17-12-21 – Preview – FA Trophy 3rd rd – Boston Utd Vs Kidderminster Harriers

Preview: Phil Lench

The Harriers make a quick return to Boston Utd tomorrow but this time it’s for the FA Trophy 3rd round and not the league. The league was last Saturday and we came away with a good old fashioned smash and grab when Ashley Hemmings deflected shot looped up into the air and took the Boston keeper Marcus Dewhurst by surprise as the ball squeezed between the palm of his hand and the crossbar.

One goal that will live for a long time in the memories of those there to witness it.

We had been on the back foot for most of the game even after taking the lead ourselves through Alex Penny making that goal the defenders fifth of the season. Not bad going for someone that had only ever scored twice before when he was with Hinckley AFC back in 2016.

I’m not going to forecast what strength of a team we’ll be putting out after saying that our game at Curzon Ashton on Tuesday evening would feature some rotation but didn’t. It could happen this time though because we looked out of sorts in Manchester and were extremely lucky to come away with a point when another defender, Nathan Cameron, scored in the dying seconds of the game.

I still expect a few changes though with maybe Ethan Freemantle coming in for Amari Morgan-Smith and Lewis Montrose for Elliot Bonds, Keziah Martin or Mark Carrington.

We can field seven subs though so we should have plenty of options on the bench including Nyal Bell who has now returned from a disappointing loan spell at Curzon where he failed to score.

Boston could be without Paul Green after he was substituted in the sixth minute of Saturdays game. He went off with a hamstring injury and isn’t expected to feature as a precaution. They might rotate too but with only the league and trophy to play for, unlike ourselves that have the FA Cup to think of, they might go full strength to gain vengeance on us for last week.

Whatever happens it’s a game that Russ and Jimmy will take seriously and rightfully so. We want to be at the top in everything we do.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Boston Utd from:

Crook, Dewhurst, Ferguson, Duxberry, Garner, Gordon, Shiels, Tootle, Armond, Byrne, Dimaio, Green, Leesley, Platt, F Preston, Burrow, Elliott, J Preston, J Wright Jnr.

Referee: Mr Matthew Scholes. Telford

Shanes Opposition Stats Pack:

At home in the league: Spennymoor 1-2, Curzon 2-1, Telford 4-1, Blyth 1-0, York 2-1, Hereford 2-0, Chorley 2-2, Darlington 2-0.

Goals (all competitions): Elliott – 11, F Preston – 7, J Wright Jnr – 7, Burrow – 4, Leesley – 3, Byrne – 3, Green – 2, Garner – 2, Leesley – 1, Own Goal – 1.

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

Goalkeepers: Peter Crook (P8, conceded 13. Faced 2 penalties, saved 1), Marcus Dewhurst (P5, conceded 7 including 1 penalty. On loan from Sheff Utd until January).

Defence: Scott Duxbury (P13, 2 red cards. Sent off in the FAT2 at Brackley for a second yellow), Keenan Ferguson (P19), Scott Garner (P17, 2 goals), Kyron Gordon P2. On loan from Sheff Utd until the end of January), Luke Shiels (P19), Matt Tootle (P14), Jake Wright Snr (P5. Injured in November).

Midfield: Finlay Armond (P1), Shane Byrne (P20, 3 goals. 2 of which were penalties), Connor Dimaio (P6. Injured in November), Paul Green (P17, 2 goals), Milan Lalkovic (P1. Injured in November), Tom Platt (P20. One red card served in September), Fraser Preston (P18, 7 goals), Andi Thanoj (P1. Banned for a long time (see above).

Attack: Jordan Burrow (P22, 4 goals), Danny Elliott (P21, 11 goals. 4 of which were penalties but also missed one. 1 red card served in November), Joe Leesley (P13, 4 goals. On loan from Harrogate),  Jay Rollins (P6. Banned for one month (see above), Jake Wright Jnr (P16, 7 goals including a penalty. One red card served in October), Jordan Preston (P15).

Talk about the game here

Links to Boston Utd websites here

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