Total Motion
Midland Football League
Newsletter
15th August 2018
League News
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Ties to take place the weekend of August 25th
STOURPORT SWIFTS vs SPORTING KHALSA
MALVERN TOWN VS RACING CLUB WARWICK
BEDWORTH UNITED VS ATHERSTONE TOWN
ROMULUS vs NEWCASTLE TOWN
WALSALL WOOD vs WHITCHURCH ALPORT
HIGHGATE UNITED vs LEICESTER ROAD
LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY vs CLEETHORPES TOWN
GRIMSBY BOROUGH vs LONG EATON UNITED
QUORN vs SOUTH NORMANTON ATHLETIC
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Review
FA Cup
Racing Club Warwick had the result of the round beating Step 4 Coleshill Town 4-3 at Townsend Meadow. The Racers came from 2-0 down with Trea Bertie scoring twice. Mitch Piggon scored a hat-trick as Romulus beat Westfields 6-1 at Castle Vale Stadium in another standout result. Steve Hart was another hat-trick man as Quorn beat Belper United 6-1 at Farley Way. Leicester Road travelled to Shropshire and made progress with a 1-0 win at Ellesmere Rangers thanks to a last-minute winner from Matt Langham. A goal 13 minutes from time saw Highgate United overcome fellow Premier Division side AFC Wulfrunians at The Coppice. Long Eaton United had to come from behind at Grange Park to beat St Andrews 2-1. South Normanton Athletic won 1-0 at Sleaford Town thanks to an injury time winner from John King. Sporting Khalsa entertained Black Country rivals Tividale and edged through 2-1, Jay Holdcroft with the winner. Stourport Swifts welcomed Shawbury United to Walshes Meadow and they are into the preliminary round with a 2-1 win. Joe Boachie scored twice as Loughborough University won 2-1 at Teversal. Coventry Sphinx bowed out of the competition as Whitchurch Alport won 1-0 at Sphinx Drive. Wolverhampton Sporting Community swapped places with Haughmond in the summer and it was Haughmond that came out on top at The Sports Village, 2-0 the final score. Heather St Johns were beaten 6-3 at St johns Park by Kimberley Miners Welfare. The visitors raced into a 4 goal lead inside 24 minutes and there was no way back for Heather despite a late double from Simeon Cobourne. Dunkirk took an early lead at Rainworth Miners Welfare, but it was the home side that went through with a 2-1 win. Rocester took on Wednesfield at Amos Lane and it was the home side that progressed winning 2-1 with the winner coming in the last minute. A number of games go to replays. Atherstone Town took a 4th minute lead at home to Step5 Hanley Town but the visitors equalised just after the hour mark. Boldmere St Michaels were twice behind at home to Malvern Town but Rikardo Reid sent the game to a replay. Josh Hunt scored both for Malvern. Hinckley AFC and Anstey Nomads meet again on Tuesday after Corey Armani equalised for the visitors at the Welfare Ground. Paul Sullivan equalised in the 6th minute of injury time for Walsall Wood at home to Worcester City after Dave Reynolds had given Worcester the lead from the penalty spot. There was a wonderful performance from 10 man Shepshed Dynamo who three times came from behind to draw 3-3 at Sandy Lane.
Coventry United were knocked out of the competition by local rivals Rugby Town as two Danico Johnson goals gave Valley a 2-1 win.
Atherstone Town travelled to Step 5 Hanley Town and recorded a superb 4-1 win with Liam Kirton scoring twice. Boldmere St Michaels held a 2-0 lead at Malvern Town but it was the Step 6 side that go through, 3-2 the final score. Worcester City and Walsall Wood couldn’t be separated after 210 minutes of football. The replay finished 1-1 at The Victoria Ground with both goals in extra-time. The penalty shoot-out was equally as dramatic with Walsall Wood winning 3-2. Shepshed Dynamo and Worksop Town served up 9 more goals after a 6 goal thriller on Saturday. The game went to extra time and it was Worksop that came out on top, winning 5-4 with Mark Simpson scoring a brace in the second period of extra-time). Hinckley AFC were knocked out of the competition by a goal 3 minutes from the end of extra-time by Ashley Day which gave Anstey Nomads a 4-3 victory. Louis Hamilton had earlier scored twice for Hinckley.
Premier Division
Lye Town took over at the top of the table following a 3-2 win at previously unbeaten Ilkeston Town. Malachi Lavelle-Moore scored twice for the Robins but Jack Till with two and Luke Carter gave The Flyers all 3 points.
