League News
The Midland Football League have reached an agreement with Big Centre TV, a Walsall based TV company, to provide content for a weekly non-league show. All clubs are being encouraged to submit goal clips, audio, still photographs etc for inclusion in the show. Big Centre TV will regularly produce features on individual clubs with a story to tell. Match results and previews will be provided by the League for inclusion in the nightly sport round-up. It is anticipated that the relationship between the Midland Football League and Big Centre TV will provide significant benefit for both parties and all clubs within the MFL. For further information, please contact the press officer. Following the dismissal of Mark Taylor, Bolehall Swifts have appointed Craig Haywood and Joe Obi as the new management team. The new team got off to the perfect start with a 3-0 win at Coventry Copsewood.
Travels of the Press Officer
Tuesday November 10th
AFC Wulfrunians 1 Shepshed Dynamo 0
On a busy weekday, it’s great to have a few Midland League sides on my doorstep and a trip to
Castlecroft was on the cards for my first sighting of one of this season’s promotion candidates, Shepshed Dynamo. 5 wins and a draw in the last 6 matches suggested that in-form Dynamo were strong favourites to maintain their chase of leaders Hereford. The home side, with leading scorer Ricky Anslow injured, should have taken the lead inside the first minute. An excellent move down the right ended with a pinpoint cross from Jake Webb but Kyle Brady put his header over. Dominic Brennan had a decent chance for Shepshed but was guilty of trying to walk the ball in rather than play in his strike partner. Wulfs took the lead in the 17th minute and it owed a great deal to the
control and trickery of Jamie King. King picked up the ball on the left, ghosted past defender and played the ball back into the box where Brady couldn’t, and didn’t miss. Shepshed took some time to respond but went close when Luke Read shot wide. The visitors continued to create half chances without testing Danny Tipton until just before the break when Reeve’s header was comfortably saved. The nearest we came to an equaliser was via a Jake Sedgemore sliced clearance which just cleared his own cross bar. With the strong wind behind their backs in the second half, Shepshed were expected to take advantage of the conditions and get back into the game. For all their effort, Tipton was not tested. Shepshed should have equalised in the 78th minute when an excellent cross from Smith was missed by Adam Hohn in front of goal and the chance went begging. Tipton was finally called into action and saved well from Brennan. Into stoppage time, Hohn’s evening went from bad to worse as he was shown a straight red for bringing down Kyle Minto, with the referee
quite rightly judging that he was the last man. A good win for Wulfs but Castlecroft is no happy hunting ground for Dynamo with no goals scored in their last three visits. Given the conditions, another excellent game of football showing the strength in depth of the Premier Division.
Review
Premier Division
Hereford are back in pole position after a 4-0 win over Rocester at Edgar Street. Leading scorer John Mills with his 27th goal of the season opened the scoring in the 13th minute and the Romans were in still in it when Pablo Haysham grabbed number 2 seven minutes after the break. Previous leaders Heanor Town dropped back to second after a 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Sporting Khalsa. For Khalsa, Tes Robinson was again on the scoresheet together with a debut strike from matt Martin. Alvechurch maintained their good form with a 3-0 win over Coleshill Town and sit just 6 points behind Hereford with three games in hand. Two of the front runners cancelled each other out at The Dovecote as Shepshed Dynamo and Highgate United fought out a goalless draw. Long Eaton United are losing touch with the leaders going down 3-1 win at Stourport Swifts. A goal two minutes from time from Kalum Evitts was all that separated Lye Town and AFC Wulfrunians with the home side taking the points. At the foot of the table, Dunkirk lost 3-2 at home to Walsall Wood with Dan Griffiths bagging a brace for The Wood. Brocton and Westfields shared the points at Silkmore Lane following a 1-1 draw. On Tuesday evening, Hereford opened up a five point gap at the top with a thumping 6-0 win over Stourport Swifts. Recent signing Mike Symons scored a hat-trick while there was a debut goal for Mustapha Bundu. Lye Town picked up their second home win of the week with a 6-1 victory over Loughborough University, James Spray and Dreniz Bala with a couple each.
