St@tto's Kidderminster Harriers Diary
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** LATEST NEWS **
26 April Schoolboy Defending Costs Harriers Dear Any lingering hopes Harriers had of making the play-offs were finally ended at the KC Stadium with Hull inflicting the heaviest league defeat of Harriers' season. A wreckless challenge by Scott Stamps gave away a penalty for Ben Burgess to open the scoring, Dion Scott hesitated on the ball in the area to allow Burgess to add a second. Late in the second half Craig Hinton gave away possession to Jon Walters who scored the third and then Stuart Brock got caught in the middle of nowhere cming for a cross he had no chance of reaching and Burgess headed in the fourth. Sean Parris pulled a goal back for Harriers to make it 2-1 and Bo Henriksen had a goal ruled out in each half which could have made the game interesting had either been allowed to stand. Harriers now only have pride to play for in their final game of the season against Bristol Rovers who are now safe from relegation. 25 April Hull City Preview Bo Henriksen comes back into the squad for tomorrow's trip to The Kingston Communications Stadium after completing a two-game suspension. The 20-goal striker will be a vital part of the team that goes in search of a victory to maintain their failing play-off hopes. Harriers must win and hope that results elsewhere go in their favour and Ian Britton is likely to name an attacking line-up to go out with a bang. Matt Lewis has been recalled from his loan at Solihull and is added to the squad while Adie Smith and Lee Ayres are still injured and will not feature. JJ Melligan is not expected to play again this season after missing the last two games with suspected appendicitis. Hull manager Peter Taylor only has a couple of minor injury worries, on-loan striker Jon Walters has been suffering from toncilitis while Dean Keates has a calf strain that stopped him from completing the game at Darlington on Monday. Although better than Harriers' recent form The Tigers have been a little inconsistent of late, in their last six games they have won 3, lost 2 and drawn 1. They have also drawn more games than any other team in the division except Torquay, both teams have drawn 17 games. Earlier in the season the teams met at Aggborough in what was to be Jan Molby's last game in charge of The Tigers and Harriers won the game 1-0 thanks to a second half strike from Henriksen. For all of the previous encounters between the clubs, click here. I expect Harriers to line up as follows: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Hinton, Scott, Stamps, Flynn, Williams, Bishop, Henriksen, Parrish. Referee is due to be Phil Crossley from Kent. Harriers have already come across him this season as he was in charge on opening day for the draw with Lincoln and also for the LDV game at Dagenham & Redbridge, in the Third Division he has been in the middle of 12 games and issued 38 yellow cards and 2 red. 22 April Premiership New-Boys To Visit Harriers have announced their first two pre-season games for the summer, Micky Adams will bring his newly promoted Leicester City, who have just bounced straight back up to the Premiership, to Aggborough on Monday July 21, and the team that are making the opposite move from the Premiership down to Division One - West Bromwich Albion - will come to town later in the same week. 21 April It's Not Over Yet Harriers' promotion hopes are almost at an end, but not quite. A goalless draw at Bootham Crescent was not the result that Harriers had hoped for but results elsewhere - Oxford lost at home to Bristol Rovers and Bury drew with Scunthorpe mean that mathematically it is still possible for The Reds to make the play-offs. It is still dependent on other results, however, two wins from the final two games would not guarantee a spot. 20 April York City Preview For Harriers it is now "Last Chance Saloon" when they visit Bootham Crescent to face The Ministermen. A defeat for Harriers, an Oxford victory over Bristol Rovers and a winner in the Bury v Scunthorpe game would ensure Third Division Football at Aggborough next season. Ian Britton finds his choices limited again tomorrow, JJ Melligan missed yesterday's game with suspected appendicitis and Drewe Broughton stayed at home with 'flu. Bo Henriksen is still suspended and Adie Smith is unlikely to feature after limping out of the game agaisnt Wrexham after 21 minutes. For York manager Terry Dolan the problem is who to leave out, he has no fresh injury problems but has a surfeit of strikers to choose from: Lee Nogan, Anthony Shandran and Keith Graydon are all pushing for selection along with defender Jon Parkin who is the leading scorer. Definitely out is Stuart Wise who is suspended while on-loan