finished things off with a screamer in the 72ndminute. It should have been more as Ellesmere were down to ten men for the last 17 minutes and without a recognised keeper after their first choice stopper was red carded for handball outside the area. Not a bad start to FA Cup weekend. Coleshill now go on to face Stafford Rangers in the next round, the tie being switched to Stafford with agreement of the FA.
Saturday 15thAugust
Hinckley AFC 0 Walsall Wood 0
After 11 goals the night before, I was hoping for more of the same when 1stDivision Hinckley hosted Premier Division Walsall Wood at St Johns Park. It was my first visit to St Johns Park and what a picturesque setting it is, and even better, a ground that can generate some atmosphere. Both sides hit the post early on but the controversial moment came in the 37thminute when Liam Smith was sent off for the home side for a professional foul. The referee awarded a penalty to Walsall Wood but Joey Butlin’s spot kick was poor, allowing Sam Arnold to make the save. The ten men of Hinckley were the better side after the break but couldn’t find a way through. A game that started off looking like a draw ended that way with a replay at Oak Park on Tuesday (see below for details).
Tuesday 18thAugust
Rocester 4 Boldmere St Michaels 0
An FA Cup replay at Hillsfield, after the sides had shared 6 goals on Saturday. Rocester equalised in the dying seconds and would relish the second bite of the cherry. Hillsfield is a ground I have visited on many occasions normally in pre-season to see the ‘war’ between Rocester and Stafford Rangers (it was always a feisty affair). With the JCB Academy looming large behind the one goal, it is another ground that really does look the part. Onto the game, and the Romans took the lead in the 10thminute, Andrew Motters head heading in at the near post. The lead was doubled on the stroke of half-time when a mistake by the Mikes sent Karl Demidh free and his finish was clinical. Troy Carty settled things with a third in the 53rdminute, a curling effort which was in from the moment the ball left his foot. Rob Ritchie-smith put the icing on the cake with another sweet strike 15 minutes from time to give the Romans a trip to Leek Town in the next round.
Wednesday 19thAugust
Hampton 3 Fairfield Villa 2
My first Division 2 game of the season and a first ever visit to Field Lane, home of Hampton FC. It was a particularly wet evening and I only just made the 1830 kick off thanks to the M42. Both sides came into the game on the back of heavy opening day defeats and it took Hampton just 3 minutesto open the scoring, a deft lob from Tom Craine. Craine should have had a hat-trick, missing gilt edged opportunities before Simon Hinsley made it 2 in the 29thminute. It was all Hampton but Fairfield grabbed a lifeline thanks to an own goal in the 39thminute. The goal certainly galvanised the visitors and they equalised just before half time with an excellent finish from Dominic Strevens. Craine grabbed his second and Hampton’s third on the hour with a drive which took a deflection past the keeper. Bothsides continued to miss chances but it was the home side that picked up the three points.
Not sure where my travels will be taking me on Saturday but next Tuesday I will be at Brocton versus Rocester.
Week review
FA Cup
Not many shocksin the FA Cup Extra preliminary round and generally good results for MFL sides.
Alvechurch saw off the challenge of Heath Hayes winning 3-0 and they now travel to Stourport Swifts who put 5 past a struggling Brocton, Ben Maund again in the goals. A goal 10 minutes from time from Tris Whitman was enough for Dunkirk to win at Bardon Hill. Bromsgrove Sportingsaw off the challenge of WMRL Gornal Athletic and now host Hinckley AFC who beat Walsall Wood 3-1 in the replay at Oak Park with 2 goals in the last three minutes. Heanor Town suffered a disappointing defeat at Kirby Muxloe going down 3-1. Loughborough University put their league troubles to one side beating Barrow Town 4-1 to set up a tasty looking home tie with Long Eaton United who came from behind to beat Harrowby United. Coventry Sphinx edged out Lye Townin a replay at Sphinx Drive after the first game had ended 2-2. Their reward is a trip to Rugby Town. Cadbury Athletic have started the season well and they won away at Tipton Town. They now face Sporting Khalsa at home after the Premier Division new boys put 5 past Malvern Town without reply. Quorn’spoor start to the season continued at the hands of Oadby Town,losing 3-1 at Farley Way. Shepshed Dynamo needed a late own goal to see off Retford and they travel to Carlton Town in the next round. Two Ricky Anslow goals gave AFC Wulfrunian svictory at Southam United and they will host Romulus at Castlecroft.Westfields will welcome Kidsgrove Athletic to Allpay Park after a single goal victory over Pegasus Juniors in the Herefordshire derby. Continental Star needed a replay to defeat Bolehall Swifts and will travel north to face Newcastle Town.
Premier Division
Only one game in the premier Division due to the FA Cup and it saw Highgate United host Hereford at The Coppice. Highgate made it three wins out of three thanks to a brace from lei brown. Rob Purdie pulled one back late on for the Bulls but to no avail. The win gives Highgate a three point cushion into the weekend.
