Express & Star

Stourbridge and Kidderminster Harriers shoot for the summit

Stourbridge and Kidderminster Harriers will be aiming to go top of their respective leagues when they take to the field tomorrow (3pm).

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The Glassboys – second in Southern Central standings – are heavy favourites to win their clash against a second-bottom Hitchin Town side who have only won once this season.

To get to the top tomorrow they must better the result of leaders Kettering Town, who face a tricky trip to third-placed Royston Town.

Kidderminster host Chorley in the game of the day in National League North.

Third-placed Harriers can go top by beating the second-placed Magpies if leaders Bradford Park Avenue fail to win at home to struggling Ashton United.

Mid-table Halesowen Town will bid to build on a pair of cup wins when they return to Southern Central action at fourth-bottom St Ives Town.

The Yeltz advanced in the FA Trophy and Birmingham Senior Cup, but are looking for to end a winless run of three in the league.

Rushall Olympic hit the road with a long trip to Suffolk to take on Leiston.

Harriers’ Neil MacFarlane

Having seen a run of two league wins in a row come to an end last weekend with a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Alvechurch, manager Liam McDonald will be looking for an instant response from his side against a Leiston outfit that have started the campaign well and sit fourth, eight places above the Pics.

Steve Burr retains belief in his Stafford Rangers squad as they prepare to visit Lancaster City in a battle between two Northern Premier strugglers.

Boro go into the game in 15th, level on points with Lancaster and only three clear of the bottom three.

“I’ve never really known a season where the mistakes are being punished as much,” he said. “Along with that, we haven’t been scoring enough goals, but I’m still convinced in the squad.”

Looking ahead to tomorrow’s opponents, he added: “They started off slow and got a new manager in – that’s given them a bit of injection of late.

“They’ve had some good results, we know we’re going to come up against a side with their confidence. I’m more concentrating on what we can do and what our players can deliver.

“We’re OK, we’ve got one or two little knocks. We’ve had a really hectic start, playing Saturday-Tuesday and it has taken a bit of toll with one or two lads.”

Striker Kyle Perry, 32, has departed Marston Road for the second time to sign for Coalville.

Eleventh-placed Hednesford Town will look to bridge some of the five-point gap to the play-off positions when they travel to 13th-placed Hyde United.

Third-bottom Chasetown have won just one of their 14 games in Northern One West this season. The Scholars – who reached the play-offs last term – are away to Widnes.

Despite their poor league form, right-back Harry Goode continues to impress at the Scholars Ground. He picked up his second consecutive player of the month award.