League News
Team of the Month for December
Overall – Littleton
Premier Division – Lye Town
Division 2 – Alvis Sporting Club
Division 3 – NKF Burbage
Congratulations to all of the successful sides
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The draw has been made for the Fifth Round of the Buildbase FA Vase. Ties to be played January 28th
1 Cleethorpes Town v Atherton Collieries 2 Southall v Exmouth 3 Bromsgrove Sporting v Bristol Manor Farm or Melksham Town 4 Crowborough Athletic v Coleshill Town 5 Hinckley AFC v Buckland Athletic 6 Newport Pagnell Town v Sunderland RCA 7 Ely City v Sporting Khalsa 8 Team Solent v South Shields or Morpeth Town
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Made in Birmingham TV
Jumpers for Goalposts, the weekly TV programme featuring extensive coverage of the Midland Football League is now on Sky. As of this week, you can catch the programme on Virgin 159, Freeview 7 and Sky 117. You can also catch up via the website http://www.madeinbirmingham.tv. The programme is shown at 7 pm on Thursday and 10 am on Saturday.
Travels of The Press Officer
Saturday 7th January 2017
FA Vase Round 4 (41)
Sporting Khalsa 1 Tring Athletic 0
With 5 MFL sides in the last 32 of the FA Vase, could we see another of our sides grace the final at Wembley? After witnessing Sporting Khalsa’s epic FA Cup tie vs FC United of Manchester last season, here was a realistic chance for Khalsa to make club history and take a step nearer to Wembley. In their way were Spartan South Midlands League Tring Athletic, one of three SSM sides facing MFL teams this round. Khalsa had a great chance to make the perfect start inside the first 3 minutes but Tesfa Robinson struggled to control the ball. Tring were struggling with dead ball situations as Khalsa put them under pressure. In the 10tyh minute, a corner from Jonny Haynes was flicked across the face of goal by David Meese. Tring keeper Jack Hopwood did well to turn away a cross from Craig Bannister which was dropping underneath his crossbar. From another dead ball, a header back into the box from Mike Perks was blasted over by Luke Shearer. Fabrice Kasiama was next to have an attempt for the home side but his shot was deflected for a corner. Tring were looking dangerous on the break but the pressure continued from the home side. Meese was just over with a volley and Hopwood made a fine save from a stinging shot from Bannister. Excellent football from Tring created an opening for Chris Vardy but the final pass went astray. Khalsa appealed in vain for a penalty when a shot from Perks hit the hand of a Tring defender. Tring went close in the 37th minute when a low cross from Lee Stubbs was inches away from being turned in by Vardy. A cross from Luke Dunstan was turned over the bar by Tom Turner when a goal looked likely. From the resulting corner, Turner made a wonderful point-blank save from Dunstan’s close range volley. Khalsa went straight down the other end but Perks was off target with his effort.
Early in the second half, an excellent run down the right from Tommy Thelves saw his cross overhit and the chance was gone. Robinson went close for Khalsa, seeing his header skim off a defender for a corner. A free-kick from Chris Stapleton was comfortably handled by Turner. Tring had an excellent chance in the 74th minute when Stubbs beat the offside trap down the right however his finish was poor and cleared the bar. Two minutes later, Shearer wriggled into the Tring area and was brought down by a clumsy challenge. The referee pointed to the spot, and after what seemed like an age, Meese stepped up and converted the spot-kick to give Khalsa the lead. It could have been two a couple of minutes later, when Brad Lawley met Haynes’ free-kick with a fine header but Hopwood made a comfortable save. Tring had a chance four minutes from time but Dave O’Connor’s header dropped over the bar. Two minutes into stoppage time, frustrations boiled over when O’Connor was sent off for a reckless challenge on Mensah Kinch, the ensuing brawl unseemly and unnecessary in such a well-contested game. After six minutes of time added on, the referee blew to send Khalsa into the last 16.
A deserved win for Khalsa in a very tight game against a good Tring side.