Division 1
Coventry United sit proudly on top of the pile with the only 100% record following home wins over Lichfield City and Pilkington XXX. Close on their heels are Littleton who followed up a 4-1 win at Stafford Town with a 3 goal victory over Pelsall Villaat home. Leicester Road are still unbeaten with two draws this week while Nuneaton Griff have scored 7 in the week drawing at Studleybut beating Pershore at the Pingles Stadium. Bromsgrove Sporting are the only other unbeaten side picking u their first win in midweek over Racing Club Warwick. Cadbury Athletic celebrated their cup success with a 4-0 win over Southam United. Stafford Town picked up their first points of the season in midweek with a 4-2 win over Studley. It’s early days yet but Division1 appears to be raining goals.
Division 2
Alvis Sporting Club and Chelmsley Town have made perfect starts with two wins out of two. Alvis are top on goal difference following a 10-1 win at Coton Green, Dildale Linton and Thomas Maguire getting hat-tricks. Maguire was again on the scoresheet in midweek when Alvis beat Paget Rangers by a solitary goal. Chelmsley have won two tight gamesagainst Barnt Green Spartakand Knowle, Chris Lloyd on the mark in each. Droitwich Spa and Sutton Unitedwere amongst the goals at the weekend and both have a 100% record. At the bottom, Fairfield Villahave conceded 7 goals in their two opening defeats.
Division 3
Both Smithswood Firs and Barton Unitedscored 5 on the opening day to take the honours. Peter Martin grabbed a hat-trick for Barton as they beat new boys Shipston Excelsior 5-3 while Smithswood beat Perrywood 5-1. Elsewhere there were wins for Enville Athletic, Alcester Town and FC Stratford while the points were shared between Badsey Rangers and Northfield Town and Redditch Borough and Leamington Hibernian.
Weekend Preview
Premier Division
With seven teams with 100% winning records, plenty has to give this weekend. Two teams with 100% records meet at Grange Park where Long Eaton Unitedhost leaders Highgate United. FA Cup exits for both Lye Townand Walsall Wood and they meet at Oak Park with the Wood struggling with injuries.Lye are the league’s leadingscorersand will be hoping to make it 3 out of 3. AFC Wulfrunians face rock bottom Loughborough University looking to maintain their perfect start to the season. In form Stourport Swifts travel to a Bardon Hill side that have drawn their opening two Midland League games. Shepshed Dynamo take their 100% record to Silkmore Lane to tackle a Brocton side without a point and beaten heavily at home in the FA Cup. Coleshill Town face Heanor
Town at Tamworth FC hoping to take their FA Cup goalscoring form into the game. Pointless Boldmere St Michaels will want to put their poor start behindthem at Sphinx Drive against Coventry Sphinx while well fancied Dunkirkand Alvechurch meet at the Ron Steel Sports ground. Rocester, without a league goal, entertain Herefordat Hillsfield with the Bullspointless on their travels. Sporting Khalsa meet ContinentalStar at the Aspray Arena while Westfields welcome Quorn to Allpay Park.
Division 1
Leaders Coventry Unitedare the only side with a 100% record and they travel to Rene Road to face Bolehall Swifts, struggling at the bottom of the table. Littleton have started with three wins out of four and they host Heath Hayes. Two sides who could well be near the summit at the end of the season are Lichfield Cityand Leicester Road and their meeting at Brownsfield Park promises to be a good one. Cadbury Athletic have also started the season in impressive form and they will be expecting more of the same at Pelsall Villa. Unbeaten Bromsgrove Sporting travel to Evans Park to face StaffordTown who picked up a much need win at Studley in midweek. Elsewhere, Atherstone Town face Pershore Town, Hinckley AFCare at home to Studley, Pilkington XXX host Coventry Copsewood, Racing Club Warwick welcome Nuneaton Griff and Southam United host Heather St johns.
Division 2
The big game atthe top of the table sees Alvis Sporting Clubtravel to Droitwich Spa. Both sides were in free-scoring form in week one so it could be a difficult day for defences. Chelmsley Towntake their 100% record to Earlswood Townwhile Sutton United, also with a 100% record entertain Feckenhamat Hollyfield Road. Basement boys Fairfield Villa will be hoping for their first points of the season at home to Austrey Rangers. Elsewhere, Hampton host Barnt Green Spartak, Knowle face unbeaten Rostance Edwards at The Robins Nest, and Paget Rangers entertain inconsistent,Coton Green.
Division 3
League new boys Coventrians travel to Barton United for their first Midland Football League fixture, with the home side buoyed by lastweek’s 5 goal opening salvo. Smithswood Firs also scored 5 on the opening day and they travel to Leamington Hibernian.Alcester started with a win on opening day and they host new boys Shipston Excelsior involved in that 8 goal thriller at Barton. Elsewhere, Badsey Rangers welcome Enville Athletic to the Recreation Ground, Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons face Inkberrow and FC Stratford entertain Northfield Town.