Preview: Harriers v Brackley Town
December 8, 2018

Preview: Harriers v Brackley Town

After a two-week break Harriers are back in league action this afternoon with the visit of Brackley to Aggborough.

A fifth consecutive home defeat would see Harriers drop out of the play-off places, with today's visitors taking their place.  Having not won at home since September 29th Harriers need to turn their form around sooner rather than later as their season threatens to fizzle out before Christmas.

Two new players could feature in the line-up this afternoon; Former Coventry and Northampton defender Aaron Phillips and striker George Waring are both available.  Jimmy O'Connor missed the last game at Aggborough against York City through injury and is still doubtful for this afternoon.

Brackley haven't had as good a season as they have had for the last couple and now find themselves just outside the play-off places, just one behind Harriers in eight.  Their recent league form hasn't been much better than Harriers' with no wins in the last four games, although they have drawn three of them.  Midfielder Jimmy Armson has been out with injury lately but could return to the side this afternoon.  There are some familiar faces in the side; goalkeeper Danny Lewis and forward Daniel Nti are with The Saints along with one-time trialist Connor Franklin.

Last season goals from Fraser Horsfall and Dan Bradley gave Harriers a 2-1 win in this fixture, the first time in four meetings that they had done anything other than lose.

I expect Harriers to line-up as follows (4-4-2): Hall; Vaughan, Austin, Horsfall, Austin; Penn, Daniels, Williams, Bradley; Chambers, Waring.
Subs (from): Baxendale, Palmer, Phillips, Richards, Wagner, Weeks.
Missing (injured): O'Connor.
Missing (on loan): Digie, Ironside, Taylor, Truslove.

The referee this afternoon is Scott Jackson from Plymouth who will be in charge of a Harriers game for the first time.

This afternoon's weather is forecast to be breezy with cloud and wind giving a temperature around 11°C and a 25% chance of rain.

Tomorrow the ladies side will look to bounce back from their first league defeat of the season last weekend with the visit of Stourbridge to the training ground.  Stourbridge sit just behind Harriers in fourth in the league and will probably offer another tough test.