06-05-22 – Preview – Kidderminster Harriers Vs Darlington FC

Preview: Phil Lench

It’s the final day of the normal league season tomorrow and the Harriers fans flocking to Aggborough will be hoping for a better performance from the Reds that we saw at Leamington FC on Monday. That shambles was without doubt one of the worst displays ever inflicted on us and one that we hope that we never see again. I can forgive going down early doors to one of the goals of the season but to then show no fight to try and get back into the game was un-forgivable and once we went a second goal down….

It was an experiment that went wrong from the start and even more so by the end of the game when we heard that AFC Fylde had lost at York City and we could have gone within three points, and a better goal difference, than them and taken advantage if they slip up at home to Leamington tomorrow. That is very unlikely though so we just have to live with it.

So tomorrow it’s Darlington FC that make the long trip down here and a good following is expected from them. Whatever the result it’s been a very good season that hopefully will get better once the play-offs get under way next Thursday at home to we don’t know whom. We’re looking at one from Kettering Town, Boston Utd and Alfreton Town with Spennymoor Town needing to score a bucketful of goals while the other four lose heavily.

We can only hope that neither Kettering or Alfreton make it because we would like to be able to have some fit, not broken, bodies for the semi final the following Sunday.

Talking about fit we should be at full strength for the game but we don’t know yet whether we’ll be going with a strong team or one similar to the one that played at Leamington. Hopefully we’ll start with a strong lineup then bring on some of the kids, like Jack Tolley, that played on Monday. Jack, Luke Bastable and Corey Panter all made their debuts while Kai Lissimore got his first start of the season after making two sub appearances in other games. 

Darlington will finish their season in mid-table and have little to play for so they too might play fringe players.  They have injuries to Alex Storey, Jake Lawlor and Danny Ellis while Joe Wheatley has been recalled from his loan at Marske Utd.

Whatever the result of the game it would be good to see as many of us as possible stay behind after the game for the clubs presentations to the players etc. This is also a good time to mention the Player of the Season and the Goal of the Season on the forum. If you haven’t voted yet then follow those links to get there.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Simpson, Palmer, Emery, Richards, Cameron, Foulkes, Panter, Penny, Bajrami, K Lowe, Austin, Redmond, Lissimore, Montrose, Carrington, K Martin, Freemantle, Bastable, Tolley, Hemmings, Bell, Morgan-Smith, White, Sterling-James.

Darlington FC from:

L Martin, T Taylor, Beeden, Ellis, Griffiths, Hedley, Hope, Laing, Lawlor, Smith, Storey, B Taylor, Wheater, Armstrong, L Lowe, McHale, Moké, Omar, Purver, Rose, Wheatley, Beauchamp, Cassidy, Dos Santos, Lambert, Mondal, Nelson, O’Neill, Rivers, Thompson.

Referee: Mr Darren Rogers. Warrington

Talk about the game here

Links to Darlington FC websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here