goalkeeper Michael Ingram may miss out with a shoulder injury that has been troubling him recently. Despite playing with ten men for over half the game when Drewe Broughton was sent off after a clash with Parkin, Harriers were unfortunate to lose the first game between the clubs at Aggborough in December. Stephen Brackstone and Nogan scored for City either side of Andy Bishop's goal for Harriers. For a full rundown on previous meetings between the clubs, click here. I expect Harriers to line-up as follws: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Hinton, Scott, Stamps, Flynn, Williams, Bishop, Foster, Parrish. Referee for the game is due to be Mark Cowburn from Lancashire. So far this season he has taken control of eleven Division Three games, including Harriers' defeat to Carlisle at Aggborough which ended with two Harriers players taking an early bath, in total he has issued 41 yellow cards and 6 red. 19 April Wrexham Trundle On A goal in each half from Lee Trundle gave Wrexham's promotion hopes a massive boost and at the same time almost finish Harriers' hopes of making the play-offs. After a lively opening period which was held up when the wind blew the television gantry onto the pitch forcing referee Fraser Stretton to take the players off the field for ten minutes, The visitors went ahead when Trundle was allowed to run at the heart of the home defence. Sloppy defending at a corner in the second half allowed the same player to force the ball in from close range. 18 April Wrexham Preview It's one of footall's oldest clichés that Easter is the deciding point in the season for promotion and relegation issues, but in Harriers' case it is the truth this year. By Monday evening, after tomorrow's clash with Wexham and Monday's trip to York, we could either be right in the thick of the play off action or contemplating the summer and next season's campaign. Wrexham come to Aggborough occupying third place in the league, the final automatic promotion spot, but with AFC Bournemouth and Bury hot on their heels for immediate returns to the Second Division. Top of the current form table and with a nine game unbeaten run, not to mention the Division's leading scorer in Andy Morrell, Wrexham will fancy themselves as hot favourites against a Harriers side that kept their promotion hopes alive with Tuesday's 1-0 win at Wrexham that was their first in seven games. Manager Dennis Smith has a number of injury concerns ahead of the game; midfielder Jim Whitley has been suffering from 'flu while Paul Barrett has an ankle injury, both players have trained, however, and could feature in the game. Ian Britton will be without 20-goal top-scorer Bo Henriksen who begins a two-game suspension after accumulating ten yellow cards. On the injury front Adie Smith is the major doubt after spraining his ankle in the game at Rochdale, also injured in that game was goalkeeper Stuart Brock who hurt his knee. Both players are doubtful and Scott Stamps and John Danby stand by to step in. The clash at The Racecourse just before Christmas was one of the high spots of Harriers' season as they ran out 2-0 winners with goals in each half from Sean Parrish and JJ Melligan. For a full rundown on previous encounters, click here. I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Hinton, Scott, Stamps, Melligan, Williams, Broughton, Bishop, Flynn. Referee for the game is due to be Frazer Stretton from Nottingham who has controlled nine Division Three games so far this season, issuing 35 yellow cards and 1 red. 16 April Britton Not Ready To Give In Yet "There's never a dull moment with Harriers" - Ian Britton Harriers boss Ian Britton was delighted with last night's 1-0 win over Rochdale at Spotland, knowing that it keeps his team in the hunt for a play-off place. "It was three important points won, especially at this stage of the season. The manner in which we got them was pleasing as well. I thought we played very well and had we taken our chances we could have won by more. We've been doing that for the last few games and haven't got our just rewards. Fortunately we got our just rewards tonight. "I thought we could have had a couple of goals before we scored. The passing and the movement was excellent at that stage of the game. Because we've won tonight, teams are going to be looking over their shoulders and thinking "they won't give up". We've got to play Wrexham and York, who are in those play-off places, so it's still in our grasp. "There's never a dull moment with Harriers and I think supporters have had their money's worth this season. The players have dished up some good stuff home and away". 