AFC Wulfrunians are top of the Premier Division following a remarkable 4-3 win at local rivals Wolverhampton Sporting Community. Sporting twice held the lead, but it was Joe Daley that got the all-important winner minutes before the end. Ilkeston Town are up to 2nd as they beat Long Eaton United 2-0 at The New Manor Ground. Previous leaders Lye Town were beaten 1-0 at Coventry Sphinx, Charlie Faulkner’s goal lifting Sphinx to 3rd place. Two goals from Cameron Moore helped Loughborough University to a 3-1 win over South Normanton Athletic at Holywell. Sporting Khalsa and Stourport Swifts couldn’t find a goal between them at The Aspray Arena.
Highgate United are yet to concede a goal as second half goals from Lei Brown and Kurtis Revan gave them a 2-0 win over Westfields at The Coppice.
Promoted NKF Burbage made it three wins out of three with a 5-1 win at Heath Hayes. The home side took the lead in the 17th minute but 4 goals in the last 20 minutes ensured Burbage would go top. Jake Brown scored twice for Burbage. Uttoxeter Town moved up to 4th with a 3-1 win over Staffordshire rivals Brocton at Oldfields. Paget Rangers made it two wins out of three thanks to a Ryan Walker goal at Chelmsley Town. Lichfield City won 3-1 at Littleton despite being reduced to 10 men. Cadbury Athletic are unbeaten after three, Odane Barnes scoring in their 1-1 draw with Stapenhill. The game between Studley and Coventry Copsewood was abandoned in the second half.
Division 2
Redditch Borough sit on top of the table after the opening games following a 4-0 win over Moors Academy at The Mettis. Jak Albutt and Khurum Iqbal both scoring twice for Redditch. Danny Holliday scored a hat-trick as Earlswood Town beat Lane Head 5-3 with Craig Ball scoring all three for the visitors. Division 3 champions GNP Sports announced their arrival in Division 2 with a 3-1 win at Coton Green, Stuart Hendrie with all 3 for GNP. Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons beat fellow promoted side FC Stratford 3-0, Reece Gibson scoring twice. Two goals from Connor Collins earned Fairfield Villa all three points at home to Knowle. Feckenham travelled to Rene Road and beat relegated Bolehall Swifts 2-1. Barnt Green Spartak came from 2-0 down with 20 minutes left at Hampton to earn a 2-2 draw.
Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons made it two wins out of two following promotion with a 2-0 victory at Coton Green. Fairfield Villa are also on 6 points following a remarkable 4-3 win at Barnt Green Spartak, all the goals in the first half with Natty Hare scoring twice for BGS. Moors Academy bounced back from Saturday’s defeat with a 6-1 win over Lane Head at The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. Northfield Town began their season with a fine 2-0 win over Earlswood Town. Knowle beat relegated Bolehall Swifts 2-1 at Rene Road. The game between FC Stratford and Feckenham was abandoned at half-time due to a floodlight failure.
Hampton made it four points from their opening two fixtures with a 3-1 win over Coventry Alvis.
Leading Scorers
Premier Division
Steve Hart Quorn 5
Mitch Piggon Romulus 5
Joe Boachie Loughborough University 4
Dominic Brennan Quorn 3
Lei Brown Highgate United 3
Malachi Lavelle-Moore Ilkeston Town 3
Paul Sullivan Walsall Wood 3
Jack Till Lye Town 3
Ruben Wiggins-Thomas Long Eaton United 3
Mark Danks Stourport Swifts 2
Curvin Ellis Coventry United 2
Cameron Moore Loughborough University 2
Andy Nicol Stourport Swifts 2
Jack Pearlman Lye Town 2
Elliott Reeves Ilkeston Town 2
Rikardo Reid Boldmere St Michaels 2
Dave Reynolds Worcester City 2
Dan Scragg Wolverhampton SC 2
Ryan Shaw Boldmere St Michaels 2
Jake Webb AFC Wulfrunians 2
Karl Whymark Shepshed Dynamo 2
Division 1
Simeon Cobourne Heather St Johns 6
Trea Bertie Racing Club Warwick 5
Ben Mackey Racing Club Warwick 5
John Atherton Uttoxeter Town 4
Odane Barnes Cadbury Athletic 3
Max Black Lichfield City 3
Liam Kirton Atherstone Town 3
Alex Naughton Atherstone Town 3
Grant Ryan Hinckley AFC 3
Liam Storer NKF Burbage 3
Mitch Thomson Atherstone Town 3
Jess Adcock NKF Burbage 2
Sam Belcher Hinckley AFC 2
Jake Brown NKF Burbage 2
Danny Douglas Heather St Johns 2
Jonathan Gould Atherstone Town 2
Louis Hamilton Hinckley AFC 2
Jack Jeffery Rocester 2
Adam Keeley Chelmsley Town 2
Dominic Oliver Chelmsley Town 2
Pele Orton NKF Burbage 2
Tom Smith NKF Burbage 2
Eddie Wilson Heather St Johns 2
Michael Wright Heather St Johns 2
Division 2
Craig Ball Lane Head 3
Reece Gibson Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons 3
Stuart Hendrie GNP Sports 3
Danny Holliday Earlswood Town 3
Jak Albutt Redditch Borough 2
Connor Collins Fairfield Villa 2
Nathaniel Hare Barnt Green Spartak 2
Khurum Iqbal Redditch Borough 2
Preview
Premier Division
