12-01-18 – Preview – Harriers Vs Stockport County

The Harriers will be taking a day off from league action tomorrow when a tough opponent come to Aggborough for the second round of the FA Trophy. Stockport County have been on a good run of form lately since we played them last in October with a climb up the table that has been un-noticed in a steady kind of way. One defeat in twelve, Brackley away, since we beat them 2-1 at theirs, has seen them now in ninth place and just three points behind us.

All that is of no consequence in Trophy games though and the form book can be thrown out of the window. What’s more important is the perceived importance of winning a cup or winning promotion.

With both of us in that position this could turn out to be either a tough game with Wembley in both our sights, a tough game with promotion in both our sights or them fancying the Wembley dream more that we fancy getting out of this fag end league.

Following yet another drawn game on Tuesday evening we need to look at getting back to winning ways. Even though the drawn games have all come away from home, with six in a row from six away games, we still need to make sure that we don’t start doing the same at home.

The past two games have seen us struggle to even get near to the goal at Leamington last Saturday and at Chorley on Tuesday evening with the latter ending in an embarrassing conclusion after John Eustace was sent to the stands and Tyrone Williams was sent to the dressing room. It’s too early to say what the punishment will be for the manager but it’s certain that Ty will be facing a lengthy ban for his part in the fracas by the dugouts. 

Joel Taylor missed the Chorley game through illness but it’s doubtful now if he were to return and dislodge Lee Vaughan from the full back position now that he is settling back into the team following his time out with a broken leg. Dan Bradley also took another step on his comeback when he started the game the other night but it wasn’t his best game ever and could still be lacking in fitness.

Only Declan Weeks and Emmanuel Sonupè  remain injured now and they should be making their way back soon. We have missed Declans engine in recent games and it’ll be good for us when he does finally return and we have also missed Manny’s runs from deep that had given us an outlet to score.

In the previous round of the Trophy Stockport went to Lancaster City and won 3-1 . Since then they have won two games and drawn two with their last one coming at home to Salford City last Saturday. It should have been three points for County but Salford equalised deep into stoppage time to force the draw and save them from another defeat.

Counties injury list is quite small with Kallum Mantack out for the remainder if the season with a broken fibula and dislocated ankle that he received at home to Alfreton Town on Boxing Day.

Out of all the games in this round of the Trophy this is one of the stand out ties. It could go either way but it’ll be the one that wants it most that will win.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Stockport from:

Hinchcliffe, Ormson, Clarke, Cowan, Duxbury, Minihan, O’Halloran, Smalley, Ball, Brazel, Dixon, McKenna, Stephenson, Stopforth, Thomas, Walker, Winter, Etches, Oswell, Turner, Warburton.

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

Links to Stockport County websites here

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