League News
In relation to the previous message regarding the deduction of a point from Coton Green, the point deduction should have been from their opponents in that particular match, Sutton United. The Division 2 table has been updated to confirm this.
Apologies for any confusion that this may have caused to Coton Green FC.
Westfields will face Leiston, the Ryman Premier League leaders in the 4th and final Qualifying round of the FA Cup. There will be a full preview next week
Travels of the Press Officer
Saturday 1st October
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round (21)
Westfields 4 Walton Casuals 0
Westfields are the last team standing for the MFL in this season’s FA Cup with Ryman Division One Soouth, Walton Casuals the visitors to Allpay Park. The visitors were fast out of the blocks with the pacy Gabriel Odunaike causing problems for the Fields defence. In just the 2nd minute, an excellent block from Phil Glover blocked Odunaike and 3 minutes later the Casuals striker cleared the bar with an effort. Dan Summers was just off target for the visitors but they had the ball in the net in the 9th minute. Summers shot appeared to be heading in but Odunaike made sure from an offside position and the ‘goal’ was ruled out. This seemed to be the spur for Fields and Sidric Grant forced a save from Brannon Daly. In the 16th minute, a lay-off from Richard Greaves fell to the feet of Craig jones and his shot rebounded off the chest of Daly. Aidan Thomas should hvae opened the scoring for Westfields in the 20th minute as he raced through on goal but missed the target. Thomas made amends in the 23rd minute, robbing Phil Stevenson and then crossing for Greaves to tap home. Westfields were very much in the ascendancy and Grant should have done better after good wotk by Jamie Molyneux. Molyneix then curled a shot just over with Daly rooted to the spot. Thomas fired across the face of the goal and Molyneux was again off target following good wotk from Grant. In stoppage time, Kane Kahaki was narrowly over with a fine header.
Westfields doubled their lead two minutes into the second half. From Jones’ corner, Glover’s header rattled the bar and Greaves was on hand to apply the finish. Walton were still in the game and Summers forced a fine one-handed save from Matt Gwynne. In the 63rd minute, Glover was pulled back in the penalty area and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Jones stepped up and planted the kick into the corner. Jordan Cheadle wasted a decent chance for Walton aand Odunaike headed over but these were rare forays forward by the vuisitors. In the 71st minute, Molyneux’s shot was saved by Daly, not cleared by the defender and there was Greaves to tapi it in to claim a hat-trick and Westfields 4th. Westfields continued to drive forweard with Dan Polan and Glover going close. Greaves should have had a 4th in the 78th minute when Grant laid it on a plate but Greaves missed the ball. With three minutes left, Grant spotted Daly off his line and his chip from 30 yards hit the underside of the bar and bounced ouy. Grant forced a save from Daly in stoppage time but it mattered not as Westfields progressed to the 4th qualfying round.
Tuesday October 4th
JW Hunt Cup (22)
Heath Hayes 4 Lye Town 2 (after extra time)
It’s the time of year when various cup competitions get underway. The JW Hunt Cup is a competition stepped in history and with a final at Molineux, it is a cup the sides like to do well in. Premier Division Lye Town were the favourites to overcome host heath Hayes as the match got underway. The first clear chance of the game fell to Jack Till for Lye but his shot was saved by Mark Wiggins. Ryan Burns went close for the home side, curling a shot wide after winning the ball in a challenge. The game struggled to get going with the visitors edging the play without overly threatening. On 27 minutes, a long clearance from keeper Dean Coleman was lobbed over the bar by Till. Lye took the lead in the34th minute with a goal of real simplicity. A left wing cross from Simon Williams was headed home by Till, completely wrong footing Wiggins. Lye doubled their lead three minutes later when a clearance from the Heath Hayes defence cannoned off Ben Jevons and into the net. The home side had a great chance to strike back but Burns made a complete hash of his header and the chance went begging. Lye almost grabbed a third when Till’s header rebounded off the post following a Ben Bellingham corner. Bellingham had a free-kick saved by Wiggins as Lye finished the half in complete command.
The first chance of the second half fell to Lye when Sam Tye robbed Ryan Goodwin, set up Bellingham whose shot was deflected into the side netting. Against the run of play, the home side pulled a goal back in the 61st minute. A cross from Charlie Ware was turned home first time by Burns giving Coleman no chance. Till went close again for Lye, outpacing the Heath Hayes defence but finding Wiggins in good form. Jack Pearlman hit the post for Lye when his cross evaded everyone. The game was now end to end with chances for either side. As tempers frayed, there was a real danger of the game boiling over and it was Lye that were reduced to 10 men with 7 minutes remaining when Alex Dallison was shown a second yellow card. Within a minute, Heath Hayes were level – a cross from the right headed home by Goodwin. Rhys Horton was unlucky for Heath Hayes, volleying just wide while Bellingham saw his last minute shot saved by Wiggins.
