06-01-23. Match preview Vs Leamington FC

Preview: Phil Lench

The Harriers kick off their 2023 away games with a short trip out to Leamington FC in the hope of picking up three points at the Brakes expense. Last season we had an abysmal result there losing to a Callum Gittings worldie in the build up to confirming our place in the play-offs. It was possibly one of the most embarrassing away defeats witnessed by our travelling fans in many a year.

This time around we seem to have very little to play for apart from a mid-table spot and that’s down to our poor attacking, hence scoring, record so far this season. Twenty four goals in twenty four league games is pretty shocking considering that five clubs below us – Hereford FC, Spennymoor Town, Alfreton Town, Farsley Celtic and Boston Utd – all scoring more. Boston in nineteenth place have scored ten more than us.

What the hell do we do about it though? Our two main strikers: Amari Morgan-Smith and Ethan Freemantle are hardly putting themselves in the spotlight with just two goals and seven goals respectively. Ethan can hardly improve his rate either if he’s no longer starting games and only coming on for the last ten minutes. The only one that seems to have that magic touch is Jack Bearne and he doesn’t even belong to us but has scored four times including three games running.

Russ Penn said in a video yesterday that he has been talking to three players about coming in on loan but didn’t mention which position they played in. Going on past form it’s doubtful he’s been talking to any strikers. One he most certainly has been talking to is a creative midfielder to replace Joe Leesley.

Joe got injured in the home game against Hereford on New Years Day and looks to be out for up to ten weeks. That’ll take him up to mid March and sixteen games minimum so we’ll certainly need someone in that position. With Leesley out it could also mean a return to the starting line-up for Ashley Hemmings but he has got to start to earn that and improve on his disappointing form so far this season.

Alex Penny and Nathaniel Knight-Percival are on their way back from injury with both expected to play in the Worcester Senior Cup at Stourport Swifts on Tuesday evening. Penny is the nearest to a full return so we might even see him on the bench at Leamington.

A win at Leamington could take us up three places to ninth if other results go our way but no doubt they won’t and we’ll still find ourselves in twelfth place come tomorrow evening. 

Teams:

Harriers from:

Palmer, Emery, Penny, Richards, Knight-Percival, Foulkes, McNally, Pearce, Margetson, Byrne, Brown, Lissimore, Owen-Evans, Rogers, Martin, Freemantle, Bearne, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith.

Leamington FC from:

Hawkins, Day, Slater, English, Hall, Lane, Mace, Meredith, Streete, Clarke, Cook, Williams, Cross, Edwards, Kelly-Evans, Maye, Usher-Shipway, Walker, Mooney, Reid, Taylor, Turner. 

Referee: Mr Gareth Thomas. Staffordshire

Talk about the game here

Links to Leamington FC websites here

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