Tuesday 10th January 2017
Premier Division (42)
Brocton 1 Westfields 2
Bottom of the table Brocton faced their third game in succession against the top three and with a home win over second placed Lye Town, they were expected to give stern opposition to 3rd placed Westfields who, after a disappointing holiday period, had beaten St Andrews at the weekend. The Silkmore Lane pitch was in superb condition despite the rain that had fallen in Stafford the previous day. The first opening of the evening came from Brocton when Dave Berks’ low cross went underneath the foot of Phil Glover but there was no forward on hand to capitalise. Chris Ham forced a decent save from Aiden Stone after jinking past a couple of Brocton defenders. The game was pretty even with neither side creating a clear cut opening. An excellent cross from Ben Miller was headed behind by Brocton defender Harry Flowers under some pressure at the far post. In the 22nd minute, Ham had a great opportunity for Westfields but he completely missed his kick after being teed up by Sam Rawlings. Within a minute, Ham made amends. A mistake by Kenny Devoir gave Westfields possession. Ham picked his spot and curled a superb shot past Stone from 25 yards. Dave Ablewhite tested Kieron Blackburn from close range with the Westfields keeper parrying the shot. Miller beat Devoir down the left but his shot was comfortably saved by Stone. There was a moment of controversy in the 37th minute when Sirdic Grant ran through the Brocton defence to be pulled back by Craig Holland. Unbelievably, the referee showed Holland a red card on the basis that he was the last man but there appeared to be covering defenders. With Brocton having to re-organise, a free-kick from Craig Jones was missed by Richard Greaves. 4 minutes before the break, Brocton were given a lifeline when skipper Dan Lomas was bundled over in the area by Nathan Summers. The referee pointed to the spot after consulting his linesman and Dave Ablewhite clinically despatched the penalty.
With the home side down to ten men, a backs to the wall effort was anticipated as the Badgers tried to hang on to a point. Jones was off target with a shot just after the interval and Rawlings was on target but Stone made a comfortable save. In the 50th minute, an excellent cross from Ham picked out Greaves but, off balance, he put his shot wide. Miller forced a fine save from Stone as Brocton were being pushed further and further back. Grant was becoming more of a factor as the half progressed and following a typical surging run, his effort was wide of the mark. In the 65th minute, a cross from Rawlings was headed over by Greaves. Three minutes later, Westfields went closer still as Miller’s cross was headed onto the outside of the post by Jones. Westfields continued to pile on the pressure and a one-two between Kane Kahaki and Greaves saw the leading scorer sidefoot towards the corner but Stone pulled off an excellent save. A cross from Grant was headed wide by Ham but the visitors regained the lead with 7 minutes remaining. A ball in from the left by Rawlings saw the bounce deceive Gary Fife and Greaves was on hand to steer the ball home. Deep into stoppage time, Ham beat 3 defenders and was celebrating a goal but Stone pulled off a remarkable save to deny Westfields.
An excellent game of football with very little to choose between the two sides until the red card. From that point on, Westfields remained patient and finally got the breakthrough to close the gap on 2nd placed Lye Town.
Review
FA Vase
Ely City 3 Shepshed Dynamo 0
Two goals late in the first half gave Eastern Counties league Ely City the advantage and a third goal in the last fifteen minutes confirmed their passage into Round 5.
Gorleston 0 Coleshill Town 3
Coleshill made the long journey to the Norfolk coast to face unbeaten Gorleston but it was the Premier Division side that prevailed win an excellent 3-0 victory. Dean Rathbone gave the Colemen the lead in the 37th minute and two second-half goals from Jordan Nadat sees Coleshill into the last 16.
Hinckley AFC 5 Berkhamsted 0
A wonderful victory for Division 1 Hinckley over their higher ranked visitors from the Spartans South Midlands League. A goal in the 2nd minute from Lee Butler started the goal-fest and a double from Luke Richards saw Hinckley three goals to the good inside the first 10 minutes. A goal just after half-time from Javia Roberts ensured there would be no comeback and Ryan Seal capped off the scoring on the hour mark.
