17-02-23. Match preview Vs Banbury Utd

Preview: Phil Lench

We played, and lost, to a team on the far side of the M40 on Tuesday and we next play a team on the nearer side of that motorway tomorrow. Brackley Town crossed that great divide in the week and produced a smash and grab on us with their only two attempts on goal. It was no more than we should have expected though with our poor record against them – only three wins in ten games now and not a single draw amongst them.

Tomorrow Banbury Utd come to Aggborough for the first time since May 1982 when we beat them 3-0 in a Southern League Midlands game. Earlier this season we made the short journey over to them, also our first since 1982, and came away with the points thanks to an Ashley Hemmings header midway through the first half. 

On Tuesday we saw another player added to the injury list after Joe McGlynn apparently got injured in training meaning that we now have three out injured from training ground incidents while only Alex Penny picked up his in an actual game. He could make a return tomorrow as could Caleb Richards but Nathaniel Knight-Percival could be out a little longer with a hamstring pull.

Banbury sit in the middle of the league table at the moment and a little bit higher in the current form table. They’ve had a decent first season in this division and look to be staying for a while under the wing of Andy Whing their manager. He spent time in a coaching role with the Harriers a few years back but now he’s learning the trade in management and making a good job of it. Won’t be long before bigger clubs come sniffing around.

They have a few injuries there and on Tuesday evening they played a county cup with a patched up side that forced them to use the goalkeeping coach in goal while the goalie played as a striker. He only went and scored too. That move was obviously done to protect players coming back from injury etc. They should be without Jay Williams after he was sent off against Gateshead in the FA Trophy last Saturday.

We all know that our home form is nothing short of abysmal and it seems no matter how we play we end up on the losing side. Some say this is down to the fans getting on the players backs more than they do at away games and this is true, to some extent, but these are supposed to be professional footballers and they should know to expect criticism if they play badly on their home turf.

They play at Aggborough far more than they do at an away ground so why do they feel uncomfortable and unable to re-produce that away form at Aggborough. Answers on a postcard please to russ penn @ aggborough and hopefully they can prove us all wrong tomorrow.

Teams:

Harriers from:

Palmer, Dibble, Emery, Penny, Richards, Morrison, Knight-Percival, Foulkes, Leak, McNally, Pearce, Byrne, Z Brown, Lissimore, Owen-Evans, Hall, Martin, McGlynn, Freemantle, Bearne, Hemmings, Morgan-Smith.

Banbury Utd from:

Harding, Taylor, S Brown, Langmead, Dugmore, Roberts, Hickman, Williams, Acquaye, Radcliffe, Smile, Spazov, Barugh, Babos, Rasulo, Hewitt, Reilly, Landers, Stevens, Johnson, Gordon.

Referee: Mr Ben Wyatt. Manchester

Talk about the game here

Links to Banbury Utd websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here