Match preview Vs Blyth SpartansVenue: Croft ParkDate: 23-02-19Kick off: 15:00hrs

22-02-19 - Preview - Blyth Spartans Vs Kidderminster Harriers


Liam McAlinden
Liam McAlinden
Ours until the end

The Harriers suffered something of a setback against York City last time out and now, tomorrow, they need to get the Yates bandwagon back on the road.

That 2-1 defeat last Saturday came as something of a shock to many Harriers fans following the demolition of Chester FC a week previous. There was some illness in the camp but not everyone was affected by it yet still turned in a below par performance. The only bright spot was Joe Ironside scoring against a team he was out on loan at recently and didn’t get on too well with them.

That illness now seems to be on its last legs and we should be getting back to near full strength for the long trip up to Blyth Spartans tomorrow. Ashley Chambers was subbed after twenty minutes against York due to the bug while Ed Williams came on later and played through it. Billy Daniels came through his first game back since Christmas without any problems. 

Milan Butterfield is on international duty with Bermuda and will certainly miss Blyth and also Ashton Utd on Tuesday evening. If he is back in time for the Nuneaton game next Saturday then he’ll almost certainly be jet lagged and might be rested.

Of those out previously then James O’Connor and Josh Heaton are both near return while Declan Weeks could still be out following the injury picked up against Chester.

The good news is that Liam McAlinden is ours until the end of the season after his parent club, Cheltenham Town, gave clearance for him to stay with us. His assists were crucial for us against Chester but last week he had a quiet game due, no doubt, to that dreaded bug.

Blyth are one place below us in the table and a point less too but with a game in hand. They, like us, have dropped a few places in recent weeks but are still well placed for the play-offs. We don’t want to help them in that respect though.

Last time out they beat Leamington 2-1 in Warwickshire following a poor run of four straight defeats including a 3-2 home defeat to our local rivals Hereford FC at the end of January. We’ll be hoping to inflict another defeat on them and get ourselves back into the top seven following the City blip. 

Photo © KHFC


Teams:

Harriers from:

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

Blyth Spartans from:

Jameson, Skirpan, Nicholson, Liddle, Hutchinson, Buddle, J Watson, I Watson, Brotherton, Cunningham, Laing, Reid, Rivers, Mullen, Wrightson, Horner, Green, Oliver, Dale, Maguire, Butler, Holmes, Fewster, Ardelean. 

Referee: Mr Paul Brown. Newcastle upon Tyne


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Previous games against Blyth Spartans
 
DateH/AComp:ScoreGoalsAtt: (away)
08-09-2018HNational North3 – 1Chambers, Horsfall, Williams1570 (27)
07-04-2018ANational North1 – 2Croasdale, Sonupè738 (100)
23-09-2017HNational North5 – 4Brown, Pearson 2, Sonupè, Wright1524 (71)
25-10-1997AFA Cup 4th qual rd2 – 1Casey656
06-02-1982HFA Trophy 2nd rd2 – 1Mullen 21182