13-12-21 – Preview – Curzon Ashton Vs Kidderminster Harriers

Preview: Phil Lench

With only a few days rest the Harriers, and their dedicated supporters, will be off to Manchester tomorrow evening to clash swords with Curzon Ashton. Just two days ago we were returning from Boston Utd with another three points under our belts after both Alex Penny and Ashley Hemmings scored against their old club.

It wasn’t the easiest of games and was possibly our biggest test of the season so far. The game could have gone either way but it was settled by something of a fluke goal when Hemmings powerful shot hit a defender and spun up into the air before dropping like a stone behind the Boston keeper, Marcus Dewhurst, and into the net.

We have now gone eight games in a row and all three pointers so we’ll be wanting that to continue a little longer. We’ll be up against a club that always hold their own in the league without setting it alight. On Saturday they came from two one down at Hereford FC to grab a late equaliser through Craig Hobson and confirm their ninth place in the table with six wins from a possible fifteen.

The Harriers Nyal Bell is on loan at Curzon but doesn’t seem to have impressed them too much and his six appearances for them includes the last two being sat on the bench and no goals at all. It’s not what he was really sent there for, to get him sharpened up, and he’ll return to Aggborough following the game. A game in which he’s not expected to feature.

One who could be featuring is Lewis Montrose. Following his time out with an injury he was on the bench at Boston and, with some of the regulars possibly being rested, he could find himself involved from the start. One who may also be on the bench is Joe Foulkes if he gets the all clear following the minor knock he picked up in the Senior Cup against Worcester Raiders last week.

Other than those two there’s no other team news to relate although that may change overnight.

Curzons injury news is sparse and the only one we know about is the ex Harriers loanee Dominic Knowles. As Shane relates below he has been missing, presumed injured, for quite a while now. No doubt he’ll make a miraculous recovery tomorrow evening.

Obviously this is a game that we want, and have to, win but at the same time we need to spread the workload of some of the team. Expect to see a slightly different line-up tomorrow and maybe a share of the points as a consequence.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Curzon Ashton from:

Gladwin, Farrugia, Renshaw, Challoner, Flowers, Poscha, Waters, Wilson, Barton, Curran, Dunn, Lussey, Mahon, Merrill, Rain, Thomas, Whitham, Bell, Dyche, Hobson, Knowles, McKay.

Referee: Mr Thomas Kirk. Manchester

Shanes Opposition Stats Pack:

At home in the league: Guiseley 1-1, Darlington 2-1, Bradford PA 2-1, AFC Fylde 2-1, York 0-0, Gateshead 0-1, Alfreton 1-2.

Goals (all competitions): Thomas – 8, McKay – 6, Knowles – 3, Hobson – 3, Curran – 3, Whitham – 2, Waters – 2, Flowers – 2, Poscha – 1, Lussey – 1.

Their former manager Steve Cunningham was sacked for talking to Telford in October. Craig Mahon took interim charge for 9 days against Spennymoor until Adam Lakeland left Farsley Celtic to take charge post match.

Lakeland has history with Curzon when he was part of John Flanagan’s backroom staff when they got promoted to this level. Since his arrival he has brought in Adam Barton from former club Farsley and Matthew Rain from FC United of Manchester. Our very own Nyal Bell joined for a month on loan, making four starts and a sub appearances without threatening the scoresheet. His loan finishes after our game even though he may not be allowed to play against us.

A traditional thorn in Harriers’ side is Dominic Knowles The former Harrier has 3 goals in 8 games but hasn’t featured for sometime. I’m unsure as to when he picked up his injury, and indeed the nature of it, but I understand he is out until January.

The Squad (appearances are starts + sub, includes both league and cups):

Goalkeepers: Chris Renshaw (P19, conceded 21 including a penalty), Charlie Gladwin (P0), Kyle Farrugia (P0).

Defence: Matt Challoner (P16), Harry Flowers (P9, 2 goals), Marcus Poscha (P19, 1 goal), Matthew Rain (P6), Matty Waters (P15, 2 goals, missed 1 pen).

Midfield: Adam Barton (P5 +11 for Farsley), Jack Dyche (P5), Jordan Lussey (P15, 1 goal), Craig Mahon (P18), Luke Merrill P3), Adam Thomas (P17, 8 goals), Dale Whitham (P15, 1 red card served September), Scott Wilson (P11, 1 red card served September).

Attack: Alex Curran (P19, 3 goals), Jack Dunn (P14), Craig Hobson (P15, 3 goals), Dominic Knowles (P8, 3 goals), Jack McKay (P18, 6 goals), Nyal Bell (P5).

Talk about the game here

Links to Curzon Ashton websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here