Stourport were looking to get a result yesterday afternoon against AFC Wulfrunians at Walshes Meadow to continue their excellent run of form with only one loss from their last eight matches in the league going into this one. The Swifts have been near the top of the table so far this season and competing for a play off place alongside the likes of Shifnal Town and Lichfield City. AFC Wulfrunians made a number of notable signings throughout the week in the build up to this weekend’s match which included the signing of Ben Worthington from Bewdley Town to help with scoring goals. The visitors were looking to respond to the 6-0 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend and get a result to build some momentum in the league. The atmosphere at the ground prior to kick off was friendly and relaxed with the weather conditions excellent for an autumn game of football. The natural pitch looked fresh and there was a notable turnout of supporters for the match with an attendance of 143. There was a number of Stourport Swifts logos throughout the ground which was a nice feature, and the main stand offered a great view of the pitch. Starting Line ups The starting line up for Stourport Swifts included Jamie Emery starting in goal and Ben Jevons leading the team as the skipper from central defence. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Ben Tilbury leading the line up front as the number nine and being supported by Lee Chilton in the number ten role. There were four changes from the team that started against Shifnal Town last weekend with Matt Johnson coming into the team and starting in holding midfield. The starting line up for AFC Wulfrunians featured Tom Hayward starting in goal and Bradley Maslen-Jones captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 4-4-2 with a front two of Daniel Munday and Ben Worthington. There were eight changes from the team that started against Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend with Jack Sang coming into the team and playing on the left wing. First Half
AFC Wulfrunians started the match brightly and put sustained pressure on the Stourport goal in the opening half an hour. Daniel Munday had a chance one on one with Jamie Emery in the fifth minute and had a shot well saved by the Swifts goalkeeper. The visitors were building some momentum throughout the first half and shaded the opening 45 minutes with Stourport gradually growing into the match as it went on. The link up play from AFC Wulfrunians stood out throughout the first half with Daniel Munday linking up well in the final third and getting into some good positions around the box. Another player who impressed was Jack Sang on the left who was positive on the ball and caused the Stourport defence problems when running at players. The visitors managed to take the lead in the 34th minute with Jack Sang scoring an excellent goal from the left which went into the bottom left corner to give AFC Wulfrunians a deserved lead. Stourport coped with the pressure well throughout the first half to stay in the match and Jamie Emery and the central defensive partnership of Oscar Barry and Ben Jevons impressed to give the hosts a foothold in the match. The Swifts started to have some notable chances near the end of the first half to equalise with Joe Hanson having a good chance at the back post from an excellent ball into the box by Lee Chilton in the 40th minute. Daniel Munday also had a good chance to open up a two-goal lead for AFC Wulfrunians in the 42nd minute but shot over the bar from a promising position. Stourport managed to equalise near the end of the first half which proved to be a crucial moment in the match. Ben Jevons scored from a brilliant header at the back post from a well worked corner to make it 1-1 in the 43rd minute. The hosts showed character to get back into the match and level the scores going into half time. Second Half The second half began with a good chance for Ben Worthington for AFC Wulfrunians in the 46th minute with a shot from the right that was well saved by Jamie Emery. The pattern of the second half involved Stourport gradually growing into the match and the hosts started to build a bit of momentum and get on the ball more than they did in the first half. The second half was a reverse of the first half with Stourport shading the balance of play in terms of chances and possession, but AFC Wulfrunians coping with it well to limit the clear-cut chances. The central defensive partnership of Bradley Maslen-Jones and Jack Rowley at the back for the visitors worked well and most of the balls into the box were well dealt with and cleared away. The link up play from Stourport was a bit sharper in the final third than it was in the first half and Lee Chilton and Ben Tilbury showed moments of quality when linking up the play and building attacks. The only chance of note in front of goal for Stourport came in injury time when Lee Chilton flicked the ball towards goal which was instinctively saved by Tom Hayward late on. Not long after the match finished 1-1 which was a fair