Heath Hayes were looking the better side in extra time with Joe Hartshorne prominent. However it was Lye substitute Chris Henry who almost broke the deadlock in the 99th minute. It was Hartshorne that gave Heath Hayes the lead in the 101st minute, his superb shot deceiving Coleman who, perhaps, should have done better. Three minutes later, Heath Hayes sealed the win when Hartshorne again beat the home defence, crossing for Horton to finish superbly at the far post. Try as they might Lye could not get back into it and it was Heath Hayes who progressed to Round 2.
Review
FA Cup
Westfields are into the final qualifying round of the FA Cup after an excellent 4-0 win over Step 4 Walton Casuals at Allpay Park. The scoreline barely does Westfields justice as their fine attacking play routed their Ryman league visitors. Richard Greaves was the goalscoring hero with a hat-trick.
Premier Division
Sporting Khalsa put an end to St Andrews recent run of consecutive wins winning 2-0 at the Aspray Arena thanks to two David Meese penalties. With St Andrews slipping up, Alvechurch jumped into second place with a stunning 5-0 win at Quorn. Two goals from Jack Till gave Lye Town a 2-2 draw away at Shepshed Dynamo. A penalty deep into stoppage time from Dean Rathbone salvaged a point for Coleshill Town in a 2-2 draw at Long Eaton United. Bottom club Tividale remain adrift of the rest following a 5-1 home defeat at the hands of Stourport Swifts. Reece Shilvock scored two penalties and Joe Phillips a double as Swifts move up to 15th. Shawbury United picked up their third win of the season in a thrilling 4-3 defeat of Coventry Sphinx at Wem. Nathan Hodge scored twice for Shawbury who remain in the bottom three. A Karl Ashton double sent Rocester on their way to a 3-2 win over Walsall Wood at Hillsfield. Brocton remain 2nd bottom after they went down to a 4-1 defeat at Sphinx Drive at the hands of Coventry United for whom Josh O’Grady scored twice. Two second half goals gave Highgate United all three points at home to AFC Wulfrunians. Heanor Town and Boldmere St Michaels fought out a 1-1 draw at the Town ground.
Coleshill Town moved into 2nd place with an excellent 2-0 win at Stourport Swifts. Quorn staged a fightback at home to Highgate United. Two goals down at half-time, a double from James Hicks and a goal 6 minutes from time from Callum Thompson gave them all three points. A Charles Knowles hat-trick and a double from Daniel Beddows helped Shawbury United to their best result in the MFL, a 5-1 home win over Long Eaton United.
Division 1
Lichfield City extended their lead to 3 points with a 3-0 win over Littleton at the McDonalds Community Stadium. Bromsgrove Sporting fell behind to an early goal at Pelsall Villa but Nathan Walker with two eased the Rouslers to a 5-1 win and second place. Nuneaton Griff are in 3rd place following a 1-1 draw at Racing Club Warwick. A Sam Agar hat-trick in a 4-1 win moved Hinckley AFC up to 4th with the victory over Bolehall Swifts. Leicester Road are 5th with games in hand following a 6-0 win at Studley with Matty Stenson scoring twice. Heath Hayes also scored 6 on their travels beating Southam United 6-0 with Jo Hartshorne bagging a hat-trick. Jamie Clarke scored twice for Pershore Town as they upset Stafford Town’s debut on their new 3G pitch with a 4-2 win. Joel Ambulu scored the only goal of the game as Heather St Johns beat Atherstone Town at Sheepy Road. Chelmsley Town won the battle of the FA Vase heroes beating Coventry Copsewood 4-2 at Pack Meadow. Cadbury Athletic followed up their FA Vase success with a 4-0 win over Uttoxeter Town at the TSA.
Division 2
A hat-trick from Daniel Carter moved Paget Rangers to joint top of the table following a 3-0 win at Earlswood Town. Liam Fullerton scored all three for Redditch Borough in their 3-0 win at Sutton United, a result which moves Redditch up to 4th place. One point seperates the bottom 6 with Hampton and Continental Star moving themselves up the table with a 2-2 draw, Pedro Douglas scoring twice for Star.
Division 3
A goal from Jess Adcock gave leaders NKF Burbage all three points at Enville Athletic. Montpellier remain in second place after a 4-0 win at FC Stratford, Stuart Hendrie scoring twice. Northfield Town are in third place following a 5-2 win at Coventrians. Moors Academy are level on points with Montpellier and Northfield after a 3-2 win at Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Nathan Hunt scored twice for Barton United as they beat AFC Solihull 2-0. Two goals from Will Beach helped Shipston Excelsior to a 3-2 win at Castle Vale Town. Alcester Town’s recent move up the table was halted with a 3-0 defeat at Inkberrow. FC Stratford remain 8th after beating Alcester Town 2-1 at home in midweek.
