01-10-21 – Preview – FA Cup 3rd Qual Rd – Ware FC Vs Kidderminster Harriers

Preview: Phil Lench

Fourteen years after our first ever visit to Ware FC for a FA Cup game we return this weekend to play them in the same competition again.

The last time we made our way across there was in November 2007 for a 1st Round Proper tie that we won 2-0 with Michael Blackwood and James Constable to thank for the goals. That game gave the hosts their record crowd of 2123 and that record stands to this day. It will probably still be standing after we go home.

Ware got past the tricky tie against Hemel Hempstead Town in the previous round. That was achieved following a replay when the first game at Wodson Park – the home of the club – was drawn 2-2. In the replay, the following Tuesday, Ware returned home victorious after beating their higher placed opponents on their own turf 1-0.

This season turf is something that we no longer seem to play on in the FA Cup. In the last round we beat Sporting Khalsa on their rather dusty artificial pitch and Ware also now play on plastic. Hopefully dust free.

Sadly we’ll be without two crucial players for the game. Omari Sterling-James limped off early doors at AFC Fylde after having been dragged to the ground in a crude neck hold from a Fylde player. The Preston based referee didn’t think it was worthy of a yellow card but five minutes later Omari was off with a knee injury possibly caused by being thrown to the ground.

Lewis Montrose will also be out, with a hamstring injury, and it’ll take at least three weeks before we see him again. The same goes for OSJ.

Montroses’ place should be filled by Mark Carrington available once more following the conclusion of his three game suspension for his red card at Guiseley AFC. He has been missed in our last two league games against Gateshead and AFC Fylde with the Reds having lost both. His gritty ability to break up play could have seen us get at least a point from each of those games.

Cliff Moyo is also still missing, long term, so on the bench we’ll have just seven spare players to fill the allotted seven places. We might see a couple more bought in from the academy if any more injuries crop up between now and three o’clock tomorrow.

Ware have a strong squad of Southern journeymen with Liam Hope and Leigh Rose being the dangerous target men. They are Wares joint leading scorers with five goals apiece. They’ll have to play without Dave Kendall, Dan Rumens and Pat Adamson with all three out injured.

Hopefully we’ll come back home with our path into the next round clear but if the game gets drawn then the replay will be here at Aggborough on this coming Tuesday evening. 

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Simpson, Emery, Richards, Cameron, Penny, Bajrami, Foulkes, Lowe, Austin, Lissimore, Carrington, Bell, Martin, Freemantle, Tolley, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith, White.

Ware FC from:

Gannon, Robinson, Madden, Nunn, Louis Rose, Adu, Arthur, Bruno, Buchanan, Crowter, Dulson, Esprit, Milner, Mulley, Leigh Rose, Skandari, Hope.

Referee: Mr Wayne Cartmel. Luton

Talk about the game here

Links to Ware FC websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here