Shepshed Dynamo missed the chance to go fourth going down to a Kyle Brady goal at AFC Wulfrunians. Walsall Wood are up to 8th after a 3-2 home win over Coleshill Town who have slipped to 15th in the table.
Division 1
A goal 4 minutes from time from Gift Mussa gave the leaders Coventry United a narrow 2-1 win over Stafford Town. United have increased their lead at the top to 4 points after Nuneaton Griff were held at home by Atherstone Town in front of a healthy 168 crowd. Bromsgrove Sporting continue to put pressure on the sides above them but they were forced to work hard for their points by Pelsall Villa. Villa took the lead in the 33rd minute but three goals in the last 16 minutes swung the game the way of the Rouslers. Lichfield City are 4th after a 4-3 win at Heather St Johns with Tony Clarke scoring twice taking his season tally to 17. At the bottom of the table, rock bottom Bolehall Swifts with a much changed squad won 3-0 at Coventry Copsewood to close the gap to just 1 point. On Wednesday, an own goal from Joe McNulty was all that separated Nuneaton Griff and Bolehall Swifts with Griff getting the all important 3 points.
Division 2
Only one game survived the weather and it was good afternoon for Droitwich Spa who hammered Coton Green 6-0. The goals were shared around with Nick Seabourne adding another two to his account.
Division 3
No doubting the game of the day as Badsey Rangers returned from Leamington Hibernian with all the points after a 5-4 victory, Elliott Grady and Chris Mills both scoring twice for Badsey. There are only 7 points separating the top 7 after Shipston Excelsior beat Barton United 4-1.
Les James Challenge Cup
Alvis Sporting Club are through to the quarter finals after a 6-0 win at Austrey Rangers. Dildale Linton led the way with a hat-trick with Shane Brassington also chipping in with a couple.
County Cups
Burntwood Town progressed through to the next round of the Staffordshire Challenge Cup after beating Stone Dominoes 2-1 after extra time. In the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup there was an excellent win for Chelmlsey Town over higher ranked opposition as they beat Littleton 1-0 thanks to a goal from Sam Sadler. FC Stratford needed penalties to ease past Sportsco after drawing
2-2 at full time. Bromsgrove Sporting beat Inkberrow 5-0 in the same competition. In the
Staffordshire Senior Cup, a Karl Demidh hat-trick helped Rocester beat Sporting Khalsa 4-1 at
Hillsfield. In the Worcestershire Senior Urn, Alvechurch needed penalties to beat Studley while
Littleton put 5 past Pershore Town. Westfields are through to the next round of the Herefordshire Challenge Cup after a 2-0 win over Wellington. Hinckley AFC went goal crazy in the JW Hunt cup, beating Continental Star reserves 6-1. In the Derbyshire Senior Cup both Long Eaton United and Heanor Town progressed to the next round beating Holbrook St Michaels and Belper United
respectively.
Reserve Division
Leaders Coleshill Town suffered their second consecutive defeat as they were beaten 3-2 at home by Rocester. Sutton United reached the semi final of the Challenge trophy with a 2-0 win over Continental Star.
Under 21 Divisions
In the South division, Kings Heath Concorde picked up their first points of the season with a 1-0 win at West Midlands Football Academy. In the North, Sutton Coldfield Town went top following a 4-3
win at Tipton Town.
