23-02-18 – Preview – Darlington FC Vs Harriers

The Harriers will be hoping to pick themselves up off the floor at Darlington tomorrow following that home defeat to Harrogate Town last Saturday. The defeat was our first at home since the opening day of the season and it was no surprise really considering the way we missed countless chances to score while Harrogate were clinical and put both their chances away.

Our task wasn’t helped by more poor officiating with the biggest faux pas being the striking off of Joe Ironsides goal from an onside position when the ball rebounded back off the bar after the goalkeeper tipped it onto the woodwork. Other judgements went against us too but no matter how bad the officials are it’s still no excuse for missing open goals and firing wildly off target.

On Tuesday evening Harrogate went to the top of the table above Salford City following a 4-3 win at home to Alfreton Town. Amazingly they were 4-0 up at half time but a second half collapse saw Alfreton come back into the game but not quite enough.

We now have to put that game to the back of our minds and venture up to Darlington to try and gain the three points necessary to keep in touch with the two front runners. Even though Darlington are just about keeping their heads above the relegation water this is still going to be a very tough game.

We had some late injuries before the last game with Brandon Hall and Joel Taylor both missing with injuries and an even later one coming during the warm up when James O’Connor somehow injured himself and had to be withdrawn from the starting lineup at short notice. Sam Austin replaced him while young keeper Tom Palmer was quickly drafted in the the bench. Palmer, himself, must have already been wondering what was going on when he was overlooked to replace Hall and instead we bought in a loan keeper, Jonathon Flatt, from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Taylor might be fit to play at Darlington but the other two look very doubtful. No doubt some more will get injured before the game too.

We’ll be up against a former Harriers ‘favourite’ tomorrow when Reece Styche will be hoping to get one over us again. He hasn’t in previous encounters against him at Tamworth and hopefully he won’t doing it tomorrow either.

They have a few players doubtful with James Caton (hamstring) and quite a few others recovering from a flu bug. That bug saw Styche miss last Saturdays defeat at Brackley while Tom Portas (calf) and Dom Collins (hamstring) will both miss the game.

Another former Harrier there is the manager Tommy Wright. He has been there for most of the season but so far hasn’t really got them sailing up the table. His head must be getting close to the chopping block if they slump any further down the table. 

So can we get back on track after that blip against Harrogate? I think we can but I don’t think it’ll be at the expense of our hosts with a draw seeming to be the most likely outcome.

Photo © WWFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Hall, Flatt, Palmer, Taylor, Horsfall, O’Connor, Vaughan, Pearson, Croasdale, Truslove, Weeks, Austin, Bradley, A Brown, Sonupè, McQuilkin, N’Gwatala, Ironside, Waring.

Darlington from:

Bancroft, Pears, G Brown, Galbraith, Heaton, Hunter, Trotman, Vaulks, O’Hanlon, Mills, Scott, Syers, Turnbull, Caton, Gillies, Saunders, Styche, Thompson, Wheatley 

Talk about the game here and phone the Harriers Hotline on 01905 577 777 after the game too.

Links to Darlington FC websites here

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