By KJ
May 3 2004

There will be no Hereford and Worcester derby this season as Hereford crashed out of the Conference play offs on penalties.More trips to the Gay Meadow are on the cards mind, as KJ looks at next seasons new opponents

New teams for next season

The Conference

Harriers will get the chance to face the team they replaced on promotion to the league next season when we will face Chester City. Chester were Conference champions and included former Kidder man Ben Davies in their squad and of course Danny Williams had a loan spell. Completing the Chester connections are Ian Foster and Wayne Hatswell. Skipper Hatswell joined Harriers from the Deva Stadium outfit in the autumn, whilst Ian Foster is still a Chester player, after returning to the Deva after a loan spell.

Of course, Chester pipped Hereford for the title and the Bulls would have made a fantastic derby for Harriers, and probably Cheltenham as well. Unfortunately Hereford lost out in the Conference play offs to Aldershot today. After being reduced to 10 men, they battled through to extra time and the game ended scoreless, with the tie all square at 1-1. In some competitions this would have seen Hereford go through to the final on the away goals rule, but it doesnt apply  and they went on to lose agonisingly on penalties, by 4-2.

Shrews next season?

So with no chance of that derby, Harriers could be going back for games at the Gay Meadow, as Shrewsbury have progressed to the play off final beating Barnet, again on penalties. The aggreagate score was 2-2, with Barnet having won the 1st leg 2-1. A Luke Rogers penalty gave the Shrews the win today and they went on to win on penalties. Quite why games of such magnitude are decided by penalties I dont know. So congrats to the Shrews, who go on to face Aldershot in the Final at Stoke's Brittania Stadium and bad luck to Hereford. A pity really, speaking from a Kidder-selfish point of view. I do believe if we were to get playing Hereford regular, both teams would attract large gates, and it coould have been seen as a county derby. Ah well, next year then. Quite ironic really as Aldershot were the team who beat Graham Turners Wolves in a play off semi final many years ago, in 1988 I think. Despite there being rivalry, I think most Harriers fans would enjoy derbies with Hereford.

And the rest ?

Confirmed visitors to Aggborough from Division Two next season are Wycombe Wanderers and Notts County. Two good fixtures in terms of distance with Meadow Lane and Adams Park (or whatever its called now!) being not much more than an hour away. The Chairboys, currently managed by former England and Arsenal legend Tony Adams(pic above) is a fixture Iam looking forward to. We enjoyed many battles in our non league days, including the 1991 FA Trophy final. The other 2 slots have yet to be confirmed, with old rivals Rushden and Diamonds now in the drop zone with a game to play. I will comment further when all has been decided.

Next for Kidder

Harriers have one more game left this season when we entertain Boston United this coming Saturday (8th May). I will preview this further later in the week.