result based on the balance of play. Both teams shaded one half of the match and cancelled each other out well to limit the chances in front of goal. Full Time This was an interesting match between two teams that were well set up and showed moments of quality in possession. Both teams showed promise and had players that stood out. The key player who impressed for Stourport was Ben Jevons who was excellent at the back and lead the team well. He was dominant in the air and constantly managed to head key balls away from danger and clear it when it mattered. Oscar Barry also impressed at the back and got into the right positions to make some key interceptions and break up promising AFC Wulfrunians attacks. Jamie Emery did a good job in goal and made some crucial saves throughout the first half to keep the team in the match to get the equaliser. Lee Chilton offered the team a bit of quality on the ball and looked dangerous when putting balls into the box. Ben Tilbury looked good in the second half when he got a bit more of the ball and looked threatening when working the ball in the box. The Swifts played well in this match but just lacked that final ball in the final third. AFC Wulfrunians also played well in this match and showed a lot of promise under new manager Carl Abbott which should be encouraging for Wulfs supporters. Jack Rowley looked really good at the back and got into the right positions to head the ball away from danger and clear it. Curtis Cocking played well from holding midfield and did a good job with breaking up the play and getting on the ball to help the visitors grow into the match. Jack Sang really impressed on the left and offered a lot of attacking threat and pace for the visitors when building attacks. Daniel Munday also looked good as the number nine and was getting into some good positions around the box. AFC Wulfrunians played well in this game and created some good chances in front of goal which is a positive. It’s just a case of being a bit more clinical in front of goal which will hopefully come with time. FT Score: Stourport Swifts 1-1 AFC Wulfrunians Man of the Match: Ben Jevons (Stourport Swifts) Attendance: 143 Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Bewdley Town V Congleton Town
Bewdley will be looking to get a result against Congleton Town this weekend to move up the table and out of the relegation zone. The hosts have had a difficult start to the season with four points from ten matches to sit 18th and two points off Wolverhampton Casuals in 16th. It’s a tough division this season but it only takes a few results to climb up the table. Congleton are going into this match in an excellent run of form with 16 points from their last six matches. The visitors will be looking to get a result this weekend to challenge Studley at the top of the table. The Bears have been one of the standout teams in the division over the last few weeks and will want to keep their good form going. Dudley Town V Atherstone Town Dudley Town are going into a big match this weekend against Atherstone Town at the Guardian Warehousing Arena. The Robins could do with a result to move out of the relegation zone and their home form will be pivotal in staying up at the end of the season. Harry Crook has impressed this season with seven goals from nine matches started in the league. Atherstone Town are coming off a momentum building win against Northwich Victoria last weekend to record their first league win of the season. The Adders will want to build on that and get a result this weekend to move clear of the relegation zone. They currently sit 15th in the table with seven points from nine matches and are two points above Dudley Town in 17th. Kevin Hemagou is a player to watch for the visitors who impressed last weekend. Northwich Victoria V Romulus Northwich Victoria have had an ok start to the season and are comfortably in mid table in 13th with 9 points from 8 matches. This could be a pivotal weekend for the Vics as a win would move them clear of the relegation places and further towards the play off places. It’s a long season and if the club can get a run of form going throughout the months ahead, they could be a challenger for the play off positions. Samual Connor Unwin has stood out so far with five goals from seven matches started in the league. Romulus have had a positive start to the season and sit 7th with 15 points from nine matches. The visitor’s main strength has been their defensive record with only 11 goals conceded so far which is impressive. The Roms are challenging for the play offs and have got quality throughout the squad with Cameron Lee playing well at the back. Shifnal Town V Tividale Shifnal have had a good start to the season and have been reliably consistent at home with three wins out of four in the league. They currently sit 5th with 16 points from eight matches and are competing for the play offs this season. Joe Ellis Cuff has impressed for the Shropshire club and has 9 goals from 8 matches started. He’s added to the squad since joining from Shawbury United in the