Weekend preview
Premier Division
A full fixture list in the Premier Division and some huge games at both ends of the table. Stand out fixture at the top sees 3rd placed Alvechurch entertain 5th placed Shepshed Dynamo. Church had a poor end to October but have bounced back with some important victories. Dynamo themselves have had a disappointing week failing to score and dropping 5 points in two games. An important game for both. Another huge game features the sides in the bottom two places as 22nd placed Continental Star welcome 21st place Dunkirk to Dales Lane. Continental Star last picked up points on the 26th September while Dunkirk picked up a point in mid October. A win for the home side
would take them above Dunkirk so there is everything to play for. The league leaders Hereford take their 12 game winning run to Bardon Hill in a repeat of the FA Vase fixture which the Bulls won 1-0. 2nd placed Heanor Town slipped up last week and need to get back to winning ways if they are to keep in contact with Hereford. On Saturday they welcome lowly Boldmere St Michaels to the Town
Ground. Sporting Khalsa have 6 games in hand on the leaders and a win at home to Lye Town keeps up the pressure on the sides above them. Highgate United are 4th and are favourites to maintain that position when they entertain Quorn. Coleshill Town have slipped down the table in recent weeks and it won’t be easy at Pack meadow against an ever improving Rocester. Coventry Sphinx are in a dreadful run of results in the league but their FA Vase comeback may be the kick start their season needs. They travel to Stourport Swifts, still smarting from the 6 goal defeat at Hereford in midweek. Walsall Wood have put together some decent results in recent weeks and they welcome Brocton to the ML Safety Stadium, with the visitors desperate for points to move away from the lower reaches of the table. Westfields too find themselves in the bottom half of the table and they welcome inconsistent Loughborough University to Allpay Park.
Division 1
Undoubted match of the day is at Sphinx Drive as leaders Coventry United host 5th placed
Bromsgrove Sporting. With both sides having just a solitary league defeat this season, a win for either would have a major impact on the title race. Leicester Road will be hoping those two cancel each other out as they challenge at the top. They welcome Racing Club Warwick to Leicester Road Stadium, the visitors with one eye on the FA Vase trip to Cleethorpes Town in a week’s time. 6th meet 7th at the TSA Sports Ground as Pilkington XXX host Littleton. After gaining a point in the local
derby at Nuneaton Griff last week, Atherstone Town will want to build on this when they host Hinckley AFC. Hinckley have 4 games in hand on the leaders and will still expect to be in the mix at the end of the season. At the bottom, a much changed Bolehall Swifts can lift themselves up the table with a win over Pelsall Villa. Stafford Town are in danger of dropping to the foot of the table and need to start picking up points if they are to move away from the relegation zone. Visitors Studley are only 8 points ahead of the Reds and a victory would move them to the relative comfort of mid table. Heather St Johns have improved in recent weeks and will hope to continue that improvement when Cadbury Athletic visit St Johns Park. Southam United have lost their last 5
league games and have slipped alarmingly towards the foot of the table. Inconsistent Coventry
Copsewood are the visitors and trying to predict how this game will end is one for Mystic Meg!
Division 2
With a surfeit of cup competition, there is only one game in Division 2 this week and Droitwich Spa, fresh from their 6-0 win over Coton Green, can close the gap to leaders to Chelmsley Town to just 4 points with a win over bottom club Earlswood Town.
Division 3
Game of the day in Division 3 features the bottom two with AFC Solihull hosting Perrywood. Solihull are still to pick up a point in their inaugural Midland Football League season but will see this as the perfect opportunity. Perrywood had an excellent win at Badsey Rangers a few weeks ago and will be hoping for a similar performance. Barton United could go top with a win at home to FC Stratford and will be wanting to bounce back from last week’s shock defeat at Shipston Excelsior. Expect
plenty of goals in the division’s other game when Badsey Rangers entertain Shipston Excelsior.
Les James Challenge Cup
Feckenham are struggling near the foot of Division 2 but they will be favourites to progress when they host Division 3 Coventrians.
Reserve Division
Cadbury Athletic vs Lichfield City
Coventry United vs Coleshill Town
Sutton United vs Solihull Moors
Brocton vs Evesham United
Rocester vs Romulus
Under 21 Divisions
Bromsgrove Sporting vs West Midlands Football Academy (21S)
Gornal Athletic vs Stourport Swifts (21S)
Kings Heath Concorde vs H.O.W. Academy (BOWL)
Sutton Coldfield Town vs Leamington (BOWL)
Basford United vs Bedworth United (BOWL)