Kidderminster Team News

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 29/04/2005

THE Mariners travel to Kidderminster Harriers on Saturday for the first time in the Football League, knowing that it will also be the last time they will make the trip for at least a year with Harriers doomed for the Conference.

After a poor season that saw the dismissal of ex Hull boss Jan Molby and the appointment of Stuart Watkiss as manager, Harriers were effectively relegated last weekend after a 3-0 defeat to Boston. Currently they aren't mathematically relegated but their only chance of survival is if Rushden lose all their games and Kiddy win both their remaining two and score 21 goals. Therefore with little to play for, the game will probably mean that both managers will take a look at a few players they are undecided about for next season and perhaps blood a few youngsters.

For the Mariners, John McDermott, Stacy Coldicott and Martin Gritton all missed training earlier this week but Russell Slade is hopeful that they will all be fit enough to take part in the game at Aggbrough. McDermott has a dead leg, Gritton is still suffering from his recurring back problem while Coldicott is still feeling his Achilles after missing the game against Scunthorpe last weekend.

Russell Slade has hinted that he might experiment this weekend, possibly giving youngsters Danny North and Nick Heggarty a chance to show their worth in the Town first team. More likely, it seems is the return of giant defender Tony Crane who has been injured all season and despite being on the bench the last couple of months, has only just returned to full physical fitness. Who he replaces very much depends on Slade's choice of formation. A 4-4-2 could be deployed with Parkinson and Heggarty on the wings, with Gritton and North or Reddy in attack. At the back Crane would be likely to be paired with either Justin Whittle or Terrell Forbes. But if a 3-5-2 is favoured again, then a place for Heggarty is less certain and Slade will have to chose between Rob Jones, Whittle and Forbes to make way for Crane at the back.

For Kidderminster meanwhile, Stuart Watkiss may want to take a look at the likes of Lee Jenkins, Simon Weaver, Gary Birch, Dean Keates, Blair Sturrock, Mark Rawle and John McGrath who are all out of contract at the end of the season.

Likely Town Team: 1. Anthony Williams, 2. John McDermott, 6. Justin Whittle, 5. Tony Crane, 25. Terrell Forbes, 16. Ronnie Bull, 8. Jason Crowe, 16. Terry Fleming, 11. Stacy Coldicott, 10. Andy Parkinson, 26. Martin Gritton.
Substitutes: 27. Danny North, 30. Nick Heggarty, 4. Simon Ramsden, 18. Rob Jones, 19. Michael Reddy

Likely Kidderminster Team: 15. John Danby, 8. Simon Weaver, 28. Mark Jackson, 22. Wayne Hatswell, 14. Billy Jones, 21. Bertrand Cozic, 11. Dean Keates, 7. Chris Beardsley, 23. John McGrath, 29. Mark Rawle, 12. Blair Sturrock.
Substitutes: 9. Iyesden Christie, 19. Simon Russell, 2. Lee Jenkins, 5. Abdou Sall, 6. Johnny Mullins.

Prediction: a 2-1 win for Town

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