summer. Tividale have grown into the season under new manager Stuart How and have played some good football this season. Their standout result away from home so far was the 3-0 win at Northwich Victoria back in September. The visitors will look to respond to the 6-1 defeat at Darlaston Town in mid-week and get a statement win against one of the form teams in the division. Stone Old Alleynians V Lichfield City Stone Old Alleynians are coming off the back of an impressive win against Bewdley Town last weekend at Kings Park where they won 6-0. It’s been a positive start to the season, and they sit in mid table in 9th with 14 points from 11 matches. The Stoke based club have been tough to beat at home so far with only two losses from seven matches which has helped them move well clear of the relegation zone. Lichfield are also coming off a momentum building win last weekend against Whitchurch Alport where they came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 late on. The visitor’s main strength has been their consistency so far with only one loss from their eleven matches in the league. They are currently 6th in the table with 16 points from nine matches. Daniel Smith has been excellent up front with seven goals from eight matches and the team have scored 21 goals in total. Stourport Swifts V AFC Wulfrunians Stourport will be looking to get a result at Walshes Meadow this weekend against AFC Wulfrunians. The Swifts lost to Shifnal Town last weekend to end an incredible run of seven matches unbeaten in the league. The club currently sit 4th in the table with 18 points from 10 matches and are competing for a play off spot. Their home form has been really good so far with four wins from four matches and has been their main strength this season. AFC Wulfrunians will look to respond following a 6-0 loss against Wolverhampton Casuals last weekend at the Prestige Midlands Arena. The club are adjusting to a new manager in Carl Abbott, and it might take a bit of time before things start to click for the Wolverhampton club. The Wulfs are comfortably mid table so far in 11th with 13 points from 11 matches. Uttoxeter Town V Highgate United Uttoxeter will look to get a result this weekend and respond to the loss at Tividale last Saturday. The club have had a positive season in general and are 8th with 15 points from 10 matches in the league. The Staffordshire club are unbeaten at the Oldfield Sports Ground this season and will look to get a statement win against tough opposition. Mikey Conlon is a player to watch with four goals from nine matches from midfield. Highgate United have had a positive start to the season and are coming off an impressive win against Darlaston Town last weekend. The Gate are 3rd in the table with 20 points from ten matches in the league with their away form being a key strength so far with three wins from four matches. The defence has also stood out with only 13 goals conceded. Shay Palmer has impressed at the back and from set pieces. Whitchurch Alport V Studley Whitchurch will be looking to get a statement win this weekend at Yockings Park against the league leaders. The club have had an ok start to the season and sit comfortably in mid table in 12th with 11 points from ten matches. They have appointed Adam Shillcock as their new manager this week. Alex Hughes is a player to watch for the Shropshire club with four goals in eight matches started and leads the line well up front. Studley have been one of the standout teams in the division so far and are in excellent form going into this match. The Bees have won five out of their last six matches in the league. Their only loss of the season so far came against Stone Old Alleynians at Kings Park. The team have scored the most goals in the league with a total of 30 and are top of the league with 22 points from nine matches. Whitchurch can be a tough place to get a result and should be a challenge for the Bees this weekend. Wolverhampton Casuals V Darlaston Town Wolverhampton Casuals will want to build on their momentum building win against AFC Wulfrunians last weekend and get a result to move clear of the relegation zone. The Cassies sit 16th in the table with six points from nine matches and got their first win of the season last weekend. They face a tough match this weekend against Darlaston Town at Brinsford Stadium. Their home form is going to be crucial throughout the season to stay up and avoid relegation. Darlaston have had a positive start to the season and are competing for a play off spot. Their away from has been good with only one loss from five matches and they will look to get a result this weekend. Their defence has been a key strength this season with only 15 goals conceded which has helped them challenge for the play offs. They also had a confidence building 6-1 win against Tividale in mid-week and will want to continue their good form against the Cassies. Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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July 2024
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