A remarkable month for Kiddy has seen them double their league win tally for the season within just four games. Having previously been planted in the drop zone by seven points, Kidderminster are now just two points adrift from safety. The appointment of the experienced Phil Brown has had no small part to play in the turnaround at Aggborough, winning all four of his league games since taking charge, scoring nine goals in the process.
Marc White and the squad will travel in high spirits following a crucial victory in Yorkshire on Tuesday night courtesy of a Tom Blair wonder goal in the latter stages of the game. A resolute defensive performance at the LNER Community Stadium moved Wanderers out of the relegation zone, three points clear of Woking in 21st.
A third away league win in a row marked the continuation of Dorking’s stellar form on the road this campaign. After the victory, the Wanderers boss described his sides away performances as “uncanny”. In his weekly update recorded earlier today, White went on to emphasise his satisfaction over the performance, “I was delighted with all the players, it was a great outcome, another one to put on our bed-post of memorable nights in this division.”
“If there’s one good trait to have it’s playing under pressure, we’ve done that a few times this season”
Looking ahead to our first ever visit to Aggborough, the Wanderers boss stated that he and his side “can expect a really big test”, as they prepare to face one of the most in form teams in the division. “It’s going to be a tough old place to go, but we do like a bit of adversity, there won’t be any complacency about going to Kidderminster.”
Despite The Harriers’ strong league form, they fell to a stunning 1-0 defeat in their most recent outing in the FA Trophy 5th Round – N.L North’s Peterborough Sports causing the upset and progressing to the Quarter Finals. After what was his first loss at the helm, Brown stated his side “didn’t show up”, and was hoping to get back on track on Tuesday night at Solihull Moors, however the game was postponed due to poor weather conditions. Brown also stated his readiness for the “good old fashioned run-in” he and a number of other clubs in and around the National League relegation zone are set to contest with.
Team News
Alfie Rutherford and Barry Fuller both took part in full training yesterday, and are available for selection tomorrow. In his weekly update, the boss stated that the two returning parties trained well and “the camp is in good spirits.”
Matt Briggs and Seb Bowerman both remain unavailable.
With the squad now looking relatively healthy once again, White is hoping to find some consistency in results, “we’ve got a lot of work to do to find consistency, it’s obviously helped by getting the same players on the field.”
Opposition Focus – The Harriers
The rejuvenation and new-found spirit embedded within in The Reds is fittingly represented in their last two home games – coming from 0-2 down in both to run out winners. The former AFC Fylde man, Gold Omotatyo scored in both comebacks, his goal tally now sits at six for the season, three for Fylde and three for Kiddy.
Despite the job being nowhere near finished, the turnaround Brown has overseen is hard to quantify in words, The Harriers looked down and out after spending the majority of the season at the bottom of the table. The ex-Hull manager, who has recorded Premier League wins over the likes of Arsene Wenger, has clearly struck the right chord with the players at Aggborough, who, since his arrival, have not only been exciting to watch, but tough to beat, two 1-0 away wins evidence that. Dorking can expect a side which will be eager to win all the second balls and have a home crowd right behind them, as they look to make it five wins from five in the league.
Last week, The Harriers announced the signing of midfielder Regan Griffiths, in an attempt to further bolster their squad. The 23-year-old made in excess of 50 first team appearances in the EFL for Crewe Alexandra, and had a spell on loan at Boreham Wood this season. Griffiths was denied a debut at Solihull Moors on Tuesday, so could make his first appearance in Kiddy colours against Wanderers.
Amari Morgan-Smith (9) and Ashley Hemmings (7) are Harriers’ top scorers this campaign, with midfielder Jack Lambert and ‘keeper Christian Dibble also strong performers. Defenders Matt Preston and Sammy Robinson are both doubts for our visit with respective injuries.
Last Time We Met
Despite it being our first visit to Aggborough, Saturday will be the third time the two sides have met. Kiddy came out on top at Meadowbank at the beginning of the season, Bailey Hobson netting the winner and lifting the leagues newcomers off the foot of the table. The other meeting came just over a year ago in the FA Trophy Fourth Round, also at Meadowbank, Harry Ottaway’s opener followed by a Ryan Seager brace guided Dorking to a 3-2 win.
