The West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division or WMRFL for short is placed within tier five of the English women’s football league pyramid. The WMRFL is the home for all West Midlands teams who compete in the division. We are now at the crunch point in the season as some teams have only three fixtures to play whilst other counterparts have three times the amount in nine matches that must be played. Two teams will exit the league this season, one heading towards the coveted FA National League – where investment will be rewarded to teams, the other will be down to tier 6.
Who was sitting comfortable at the top and has been for most of the season is Sutton Coldfield who are five points clear of first place with 42 points accumulated so far. The Birmingham based side do have only three games left to play. A key fixture is happening this Sunday. Sutton will welcome Kidderminster Harriers who are in second place with a game in hand. If Sutton were to lose Sunday, the balance of promotion could be shifted to Harriers with that game in hand. Harriers were in contention for promotion last season so that experience could have a huge say in what will happen in May.
Having only been promoted last season, Shrewsbury Town have been involved in a promotion tilt, however, after dropping points in recent games the Shrews have fell short but are aiming for a strong finish. A top three finish surely would have been taken by the Shrews bosses at the beginning of the season. Heading south, Worcester City has seen improvements from last season. City have been in the upper half of the league all season. It had looked that in the autumn that they would be the team to beat after winning four of their opening five matches whilst picking up a point in the other match. Inconsistency and match postponements has played a part in the team’s stutter throughout the rest of the season. A top four/five finish would certainly highlight the team’s progression.
Lye Town, Lichfield City, and Solihull Sporting have all enjoyed similar seasons to last as mid-table finishes beckon for the division staples. Burton Albion was relegated from the National League last season. Having begun as favourites for promotion, things haven’t quite gone to plan. The Brewers are languishing in sixth place – bigger things were expected from the side. It’s important for the club if they can maintain that position’s as any further slips would pose as an even more disappointing season.
The relegation battle remains interesting as in recent weeks, Crusaders have picked up points to remain safe for another year. Redditch United have endured a catastrophic of a season with only two points to their name, albeit they have seen a points deduction. Just one win and fifteen defeats prove ill reading for Redditch fans as relegation is written on the cards. To make the task even harder, Redditch have played three games more than Coundon Court who have been bottom all season. Coundon lifted themselves off the bottom with their first win in recent weeks. Two more draws alongside that is what hands them a three-point gap over Redditch – along with those three matches to Coundon’s advantage.
It has been a season of thrills and excitement for everyone connected with the division. More thrills will be expected in the coming weeks. Will the favourites ultimately leave the division this season at both exits?
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