League News
Unfortunately, Kenilworth Town Kings Heath have resigned from the league with immediate effect. This means that Division 2 will run with 14 clubs this season. Westfields have broken the 800 ticket barrier after a few days of sales for their Bank Holiday Monday local derby with Hereford.
The travels of the Press Officer
Saturday 1stAugust
Stafford Rangers 4 Mickleover Sports 1
As a Stafford Rangers supporter, it was only right that I should see the first game played on the relaidMarston Road pitch before the season begins. Rangers entertained last season’s Evostik Div 1 South champions Mickleover who were expected to provide astern test. It never materialised as Rangers flew into a 4-0 lead in the first half. Sports were marginally better after the break but it was the home side that can look forward to the season with more confidence based on this encounter.
Tuesday 4thAugust
Heath Hayes 3 Ellesmere Rangers 1
My first visit to Heath Hayes in the dry and I wasn’t disappointed. A game of four goals, missed chances galore, tasty tackles, handbags at dawn and a brawl. What more could the neutral want? Most of the tackles were just on the right side of legal but the Ellesmere right back seemed intent on a running battle with a number of the home side. On the park, Heath Hayes look in a good position to bounceback after last year’s relegation.
I am taking in a number of leaguegames over the next week. They are as follows:-
Walsall Wood vs Bardon Hill
Coventry Sphinx vs Quorn
Stourport Swifts vs Hereford FC
Continental Star vs Alvechurch
Weekend Preview
Premier Division
Alvechurch have had an excellent pre-season taking some notable scalps and remaining unbeaten. They entertain AFC Wulfrunians which is always a tight affair.Boldmere St Michaels have gone under the radar a little in pre-season and they entertain Heanor Town, for their first game in the Midland Football League. Both sides are full of goals so expect an entertaining game. Broctonface Lye Town at Silkmore Lane. The Badgers came out on top in both matches last season but there is unpredictability about both sides which make this a very watchable game. Continental Star face a Shepshed Dynamo side well fancied to do well this season. Dales Lane is never an easy place to visit and both sides willbe hopeful of getting something out of the game. The biggest crowd of the day will undoubtedly be at Edgar Street for the first official fixture for Hereford FCat home to Dunkirk. Both sides have had a good pre-season with Dunkirk scoring heavily. Should be a cracker. One of a last season’s title challengers, Long Eaton United take on Coventry Sphinx at Grange Park. Both sides have had mixed results in pre-season but both are expected to challenge for honours. Another side that have gone under the radar during pre-season is Quorn who face promoted Highgate United at Farley Way. Stourport Swift smake the journey northto Staffordshire to tackle Rocesterat Hillsfield. The Romans finished pre-season on high with a win over Step 4 Loughborough Dynamo but may find Swifts tougher opposition. A first MFL game for Sporting Khalsa following their promotion from the West Midlands Regional League as they host last season front runners Coleshill Town at the Aspray Arena. Both sides have looked good in pre-season and will want to set down a marker from the outset. Newly promoted Bardon Hill make their debut in the MFL with a trip to Walsall Wood, who are hoping to build on last season’s fourth placed finish.
Division 1
Bromsgrove Sporting begin with a home game against Southam Unitedafter an excellent preseason. The Saints have had mixed friendly results but they will count for nothing at The Victoria ground.Two sides that have impressed in pre-season are Cadbury Athletic and Hinckley AFC and they meet at the TSA Sports Ground. Pelsall Villahad a difficult 2014/15 and will be looking for significant improvement this campaign. They start with a tough game at much changed Heather St Johnswho are looking good for a promotion push. Relegated Heath Hayes start their campaign at home to Coventry Copsewood hoping to bounce back to the Premier Division at the first attempt. Promoted Leicester Road make their Division 1 bow at home to Pershore Town. Both clubs have a fair amount of forward momentum and will have their eyes set towards the top half of the table.
Two sides in fine form in pre-season are Lichfield City and Atherstone Townand they meet at The City Ground. Coventry United are many people’s favourites to gain back to back promotions but they face a tough opening day with a trip to Worcestershire to face Littleton. Pre season has gone well for Nuneaton Griff who entertain Stafford Town at the Pingles Stadium. Town will be keen to start this season better than last. Racing Club Warwick host Pilkington XXXin a game which is very hard to call. The Pilks ended pre-season with a 6-0 victory so are likely to go into the game with more confidence. A new look Bolehall Swifts travel to Studley for their opener. With most of last season’s squad moving to pastures new, Swifts will be an unknown quantity however a trip to a strong Studley would not have been their first choice for a season debut.
