KIDDERMINSTER HARRIERS v WOKING
3pm on Saturday 21 March 2009
As the season nears its denouement every game seems more important than the last, and this fixture is no different. Other sides? results went the Cards? way during the week, so they still find themselves just above the relegation zone, but the Cards have got to build on their good fortune by getting some points on board. Kidderminster away is one of the more difficult fixtures this season but the Cards have looked a decent side in recent games and a result is certainly not beyond them.
WOKING
Andy Cook?s injury update ? see yesterday?s news item ? doesn?t suggest that we?re going to see a sudden flood of players returning from the treatment table, so we can expect the starting line-up to look very close to that which took the field against Wrexham last Saturday. If Colin Miles is fit, he could reclaim his central defensive role, at the expense of Dan Sintim, who took over at half-time, but Phil will have no reservations about giving Dan another run-out after impressive recent performances. If so, he and Paul Lorraine are likely to have the job of suppressing ex-Card Justin Richards. But they will also have to keep a sharp eye open for Matthew Barnes-Homer. David McDermott, out on the right, also impressed in the abandoned game here a few weeks ago.
The Cards go into this match unbeaten in their last three games, after draws against Burton Albion and Wrexham, interposed with a win over Barrow, and with only one goal conceded in those three games.
KIDDERMINSTER
The Harriers are one of a cluster of clubs who are just outside the play-off zone, so their incentive in this game is as great as the Cards?. They currently lie in 7th place, with 59 points from 34 games, four points behind Stevenage Borough in 5th place but with two games in hand. Worryingly for the Cards, the Harriers? home record is particularly impressive: 13 wins, 2 draws and 4 wins, with 31 goals scored and only 14 conceded.
Midfielder Andy Ferrell will be missing following an operation but Russ Penn is back in the side. Justin Richards is in goalscoring form, having scored the winner last Saturday at Lewes and netting one against Crawley the week before.
recent results
17 March: Lewes 0 Kidderminster Harriers 1
10 March: Kidderminster Harriers 2 Crawley Town 0
7 March: Salisbury City 0 Kidderminster Harriers 0
28 February: Kidderminster Harriers 2 Eastbourne Borough 0
17 February: Kidderminster Harriers 1 Cambridge United 3
15 February: Kidderminster 1 Northwich Victoria 2
LAST SEASON
Kidderminster Harriers 1 Woking 1 (17th November 2007)
The Cards grabbed a last-gasp equaliser at Aggborough in a thrilling midday kick-off televised by Setanta. Justin Richards had put the Harriers in front in the 37th minute from the penalty spot following a Tom Hutchinson error.
Giuseppe Sole equalised with just three minutes left on the clock, though, as he latched onto a long ball from Jay Gasson, swivelled and calmly placed a low left-footed shot past Scott Bevan and into the back of the net.
Woking: Worner, Lorraine, Hutchinson, Gasson, Pattison, Lambu (Maledon, 56), Quamina (Sole, 77), James, Gatting (Marum, 56), Morgan
Woking 3 Kidderminster Harriers 0 (26th April 2008)
With BSP status secured, the Cards gained their biggest win of the season on the final day of the campaign. Matt Pattison was the star with two fine goals, and Bradley Quamina also got on the scoresheet. The match proved to be the last appearances in a Woking shirt of Jay Gasson and Marvin Morgan.
Woking: Gindre, Batt (Gray, 67), Lorraine, Gasson, Bunce, Lambu, Maledon, Quamina, Pattison, Sole (Ruby, 82), Morgan (Sam-Yorke, 70)
GETTING THERE
Kidderminster Harriers FC
Aggborough Stadium
Hoo Road
Kidderminster
Worcestershire DY10 1NB
Tel: 01562 823931
Website: http://www.harriers.co.uk/
By coach
Leaves Kingfield 11am. ?19 Members. ?24 Non-Members. Phone the Club Shop on Friday to book or take a chance and just turn up (seats almost certainly available)
By car
Leave M5 at J4 (signposted A491 to Stourbridge). After about 5 miles turn left onto A456 and follow towards Kidderminster. At roundabout on Kidderminster ring road take first exit (signposted A448 to Bromsgrove), then take first turning on right (Hoo Road). Aggborough is about half a mile along this road on the left-hand side.
By train
There are several possible journeys ? for example, the 12.03 from Euston gets you to Kidderminster at 14.21 via changes at Birmingham New Street and Smethwick. Look up http://www.thetrainline.com/ for options and prices.
Come on, you Cards!
