06-04-18 – Preview – Blyth Spartans Vs Harriers

The Harriers will undertake their first trip in twenty years to Blyth Spartans tomorrow for another important game as the season begins to draw to a climatic end. Back then it was for a FA Cup game that we lost 2-1 so it has to be hoped that won’t be some kind of bad omen.

This time round it’s for a league game and one in which we need to gain all three points against a side that are in a mini slump of form. A few weeks ago they were in the play-off places but four defeats in a row, including two against struggling sides Leamington and North Ferriby, have seen them drop down into eighth place and three points adrift. Last Monday they were soundly thrashed at Harrogate Town in a 5-1 defeat that came after a 4-1 defeat at Salford City a week earlier.

All of those setbacks have come away from home due to weather related reasons meaning they haven’t played a home game since mid February. Hopefully they won’t want to celebrate their homecoming with a win against us.

We’ll be going up to Northumberland on the back of a great win at home on Easter Monday to fellow play-off comrades Brackley Town. Two late goals, including a stunning Fraser Horsfall strike, saw us gain our first ever win against Brackley and hopefully the happy feelings from that win will carry forward to the game tomorrow.

We’ ll still be without James O’Connor tomorrow but there might be good news about Joel Taylor who has been suffering with an ear infection, or was it an eye, in the past two weeks. Elton N’Gwatala returned to the team on Monday but lacked a little match fitness and was subbed during the second half. Hopefully there’ll be no new injuries to report but we will have Lee Vaughan also out serving the first instalment of his three match ban.

I have no idea about the Blyth injury situation for the usual reasons but regular first teamers David Atkinson, Ben Liddle and Dale Hopson all missed the Harrogate game at short notice. Looking at their massive squad (31) then I’m sure there will be a ready made replacement somewhere. 

As for us well it’s obvious that we need to win as many games as possible now especially with Stockport County beginning to creep into the equation after they beat Tamworth during the week to climb into fifth place and just one point behind the Reds. Fail to win the important games and we might well be leap frogged very soon. 

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Hall, N Vaughan, Palmer, Taylor, Horsfall, O’Connor, Digie, Pearson, Croasdale, Truslove, Weeks, Austin, Bradley, A Brown, Sonupè, McQuilkin, N’Gwatala, Ironside, Waring.

Blyth Spartans from:

Jameson, MacDonald Atkinson, Buddle, Hutchinson, M Liddle, Cartwright, I Watson, Gorman, Anderson, B Liddle, Bell, J Watson, Wrightson, Hopson, Mullen, McTiernan, Rivers, Green, Horner, Wotherspoon, Hooks, Reid, Dale, Maguire, McGlade, Rutherford, Lazzari, Langstaff, Laidler, Butler.  

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

Links to Blyth Spartans websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here