OJM were looking to get a result yesterday afternoon at the Triplex Sports Association to keep their run for the play offs going. The hosts had been one of the standout teams in division one this season and were in 5th going into this one. They were unbeaten at home from five matches with only five goals conceded. Hinckley AFC were the form team in division one. The Leicestershire side have been excellent over the last month and were unbeaten in eight league matches going into this one to sit top of the table. Their away form had been a key strength of their season with seven wins from nine matches on the road. The atmosphere around the Triplex Sports Association prior to kick off was positive and relaxed with both sets of supporters looking forward to the match. There was a brilliant turnout of Hinckley supporters who made the trip from Leicester for yesterday’s match which was commendable given the time of the year and the challenging weather conditions. Starting Line ups The starting line up for OJM Black Country included Tom Clap in goal and Callum Nimmo captaining the team from central defence. The formation appeared to be a 4-3-3 with Kosheen Tyareese Sappelton leading the line up front and being supported by Taylor Homer and Reece Morris on the wings. There were two changes from the team that started against Bilston Town last weekend with Joshua Mussell coming into the team and playing at right back. Hinckley AFC’s starting line up featured Matt Hill in goal and Danny Fraser captaining the team from left back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with a front two of Brady Middleton and Jack Edwards being supported by Tom Weale in attacking midfield. There was one change from the team that started against Smethwick Rangers last weekend with Tom Weale coming back into the team and playing in the number ten role. First Half Hinckley started the match the stronger of the two teams and took the initiative early on. The visitors looked to get on the ball and build up attacks on the OJM goal. The main pattern of the first half involved Hinckley controlling the match and looking to break down a stubborn OJM defence who were looking to break with pace on the counterattack when given the opportunity. Despite the visitors having a control of the match, it was fairly even throughout the first half with Hinckley getting into some good positions around the penalty box and just missing that final ball. OJM had some excellent chances to take the lead with their counter attacking style working well and causing the Hinckley defence some problems. The hosts invited Hinckley on to them and then accelerated with the ball quickly. Kosheen Tyareese Sappelton was getting into some excellent positions around the box in the opening half an hour. The only thing missing was that composure in the box to take the chances in front of goal. He had a header go narrowly wide of the goal on the half hour mark. The best chance of the first half fell to Taylor Homer who was through one on one with Matt Hill who made an excellent save to keep the scores level. None the less, OJM were well in the match with Stefan Cameron and Callum Nimmo looking solid at the back and underlining why they have the best defensive record in the division. It was an intriguing match going into half time with both teams impressing and showing why they have had success this season. Second Half There was a crucial moment early in the second half with Callum Nimmo going off injured. He was excellent at the back and provided a sense of assurance at the back for OJM Black Country, so it was a huge blow when he went off early on. Hinckley AFC took advantage of this and produced a moment of quality to take the lead which opened the OJM defence up. Jack Edwards played an excellently weighted through ball that found Lewis Rankin who finished well into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0. None the less, OJM did have chances to get back into and created some good opportunities in the box. The best chance fell to substitute Eshan Greer who capitalised on a mistake at the back and went one on one with Matt Hill before shooting narrowly wide of the goal. In a match where there was not much in it, the fine margins in the box made the ultimate difference to the result. Hinckley managed to make it 2-0 late on to seal the three points at one of the toughest grounds to get a result. Matt Dawson anticipated the ball excellently in the box and got forward from right back to finish well. There was a good chance for OJM to reduce the deficit with Steven Leslie hitting a brilliant free kick that was well saved by Matt Hill. There was also an incident off the ball near full time with Adam Callinswood and Matt Dawson being sent off. The match was stretched near the full-time whistle with both teams having good opportunities to score. Jordan Sangha had a good chance on the edge of the box for OJM and substitute Joe Cairnes had a late effort in the box go wide for Hinckley. Not long after the whistle blew with Hinckley getting a statement win and creating a nine-point gap at the top of the table. Full Time Despite the defeat, there was plenty of quality on show by OJM who are well in the hunt for the play offs. That fifth place spot is wide open with only four points separating Ingles in 5th from Wednesfield in 8th. Having that consistency in terms of results is going to be key come the end of the season and should be something that OJM can aim for. The team played well yesterday and were just undone by that bit of quality in the box from Hinckley. Stefan Cameron was excellent at the back. He read the game well to make crucial clearances in the box and stop promising Hinckley attacks. Joshua Mussell had an underrated game from right back and looked solid defensively as well as offering quality going forward. Steve Leslie was brilliant in the holding midfield role and linked up the play well when building attacks. He offers the team that bit of composure from midfield to get the ball moving. Kosheen Tyareese Sappelton looked promising up front and got into some excellent positions in the box. The most pleasing thing about OJM yesterday was the chances created in front of goal against a quality team. It feels like a team with the potential to get better week on week and their set for an interesting second half of the season. Hinckley were good yesterday and had that bit of quality on the ball to win the match. Their in a brilliant position in the league and it’s just a case of keeping the standards up between now and the end of the season. It was a brilliant team performance both on and off the ball against OJM. Kyron Green was brilliant at the back and read the game well for the visitors. He was good in the air and managed to clear the ball away from danger. Danny Fraser had an underrated game from left back and was excellent. He constantly managed to win the ball back and gave the team that sense of assurance at the back. Lewis Rankin stood out from midfield and was linking up the play well. He made some excellent through balls in the second half that took out the OJM defence and had that bit of quality on the ball which can make the difference in tight matches. Overall, an enjoyable match yesterday at the Triplex Sports Association against two quality teams that look set to compete at the top of the table for the rest of the