15 April It's Harriers' Turn For The Late Show A Sam Shilton goal seven minutes from time was enough to win the game for Harriers on their evening visit to Rochdale and keep their play-off aspirations burning at least for a few days longer. Harriers gave an attacking performance that deserved three points even if their shooting was wayward and only forced stand-in keeper Neil Bennett into one save for the whole of the game. Eventually Shilton found the net, and Harriers' back line managed to stand firm right to the end of game without making any silly schoolboy errors. 14 April Rochdale Preview Another Tuesday night another tough game for Harriers as they try to halt the slide in results that sees the play-offs slipping away. Tomorrow isn't "Last Chance Saloon" just yet, but The Reds are in the street outside. Victory would see them climb just one place up the table but close the gap to three points and send the team into Saturday's crunch game with Wrexham in a much more optimistic frame of mind. There were no fresh injuries picked up in Saturday's loss at Oxford, so Ian Britton could name an unchanged side again with 20-goal striker Bo Henriksen playing his last game before he misses the Easter fixtures through suspension. Rochdale's biggest worry is in goal, Matthew Gilks was injured in a collision with a post in Saturday's draw with York and with no substitute keeper on the bench striker Lee McEvilly took over and kept his side in the game with a number of good saves. Gilks was sent to hospital in York for a scan and was given the all clear altough another scan has been carried out. Neil Bennett stands by to take his place if he is unable to take part in the game. Earlier in the season when the sides met at Aggborough the game ended in a goalless draw. For a full rundown on previous encounters, click here. I expect Harriers to line up as follows: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Smith, Scott, Hinton, Melligan, Williams, Bishop, Henriksen, Flynn. Referee for the game is due to be Eddie Ilderton from Tyne and Wear. This season he has been in charge of 12 Division Three games, including Harriers' win over Hull and defeat at Boston United, and issued 31 yellow cards and no red. 12 April Late Goal Sinks Harriers Again A breakaway goal from Oxford substitute Manny Omoyimni a minute and a half fro mthe end of this afternoon's game at The Kassam Stadium was enough to deny Harriers a point and put another dent in their play-off aspirations. Harriers had more than matched their hosts throughout the game, dominating for long periods but went behind to a Paul McCarthy goal late in the first half. The scores were level before the break, however, when Bo Henriksen stabbed in his 20th goal of the season. The Dane had a further effort ruled out in first half stoppage time for offside. A draw was the least that Harriers deserved for their performance but they were undone at the death when Craig Hinton was caught in possession by Andy Scott who set up the winner for Omoyimni. 11 April Oxford United Preview The tough games keep coming thick and fast for Harriers who travel to the Kassam Stadium tomorrow to take on an Oxford United side that is in the thick of the play-off action. Ian Britton has a few injury problems to consider before making his selection tomorrow, top-scorer Bo Henriksen will have another fitness test before the game, he hasn't trained all week because of his hamstring problem, Kenny Coleman is still out with his stomach problem while Andy Bishop and Dean Bennett both picked up knocks in the game against Hartlepool United last week but should both be OK to play. John Danby will return to the squad after being recalled from his loan spell at Stourport Swifts as a replacement for Fraser Digby who was released earlier in the week. Despite occupying the last play-off place, Oxford are on a similar run to Harriers and are one place lower than The Reds in the form table in 19th. They have failed to win at home since March 1 drawing two and losing two of the four games since beating Boston United 2-0. Manager Ian Atkins has few worries on the injury front and is likely to name the same team that beat Lincoln City at Sincil Bank last weekend. James Hunt and David Oldfield have both recovered from injury and returned to training this week and could be added to the squad. The first meeting of the sides this season was not a good one for Harriers, United ran out comfortable 3-1 winners in the game at Aggborough in January. Sloppy defending and a goalkeeping error allowed Steve Basham and Andy Scott to add to Craig Hinton's own goal, Sean Parrish scored for Harriers. For all of the previous results, click here. I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Smith, Scott, Hinton, Melligan, Williams, Henriksen, Bishop, Flynn. Referee is due to be Ian Williamson from Berkshire, this season he has been in the middle of 7 Division Three