24-12-17 – Preview – AFC Telford Utd Vs Harriers

A win yesterday against a suicidal Nuneaton Town set the Harriers up nicely for this short trip into Shropshire to play AFC Telford Utd at the Bucks Head stadium on Boxing Day. Telford had a good result of their own yesterday, and for us too, when they came away from Brackley Town with a draw that could so easily have been a win if it hadn’t been for Brackley scoring an equaliser in the dying stages of the game.

We know well that games at Telford are never the easiest and are usually decided one way or the other by the odd goal. In fact it’s five years since we won there so we’ll be going with the aim of getting back to winning ways there and to continue our winning ways in the league too.

Our only certain missing player is Dan Bradley but he’s back in light training now and could appear sometime in the New Year. We have James O’Connor out with a groin injury but he could make an appearance while there may be worries over Tyrone Williams who was accidentally knocked out by Daniel Nti yesterday and could be suffering the effects of concussion. He bravely – some may say stupidly – carried on until half time but wasn’t risked after that.

Lee Vaughan made his comeback, finally, in the game yesterday and like a whirling dervish seemed to be on a mission to score on his return for us. It was a good twenty minute work out  for him but it’s doubtful that he’ll be given a full game against one of his former clubs. More likely the last twenty again if we’re safely home and dry.

Telford were one of the early pacesetters but have dropped down the table in recent weeks and now sit at thirteenth. They look in no danger of dropping any lower but equally nor of climbing much higher.

In a bid to strengthen they have used their links to Wolverhampton Wanderers in bringing in loan players from the Wolves squad. They have also used that link to a great advantage in bringing in former Wolves greats when they signed Sylvain Ebanks-Blake a few weeks ago and raised the eyebrows of every one in non league football with that major coup. He’s been on the scoresheet a few times for them and we just hope that he doesn’t get on the scoresheet against us.

They have three former Reds in their ranks with goalkeeper Jas Singh their number one while Jordan Murphy tends to flit in and out of the starting eleven and comes in mainly off the bench. The other ex Harrier is the infamous journey man Matthew Barnes-Homer but where he is at the moment no one seems willing to tell. He was sent out on a dual registration to Halesowen Town in October but neither of the Telford or Halesowen sites seem to want to own up to having him.

The only injury that Telford appear to have is to Jack Rea who injured his ankle in August and is now beginning his way back but he won’t be risked until next year now.

So we haven’t got far to go. We have a good chance of three points and it’s a good time to get rid of some of that turkey fat too.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Telford Utd from:

Singh, Martinez, Hayden, Johnson, Simpson, Sutton, White, Wilson, Cowans, Leonard, Lilly, Lussey, Marsh, Royle, McGrory, Barnes-Homer, Dinanga, Ebanks-Blake, Dwyer, Marsden, Murphy, Newby.  

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

Links to AFC Telford Utd websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here