A look ahead to Saturday’s clash with Oxford City….
By Matty Paddock - 24/11/2023
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS travel to Oxford City on Saturday in a vital encounter for both sides in the National League.
City, like Harriers, were promoted courtesy of the play-offs at Step 2 last season.
They’ve found this first season back at National League level a challenging adjustment – as have all those who are newly promoted to the level.
The division’s bottom four is entirely comprised of sides who were last season plying their trade at National League North or South level.
An upcoming batch of fixtures sees Harriers come up against a number of them, and other sides in and around that area.
Saturday’s clash is the first in a series of key clashes, then, with Russ Penn saying: “We have six big games from now until the New Year and we’re going to need a big points return to give ourselves a chance going into the second half of the season.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s not where we want to be, but we’re there and can’t change it, so we need a bit of a siege mentally now – coinciding with the quality we showed at times on Tuesday night.
“We deserve to be exactly where we are because we haven’t quite been good enough, but I know the signs are there that we can turn this round and go on a run.
“Some of the results have gone against us this season and we’ve lost by the one goal so many times this season and probably haven’t got our just rewards.
“Nobody feels sorry for us, and we have to keep going. We’re really disappointed with where we are at the moment and we’re going to come out fighting.”
Harriers fielded a much-changed side against Hartlepool on Tuesday night and picked up an important point in a 1-1 draw.
The boss knows the side must now make that count, adding: “Tuesday is a platform for us and [with] a positive result on Saturday, I’m sure everything looks a lot rosier, but we need to do it. Talk is cheap.
“Every team that’s come up has had a reality check.
“We want to be top of that table, so it’s a big game on Saturday; a six-pointer or whatever you want to call it, it’s a game both teams are looking to win.”
Saturday marks a first visit to Oxford City for Harriers since 1978. The two sides have, in fact, only ever met twice in cup competitions, making this game the first league encounter between the pair.
Oxford were beaten 2-0 at York City last time out but, prior to that, picked up two successive wins thanks to victories over Woking and Ebbsfleet United.
Harriers will check on the fitness of Sammy Robinson ahead of the clash after a knee issue forced his early withdrawal against Hartlepool.
Russ Penn expects Amari Morgan-Smith and Matt Preston to shake off knocks in readiness for the game, with Shane Byrne, Joe Leesley and Nat Knight-Percival all rated at being back in action in around two to three weeks.
Kick off at Oxford City on Saturday is at 3:00pm.
Away travel remains on sale from Harriers up to and including Friday, while travelling fans can also buy match tickets in advance from Oxford’s website.
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