01-01-22 – Preview – Hereford FC Vs Kidderminster Harriers

Preview: Phil Lench

The Harriers start 2022 away to local neighbours Hereford FC tomorrow after the Boxing Day game at home to them was called off due to their Covid misdemeanours. We also lost the midweek game at Kettering Town too for the same reason. News coming out of Edgar Street say that they are still having problems with Covid and may be forced to put out a weakened side.

Yes. We are still expecting a late call off of the game.

With the Bulls form improving before Christmas, it looks likely to be a tough encounter for both teams. Since we won at Edgar Street on penalties in the FA Trophy a few weeks ago Hereford have risen from low down in the table to a more healthy fifteenth place and eight points behind us. We do have a game in hand on them though.

In that 1-1 draw (before the penalties decided the game) we had taken the lead through Amari Morgan-Smith only to see them draw level through Ryan McLean just minutes before half time. A quiet second half meant a shootout was needed and it was Jaiden White who stepped up to score the deciding goal. 

Since that game they have lost Victor Sodeinde after he joined Banbury Utd and we have lost the services of Nick Clayton-Phillips and Elliot Bonds was recalled by Cheltenham Town. NCP didn’t really settle in this time round but, after a shaky start, Bonds did. So much so that he will be sorely missed. At least we have Lewis Montrose back from injury now and in Keziah Martin an adequate back up.

We have also seen the return of Nyal Bell from his loan spell with Curzon Ashton only to be sent out almost immediately, in what looks to be curtains for Nyal, on loan to Tamworth. In his place we’ve bought in Marcus Dinanga on a loan spell from Altrincham to give us that back up fire power that we never had with Bell.

We have no real injury problems except Cliff Moyo and he’s now back in light training so sometime in the New Year we could see him making his way back. Hereford will have Harry Pinchard out with an injury while George Forsyth is out long term after getting injured in a game at Alfreton Town. No others are known about publicly because they’re all staying at home with Covid.

It’s going to be a tough game but hopefully we can get all three points and give the new year a great start.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Simpson, Emery, Richards, Cameron, Foulkes, Penny, Bajrami, Lowe, Austin, Montrose, Carrington, Martin, Freemantle, Bastable, Tolley, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith, White, Sterling-James, Dinanga.

Hereford FC from:

Hall, Liburd-Hines, Hodgkiss, Pearce, Andoh, Prosper-Fini, Owen-Evans, Haines, Lloyd, Klukowski, Vincent, Ismail, Pollock, Kouyhar, Whittingham, Speake, Storey, McLean, Smith, Njie.

Referee: Mr Matthew Scholes. Telford

Shanes Opposition Stats Pack:

At home in the league: (W4, D2, L3) Farsley 0-1, AFC Fylde 1-4, Spennymoor 0-2, Leamington 1-1, Chorley 1-0, Blyth 2-0, Chester 1-0, Kettering 3-0, Curzon 2-2.

Goals (all competitions): Owen-Evans – 6, Storey – 5,  Smith – 3,  McLean – 3, Pinchard – 2,    Haines – 2,  Gordon – 2, Lloyd – 1,  Kouyhar – 1,  Hulbert – 1,  Forsyth – 1.

The former Harriers midfielder, George Forsyth, is still missing after picking up an injury in October.

Since our win at Edgar St in the Trophy Hereford have beaten Kettering at home 3-0, lost 2-0 away at Southport (ending a 5 game league win streak) and drawn 2-2 at home to Curzon Ashton.

Victor Sodeinde, who came on as a sub against us in the Trophy, has now left the club and joined Banbury Utd.

The Squad (appearances are starts + sub, includes both league and cups):

Goalkeepers: Brandon Hall (P17 conceded 16. Faced 2 penalties, both saved. Former Harrier), Nykah Jarone Liburd-Hines (P1 conceded 0), Jordan Wright (P4 conceded 7 including 1 penalty. No longer with the club because he was on loan from Nottm Forest, 9th Sept to 9th Nov)

Defence: Jared Hodgkiss (P21. Former Harrier), Levi Andoh (P16, short term loan since 17th Sept from Ipswich),  Jaden Charles (P0. Was on loan from Mansfield Town, 15th Oct to 15th Nov), Luke Haines (P17, 2 goals), Mitch Hancox (P9, on loan to York since 29th Oct), Reiss McNally (P3. Was on loan from Solihull, 28th Sept to 28th Oct), Krystian Pearce (P9. Nationwide North player of the month for November), Patrick Prosper-Fini (P8. Joined Hednesford Town on dual registration on November 26th), Toby Raison (P0) Ryan Price (P0).

Midfield: George Forsyth (P8, 1 goal (injured since 23rd Oct. Former Harrier), Zeli Ismail (P11), Yan Klukowski (P4. Former Harrier), Maziar Kouhyar (P16, 1 goal), Ryan Lloyd (P21, 1 goal), Tom Owen-Evans (P20, 6 goals), Harry Pinchard (P9, 2 goals), Ben Pollock (P18), Joe Speake (P0), Miles Storey (P16, 5 goals), Richard Whittingham (P1), James Vincent (P10. Former Harrier).

Attack: Joey Butlin (P1, missed pen. Left for Chasetown on 15th Aug), Jaanai Gordon (P6, 2 goals. Dual registration with Stratford Town since 16th Nov), Ollie Hulbert (P6, 1 goal. Was on loan from Bristol Rovers 17th Sept to 17th Oct. Now on loan at Gloucester), Ryan McLean (P20, 2 goals and a missed pen), Harley Morris (P0), Dan Smith (P21, 3 goals. On loan from Eastleigh until Jan), Victor Sodeinde (P3. Left to join Banbury Utd), Pa Sulay Njie (P0).

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