Harriers’ take on Kettering turmoil
Friday 30th September 2011, 6:45AM BST.
Kidderminster Harriers were today refusing to take anything for granted at Kettering despite their hosts being rocked by infighting among their own players.
Harriers are hoping to cash in on the turmoil at the troubled Poppies, heightened by ugly scenes at the end of their 5-3 defeat at home to Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday night.
Jean-Paul Marna – the club’s longest-serving player – and Moses Ashikodi clashed over who was to take a penalty in stoppage time and, after coming to blows later on, the pair were sent off.
Both have been transfer-listed by manager Mark Stimson, who himself has only been at the club for less than a month after replacing former Halesowen boss Morrell Maison.
But Harriers are not reading too much into the hosts’ situation as they bid to get over their own disappointment, a stoppage time equaliser snaring a 1-1 draw for Grimsby at Aggborough on Tuesday night.
And assistant manager Gary Whild has vowed the team will show Kettering respect at Nene Park tomorrow.
He said: “You have always got to be wary of that situation when a team has had a heavy defeat. Also a manager has come in there and is quite fresh into the job.
“He will have his ideas of how he wants to change things and the players themselves will want to get Tuesday’s game out of their systems.
“You have to go and respect that, but I think it is important for us to make sure we carry on what we’ve been doing and concentrate on that.
“They have some players who know this league and, for all of those reasons, it is going to be a tricky game tomorrow.”
Harriers were today sweating on the fitness of Mike Williams, who missed training today after picking up a knock.
Winger David Hankin continues to be out with an ankle injury, while striker Steve Guinan and midfielder Kyle Storer are suspened.
James Vincent could return from a groin strain to replace Storer, but Scott Phelan is also in contention.
UK Sport
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