04-01-19 – Preview – Darlington FC Vs Kidderminster Harriers

The Harriers are heading for some gruelling travelling over the coming days when they have to get up to Darlington tomorrow and then, on Tuesday, repeat the trip back again but this time fourteen miles further on to Spennymoor to play the game that was re-arranged from the beginning of December. First off though we have the game at Blackwell Meadows.

We’ll be going there on the back of a complete win over local rivals Hereford FC that has gone someway to making up for the Boxing Day defeat at their place. On New Years Day we coped well with the threat of Mike Symons but not the threat of Tom Owen-Evans. It was a shocking tackle by him at Edgar Street that put Billy Daniels out for at least a month. An assault that he didn’t even get a talking to about. On Tuesday the same player was tackled by Ryan Johnson – but without malice – and Johnson got sent off. He then avoided a red card himself when he petulantly kicked out at Sam Austin. Not a word was spoken.

As well as being without Daniels we also had Ed Williams still missing with an ankle injury while Dan Bradley was out with a groin injury. He might be ok for tomorrow but it’s doubtful while Williams should be on the mend soon.

We’ll also be without Ed Wagner following his departure from the club yesterday. Ed signed for us following a trial in July but only ever featured in two games on the bench without coming on. It’s not known yet who he’ll be signing for but he is in talks with some clubs.  

His departure makes our squad even thinner on the ground now with just fourteen recognised first team players available if you discount the injured three referred to earlier. That could mean even more academy players on the bench unless we bring some new faces in soon. At Spennymoor we’ll be even worse off as Johnson will begin his three match ban for that game. Or he could well be returning back to Stevenage with his loan up earlier than expected.

Darlington are struggling at the wrong end of the table after being mentioned at the start of the season as one club that could do well this season. Money problems seem to be the main reason after crowd favourite, and leading scorer, Reece Styche left the club to join Alfreton Town for a fee, against his wishes.

Their Christmas was a strange affair with them beating York City 5-1 on Boxing Day and then losing the return fixture 4-0 on Tuesday. In between they beat fellow stragglers Ashton Utd 2-1 at Blackwell Meadows. 

They could be without Liam Hughes after he dislocated his shoulder at York. It was popped back in quickly but it’ll be bruised and he’ll still be in pain a week later. Hopefully 🙂 They could also be minus the on loan Sunderland striker Andrew Nelson after he picked up a knee injury in the same game. With his loan up next Monday he may not be risked anyway.

With our much improved showing on NYD we’ll be hoping to crack on at Darlington in what should be a winnable game. Is it too silly to hope that we could repeat the scoreline from our first meeting this season in August.

Photo © KHFC

STOP PRESS: Ryan Johnson has now joined the club on an eighteen month contract. Josh Heaton has signed until the end of the season on loan from St Mirren and Joel Taylor has returned to Halesowen on loan. 

Teams:

Harriers from:

B Hall, T Palmer, Phillips, Horsfall, Heaton, O’Connor, Penn, Vaughan, Johnson, Baxendale, Weeks, Stratford, Taylor-Randle, Austin, Bradley, Chambers, Richards, Williams, Waring.

Darlington FC from:

Bancroft, C Hall, Maddison, Burn, Galbraith, Hughes, O’Hanlon, Smith, Trotman, Vaulks, Elliott, Glover, Henshall, Kokolo, Nicholson, R Palmer, Wheatley, Wollerton, Ainge, Nelson, Saunders, Thompson. 

Referee: Mr Matthew Corlett. Liverpool

Talk about the game here

Links to Darlington FC websites here

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