Here's this weekend's Midland Premier League preview written by Gary Hazelhurst.
League leaders Hereford take
their long winning run to the Black Country to face an inconsistent Lye
Town. The home side are yet to draw in the league this season and if
they can stop the runaway Bulls, that would be a major achievement.
Game
of the day is massive at the top of the table as 3rd placed Heanor Town
entertain 2nd placed Alvechurch. Alvechurch have the best defensive
record in the league but I can see lots of goals in this one as there
have been 93 goals in the 20 games played by Heanor this season. 4th
placed Sporting Khalsa have won 11 league games on the trot to close the
gap on Hereford to 9 points. They will fancy their chances of making it
12 when they travel to Hillsfield to face Rocester. Khalsa won the
reverse fixture 4-0 in November although expect this to be a much closer
game. Shepshed Dynamo are 5th and still harbour outside hopes of the
title as they welcome Walsall Wood to the Dovecote. The Wood were
knocked out of the FA Vase last weekend and will want to bounce back as
quickly as possible. Highgate United are another side with 4 games in
hand on the leaders and 12 points in those games would make it
interesting at the top. On Saturday, they travel to Coventry Sphinx
languishing in 20th place and looking for their first points under new
manager Robbie Banks.
AFC Wulfrunians are enjoying an excellent run in
the Vase and will be favourites to pick up 3 more league points at home
to lowly Quorn. Coleshill Town are benefitting from the installation of
their new 3G pitch with games being postponed left right and centre. At
least, they know they will be in action on Saturday when they entertain a
revitalised Brocton at Pack Meadow. Two of the bottom four meet at
Allpay Park as Westfields host Continental Star. A win for the home side
will set them up nicely for the Boxing Day trip to local neighbours
Hereford. Two sides with good recent form meet at Hollywell when
Loughborough University and Boldmere St Michaels lock horns. This should
be a good one for the neutral. Two mid-table sides meet in Derbyshire
as Long Eaton United welcome Stourport Swifts to Grange Park. Form
favours the home side but this could go either way. 2nd bottom Dunkirk
travel down the M1 to face Bardon Hill who are only 9 points ahead of
them. An away win would add to the congestion at the bottom of the
table.