Sporting Khalsa 1 Tring Athletic 0
A very tight encounter at The Aspray Arena went the wy of Sporting Khalsa over their visitors from the Spartans South Midlands League. The better chances had fallen to Khalsa but they were indebted to Tom Turner for two fine saves before the interval. The all important goals came 12 minutes from time when Luke Shearer was bundled over in the area and leading scorer David Meese converted the penalty. Tring were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time as things threatened to boil over but a deserved victory for the Premier Division outfit.
Sun Sports 0 Bromsgrove Sporting 4
Unbeaten Division 1 leaders Bromsgrove Sporting travelled to Watford to face Spartan South Midlands League Sun Sports and it was the lower ranked team that dominated the game. The Rouslers took the lead in the 6th minute through Reece Hewitt and that’s how it remained until half-time. Three goals in a thirteen minute period from Jason Cowley, Ahmed Ali and Hewitt again confirmed victory for Bromsgrove who march on to Round 5.
Premier Division
Leaders Alvechurch maintained their 4 point lead at the top of the table following a 2-0 win at home to Brocton. 2nd placed Lye Town kept up the pressure with a 2-0 home win over Walsall Wood. Westfields are 3rd following a 3-2 win at Allpay Park over St Andrews with all 5 goals coming in the first half. Richard Greaves adding two more to his tally for Westfields. A goal from Chris Cox gave Coventry United all three points at Highgate United. Heanor Town also won on the road beating Boldmere St Michaels 2-0 at The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground with two goals in the last 20 minutes. There was a similar scoreline at Farley Way as two first half goals gave Long Eaton United all 3 points at Quorn. A double from Callum Woodward helped Coventry Sphinx to a 3-1 win over Shawbury United at Sphinx Drive. Tividale are off the bottom, picking up a point in a goalless draw at AFC Wulfrunians. Stourport Swifts boosted their survival chances with a 2-1 win at Walshes Meadow over Loughborough University.
Alvechurch extended their lead at the top of the table with a 4-1 win at Tividale. Josh March scored twice for Church who pulled away in the second half after being level at the break. Westfields edged a tight game at Brocton with Richard Greaves scoring the winner 7 minutes from time in a 2-1 victory.
| League Table 1 | Alvechurch | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 66 | 21 | 45 | 62 |
| 2 | Lye Town | 25 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 52 | 21 | 31 | 55 |
| 3 | Westfields | 23 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 60 | 34 | 26 | 50 |
| 4 | Coleshill Town | 24 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 59 | 36 | 23 | 45 |
| 5 | Sporting Khalsa | 22 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 46 | 28 | 18 | 40 |
| 6 | Coventry United | 25 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 37 | 29 | 8 | 40 |
| 7 | Heanor Town | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 43 | 36 | 7 | 40 |
| 8 | St Andrews | 26 | 12 | 1 | 13 | 55 | 56 | -1 | 37 |
| 9 | Coventry Sphinx | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 50 | 52 | -2 | 36 |
| 10 | Walsall Wood | 25 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 35 | 41 | -6 | 35 |
| 11 | Loughborough University | 26 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 48 | 43 | 5 | 32 |
| 12 | Quorn | 25 | 9 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 46 | -16 | 31 |
| 13 | Long Eaton United | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 41 | 45 | -4 | 30 |
| 14 | Rocester | 23 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 42 | 47 | -5 | 30 |
| 15 | Highgate United | 24 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 41 | 48 | -7 | 30 |
| 16 | Shepshed Dynamo | 21 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 35 | 33 | 2 | 29 |
| 17 | Shawbury United | 27 | 9 | 1 | 17 | 50 | 66 | -16 | 28 |
| 18 | Stourport Swifts | 24 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 36 | 46 | -10 | 25 |
| 19 | AFC Wulfrunians | 24 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 26 | 47 | -21 | 25 |
| 20 | Boldmere St Michaels | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 31 | 41 | -10 | 21 |
| 21 | Tividale | 25 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 31 | 61 | -30 | 18 |
| 22 | Brocton | 25 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 28 | 65 | -37 | 18 |
Division 1
With a shortened programme due to the FA Vase, Atherstone Town took the opportunity to move into 2nd, closing the gap at the top to just one point. The Adders beat Heath Hayes 4-3 at The Coppice in a wonderful advert for Midland League football. Alex Naughton scored twice for Atherstone to take his tally for the season to 34. Racing Club Warwick are up to 4th following a 3-1 win at Coventry Copsewood, Jamie Smith scoring twice. Lichfield City missed the chance to close the gap, a Luke Lewis goal in the final minute for Uttoxeter Town making the game all square at 1-1. At the bottom, Studley picked up a much needed 3 points beating Littleton 4-3 at The Beehive, Daniel Ludlow scoring twice. They remain 2nd bottom as Stafford Town also picked up 3 points, Ryan Pace with the only goal at home to Pelsall Villa. Pershore Town are just two points above the drop zone after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Cadbury Athletic, two goals for Odane Barnes, who are up to 7th. Two goals from substitute Luke Tyler ensured victory for Bolehall Swifts at home to Chelmsley Town, 4-2 the final score.
