18-02-22 – Preview – Kidderminster Harriers Vs Alfreton Town

Preview: Phil Lench

Alfreton Town are next in line for the Harriers hairdryer when they rock up at another, hopefully, packed Aggborough tomorrow: Storm Eunice permitting. If the wind doesn’t blow the roof off then the fans surely will.

On Tuesday we put paid to Hereford FC’s hopes of a league double over us with three first half goals from Sammy Austin and Amari Morgan-Smith. The Bulls had no answer to us but their hopes weren’t helped with a red card for Krystian Pearce a few minutes before Sammy’s goal. The second half was played out in low gear and was no where near as thrilling as the first half.

On paper Alfreton should be easier for us with their form having slumped from earlier on in the season when they spent a few weeks in the top six but have now dropped down to mid-table. They’ve found goals hard to come by not having scored in the last three games they’ve played. Which is a little surprising seeing as the former Lincoln City and Mansfield Town striker Matt Rhead plays for them.

As we all know though games in this league are never easy. Just look at the AFC Telford Utd game last Saturday when we had to rely on a single Nathan Cameron first half goal to earn all three points. Telford are fighting for their lives at the bottom and, no doubt, Alfreton won’t want to be dragged into the relegation mire either so expect them to come for a point.

We should have a strong squad to choose from once more with just Keziah Martin and Ethan Freemantle still missing injured. It can’t be long before we see them back.

Alfreton might have a few injuries with Josh Clackstone, Nathan Tyson and Yusifu Ceesay all missing lately (see Shanes section below). The former Reds favourite Milan Butterfield plays for Town but he hasn’t played many games for them which is a bit surprising seeing as we know what he can offer. 

So how will this game pan out? As said I think they’ll come for a draw out of sheer spite but I also think we have too much in our engine room for them and it’ll probably be another one goal victory. Does that matter? As long as we get all the points and close that gap on Brackley Town and Gateshead then who’s worrying. 

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Alfreton Town from:

Willis, Hare, Smith-Eccles, Smith, Lund, Clackstone, Jones, Sutton, Wilde, Wiley, D Preston, Askew, Branson, Johnson, Molyneaux, Evans, Hobson, Ceesay, Butterfield, Sebbeh-Njie, Rhead, Reeves, Cowan, Southwell, Tyson.

Referee: Mr Sam Mulhall. Cheshire

Shanes Opposition Stats Pack:

Away from home in the league: (P11, W5, D0, L6) Blyth 2-0, Darlington 2-3, Chester 3-2, Farsley Celtic 0-3, Spennymoor 0-2, Gateshead 2-1, Curzon Ashton 1-2, York 1-0, Boston 2-3, Guiseley 3-2, BPA 5-0.

Goals (all competitions): Hobson – 12, Branson – 7, Southwell – 5, Ceesay – 4, Rhead – 4, Allan – 3 (no longer with club), Reeves – 2, Wilde – 1, Lund – 1, Johnson – 1, – Hackford -1 (no longer with club), Evans – 1, Sutton – 1.

The streaks (league only):

Games since last win: 3

Games since last away win: 2

Games since last draw: 1

Games since last away draw: No draws this season

Games since last defeat: 0

Games since last away defeat: 0

Games since last clean sheet: 1

Games since last away clean sheet: 5

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

Goalkeepers: Alfie Smith-Eccles (P0), Alex Hare (P0), George Willis (P29, conceded 45, faced 3 penalties and didn’t save any of them).

Defence: Josh Askew (P2), Josh Clackstone (P22), Arun Jones (P0), James Jones (P1), Adam Lund (P22), Dan Preston (P15), Dom Smith (P27), Ritchie Sutton (P17, 1 goal), Josh Wilde (P22, 1 goal), Dwayne Wiley (P18).

Midfield: Connor Branson (P25, 7 goals), Milan Butterfield (P7), Luca Chadli (P0), Yusifu Ceesay (P17, 4 goals), Rob Evans (P27, 1 goal), 1 Bailey Hobson (P27, 12 goals), Bobby Johnson (P20, 1 goal), Rio Molyneaux (P1), Mo Sebbeh-Njie (P0).

Attack: George Cowan (P0), Elliott Reeves (P15, 2 goals), Matt Rhead (P27, 4 goals, missed one penalty), Dayle Southwell (P26, 5 goals), Nathan Tyson (P3, on loan from Chesterfield).

Josh Clackstone hasn’t featured since picking up an injury in the FAT defeat on penalties to Halifax back in January, with Yusifu Ceesay also suffering a knock in the same game.

Nathan Tyson, the veteran striker on loan from Chesterfield, picked up an injury in their win over Spennymoor at the end of January. Defender Josh Askew signed from Chester two weeks ago. Mo Sebbeh-Njie left Hereford to join Alfreton a few weeks ago.

Talk about the game here

Links to Alfreton Town websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here