| 1st meets 4th at the CKW Stadium with leaders AFC Wulfrunians defending their 100% record against Coventry Sphinx. It is the battle of the two promoted sides at Oak Park with Walsall Wood, last season’s Division 1 champions, at home to runners-up Ilkeston Town. The Robins had the better of the fixtures last season and will be hoping to build on their excellent start. Coventry United have a 100% record in the league while hosts Worcester City have lost their opening two fixtures. With both sides knocked out of the FA Cup, they will be keen to make progress in the league. Lye Town have started well this season and they travel to Wolverhampton Sporting Community who were involved in a 7 goal thriller in midweek when they were on the receiving end of a home defeat at the hands of the league leaders. South Normanton Athletic are without a point after three games and they travel to Stourport Swifts who are without a win in three. Shepshed Dynamo are also without a point and they take the long journey to face Westfields who started with two wins but had a heavy defeat in the cup last weekend. Quorn had an emphatic cup win last weekend and with goals flowing at Farey Way it should be a cracker against Boldmere St Michaels. Sporting Khalsa have started the season slowly with two draws from their opening three games. They welcome Loughborough University to the Aspray Arena with the scholars winning their last two. Romulus recorded one of the best wins of last weekend in the FA Cup, 6-1 over Westfields and they travel to Nottingham to face Dunkirk who have one point from their opening fixtures. Pre-season favourites Highgate United have been tight at the back, failing to concede in their opening four fixtures. They travel to Long Eaton United who had a good win in the FA Cup last weekend. MONDAY 20th AUGUST 2018 | |||||
| Ilkeston Town | v | Coventry United | |||
| Romulus | v | Stourport Swifts | |||
| TUESDAY 21st AUGUST 2018 | |||||
| A F C Wulfrunians | v | Westfields | |||
| Boldmere St Michaels | v | Long Eaton United | 7.30 | ||
| Coventry Sphinx | v | Worcester City | |||
| Dunkirk | v | Highgate United | |||
| South Normanton Athletic | v | Lye Town | |||
| Sporting Khalsa | v | Wolverhampton S C | |||
| Walsall Wood | v | Loughborough University | |||
| WEDNESDAY 22nd AUGUST 2018 | |||||
| Quorn | v | Shepshed Dynamo | |||
Division 1
| Promoted NKF Burbage have started the season with three straight wins and will be looking to make it 4 when they entertain Studley. There have been 23 goals in the three games featuring Heather St John’s and they travel to Littleton who are pointless after two games. Two of the promotion favourites go head to head in a local derby with Leicester Road hosting Atherstone Town, the Adders with two wins out of two. Uttoxeter Town have started the season well and they welcome Chelmsley Town to Oldfields. 6th meets 5th at The McDonalds’s Community Stadium with Lichfield City hosting Paget Rangers. Rocester are without a point from their opening two games and they welcome Cadbury Athletic to Hillsfield with the Chocolatemen unbeaten in three. Two sides that have suffered crushing defeats with Stapenhill welcoming Nuneaton Griff to Edge Hill. Racing Club Warwick had a stunning FA Cup win last weekend and they travel to Heath Hayes who have drawn two out of three. Brocton welcome Coventry Copsewood to Silkmore Lane. The Badgers have won one of their opening three games while Copsewood have only completed one fixture. MONDAY 20th AUGUST 2018 | ||
| Chelmsley Town | v | Rocester |
| TUESDAY 21st AUGUST 2018 | ||
| Brocton | v | Paget Rangers |
| Leicester Road | v | Uttoxeter Town |
| Lichfield City | v | NKF Burbage |
| Racing Club Warwick | v | Cadbury Athletic |
| Stapenhill | v | Heather St. John’s |
| Studley | v | Littleton |
| WEDNESDAY 22nd AUGUST 2018 | ||
| Atherstone Town | v | Coventry Copsewood |
| Nuneaton Griff | v | Hinckley AFC |
Division 2
| Game of the day is undoubtedly at Sphinx Drive as GNP Sports welcome Fairfield Villa to their new home. Both sides are fancied for promotion this season and this is a chance to lay down a marker to the competition. Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons have won their opening two fixtures and they entertain Northfield Town who won their opener in midweek. Redditch Borough started the season with a big win at home to Moors Academy while visitors Lane Head have suffered two heavy defeats. Moors Academy bounced back from their opening day loss with a big win in midweek. They welcome Hampton to The Trevor Brown Memorial Ground with the visitors unbeaten in two. Bolehall Swifts have lost their opening two fixtures following relegation and they travel to Barnt Green Spartak who lost a 7 goal thriller at home to Fairfield Villa in midweek. Two sides without a point meet at Knights Lane with Coton Green the visitors to FC Stratford. Knowle welcome Coventry Alvis to the Robins’ Nest. Knowle have won one. Lost one while Alvis were beaten in midweek in their opening fixture. WEDNESDAY 22nd AUGUST 2018 | |||
| Coventry Alvis | v | Northfield Town | 7.30 |
Division 3
Three new teams join the MFL as Division 3 gets underway
AFC Church are a feeder to the successful Alvechurch side that won promotion from the MFL two seasons ago. Results in pre-season have been encouraging and expect plenty from the youthful side
AFC Solihull were in with a chance of promotion last season as they eventually finished in 6th place. Solihull have beaten higher ranked sides in pre-season and should be challenging again
Alcester Town missed out on promotion on goal difference last season and will start as one of the favourites this time round. Plenty of goals from Daniel Priest will be crucial in the battle for promotion.