games, including Harriers' home defeat by Scunthorpe, and issued 27 yellow cards and one red. 6 April Britton Dejected By Draw "It's been happening all season" - Ian Britton Harriers boss Ian Britton was again feeling let down by the sloppy defending and basic errors that have plagued his team all season when he faced the press after yesterday's draw with league leaders Hartlepool at Aggborough. "It was typical of our season," he said, "At times we are as good as the best in this division but we are spoiling it all by giving away some sloppy goals. If you give goals away at any level you are not going to win games. It does not seem to matter who we have at the back or what formation we play, I guarantee that someone will make a mistake. Their second goal didn''t surprise me, in fact I half expected it. It came through a defensive error and that is something that we have been doing since the first game of the season against Lincoln. "I am dejected because we are going out with a whimper. We are letting things slide as the season draws to a close. With the squad we have we have had a good season but I feel we could have done even better". Hartlepool manager Mike Newell admitted that his side were a little lucky to snatch a point, "We have had a little luck with the late goal but you make your own luck and we deserved something for our second half performance. We didn't deserve anything in the first half, we were really poor and I don't know why. Perhaps we are subconsciously nervous. We are not the same side we were a few weeks ago but we must keep working at it. Team spirit is not a problem but we are having to grind out a few results at the moment". 5 April Harriers Undone At The Death A goal four minutes into stoppage time denied Harriers victory against league leaders Hartlepool after they had taken an early two-goal lead. Top-scorer Bo Henriksen returned to the team after overcoming his hamstring inury and it was he who opened the scoring after 21 minutes with a close-range tap in after Sam Shilton and Andy Bishop had combined to create the opening. Five minutes later Bishop lashed in the second from the edge of the penalty area. Sloppy defending at a free kick just after the hour mark allowed an unmarked Darrel Clarke to volley in Hartlepool's first goal and deep in stoppage time a terrible headed pass by Dion Scott meant for Stuart Brock landed at the feet of Eifion Williams who calmly slotted his shot past Brock. 5 April Hartlepool United Preview Harriers face another stiff test this afternoon when league leaders Hartlepool visit Aggborough. It is another "must-win" game for Harriers who despite their recent disappointing run of four games without a win are still just three points off a play-off place. Ian Britton, who has spent an night in hospital this week after being taken ill at training on Tuesday, still has injuries to contend with as he makes his team selection. Lee Ayres is definitely out with the ankle injury that he picked up in the game at Lincoln, while top-scorer Bo Henriksen is still struggling with his hamstring injury and goalkeeper Fraser Digby still has the knee injury that kept him out of last weekend's defeat at Macclesfield. Both players face late fitness tests before a decision is made on their involvement in the game. Leaders Hartlepool could be without their captain Michael Barron who has been struggling with groin and hamstring problems picked up in last weekend's game with Bournemouth. If he does not make it, Paul Arnison is likely to take his place. Veteran forward Gordon Watson will continue his comeback from a broken leg after coming through the Bournemouth game unscathed. After looking like nailed-on certainties for the championship for most of the season, Hartlepool could find themselves in second place this evening, a Harriers win and a victory for Rushden & Diamonds who face Bristol Rovers at The Memorial Stadium would see the Northamptonshire take over at the top of the table. United's form has taken a slump of late, in their last three games they have lost 2-0 at Wrexham, 1-0 at Bristol Rovers and drawn 0-0 at home to Bournemouth. When the teams met earlier in the season two early goals set Hartlepool on the way to 2-1 victory. Ritchie Humpreys and Mark Tinkler scored in the first fifteen minutes with Sean Parrish pulling a goal back early in the second half for Harriers. For a rundown of all previous meetings, click here. I expect Harriers to line-up as follows: Brock, Bennett, Shilton, Smith, Scott, Hinton, Melligan, Williams, Broughton, Bishop, Flynn. Referee for the game is due to be Carl Boyeson from Yorkshire. So far this season he has taken control of 12 Division Three games, including Harriers' home game with Macclesfield, issuing 58 yellow cards and 5 red. |
