New boss Draper rings the changes at Fairfield - The Bromsgrove Standard

New boss Draper rings the changes at Fairfield

Bromsgrove Editorial 29th Aug, 2019 Updated: 29th Aug, 2019   0

NEW boss Keith Draper has wasted little time in shaking up Fairfield Villa after being appointed as the new manager.

Six new recruits – Lucky Nwosu, Aaron O’Malley, Myles Phipps, Mike Stewart, Aaron Westwood and Rob Whitley – have been signed ahead of Saturday’s Les James Challenge Cup first-round tie at Birmingham Tigers as Fairfield seek to rectify their early-season struggles.

Two heavy defeats over the Bank Holiday – and four in five matches since the start of the season – led to Wayne Davis stepping down as boss after three seasons.

Coach Lewis Smith has also left the Midland League Division Two club.




Former Bromsgrove Sporting and Studley manager Draper has taken over and he has brought in Matt Dorgan alongside current first-team player Dan Ludlow as coaches.

Anthony Fisher retains his role as Fairfield’s goalkeeping coach.


The announcement of Davis’ exit came after the Swans’ 6-2 loss at home to Northfield Town on Bank Holiday Monday, a result which followed a 6-1 drubbing at Knowle on Saturday.

It was always set to be an uphill battle taking on last season’s Division Two champions Northfield at the Recreation Ground, and so it proved as the visitors took full advantage of Fairfield’s recent struggles to go in front after just seven minutes.

Tom Craine muscled his way through on goal before slipping the ball coolly past Elliott Hart.

Sam Wills then doubled the lead with a simple finish later in the half.

Then, with half-time looming, a third goal provided a sucker punch for the Swans, with Alex Tesfom surging his way through on goal before dispatching expertly.

But with 19 minutes of the second half played, Fairfield dragged themselves back into contention.

Jordan Stevens’ left-footed strike pulled a goal back, followed by a Ludlow penalty seven minutes later to inspire hopes of a comeback.

A penalty for Northfield put the hosts’ revival to bed, with Wills claiming his brace from the spot.

Ethan Muckley’s simple finish and Josh McGuinley’s tap-in compounded Fairfield’s misery.

In Saturday’s defeat at Knowle, Louis Bridges’ double put the hosts 2-0 ahead before Peter Jenvey headed home on the stroke of half-time to inspire some hope for the visitors.

But two more for Bridges, and a brace for Tom Cullen, quickly extinguished any momentum to seal a comprehensive victory for Knowle.

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