Division 2
| Alvis Sporting Club extended their unbeaten run and their lead at the top of the table with a 3-0 win at Leamington Hibernian. Knowle are up to 4th place after a fine 2-0 win at home to Redditch Borough who drop to 6th. Sutton United are 5th after edging out Smithswood Firs coming from behind to win 3-2. Jack Brimmell was the hero for Feckenham, scoring 4 times in a 6-1 win over Bloxwich Town. Continental Star remain 5 points adrift losing 3-0 to Earlswood Town at The Hub. |
Division 3
Montpellier closed the gap at the top to 7 points following a 5-2 win at Inkberrow. Thomas Clewes scored twice for the hosts while Harry Reece bagged a brace for The Pellers. Northfield Town are just 3 points further back and they improved their goal difference no end after a 7-0 win at Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Dan Lawrence and Paddy Behan both scored twice for Northfield. Two goals from Nicholas Shurmer helped 4th place Shipston Excelsior to a 4-0 win at home to Barton United. Moors Academy are still in touch and have games in hand as they beat Enville Athletic 4-2 at Hall Drive. FC Stratford have hit some decent goal scoring form as they beat Coventrians 5-3 at Knights Lane. At the bottom, AFC Solihull are off the foot of the table for the first time since August following a 3-2 win at Castle Vale Town who now take over bottom spot.
President’s Cup
There were two quarter finals of the Presidents Cup. Barnt Green Spartak made it through to the semi-final after a penalty shoot-out win over Droitwich Spa. The sides finished all square at 3-3 after 90 minutes with Nick Seabourne scoring twice for Droitwich and Johaine Thompson scoring twice for Barnt Green. Into the shoot-out, it was the visitors who went through winning 4-2 from the spot. They are joined in the semis by Coton Green who had an emphatic 5-0 win at Hampton with Andrew Millan and Dan Tymon scoring twice.
Other Cups
Paget Rangers made progress in the Smedley Crooke memorial Charity Cup with an impressive 5-0 win at Fairfield Villa. Ross Dempster scored twice for Paget and Mark Bellingham scored his 50th goal for the club. Coton Green were knocked out of the competition by Bilston Town Community. After drawing 2-2 at full-time, Bilston went through 3-2 on penalties.
NKF Burbage are through to the next round of the Leicestershire Intermediate Cup following a 4-1 win at Lutterworth Athletic reserves.
Walsall Wood were knocked out of the Staffordshire Senior Cup by Wolverhampton Sporting Community, 2-0 the final score at Oak Park.
Two goals from Craig Bannister gave Sporting Khalsa victory in the JW Hunt Cup over Pelsall Villa at The Aspray Arena. Pelsall took the lead early on but Bannister’s second deep into time added on sealed the victory.