season. FT score: OJM Black Country 0-2 Hinckley AFC Man of the Match: Lewis Rankin (Hinckley AFC) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Darlaston Town V Wolverhampton Casuals Darlaston Town are chasing the play offs, and it’s been a good season by the Citizens so far. Their currently in 6th with 24 points from 14 matches and only a point off Uttoxeter Town in 5th. One of their main strengths has been their home form at the Paycare Stadium with five wins and two draws from seven league matches. They will be looking to keep their unbeaten run at home going but face a tough test this weekend against Wolverhampton Casuals. Aaron Bishop is a player to watch for Darlaston who has nine goals from 13 matches in the league. The Cassies have grown into the season and are now comfortably in mid table. The visitors are in 12th with 16 points from 13 matches and one of their strengths has been getting results on the road. They have won three out of six matches away from home which includes notable wins against Romulus and Dudley Town. Their recent run of form has been eye catching with 14 points from their last six league matches. The Cassies have been excellent over the last month and could cause an upset tomorrow afternoon. Tom Cottam is a player to watch with six goals from nine league matches. Dudley Town V Studley Dudley Town will be looking to get a result against Studley at the Guardian Warehousing Arena on Saturday to narrow the five-point gap between them and Tividale in 16th. The Robins are in 17th with five points from 14 matches and in the relegation zone. With Tividale in FA Vase action against Ashby Ivanhoe, this match is a good opportunity to close the gap. The Robins have struggled at home in the league with one win from six matches. On a positive, they have been better defensively with 9 goals conceded compared to 31 on the road. Harry Crook is a player to watch with 9 goals from 13 matches. Studley got a momentum building win against Northwich Victoria at the Studley Sports Centre last weekend to get their season back on track. The Bees were struggling in the league throughout November, but it’s been a good season in general and their firmly in the mix for the play offs. The visitors are 4th in the table with 29 points from 17 matches and have a five-point gap over Darlaston Town in 6th. The Bees have a crucial run of fixtures over the next few weeks and play both Darlaston and Highgate United at home. Zac Guinan is a player to watch with 8 goals from 13 matches. Northwich Victoria V Stourport Swifts Northwich have had an interesting season in the MFL Premier since transferring from the NWCL premier over the summer. The Vics are comfortably in lower mid table in 14th with 16 points from 13 matches. Their well clear of any relegation worries with a 11-point gap over Dudley Town in 17th. One of the positives for Northwich has been their home form with four wins from seven matches. Their away form has been their main issue with no wins from six league matches. Samual Connor Unwin is a player to watch with seven goals from 12 matches. Stourport have been excellent this season in both the league and the FA Vase. Their through to the fourth round where they will play either Tividale or Ashby Ivanhoe on the 13th January and well in the hunt for the play offs. The Swifts are in 7th with 24 points from 14 matches and only a point off Uttoxeter in 5th. Their away record has been one of their main issues with one win from seven matches. However, they have been competitive on the road with four draws which is a positive. They have also only lost two matches throughout the league campaign so far. Benjamin Tilbury is a player to watch up front with seven goals from 13 matches. Shifnal Town V AFC Wulfrunians Shifnal have been ok in the MFL Premier division and are comfortably in mid table. The Shropshire club are in 10th with 20 points from 14 matches and five points off the play off places. Their form has been a mixed bag at the Acoustafoam stadium with three wins from seven matches. Joe Ellis Cuff is a player to watch up front who has been excellent since signing from Shawbury United over the summer. He has ten goals from 12 league games. AFC Wulfrunians are having a good season and are well in the mix for the play offs. The Wulfs are in 7th with 23 points from 17 matches with a lot of the season left to play. They have been playing well since the appointment of Carl Abbott in October and have 10 points from their last six league matches. Ben Worthington is a player to watch with 8 goals from 12 league matches. Stone Old Alleynians V Atherstone Town Stone Old Alleynians have gone a bit under the radar within the premier division but their having a brilliant season. The Staffordshire side are comfortably in mid table in 11th with 18 points from 15 matches and well clear of the relegation zone with a 13-point gap over Dudley in 17th. Their home form at Kings Park has been a strength with only three losses from nine matches. Jack Tomlinson is a player to watch up front with six goals from nine league matches. Atherstone Town have been ok in the MFL Premier division and are comfortably in mid table. The Adders are 13th in the table with 16 points from 14 matches. Their main strength has been their form at Sheepy Road with three wins and two draws from eight matches. Their form on the road has been an issue with just one win from six matches. Another strength of Atherstone Town this season has been finding reliable goal scorers which has propelled the club away from a relegation battle. Tom Smith is a player to watch with five goals from 12 league matches. Whitchurch Alport V Uttoxeter Town Whitchurch are coming off the back of a thrilling win at Biggleswade United in the FA Vase last weekend to reach the fourth round. This is arguably the highlight of the season so far for Whitchurch who have been hit and miss in the league. They have struggled at Yockings Park with one win from six league matches and are in 15th with 12 points from 13 matches. Jack Sheward is a player to watch in goal who stood out in the FA Vase win last weekend. He made three crucial saves in the penalty shootout for Alport. Uttoxeter have been one of the surprise teams this season in the MFL Premier and are in the mix for the play offs. The Staffordshire side are in 5th with 25 points from 17 matches. It’s been an excellent season so far and they were battling relegation throughout last season. They were ultimately saved by a reprieve with Winsford United dropping into step six, but they have seized the opportunity brilliantly and been a breath of fresh air so far. Their away form has been good with four wins and five losses from nine matches, and they have genuinely been competitive on the road. They were a bit unlucky to lose at Lichfield a few weeks back. None the less, it showed their capable of competing with the top teams in the division. Their recent form in the league has been good with ten points from their last six matches. They have a crucial run of home fixtures throughout the festive period with games against Bewdley Town (23rd December), Romulus (30th December) and Stourport Swifts (6th January). Preview feature written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League |
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July 2024
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