31-03-24. Chesterfield FC Vs Kidderminster Harriers. Match preview

Preview:Harry211

Harriers’ condemnation on Good Friday was fitting for the time of year. Rather than being put on a cross, they were put to the sword by a slick Altrincham team to kick off the bank holiday weekend, as the playoff chasers ran out 3-1 winners. However as any students of the bible story know after Good Friday was the most unlikely of resurrections and Phil Brown will hope the pattern will be repeated for tomorrow’s game against champions Chesterfield.

Scholars too will recall with heady optimism that following the resurrection was the ascension.

Leaden heavy Easter metaphors aside, the game against the Spirites is one that Harriers need to win to have any hope of playing National League football next season. After taking the lead against their old Conference foes on Friday, the turnaround and defeat left Harriers four points from safety. In a run-in where every game has been branded a “must win”, this may be the final one with any sense of realism.

In his interview before the game two days ago, Brown indicated that there will almost certainly be some rotation – even if the side will inevitably fall short of the four points that was put to him. Charlie Weston impressed on his debut alongside Zak Brown, but both were found severely wanting against a rampant Alty attack.

Regan Griffiths didn’t make the sixteen, so it would not be a surprise to see him return to the side, and Matty Preston and Sammy Robinson will be pushing for a first start since their injuries, especially on the back of underwhelming performances by Krystian Pearce and Alex Penny respectively.

Since Chesterfield secured their return to the Football League with a 3-0 win against Boreham Wood they lost 2-1 to strugglers York City on Saturday and gave the Minstermen three vital points in their own survival campaign. They have also had another defeat to relegation-candidates Dorking Wanderers a few week before but all of the results have come away from home.

The last time they lost at home in the league was nearly a year ago when York City spoilt Chesterfield’s then playoff-chasing campaign.

Notable names for Chesterfield will include Bailey Hobson, whose spell at the Harriers was a rare bright spark amid the doldrums of the first half of this season. Star striker Will Grigg hasn’t appeared for them since the 4-2 win against Halifax more than ten days ago and has been confirmed as missing the remainder of the season.

March provided a underwhelming month for Kidderminster Harriers after the heady optimism of January and February under Brown’s leadership. Chesterfield’s home record is intimidating, but Harriers supporters will recall a similar win against King’s Lynn Town some years ago when they too hadn’t lost at home in a year.

Sadly though the door looks to be closing on our survival chances – but how many times have they managed to kick that door open when it looked to have slammed shut? It’s up for grabs now, and the side has to go in with a belief that it can be done.

We’ll see at 5pm tomorrow whether there’s any hope of us playing against the big boys again next season.

Photo © KHFC

Referee: Mr Dean Watson. Lancashire

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