05-01-18 – Preview – Leamington FC Vs Harriers

The Harriers will be heading to Leamingtons New Windmill Ground tomorrow for our first ever visit there in a first team game. We last played at Leamington back in 1982, when they were known as AP Leamington, in the old Southern League at their previous ground that was known as the Windmill Ground. In a few years time all this will have changed again when they move to another new ground and no doubt that’ll be called the Even Newer Windmill Ground.

Be warned the ground we’re going to tomorrow (the New one) is miles from anywhere. Has no on street parking and the nearest pub is two miles away.

Leamington FC, themselves, have seen improved form lately holding high flying Brackley Town to draws both home and away over the Christmas period. Before Christmas they won 3-0 at Tamworth and have moved up the table a little into fifteenth spot.

Their team is scattered with former Harriers players with Tony Breeden, Joe Clarke, Callum Gittings, Stefan Moore and Ahmed Obeng all there while just before the Tamworth game another former Harrier – Rob Thompson-Brown – opted to join Stafford Rangers. They have one player definitely missing injured after the former Worcester City striker, Colby Bishop, ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in the first Brackley game and will now be out for the remainder of the season.

We have our own injury list with Joe Ironside out for a while with a sprained ankle along with Dan Bradley long term and Declan Weeks with a knee injury. Also missing could be Lee Vaughan with a slight knee injury along with Andre Brown and Manny Sonupè who were both subbed in the New Years Day game at home to AFC Telford Utd. Joel Taylor is also believed to be nursing a knock too so we could be a little depleted unless someone is bought in quickly.

We do have some good news though after being told yesterday that Sam Austin, who used to play for Leamington, has now signed a contract extension until the end of the 2018-19 season. We could do with a few more signing the same kind of deal now with Sonupè, Elton N’Gwatala, James Pearson and Declan Weeks all out of contract at the end of this season. If we don’t act soon to get their contracts extended then we could be saying goodbye to them. 

With the hosts improving of late and us down to the barebones up front then this isn’t going to be the walkover that it could have been a month ago. Leamington also have a depleted stock of players too though so I’m thinking a draw here.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Hall, Eve, Palmer, Williams, Taylor, Horsfall, O’Connor, Vaughan, Pearson, Croasdale, Truslove, Austin, A Brown, Sonupè, McQuilkin, N’Gwatala, Wright.

Leamington FC from:

Breeden, Gudger, Hood, Mace, Taundry, Canavan, Clarke, Dunbar, Edwards, English, Gittings, Felix, Magunda, Revan, Moore, Obeng.

Talk about the game here and phone the Harriers Hotline on 01905 577 777 after the game too.

Links to Leamington FC websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here