A look forward to Saturday’s Aggborough clash with Southport…
By Matty Paddock - 21/10/2022
Posted 3 years ago
RUSS Penn has urged Harriers to “kick start” their season with a big home game against Southport on Saturday.
The Reds must put an FA Cup exit to Fylde in midweek behind them and face the Sandgrounders at the weekend also looking to bounce back in the league following the set-back against Farsley Celtic.
It’s no easy task against Southport, led by one of the most experienced managers at the level, but Penn is adamant about heading into the next stretch of games on a high.
Looking ahead to the game, he said: “We’re nearly a quarter down of the season and the next quarter is really big for us.
“It can kick start the season and takes you into the cold winter months of December and January and you want to be there or thereabouts.
“Especially with the injuries we’ve got, we’ve just got to keep chipping away, working hard and getting our heads down.”
Harriers still remain in an excellent league position, even if some recent performances have lacked the team’s trademark sizzle and style.
There were flashes of it in the initial Fylde Cup tie, says Penn, who is hoping that the side’s rotten injury list might be starting to ease, evidenced by the return to the squad of Jack Bearne and Ethan Freemantle recently.
The worst of that news is that Alex Penny will be missing for up to six to eight weeks with a hamstring injury – though an exact timeframe isn’t yet known.
Jack Tolley is still likely to be a month from a comeback, but there is brighter news in that Tom Owen Evans has been stepping up his training schedule, while Joe Foulkes and Nathaniel Knight-Percival are hoped to be just a few weeks from rejoining the group.
New signing Joe Starbuck is also available to the gaffer.
Penn went on to say: “Fans saw snippets of last Saturday’s performance and what we can be, and what we’re trying to be.
“With full energy, and players coming back like Ethan Freemantle and [Jack Bearne], we are going to have a right go.
“We’ve had to shuffle the pack so much this year because of the injuries we’ve had, but I still expect us to be better than what we have been, albeit six points off the job of the league.”
Southport come into the game on the back of strong recent form. They’ve bagged three wins in their last four and netted eight goals in the process.
Kick-off at Aggborough on Saturday is at 3:00pm.
MATCH TICKETS
Home and away fans are reminded that the quickest and easiest way to purchase match tickets is to do so online via our ticketing platform.
Can’t purchase online? You can call our Ticket Office on 01562 823 931 who will assist.
Fans wishing to make a purchase in person can do so up to 15 minutes after kick-off on Saturday by visiting the Aggborough Ticket Office. There is an additional £3 added to admission prices (excluding Juniors) for tickets bought in this way, so please make purchases online where you can, which you can also do at any time until just after kick off.
MATCH DAY PROGRAMMES
Issue 10 of The Harrier will be on sale in the Club Shop tomorrow, as well as food kiosks all around the ground.
It features a retrospective on the 1990-91 season that saw Harriers reach Wembley, a look back at both of this week’s FA Cup ties with AFC Fylde, a ton of content on Southport and much more.
Can’t make the game? You can order a copy now with FREE UK delivery.
AGGBOROUGH IS CASHLESS
All food outlets at Aggborough, as well as all sales points including the Ticket Office and match programmes and Harriers Arms, are cashless for 2022-23.
Please keep this in mind when planning your day.
Join us pre-match at refreshment huts on the main Aggborough car park (in front of the Club Shop) where Harriers players will be helping with serving and meeting supporters.
NO SMOKING
Aggborough Stadium is a strictly no smoking venue – this means smoking, including the use of vapes and e-cigarettes, is prohibited anywhere within the stadium.
SAFETY AT AGGBOROUGH
Harriers supports the campaign by The FA, the National League and others to clampdown on antisocial behaviour at football matches.
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