Saturday: Dorking (A)

A look ahead to Saturday’s FA Trophy trip to Dorking Wanderers…

By Matty Paddock - 13/01/2023

Posted 3 years ago

HARRIERS could hand a debut to new signing Joe McGlynn on Saturday for the FA Trophy trip to Dorking Wanderers.

McGlynn signed on loan with Harriers until the end of the season earlier this week.

The Burnley hit-man is available to boss Russ Penn for a potential debut against the National League outfit, with the Aggborough chief delighted to get his man.

“He’s highly recommended and we’ve seen him a couple of times,” he said of his latest recruit.

“He’s a tough centre forward with a good experience of the levels… he’s quick, strong and powerful, and he’ll complement what we’ve got up front.

“He knows we’ve been lacking goals this season and hopefully he’s the one who takes that in his stride.”

Saturday’s game represents the opportunity for one of Saturday’s two sides to advance to the last 16 of the Isuzu FA Trophy.

Harriers have already dispatched St Albans and AFC Fylde in previous rounds, but now have the uphill challenge of facing a team from a level above.

The hosts, currently 16th in the National League, overcame Yeovil Town via a penalty shoot-out in the last stage of this competition.

They come into the clash hungry to put right their two most recent results which have seen them comfortably beaten by Oldham and Eastleigh.

“We’ll go there full of confidence,” Penn added.

“We’re four unbeaten now and we’ve got to try and hit Dorking.

“Are they vulnerable, will they make changes after the results they’ve had? Maybe, but I’m always wary of how teams who’ve been heavily beaten come out.

“You always come out fighting when you’re stuck in a corner and that’s what we’re expecting on Saturday.”

The boss has added that long-term injury absentees Nat Knight-Percival and Alex Penny are a few days’ training better off than last weekend, but missed out on the valuable, planned match minutes with the postponement of the Stourport Worcestershire Senior Cup match this week. That game will now be played this coming Tuesday (17th).

Joe Leesley is unfortunately ruled out for virtually the entire campaign following his knee injury sustained against Hereford.

Tomorrow’s match tickets are available via the Dorking website and advance purchase is is strongly recommended, as match day tickets at the turnstile (from 1pm only) are more expensive.

Kick-off is at 3:00pm