26-02-24. Solihull Moors Vs Kidderminster Harriers. Match preview

Preview: Phil Lench

The Harriers will be making a second attempt to play Solihull Moors tomorrow evening after the original date for the game was a wash out due to the torrential rain that had been coming down all day. In a way it was a good thing for the hundreds of Harriers fans about to set out because the away fan facilities are non-existent and next to useless. There is cover behind the goal but if you want to sit down and stay dry then forget it. The seats are open to the elements.

We just have to hope that it doesn’t rain then although it has been forecast across the area from the early afternoon onwards.

On Saturday 705 of us had a superb day out in Oldham helping the Athletic fans celebrate the homecoming of their chairman Frank Rothwell following his epic solo row across the Atlantic. Goals from Alex Penny and Reiss McNally sealed the three points for us and gave us hope that if we could do that to them then we could do the same to Solihull.

We came away from the game with just the one injury worry when Shane Byrne was subbed at half time with a tight hamstring. He’ll possibly be rested tomorrow rather than aggravate it so that could mean that Regan Griffiths will get his first start. The others out injured; Matt Preston and Sam Robinson, aren’t too far off a return and when I spoke to them they said about three weeks until the comeback begins. Nat Knight-Percival is having to wait a little longer and is looking at the final few weeks of the season for his return.

One of our four new signings, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, was on the bench but didn’t come on while the other three; Seb Thompson, Todd Miller and Cole Kpekawa were all sat in the stand. Phil Brown might be tempted to rest a few more tomorrow so we might see two of those make an appearance but only if it would be safe to do so with our survival being more important than giving new players game time.

The Moors are having another good season and sit in fourth place in the table. On Saturday they beat Hartlepool Utd 2-1 at home but they are beatable there having lost at home to Altrincham at the beginning of the month.

It’s up to us to make sure they are not allowed to consolidate their play-off place just yet and equally as important that we don’t lose this game if we want to consolidate our future in the National League. Even better would be to win though.

Photo © AFC

Referee: Mr James O’Connor. Chesterfield

Talk about the game here

Links to Solihull Moors websites here

Find Pubs around Kidderminster here