Stourport Swifts needed penalties to beat Pegasus Juniors in the Worcester Royal Infirmary Cup. Two goals from Tom Boyle had given Pegasus a 2-1 lead but Swifts came back to draw 2-2 and win 4-3 on penalties.
| Reserves CHALLENGE TROPHY ROUND 1, Group “B” | ||||
| Group “B” | ||||
| CADBURY ATHLETIC | 2 | v | 0 | ROMULUS |
| RESERVE DIVISION | ||||
| BROCTON | 5 | v | 5 | LICHFIELD CITY |
| COTON GREEN | 1 | v | 3 | TIPTON TOWN |
| WALSALL WOOD | 3 | v | 3 | ROCESTER |
| DERBYSHIRE DIVISIONAL CUP (SOUTH) ROUND 3 REPLAY | ||||
| MICKLEOVER SPORTS RES | 1 | v | 4 | GRESLEY RES. |
| Under 21 CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1 | ||||
| Group “B” | ||||
| BROCTON | 2 | v | 2 | TAMWORTH |
| Group “C” | ||||
| BROMSGROVE SPORTING | 0 | v | 3 | H O W ACADEMY |
| UNDER 21 DIVISION NORTH | ||||
| AYLESTONE PARK | 7 | v | 0 | LEEK TOWN |
| SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN | 2 | v | 1 | COLESHILL TOWN |
| UNDER 21 DIVISION SOUTH | ||||
| AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS | 2 | v | 2 | KINGS HEATH CONCORDE |
| BEDWORTH UNITED | 5 | v | 0 | HIGHGATE UNITED |
| DROITWICH SPA G & B | 3 | v | 5 | KETTERING TOWN |
Premier Division
Shay Brennan St Andrews 27
Josh March Alvechurch 27
Nathan Hodge Shawbury United 25
Richard Greaves Westfields 25
David Meese Sporting Khalsa 21
Jack Till Lye Town 18
Craig Jones Westfields 18
Kieran Debrouwer Heanor Town 17
Andrew Bridge Loughborough University 16
Marco Adaggio Highgate United 15
Lei Brown Highgate United 14
Ben Billingham Lye Town 14
Elliot Putman St Andrews 13
Dan Polan Westfields 12
Nathan Dale Quorn 12
Drew Aiton Walsall Wood 12
McCauley Manning Highgate United 12
Callum Riddell Rocester 12
Dean Rathbone Coleshill Town 12
Charles Knowles Shawbury United 11
Sam Hollis St Andrews 11
Kevin Hemagou Long Eaton United 11
Reece Shilvock Stourport Swifts, Alvechurch 11
Elliott Reeves Heanor Town 11
Jordan Nadat Alvechurch, Coleshill Town 11
Division 1
Ryan Seal Hinckley AFC 35
Alex Naughton Atherstone Town 34
Connoll Farrell Studley, Coventry Copsewood 20
Wade Malley Racing Club Warwick 19
Kyle Turner Atherstone Town, Bolehall Swifts 18
Matthew Stenson Leicester Road 17
Paul Sullivan Hinckley AFC 16
Jason Cowley Bromsgrove Sporting 16
Luke Lewis Uttoxeter Town 16
Gareth Evans Pershore Town, Studley 16
Matt Brennan Nuneaton Griff 15
Tom Bates Nuneaton Griff 15
Daniel Carter Littleton 15
Jamie Smith Racing Club Warwick 15
Joe Obi Bolehall Swifts 14
Joel Ambalu Heather St Johns 14
Ben Lund Lichfield City 14
Sam Agar Hinckley AFC 13
Sean Brain Bromsgrove Sporting, Littleton 13
Jamie Clarke Pershore Town 12
Darryl Thomas Leicester Road 12
David Akinuli Coventry Copsewood 12
Jordan Francis Bolehall Swifts 11
Jake Holt Leicester Road 11
Joe Hartshorne Heath Hayes 11
Chris Lloyd Bromsgrove Sporting 11
Daniel Holloway Littleton 11
Gary Turner Chelmsley Town 10
Division 2
Daniel Carter Paget Rangers 27
Thomas Craine Knowle 18
Connor Collins Fairfield Villa 18
Nick Seabourne Droitwich Spa 16
Jak Albutt Redditch Borough 15
Mark Bellingham Paget Rangers 14
Andrew Millan Coton Green 14
Dildale Linton Alvis Sporting Club 13
Pedro Douglas Continental Star 12
James Lemon Droitwich Spa 12
Liam Fullerton Redditch Borough 11
Dan Pidgeon Alvis Sporting Club 11
Joseph Wright Leamington Hibernian 10
George Ford Sutton United 10
Martin Crawford Smithswood Firs 10
Benet Parchment Barnt Green Spartak 10
Tyron Smith Smithswood Firs 10
Charlie Cook Alvis Sporting Club 10
Ross Dempster Paget Rangers 10
Sam Hulme Smithswood Firs 9
Jack Brimmell Feckenham 9
Joshua Sherington Coton Green 8
Division 3
Stuart Hendrie Montpellier 25
Daniel Priest Northfield Town 17
Jay Tilbury FC Stratford 14
Dale Wigmore Coventrians 13
Montel Okoro Moors Academy 12
Tom Smith NKF Burbage 11
