23-09-19 – Preview – FA Cup 2nd Qual Rd replay – Stafford Rangers VS Kidderminster Harriers

Harriers face Stafford Rangers again tomorrow evening in the replay for the game that ended in a draw on Saturday. The winners of this FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round replay will have the honour, or otherwise, of facing Stourbridge FC in the next round. You could say that would be our just desserts for failing to win at Aggborough.

That 0-0 draw saw the Reds put together twenty one attempts to score without actually getting any of them into the net thanks to a solid defensive showing from Stafford, and also their keeper Lewis King who pulled off some fine saves to keep us out. Truth be told though that although we had chances galore we never really looked like scoring during the second half and opted instead to play the ball around either along the line or back to our keeper.

The manager John Pemberton complained in his post match video that he was annoyed with complaints from fans in the Main Stand that we should be playing the ball forward instead. I have to agree with them to an extent because I thought that our play was pedestrian at times and we failed to see our strikers really pressuring the Stafford defenders and get themselves into the area. I’d rather see them getting flagged for offside than tapping the ball around in midfield.

At least we should be expecting a more open game at Marston Road tomorrow and if Rangers persist in playing defensively at home then they should be ashamed in presenting such tactics in front of their own fans. If they do come out and play then hopefully our speedy style of play should return and we’ll hopefully go through into the next round.

Along with Cameron Gregory we could be without Richard Peniket after he was withdrawn during the first half on Saturday with a suspect hamstring injury. It’s to be hoped that he’ll be fit enough to play because we’re already low on numbers even with a full squad at our disposal.

With a bit of luck, and a strong backing from our fans, we could be going back to familiar ground. Just a shame it’ll be in Stourbridge.

Photo © KHFC

Teams:

Harriers from:

Palmer, Mountjoy, Davidson, O’Connor, Higginson, Penn, Johnson, Moyo, D Lowth, S Lowth, Digie, R Williams, Prosser, Weeks, Taylor-Randle, Scott, Butterfield, Shenton, Austin, Chambers, E Williams, Freemantle, White, Peniket.

Stafford Rangers from:

King, Bignot, M Hill, Jones, D Burns, Harvey, Green, Garnett, Berks, Briscoe, Howarth, Sherratt, Coulson, J Burns, Dixon, Davies, Charles, Sanali, J Hill, Burnett, Thorley.

Referee: Mr Ed Duckworth. Preston

Talk about the game here

Links to Stafford Rangers websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here