Les James Challenge Cup
There was a dramatic game at Fairfield Villa as the hosts came back from 3-1 down to take the game against Alvis Sporting Club into extra-time. The visitors snatched it with a goal from Dean Kimberlin 5 minutes from the end of extra time to go through to the quarter final. Barnt Green Spartak eased through to a second round tie at home to Northfield Town following a 4-1 win over Hampton.
Presidents Cup
Barnt Green Spartak beat Bloxwich Town at The Red Lion ground with a goal from Paul Bonar. James Lemon scored the only goal of the game as Droitwich Spa eased past Feckenham at the Entaco. Coton Green made progress with an excellent 6-2 win over Leamington Hibernian. Knowle also had a convincing win, 4-0 at home to Smithswood Firs with Kyle Jaynes scoring twice.
Other Cups
Holders Sporting Khalsa are safely through to the second round of the JW Hunt Cup following a 3-1 victory over Atherstone Town. There was a shock at The Coppice as 1st Division Heath Hayes knocked Premier Division Lye Town out of the same competition, winning 4-2 after extra-time. In the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup, Pershore Town hit 9 against Tenbury Town. Will Gayton and Gareth Evans both scored hat-tricks for Pershore. Studley made progress at the expense of Southam United in the Birmingham Midweek Floodlit Cup, 1-0 the score.
Alvechurch bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup beaten 3-1 at Lye Meadow by Coventry City Reserves
RESERVE DIVISION
CADBURY ATHLETIC 3 v 3 ROCESTER
STAFFORDSHIRE CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 1
MAYFIELD ADULT 2 v 3 BROCTON RES.
RED STAR ALMA 1 v 12 LICHFIELD CITY RES,
STONE OLD ALLEYNIANS RES. 1 4p3 1 WALSALL WOOD RES.
BIRMINGHAM SATURDAY AMATEUR CUP ROUND 1
CONTINENTAL STAR RES. 4 v 3 WAKE GREEN AMATEURS 2nd
TIPTON TOWN RES. 12 v 0 BERMUDA PHOENIX
Under 21
CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1
Group "A"
AYLESTONE PARK 3 v 2 ALVECHURCH
Group "B"
KINGS HEATH CONCORDE 3 v 4 BEDWORTH UNITED
Group "C"
COLESHILL TOWN 1 v 2 AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS
H O W ACADEMY 4 v 1 BROMSGROVE SPORTING
UNDER 21 DIVISION NORTH
SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN 8 v 1 WEST MIDLANDS ACADEMY
UNDER 21 DIVISION SOUTH
DROITWICH SPA G & B 0 v 2 HIGHGATE UNITED
STAFFORDSHIRE CHALLENGE CUP ROUND 1
BROCTON u21 3 v 0 MILTON UNITED 2nd
HEATH HAYES u21 9 v 1 KEELE UNIVERSITY RES.
CASTLECROFT RANGERS 2 v 3 LEEK TOWN u21
BIRMINGHAM SATURDAY AMATEUR CUP ROUND 1
BURTON COOPERS ATHLETIC 1 v 10 COVENTRY UNITED u21
GORNAL ATHLETIC u21 3 v 2 HALL GREEN UNITED
TAMWORTH U21 11 v 0 SPORTING SANDWELL
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE LOWER JUNIOR CUP ROUND 1
AFC HOUGHTON MAGNA 3 v 2 KETTERING TOWN u21
Leading Goalscorers (all competitions)
Premier Division
Kieran Debrouwer Heanor Town 14
Andrew Bridge Loughborough University 12
Jamie Molyneux Westfields (now Hereford) 12
David Meese Sporting Khalsa 12
Jack Till Lye Town 12
Josh March Alvechurch 11
Division 1
Alex Naughton Atherstone Town 18
Matthew Stenson Leicester Road 14
Ryan Seal Hinckley AFC 13
Luke Lewis Uttoxeter Town 9
Jamie Clarke Pershore Town 9
Division 2
Thomas Craine Knowle 16
Daniel Carter Paget Rangers 11
Joseph Wright Leamington Hibernian 10
Division 3
Lee Hendrie Montpellier 7
Stuart Hendrie Montpellier 7
Montel Okoro Moors Academy 7
Lewis Fathers Shipston Excelsior 6
Tom Smith NKF Burbage 6
Jess Adcock NKF Burbage 6
Preview
Premier Division
League leaders Westfields will be looking to make it 10 wins out of 10 at home to mid table Shepshed Dynamo. 3rd placed Alvechurch travel to Sphinx Drive to face Coventry Sphinx who have conceded 16 goals in their last 4 games. 4th placed Sporting Khalsa will be hoping to continue their excellent recent form as they entertain Boldmere St Michaels. Lye Town are level on points with Alvechurch and Sporting Khalsa and a win at home to Stourport Swifts will keep up the pressure on the leaders. St Andrews winning run was halted last week and they have an attractive game at home to Coventry United who have 3 games in hand on their hosts. Coleshill Town are flying high at the top of the table and they welcome lowly Brocton to Pack Meadow. Bottom club Tividale are yet to win this season and they will be eyeing up a home game against fellow strugglers AFC Wulfrunians as an opportunity to get on the board. Walsall Wood welcome Loughborough University to Oak Park in what should be an entertaining game of football. Heanor Town have drawn more games than they would have hoped this season and they welcome Shawbury United to The Town Ground. Rocester had a big win last week at home to Walsall Wood and face another of this season’s leading teams, Quorn at Hillsfield. Two sides that have had stuttering starts meet at Grange Park with Long Eaton United hosting Highgate United.
