17-03-23. Match preview Vs Gloucester City

Preview: Phil Lench

In the corresponding game last season we were treated to a cracker of a goal from Super Sammy Austin but don’t go to Gloucester City tomorrow expecting more of the same. Sadly we no longer seem to have the players in the side capable of running with the ball from the halfway line then slipping it past the lonesome keeper and then soak up the adulation of hundreds of Harriers fans. 

We do still have the scorer of the first of our three goals with us though and that’s Ashley Hemmings. He ended his goal drought at home to Kings Lynn Town last Saturday with the opening goal but we couldn’t hang on to that and eventually the game end one apiece. We were much better in that game and with a little more luck, and endeavour, we could have gone on to win but the poor referee wasn’t giving us any help towards that. Then again we shouldn’t have to rely on poor refereeing to win games.

The other scorer in that 3-1 win at Gloucester last season was Alex Penny but he’s out injured, again, and may miss the game as will Nathaniel Knight-Percival who’ll be starting his four match ban from tomorrow. The good news is that Krystian Pearce might be back following his injury while the even better news is that Joe Leesley is now back in training following his long term knee injury but tomorrow might be a day too soon for him.

Our only other injury is to the on loan, from Burnley, Joe McGlynn but we seem to be a bit kept in the dark about the chances of his return with no news from either club. There’s no news of a replacement striker either and we seem to have given up on that.

City are on a great run having gone from mid-table up to eighth place in the table and just one point from being in the play-offs. That’s all down to the arrival of new manager Steve King who has bought quality into the team with loanees like Dominic McHale who has been knocking in the goals alongside his strike partner Kieran Phillips. Twelve for the former AFC Telford Utd man McHale and fourteen for the former Bristol Rovers youngster Phillips. We can only look on in envy.

With City having scored twice as many goals as we have then I can see only one outcome to this game. We’re going to win it 1-0.

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Gloucester City from:

Armstrong, Avenall, B Hall, Jones, James, Nugent, Leadbitter, Digie, Hill, Tiensia, Evans, Nirennold, Morgan, Hooper, O’Sullivan, Spence, Agyepong, Andrews, Obadeyi, McHale, Phillips.

Referee: Mr Darren Rogers. Warrington

Talk about the game here

Links to Gloucester City websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here