Bartestree made a good impression in their first season in the MFL eventually finishing 5th after being in the promotion mix all season. The Tree have had a good summer and with last season’s squad mostly intact, should be in the promotion mix again
Birmingham Tigers finished in a creditable 11th place in their inaugural season in the MFL. Tigers have a talented squad and will, no doubt, unearth a few more gems this season.
Castle Vale Town had a difficult time last season, finishing in 15th place. In Kyle Hudlin, they had a striker that appeared in the leading scorers list throughout the season. More of the same should see Castle Vale move up the table.
Central Ajax begin their 2nd season in the MFL, a mid-table finish last season a healthy start. Results in pre-season have been eye-catching and if they can take this form into the league campaign, it could be a bright season at Ajax park.
Continental Star had a disappointing campaign last time out, but they have a record of producing young footballers that go on to a higher level. Expect Star to be competitive with some exciting young talent.
Coventrians finished in the top half of the table last season and they will be hoping to build on that, this time round. With a full season at their new ground and a string squad, it could be an exciting season at The Colliery Ground.
We welcome Coventry Plumbing to the Midland Football League following their move from the Coventry Alliance. With a string of impressive signings expect Kev Kingham’s side to build on last season’s success.
It’s been all change at Enville Athletic during the summer and following a couple of seasons of struggle, things are looking much brighter at Hall Drive. Enville have made some decent signings which should see them improve on last season
FC Shush have a new home for this season moving to the Glades and with a new identity. Shush have had some good results in pre-season including wins over higher ranked sides. Could be a good year at The Glades.
Inkberrow finished 9th last season with striker Nathan Davies scoring 40 goals. Davies is back and with Ellis Kalach signed from Alcester Town, could prove a strong front line. Expect them to go close
Leamington Hibernian had a season to forget finishing bottom of the pile. Hibs used 60 players last season and they will be looking to rebuild and move up the table.
Shipston Excelsior finished in the bottom half of the table last season and look to have a much stronger squad for this. James Drinkwater led the way last season and he can be relied on for a double figure tally.
| A warm welcome to WLV Sport, the second University side in the MFL. Based at the Walsall Campus of Wolverhampton University. As with all University sides, expect a very fit, technically good side with new faces joining when the University year begins. SATURDAY 18th AUGUST 2018 | ||
| Alcester Town | v | Continental Star |
| Bartestree | v | Enville Athletic |
| Birmingham Tigers | v | Inkberrow |
| Central Ajax | v | Shipston Excelsior |
| Coventrians | v | Castle Vale Town |
| Coventry Plumbing | v | FC Shush |
| WLV Football | v | AFC Church |
| TUESDAY 21st AUGUST 2018 | |||
| Castle Vale Town | v | Leamington Hibernian | 6.00 |
| Coventrians | v | Shipston Excelsior | 6.00 |
| Coventry Plumbing | v | Central Ajax | 6.00 |
| WEDNESDAY 22nd AUGUST 2018 | |||
| AFC Solihull | v | Alcester Town | 6.00 |
| Bartestree | v | WLV Football | 6.30 |
| Continental Star | v | Birmingham Tigers | 6.00 |
| FC Shush | v | Inkberrow | 6.00 |
| Reserve Division SATURDAY 18th AUGUST 2018 | ||
| Gresley | v | Fairfield Villa |
KM Sport 