BROMSGROVE Rovers AFC will be looking to secure back-to-back wins towards their title quest when entertaining Walsall Phoenix this weekend, writes Neil Gordon.
The Greens collected a much-needed win over Nechells Athletic last weekend after two successive defeats against title favourites Silhill and challengers Hampton Sports in Division Two of the Birmingham and District Football League.
Ash Pardoe’s penalty and Jack Dawkins strike saw Bromsgrove come from behind to end Nechells four-game winning run and close the gap on Silhill to three points, after the leaders suffered their first home defeat of the season against rampant Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons.
Meanwhile, Walsall Phoenix will arrive at Charford Road buoyed by their impressive 3-3 draw at fourth-placed Hopwood Swifts last weekend, and will be looking to avenge the hammering inflicted by Rovers at The Green in October when Bailey Depper Gwilliams hit four goals in a 7-1 rout.
Second-placed Bromsgrove should collect the points on offer against Walsall but will need a miracle to happen if leaders Silhill are to slip-up against basement side Redditch Borough at Sharmans Cross Road.
Borough continue to struggle with seven defeats from only nine games played – the lowest number of fixtures completed by any team in the Division – and have accumulated just four points, while ruthless Silhill steadfastly remain favourites to secure the title.
Silhill will also be looking to prove a point after suffering their first home defeat of the season last weekend when form team Boldmere Sports and Social Falcons dispatched them 3-1 courtesy of a Leonardo Torres hat-trick.
Boldmere will be aiming to make it seven consecutive wins and close the gap on the top four when they welcome third-placed North Solihull to Boldmere Road in a game which could go either way.
Boldmere would have been serious title contenders themselves if it wasn’t for their poor showing in the first-half of the season, while North Solihull can go second if they beat Boldmere and Bromsgrove fail to beat Walsall.
Three teams are without league games after Nechells Athletic’s fixture against Hampton Sports was postponed, while Hopwood Swifts are representing Division Two in the semi-finals of the Intermediate Cup against Division One title favourites Galore.
Meanwhile, Match of The Day will hope they can continue their recent good form and make it four wins on the bounce when entertaining Polesworth North Warwicks at Woodfield Academy. ‘The Day can close the gap to two points on seventh-placed Nechells Athletic who are without a fixture ahead of the two sides playing each other next week.
And Polesworth will be looking for a win after back-to-back defeats against North Solihull and Silhill, and will swap places with Walsall if they secure only their third victory of the season and Walsall lose against Bromsgrove Rovers AFC.
Bromsgrove play Walsall Phoenix on Saturday, March 29 with kick off is 2.30pm at Charford Road and admission free.
