There’s a traditional ‘six-pointer’ at Aggborough Stadium this evening as fourth-placed York City visit fellow promotion-hopefuls Kidderminster Harriers (kick-off 7.45pm).
The Minstermen currently hold a four-point advantage over their latest opponents, although they have already played a couple more games.
But another maximum points at the expense of their rivals could potentially move York eleven points clear of the cut-off eighth position for the play-offs.
However, weekend visitors Southport are continuing to make an impressive late charge following five successive home victories under former England striker Kevin Davies. They are simultaneously hosting AFC Telford United while seeking a new club record of consecutive home wins at non-league level.
Kidderminster, in contrast, are presently on the back of three straight defeats, which marks their worst run of the season, and include just four victories in eleven games since the turn of the year.
Despite that, Harriers undoubtedly remain as one of the best footballing sides at this level, and will doubtless be extremely determined to recover from the disappointment of their late weekend defeat at relegation-threatened Gainsborough Trinity.
Vital Quotes:
“We drew with them at home and we got beat down there [in the FA Trophy],” manager Martin Gray recalled to BBC Radio York. “But the second-half performance was probably our best footballing performance. We probably did to them what they do to many teams. So we can do both sides of the game and have got to make sure that we’re focused on having a disciplined performance, be very hard to beat and very aggressive in our approach. And making sure we come away with the right result.”
Kidderminster Harriers Team News:
Kidderminster once again have a doubt over England ‘C’ international goalkeeper Brandon Hall [thigh], with on loan Wolverhampton Wanderers shot-stopper Jonathan Flatt set to continue. Former Doncaster Rovers defender Jimmy O’Connor [Achilles] is already ruled out.
Kidderminster Harriers (possible): Flatt, Vaughan, Taylor, Croasdale, Horsfall, Pearson, Weeks, Bradley, Ironside, Ngwatala, Brown
subs: Waring, Austin, Sonupe, McQuilkin, Palmer
Player to watch: Joe Ironside
Eighteen goals so far this season for the Middlesbrough-born former Nuneaton Town, Alfreton Town and Sheffield United striker.
York City Team News:
Leading goalscorer Jon Parkin returns for the visitors from a three-match suspension. Midfielder Simon Heslop is also available as his two-game ban following his sending-off against Boston United doesn’t begin until the weekend. With Louis Almond looking sharp in their latest run-out, recent signing Alex Kempster may therefore step down.
York City (probable): Bartlett, Parslow, Bencherif, Newton, Moke, Heslop, Pattison, Ferguson, Connolly, Parkin, Almond
subs (from): Burn, Smith, Correia, Brown, Kempster, Simpson
Player to watch: Adam Bartlett
Former England ‘C’ international goalkeeper returning to his one-time club.
Match Facts & Stats
York have made fourteen previous visits to Kidderminster, including four times in the Football League, winning three times and drawing four. The most recent of those was when losing an FA Trophy first round tie 2-1 earlier this season, with Amari Morgan-Smith’s second-half reply proving only a consolation. Team: Bartlett, Rowe, Burn, Bencherif, Ferguson, McAllister (Connolly), Moke, Newton (Law), Pattison, Parkin, Gray (Morgan-Smith). City’s latest victory there was a 2-0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round success in October 2010, courtesy of goals from Danny Racchi and Jonathan Smith. Team: Ingham, Parslow, McGurk, C. Smith, Meredith, McDermott, Lawless, J. Smith, Racchi (Carruthers), Constantine, Rankine (Gash).
Link: Red Rewind – Revenge for York at Harriers
Link: Red Rewind – Late winner has City flying
Next Fixtures:
Kidderminster – Alfreton (A); York – Southport (H)
Tonight’s Games: Chorley P-P Spennymoor; Gainsborough v Brackley; Kidderminster v York City; Southport v AFC Telford; Stockport P-P Boston; Tamworth v Darlington
