A look to Saturday’s trip to Darlington in National League North…
By Matty Paddock - 24/02/2023
Posted 1 year ago
HARRIERS travel to another of the division’s play-off pack on Saturday with the journey to Darlington.
The Quakers have been in impressive form this term and boast the most prolific goal record of any side in the division.
Their early season form saw them surge to the upper reaches of the table, a position they still hold now going into the final run of the campaign.
Despite it being a fairly ominous looking task for Harriers given the Reds’ most recent form, boss Russ Penn remains upbeat and has full faith in his team’s abilities to get the right result.
He said: “They’re going really well but I am looking forward to going up there because I believe we can win the game.
“We will do everything right and everything in our power to beat them, we’ll be prepared.
“I know it only takes one game to turn the form around like it did eight weeks ago, and we’re hoping to start that this Saturday.”
Alun Armstrong’s men look a surefire bet to be in the play-offs this season, but even they’ve not been immune to curiosities of one of the most inconsistent seasons in National League North.
While they fought away at the top for some time, King’s Lynn Town looked to be running away with things before AFC Fylde stormed into pole position.
Their midweek defeat to Hereford has handed The Linnets the advantage once more, with the two now nose to nose, though the former have a game more to play.
The race for the play-offs is as hot as ever with numerous teams, including Harriers, still very much in the hunt.
Down at the bottom end of National League North, the likes of Buxton, Farsley and Blyth Spartans have all improved in recent weeks to leave business at both ends of the table very much undecided.
“Everyone bar Fylde, who lost in midweek, has had a little rough patch,” added Penn.
“The points aren’t as consistent and the teams at the bottom are starting to pick up more points, but that’s this season in a nutshell.
“You can move up and down five places, it has been that inconsistent and we’re part of that package.”
Harriers welcomed back Caleb Richards and Alex Penny from injury in Tuesday night’s defeat at Chorley.
Ashley Hemmings was forced off during the same game and is rated ‘touch and go’ to feature at the weekend.
Joe McGlynn, still receiving treatment at Burnley, is expected to be back within the next week or so, while Joe Leesley remains a confirmed absentee.
Kick-off at Darlington is at 3:00pm.
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