Total Motion Midland League Newsletter

From Gary Hazlehurst  21st March 2019

 Premier Division Review

The battle for promotion looks likely to be between the top two as two of the challengers dropped points. 3rd placed Westfields were held to a goalless draw at Allpay Park by Highgate United and with only 4 games remaining their chance looks to have gone.

4th placed Sporting Khalsa travelled to Holywell Stadium to face relegation threatened Loughborough University but two goals from Connor Smith gave the students the points. If Khalsa are to finish top of the pile, they will need to win their last seven to stand a chance. South Normanton Athletic played the last 40 minutes at Coventry Sphinx with 10 men and held on to gain a valuable point in a 0-0 draw.

Five home games in their last six will give the Shiners some belief that they can avoid the drop. Boldmere St Michaels continued their fine late run with a 2-1 win at Worcester City, the winner a wind assisted free-kick from Owen Parry from inside his own half. Lye Town climb to 12th following a 3-1 win over AFC Wulfrunians at The Sports Ground. 

Premier Division Preview

Leaders Ilkeston Town make the short journey to Grange Park to face an in-form Long Eaton United. The Robins have not won away from home since early December and if they are to take the title, this will need to change. United are unbeaten in eight which has seen them climb to 9th in the table.

2nd place Walsall Wood welcome 7th placed Coventry Sphinx to Oak Park. Wood have picked up 13 points from their last 5 games and are looking for a double after a 2-1 win at Sphinx Drive in November. Sporting Khalsa are the only other side, realistically, that can take the tile but 7 points from their last 6 games has seemingly derailed their chance. They travel to Highgate United who have lost just one of their last 6 and who won at The Aspray Arena early in the campaign.

Looking at the league table, 5th against 3rd should be an excellent game. Both Shepshed Dynamo and Westfields have probably left themselves too much to do to take the title but a top three place is up for grabs when they meet at The Dovecote.

Four consecutive wins has lifted Boldmere St Michaels to 6th place and they welcome mid-table Stourport Swifts to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground. At the foot of the table, 3rd bottom South Normanton Athletic host bottom club Wolverhampton Sporting Community in a game that is crucial to both. A defeat for the visitors will almost certainly condemn them to relegation back to the West Midlands Regional League. Dunkirk are in a similar position, needing to win their remaining 6 games to give them an outside chance of staying up. They host Lye Town in the first of their 6 cup finals.

Romulus reached the league cup final last weekend, but Premier Division safety is their main concern when they welcome Loughborough University to The Vale Stadium. The Scholars are one place and one point below the Roms and a win for either would go a long way to ensure safety. Coventry United, in 15th, are not yet sure of safety and they travel to Farley Way to face Quorn who they drew with 1-1 at The Butts Park Arena. Last but not least, AFC Wulfrunians welcome Worcester City to the CKW Stadium. Wulfs have branded the game as Groundhopper day and have various offers to attract groundhopping supporters to the game.  

League Cup Semi-Finals

NKF BURBAGE vs COVENTRY SPHINX – 26th March

ROMULUS 2   0 ILKESTON TOWN – 16th March

 League Cup Final

NKF BURBAGE or COVENTRY SPHINX vs ROMULUS 

Monday 13th May, Walsall FC  7.30pm

 Challenge Vase Final

BARTESTREE 0  2 CENTRAL AJAX  19th March

 Midland Floodlit Youth League – Southern Division

Results :

 Southern Division League Table - as at 21st  March

 Swifts Junior Programme grows

Stourport Swifts Junior Programme gets underway again this season with the introduction of FIVE levels of Junior teams in action.

Led by Head of Youth Development and qualified FA Coach Steve Shepheard, and playing most of their games at Stourport High School, Swifts will now field a total of FIFTEEN separate Junior sides.

 ‘Mini Swifts’ have increased to Under 5's, Under 6's, under 7's and Under 9's plus the existing Under 11’s, Under 12’s, two Under 13 teams, and an Under 15 side.

Two new teams will play on Sundays, Under 14's and Under 16's plus another Under 16 team, joining the existing teams.

Also there will be two new girls teams at Under 9 and Under 11 level.

Chairman Pip Hanson said "It's fantastic to see the Junior Section growing so fast after just one season.

We will also have a new Under 18 team in the Southern Division of the Midland Floodlit League, providing a pathway for the two Under 16 teams to Senior level.

With new manager Quentin Townsend forging a strong link with Worcester University, we are geared to provide a great opportunity for local young players all the way to the Midland Premier League"