Peter Martin Barton United 11
Dan Lawrence Northfield Town 11
Jess Adcock NKF Burbage 11
Alex Coultas NKF Burbage 10
Lewis Fathers Shipston Excelsior 9
Charlie Adcock NKF Burbage 9
Freddy Murphy FC Stratford 9
Jake Harris Shipston Excelsior 8
Lee Hendrie Montpellier 8
Nathan Astill NKF Burbage 7
Lewis Chester Coventrians 7
Callum Coyle Moors Academy 7
Lewis Jones Northfield Town 7
Matthew Layton Alcester Town 7
Thomas Clewes Inkberrow 7
Liam Connolly Coventrians 7
Romario Martin Moors Academy 7
Paddy Behan Northfield Town 7
Daniel Moore Castle Vale Town 7
Preview
Premier Division
Leaders Alvechurch face a tough away trip to The Town Ground to tackle 7th placed Heanor Town. Heanor’s last home league defeat was in August at the hands of Coleshill Town so this could be a difficult afternoon for Church. 2nd placed Lye Town welcome Shepshed Dynamo to Stourbridge Road with the visitors hoping to bounce back from their FA Vase exit last week. Westfields travel to Highgate United who have lost 3 of their last 4 including the last two at The Coppice. Coleshill Town travel to Hillsfield to face Rocester on the back of their stunning FA vase victory at Gorleston. Another side dreaming of Vase glory are Sporting Khalsa and they return to league action with a tasty looking encounter at Sphinx Drive against 6th placed Coventry United. Two of the bottom four meet at The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground with Boldmere St Michaels hosting AFC Wulfrunians in a real relegation six-pointer. Brocton welcome Coventry Sphinx to Silkmore Lane where a win for the home side can claw them ever closer to the pack. Tividale travel to Walsall Wood needing a victory to put pressure on the sides above them. Seven points from their last games has lifted Stourport Swifts away from the bottom three while visitors Long Eaton United come into the game on the back of a good away win at Quorn. Quorn have suffered 3 straight defeats and they welcome free-scoring Shawbury United to Farley Way. Four defeats in their last 5 games has seen St Andrews slip to 8th place and they have the short journey to mid-table Loughborough University. When the two sides met in December, St Andrews won by the odd goal in 7 so expect more of the same.
Division 1
Game of the day sees the two FA Vase heroes meet at St Johns Park. League leaders Bromsgrove Sporting take their unbeaten record to face the Division’s leading scorers Hinckley AFC with Hinckley just 5 points behind with a game in hand. A big crowd is anticipated for what should be a fantastic matchup. Should be Bromsgrove fail to win, Atherstone Town will take over top spot if they win at bottom club Southam United. The Saints have conceded 94 league goals already this season and it would not be unexpected to see them bring up the century this weekend. 3rd placed Leicester Road entertain Bolehall Swifts hoping to close the gap on Bromsgrove before travelling to The Victoria Ground next weekend. At the bottom, Studley can climb out of the relegation zone with a win at home to Uttoxeter Town. Likewise, Stafford Town can climb the table if they can pick up all 3 points at Pack Meadow against Chelmsley Town. Pelsall Villa host Heather St Johns a repeat of the fixture in early December which went the way of Heather by 3 goals to nil. 6 consecutive league defeat has seen Pershore Town slide down the table to the position where they are just two points above the relegation zone. They travel to The Pingles Stadium to face mid-table Nuneaton Griff. A run of 9 games unbeaten has seen Cadbury Athletic rise to 7th in the table and they welcome 6th placed Lichfield City to the TSA. Coventry Copsewood welcome Heath Hayes to Allard Way with both sides looking for the three points to move them towards the top half of the table.