Division 1
Match of the day sees 5th against 1st as Leicester Road host Lichfield City. With both sides in excellent form , this should be a cracker. 2nd hosts 3rd too as Bromsgrove Sporting welcome Nuneaton Griff to The Victoria Ground. There’s another attractive fixture at Townsend Meadow as 7th placed Racing Club Warwick host 6th placed Atherstone Town. 8th meets 9th at St Johns Park with Heather St Johns welcome Cadbury Athletic after both sides had excellent wins last week. Heath Hayes scored 6 and Studley conceded 6 last week so a home win would be the favourite when the two sides meet at The Coppice. Pershore Town have picked up back to back league wins and they will travel to Bolehall Swifts in confident mood. Two sides that had heavy defeats last week meet at The Bush with Pelsall Villa hosting Uttoxeter Town. 2nd bottom Stafford Town welcome Chelmsley Town to Evans Park as they aim for their first win of the season.
Division 2
Leaders Barnt Green Spartak travel to New Mill Lane to face 11th placed Coton Green. 2nd placed Paget Rangers have a local derby away to Sutton United. 3rd placed Alvis Sporting Club travel to Fairfield Villa, a week after meeting the same side in the Les James Challenge Cup. There’s a very attractive looking game at The Robins Nest as 6th placed Knowle welcome 5th placed Droitwich Spa. Expect plenty of goals in the game between Smithswood Firs and Feckenham.
Division 3
Leaders NKF Burbage will be hoping to maintain their 100% record as they travel to 11th placed Boldmere Sports & Social Falcons. Montpellier have won 5 out of 6 and they travel to Alcester Town intent on keeping the gap at the top to 9 points. Moors Academy have made a fine start to life in the MFL and they welcome Barton United to The Beehive for what looks like an attractive game on paper. Bottom club AFC Solihull are still searching for their first point of the season and they travel to high flying Shipston Excelsior. Enville Athletic have won 2 out of the last three and they welcome 2nd bottom Castle Vale Town to Hall Drive. Inkberrow had an impressive win over Alcester Town at home last weekend and welcome FC Stratford to the Recreation Ground.
Presidents Cup
Continental Star host Earlswood Town in the 1st round of the President’s Cup.
Other Cups
STAFFORDSHIRE VASE ROUND 1
SILVERDALE ATHLETIC v BLOXWICH TOWN
COVENTRY CHARITY CUP ROUND 1
BRINKLOW v COVENTRY COPSEWOOD 2.00
PEUGEOT MILLPOOL v SOUTHAM UNITED 2.00
WHITNASH TOWN v LEAMINGTON HIBERNIAN 2.00
BEDWORTH NURSING CUP ROUND 1
COVENTRIANS v DUNLOP
Reserves
CHALLENGE TROPHY ROUND 1
Group "A"
BROCTON v ROCESTER
LICHFIELD CITY v GRESLEY
Group "B"
ROMULUS v CONTINENTAL STAR
RESERVE DIVISION
CADBURY ATHLETIC v COTON GREEN
TIPTON TOWN v WALSALL WOOD
Under 21s
CHALLENGE BOWL ROUND 1
Group "A"
ALVECHURCH v KETTERING TOWN 10.30
COVENTRY UNITED v GORNAL ATHLETIC 10.30
Group "B"
BROCTON v KINGS HEATH CONCORDE 10.30
DROITWICH SPA G & B v TAMWORTH 10.30
Group "C"
AFC RUSHDEN & DIAMONDS v LEEK TOWN 10.30
BROMSGROVE SPORTING v COLESHILL TOWN 10.30
UNDER 21 DIVISION NORTH
SUTTON COLDFIELD TOWN v HEATH HAYES 10.30
WEST MIDLANDS ACADEMY v AYLESTONE PARK 10.30
UNDER 21 DIVISION SOUTH
H O W ACADEMY v BEDWORTH UNITED 10.30
Open: HIGHGATE UNITED