18-09-23. Gateshead Vs Kidderminster Harriers. Match preview

Preview: Phil Lench

The Harriers return to the scene of one of our worst defeats in years when they travel up to Gateshead tomorrow evening. It was two seasons ago that we went there in high hopes of improving on a third place position to stake a claim in that seasons National North play-off places. We lost 4-0 after being given a lesson and ended the season a place lower and, ultimately, defeat to Boston Utd while Gateshead got promoted as champions.

Now we have a chance to avenge that defeat but it’s going to be hard, or impossible, without anyone capable of hitting the back of the net at the moment. We failed in that department again at home to Solihull Moors on Saturday as we went down 1-0 in the first ever meeting with our new closest rivals. It’s highly unlikely that we’ll be seeing a new striker in the building in time for tomorrow and, to be honest, I doubt we’ll see one by the weekend when we go down to Eastleigh either.

Ironically we had a loan striker who knew where the back of the net was back in that 2021-22 season and now he’s Gatesheads’ leading scorer with six goals in nine games so far this season. Marcus Dinanga was that man and he was cruelly overlooked by Russ Penn in favour of Amari Morgan-Smith and Ethan Freemantle and got recalled by his parent club Altrincham and sent on loan to Dartford where he scored thirteen goals in sixteen games.

The best we can hope for is that our defenders remain as strong as they have been for most of this season – bar Ebbsfleet Utd – and manage to help us come away with a point.

Apart from Matt Preston and Shane Byrne we should be at full strength again but might see a slight change with Kieran Phillips getting some game time. We can only hope that Russ is prepared to try something different. 

Photo © KHFC

Referee: Mr John Mulligan. Carlisle

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