10-11-17 – Preview – Harriers Vs Darlington FC

The Harriers will be wanting to get back onto the winning track at home to Darlington tomorrow following that exit in the FA Cup at AFC Fylde last weekend. Two late goals from Josh Taylor and Andre Brown lessened the embarrassment of a non-existent defence giving away four goals to our equals from last season but it still doesn’t excuse the generally all over poor display when the fans had expected so much.

Now we face a Darlington side in disarray following the recent sacking of their manager and two key team members turning their backs on the club. Add in a terrible run of results and it’s no surprise to see them slumping to third from bottom of the current form table with just four points from a possible eighteen in their last five games. Away from home they haven’t won since they beat Salford City on the opening day of the season and since then they have only picked up three points on their travels.

The two that left this week were striker Mark Beck and goalkeeper Adam Bartlett. Bartlett is well know to us having played for the Harriers back in the 2008-09 season when he became one of the best keepers seen at Aggborough. He has now joined up with York City – who we play next Saturday – while Beck has joined league front runners Harrogate Town.

There are rumours that their new manager Tommy Wright intends to bring in some replacements before the weekend and one that will make Harriers fans very happy is one of those new players could be Reece Styche if they can get Tamworth to sell him.

Darlington could be without two other players with defender Gary Brown facing a fitness test after being concussed last week and Dominic Collins who will be out with a foot injury. 

We’ll be without Dan Bradley yet again after it was mentioned by the club that he could be facing a cartilage operation on his knee. The club say he’ll be out for just a few weeks but experience tells us we won’t be seeing him this side of Christmas. Hopefully the club are right and he’s back soon.

Now for some good news. On the bench at Fylde was Liam Truslove returning at last from injury and even though he didn’t play at least it’s a long overdue sign that he might play in some capacity tomorrow.

So we have a team hopefully wanting to put last Saturday behind them. A winnable game at home to a team on a poor run and Truslove coming back at last.

What could possibly go wrong?

 Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Darlington FC from:

Wilczynski, Hunter, Syers, G Brown, Saunders, Caton, Vaulks, Gillies, Burgess, Scott, Marrs, Cartman, Turnbull, Thompson, Galbraith, Portas. 

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

Links to Darlington FC websites here

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