Match preview as we look ahead to Saturday’s Emirates FA Cup tie at Bedfont Sports
By Matty Paddock - 15/10/2021
Posted 5 years ago
HARRIERS must start well and keep it in their quest to make the Emirates FA Cup First Round proper at Bedfont Sports on Saturday.
The Reds once again journey to a side two steps below them in the pyramid, just as they did for Sporting Khalsa and Ware in previous rounds.
Those matches each presented their own challenges – most notably the latter which went to a replay – but the gaffer says a strong start this time around is a must.
Speaking to our YouTube channel ahead of the trip to London, he said: “It is about starting well and keeping the foot on the gas.
“It’s very easy just to take the edge off it sometimes and bad habits creep in.
“I think that’s what happened at Ware in the first leg because, if we’re on it, like you saw in the replay, we’re a good team.
“We’re quick and dynamic.. it’s what we’ve got to do against these teams in the FA Cup.
“We’ve got to go to there and do the business. We’ve got to be prepared, work hard and go back to the basics and the values we believe in.”
FEATURE: Read ‘Five things to Know’ about our FA Cup opponents Bedfont Sports
Harriers will be without Lewis Montrose for the tie and beyond after Penn confirmed this week he suffered a set-back in his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Also missing for the Reds is Joe Foulkes, who has seemingly featured in a Harriers shirt for the final time following a serious ankle injury sustained at Ware.
Penn explained that the youngster’s recovery time will likely go beyond the end of his loan stint at Aggborough, with the popular defender back receiving treatment at parent club Walsall.
“It’s long-term, so it’s not good news,” he added of the injury. “It’s not nice, [but] he’s in good hands now.
“I’ll speak to Joe and his family as I always do but, as a club we have got to move on.
“It is unfortunate for us and unfortunate for him, but it opens the door for somebody else.
“You always want to see good players returning, but he’s not our player. He’s a Walsall player and they’ve done us a favour by loaning him out to us and we’ve done them a favour by getting him minutes.
“It’s all down to Walsall and the kid wants to play as high as he can, but the big thing for him now is getting fit.”
Ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup tie, Bedfont Sports have asked as many fans as possible to purchase tickets online and in advance of the game.
While it is possible to pay cash on the turnstile, a significant crowd is expected. To manage queues and congestion, the club will be offering a fast-track entry to those with pre-purchased tickets, which can be bought via the Bedfont ticketing platform.
The two teams are battling for a place in the First Round proper, the draw for which is held on Sunday lunchtime.
Kick-off at Bedfont is at 3:00pm on Saturday.
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