By KJ
February 5 2004

Harriers face Yeovil on Saturday in a vital Nationwide League Div Three game as they try and get away from the bottom of the table. Plus news on an award winning Harrier.

Vital Games Ahead

So Harriers will be looking for their 1st win of 2004 on Saturday with a home game against Yeovil Town. Harriers are precariously placed in 21st spot, 6 points off the relegation zone, and some points are urgently needed. Of course last Saturday, Kidder went down at high flying Oxford. Can I just apologise for the lack of report for that game. Basically I have been busy, and to be honest I did feel gutted at the defeat to another Atkins air raid. Yes, its is our own fault and perhaps the defence does still need strengthening, or even more radically a new keeper ? All Oxford seemed to do was hit us in the air, and both of their goals were from corners. Yes it is sour grapes and of course, given the conditions, it did suit them. Its just annoys me that such tactics seem to work in this division. Still we must learn to cope with it. mind you, as I always say, when or if England fail in this summers Euro 2004 and the press slate our style of play then I know who I blame. It’s the countless clumpers in the game. Ok, it may be needed at this level, but I wouldn’t let them anywhere near a youth team !

OK, the usual rant over with, and to be fair it’s a problem we need to address. As reported earlier, former defender, the giant Abu Sall has been training with us recently. Perhaps his presence, alongside Wayne Hatswell could make a difference ? Of do we need a new keeper ? Basically a big keeper ? I think it would help, because Brocky is a fine shot stopper but not many goals are scored from shots in this division. Most goals are from headers, set plays, corners etc. even most of the actual shots are resultant from the break up of set plays in and around the area. I must apologise for being so critical and I don’t think its the end of the world. I think more attention must be paid to set pieces in training with the current personnel. Once we cant start defending again then it will give us a platform to work from. Then we can start to get playing to our potential and hopefully move away from the bottom.

So it the Glovers who are our opponents on Saturday and Harriers will be looking for the same kind of result that they got on Boxing Day when Kidder won 2-1 at Huish Park. That day saw a tremendous rearguard display and lets hope for the same on Saturday. Yeovil haven’t enjoyed the best of runs lately and lost their last game to Northampton 2-0 in midweek. The Glovers are boosted by the loan signing of former Harriers Loanee Andy Bishop. Bish, who scored in his last game at Aggboro against Carlisle has signed for a month from Walsall after also enjoying another loan spell at Rochdale. Bish can be an effective forward if played alongside a big man and lets hope he doesn’t come back to haunt us. At time of writing Harriers have no further injury problems and hopefully Kenny Coleman and Adam Willis will be back sooner rather than later. Following his booking at Oxford, skipper Wayne Hatswell will miss our next away game at Southend on Valentines Day, maybe Willis and Coleman may be considered for that game.

News

Congratulations to striker Big John Williams who has been voted the PFA player of the month for January, well done big un.(source: official site)

Harriers boss Jan Molby has indicated in tonight’s Kidderminster Shuttle that he is chasing a new signing. Molby told the Shuttle that he wouldn’t name the player but he was a left sided attacking player. It is an area that we could use someone in really and of course our only left sided option, Sam Shilton has now departed to Burton.

Cheltenham on Tuesday. Baring any mishaps Harriers finally take on Cheltenham next Tuesday in the re arranged game. More details to follow.