27-09-24. Buxton FC Vs Kidderminster Harriers. FA Cup 3rd Qual Rd. Match preview

Preview:Phil Lench

The Harriers are facing a tough FA Cup encounter at Buxton FC tomorrow and more so on their plastic pitch that, the last time we played them up there, led to injuries for some of our team that day and that was apart from the GBH inflicted on Ethan Freemantle who was subbed early in the game with a bad facial injury. In fact we had used all three substitutes by the time halftime came around.

Having just about getting past Leek Town in the previous round we now have to do this at the first time of asking. The last thing we want is a replay and personally/selfishly I don’t either because I’ll be away for a few days next week and will miss it.

In the last round Barwell took Buxton to a replay after holding them to a 2-2 scoreline at Silverlands. Buxton then got the job done in the replay on the Monday evening at Barwell by beating them 2-1 and in doing so set it up against us.

We’ll just have Paul Downing and Ben Beresford out injured while as for George Cooper there’s still no news from the official source on whether he’s still on loan with us or if he’s returned to Mansfield Town considering that he’s now out injured for the foreseeable future, long past his loan with us would have ended.

Alex Penny returned from injury last Saturday and played a big part in our first home defeat of the season against Alfreton Town. Sadly he’d rather forget it having scored the own goal for them and also feeling yet another twinge in his knee. We just have to hope that it was just a twinge.

Phil Brown alluded to in his pre-match video yesterday that there could be a few line-up changes. That could mean a start for new loan signing Harry Ibbitson in place of Amari Morgan-Smith. We might even see a two man strike force with Ibbitson and AMS together or even Ibbitson and the mis-firing Ashley Hemmings together. There really are no other obvious changes needed, just upfront where we seem to be failing lately. 

We can only hope for the best from our lads, whoever plays, and hopefully on Monday we’ll pull a better tie out of the hat. Are there any more Peak District clubs left to play?

Referee: Mr Dean Watson. Rochdale

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