18-04-19 – Preview – Kidderminster Harriers Vs Leamington FC

Our visitors tomorrow, Leamington FC, have been in good form in recent weeks with a three game unbeaten run and that form has now secured their place in the National North for another season. That safety was earned at home to Alfreton Town last Saturday with a 3-1 win and their first two goals coming from former Harriers – Callum Gittings and Jordan Murphy.

Earlier in the season things were very different when the Reds went over to the New Windmill and put four past them without reply in one of the most convincing wins seen by a Harriers side in many a year. Sadly following that game we went on a terrible run that saw us win only two games in ten and we plunged from second place to ninth in the table. We still haven’t recovered. 

Last week, at FC Utd of Manchester, we had a slight hope that the win would take us back into the play-off places but although we got all three points so did every team above us too and it was ‘as you were’. Win the game tomorrow and we could only go up to eighth place with only two games left to the season. Lose and we could go down to tenth with Blyth Spartans (above us) at home to Guiseley AFC and Chester FC (below us) away at Ashton Utd. Both those games against two relegation threatened teams sides are winnable.

At FC Utd we were without goalkeeper Brandon Hall following his bad fall against Bradford PA the other week. I had a chance to speak to him and he told me that he hadn’t trained all week due to a shock injury to his back but was hopeful that he’d be back for tomorrow. In his place Tom Palmer came in for his first start and did admirably so if Brandon does fail to make his way back then I’m sure that Tom can cope.

We still have a small injury list with Declan Weeks, Billy Daniels and Nick Clayton-Phillips sidelined. It’s looking likely that Nick C-P’s season is over with him still undergoing treatment at the Hawthorns. Leamington haven’t mentioned any injuries but they will be without Jamie Hood following a straight red card he collected at Curzon Ashton two weeks ago.

We’ll also be without Kwame Thomas following his recall to Solihull Moors on Monday.

Just over a weeks time and our season could have come to a premature end if we don’t gain maximum points from all three games left to play. On Monday we go up to Southport for a difficult looking game although the Port have nothing to play for. Next Saturday we finish our season at home to Guiseley and if their fate still hasn’t been sealed then that too could be another big ask.

And then we have to rely on everyone else too!

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Hall, Palmer, C Taylor, Horsfall, O’Connor, Penn, Johnson, Heaton, Flowers, McAlinden, Weeks, Stratford, Taylor-Randle, Truslove, Butterfield, Higginson, Austin, Chambers, Daniels, Ironside, Richards, Williams, White.

Leamington FC from:

Breeden, Caswell, Bowen, English, Gudger, Lane, Mace, Nicholson, Clarke, Dunbar, Edwards, Gittings, C Taylor, Bishop, Obeng, M Taylor, Flanagan, Murphy, Wilding, Hodge, Parker.

Referee: Mr Scott Simpson. Stoke on Trent

Talk about the game here

Links to Leamington FC websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here