Division 2
Only one fixture in Division 2 but it is a tasty one between promoted Austrey Rangers and Coton Green at Austrey Fields. Coton Green finished bottom of the pile in Division 2 last season in contrast to Austrey who were Division 3 champions. Should be an excellent start to what will be a very competitive division.
Pre- season results
Saturday 1stAugust
AFC Bridgnorth 3Pelsall Villa 0
AFC Solihull 4 Studley United 1
Alvechurch 2Sutton Coldfield Town 1
Alvis Sporting Club 2RC Warwick 0
Atherstone Town 0Halesowen Town 1
Austrey Rangers 4 (Stroud, Minshull, Ocean, Heaton) Ashby Ivanhoe 0
Aylestone Park 2Coleshill Town 3
Barton United 6(Roberts 2, Williams, Jackson, Martin, Warrington) Norton Canes 2
Boldmere St Michaels 3(OG, Clarke, Birch) Leicester Nirvana 2
Brocton 3(Fife, McMahon, Farrell) Wolverhampton Casuals 3
Bromsgrove Sporting 1(Williams) Runcorn Town 0
Burntwood Town 1Rostance Edwards 5(Plimmer 2, Baxter, Evans, Ball)
Coton green 5Enville Athletic 1 (Boden)
Coventry Copsewood 2(Farrell 2) Coventry Sphinx 2 (Cain, Jeys)
Dudley Town 4Heath Hayes 1
Dunkirk 1(Hemagou) Witton Albion 4
Ellesmere Rangers 0Walsall Wood 6(Butlin 3, Harris, Adams, Holgate)
FC Stratford 1(Tilbury) Wake Green 1
Feckenham 3(Higgins 3) Tipton Town 0
Folly Lane OB 1Heather St Johns2
Graham Street Prims 3Long Eaton United 2
Hanley Castle 0Perrywood 4(Martin 2, T.Corbett, J.Corbett)
Hereford FC 2(Page, Mills) Hull City U21 3
Highgate United 3Barnt Green Spartak 1
Holbrook Sports 2Rocester3
Lichfield City 2(Richards, Evans) Bardon Hill 2(Moore 2)
Littleton 0AFC Wulfrunians 1
Loughborough University 0Coventry United 0
Mickleover Royals 7Hampton 3 (Craine 3)
Nuneaton Griff 3(Moore 2, Ruff) Anstey Nomads 4
Pilkington XXX 2Alcester Town 2 (Mumford, Brown)
Quorn 1Real United 1
Rainworth MW 0Heanor Town 2(Debrouwer, Hawkins)
Shepshed Dynamo 2Brackley Town 0
Southam United 0Daventry Town 1
Sporting Khalsa 4(Westwood 2, Bannister 2) Thornaby 2
Stafford Town 1(Hulme) Shifnal Town 0
Stourport Swifts 1(Maund) Bewdley Town 3
Studley 1Cradley Town 3
Sutton United 0Cadbury Athletic 3
Westfields 4(Cuss 2, Birch, Jones) Brislington 1
Tuesday 4thAugust
Bolehall Swifts 0Sutton united1 (McGivern)
Chasetown 2Hinckley AFC 2(Adaggio, Richards)
Continental Star 4Wolves Sporting 1
Coton Green 4Burntwood 2
Cradley Town 5Paget Rangers 2
Dudley Sports 0Bromsgrove Sporting 1 (Corbett)
Evesham United 4Westfields 0
FC Stratford 1Highgate United 5
Feckenham 1(Bennett) Inkberrow 1
Halesowen Town 0 Alvechurch 2 (Penney, Priest)
Heanor Town 3 (Debrouwer, Cooper 2)Mansfield Town 2
Heath Hayes 3Ellesmere Rangers 1
Long Eaton United 0Nottingham Forest U18 1
Loughborough University 3Oadby Town 2
Pelsall Villa 0Rushall Olympic 3
Quorn 2South Normanton Athletic 1
Rocester4Loughborough Dynamo 1
Stourbridge 1Lye Town 0
Wednesday 5thAugust
Barnt Green Spartak 0Pilkington XXX 6
Hampton 4(Craine 2, Hinsley, Richardson) FC Dunlop 0
Rostance Edwards 9Homeserve0
Pre-season friendlies
Saturday 8thAugust
AFC Solihull vs Feckenham
Alcester Town vs Moreton Rangers
Burntwood Town vs Newhall United @ Four Ashes
Chelmsley Town vs CT Shush
Daventry Town vs Barnt Green Spartak
Folly Lane vs Paget Rangers
Hawksmill Sports vs FC Stratford (1400)
Rostance Edwards vs Enville Athletic
SmithswoodFirs vs Alvechurch reserves
Sutton united vs Walsall Phoenix
Tuesday 11thAugust
Smithswood Firs vs Birmingham Elite