Division 2
Game of the day sees unbeaten leaders Alvis Sporting Club host Paget Rangers who have four games in hand. When the two sides met in the Les James Challenge Cup, Paget came out on top winning 5-3 and this should be a cracker. 3rd meets 4th at King Georges Playing Fields with Droitwich Spa welcoming in-form Knowle. Knowle won the reverse fixture 2-0 so there could be a little bit of revenge in the air too. 2nd placed Fairfield Villa travel to Smithswood Firs having won 6 of their last 7 league games. Smithswood have a good home record including a recent victory over Droitwich Spa so expect this one to be close. The bottom two meet at Bishop Tachbrook with Leamington Hibernian holding a 5-point lead over visitors Continental Star. Coton Green and Feckenham scored 11 goals between them last week and they meet at New Mill Lane. Bloxwich Town suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Feckenham last week and they will want to bounce back as they host Barnt Green Spartak at The Old Red Lion. Sutton United have picked up 7 points from their last 9 and they travel to Earlswood Town with a chance to move into the top 4 with a win.
Division 3
Leaders NKF Burbage travel to Knights Lane to face an FC Stratford side in form and scoring goals. When the two sides met in November the leaders came out on top with a 3-2 win. This could be full of goals. 2nd placed Montpellier will be hoping to take advantage of any loss of points from the leaders as they welcome Alcester Town to Badsey. 11 goals in two league games in 2017 has seen Northfield Town push on in 3rd place. This week they entertain Inkberrow, Northfield winning the reverse fixture 2-1. AFC Solihull climbed off the bottom of the table last week and they travel to Coventrians who are two places and three points ahead of them. Castle Vale Town dropped to the bottom last week but they have a chance to bounce back this week when 12th placed Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons are the visitors to The Vale Stadium. 4th placed Shipston Excelsior travel to Hall Drive to face Enville Athletic. When the two sides met in November it ended in a 1-1 draw. Moors Academy have picked up 13 points from their last 15 and they travel to Barton United who they have beaten twice this season in cup competitions.
| Reserves RESERVE DIVISION | |||||
| CADBURY ATHLETIC | v | ROMULUS | 2.00 | ||
| CONTINENTAL STAR | v | WALSALL WOOD | 2.00 | ||
| LICHFIELD CITY | v | BROCTON | |||
| TIPTON TOWN | v | COTON GREEN | 2.00 | ||
| Under 21 CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1 | |||
| Group “A” | |||
| ALVECHURCH | v | SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN | 10.30 |
| KETTERING TOWN | v | AYLESTONE PARK | 10.30 |
| Group “B” | |||
| HEATH HAYES | v | TAMWORTH | 10.30 |
| Group “C” | |||
| H O W ACADEMY | v | AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS | 10.30 |
| UNDER 21 DIVISION NORTH | |||
| LEEK TOWN | v | BROCTON | 10.30 |
| Open: COLESHILL TOWN | |||
| UNDER 21 DIVISION SOUTH | |||
| COVENTRY UNITED | v | BEDWORTH UNITED | 10.30 |
| DROITWICH SPA G & B | v | BROMSGROVE SPORTING | 10.30 |
| KINGS HEATH CONCORDE | v | HIGHGATE UNITED | 10.30 |
| Other Cups DERBYSHIRE DIVISIONAL CUP (SOUTH) SEMI FINAL | ||
| GRESLEY RES. | v | MELBOURNE DYNAMO |
