A look ahead to Saturday’s journey to National League high-flyers Bromley….
By Matty Paddock - 15/03/2024
Posted 2 years ago
HARRIERS head to high-flying Bromley on Saturday with boss Phil Brown determined to ensure his players keep fighting right until this season’s end.
Successive draws at home against York City and AFC Fylde over the last week or so have ensured the Reds have stayed in the thick of the race for survival at the foot of the National League.
With seven games left to play, Brown is eager to get a result that sets the stone for his charges – though it won’t be easy against a Bromley side who have been in the play-off places for almost the entire campaign.
The journey to Hayes Lane comes with Harriers still yet to travel to other promotion contenders in Champions elect Chesterfield and Barnet.
Only Bromley are in focus just now, though, with Brown saying: “I’m not looking that far ahead, the next game is the most important, as we always know.
“The bottom line is that we get past Bromley with something from the game, and if that’s three points, that puts a marker down for the remaining six that they know you can’t just lie down and will eventually go away.
“That won’t happen, and it will never happen as long as I’m Manager of Kidderminster Harriers.
“It has never happened to me as long as I’ve been a Manager, I’m not the type who lies down; I like a scrap, I like a fight and to get amongst it and to try and out pick the brains of the opposition’s Manager.
“Preparing my team is the most important part, making sure they’re physically capable of winning a game of football.
“That’s what’s improved over the last six or seven weeks and the confidence levels have gone up a notch.”
Bromley’s remarkable form saw them surge into the play-offs with less than ten league games played this season, and they’ve remained there – sitting second for much of that time, only behind leaders Chesterfield.
Added to that, they have Wembley Stadium in their sights – a possible double in fact – given they’re all but guaranteed a play-off place as well as being in the FA Trophy semi-finals.
Brown added: “We’ll be prepared for what comes out of their changing room, we’ll be prepared for the way they play and the mentality of Bromley and the fact they’re fighting at the right end of the division.
“They’re fighting on a promotion front and a cup front, as it were, and we’re scrapping around for survival at the bottom.
“We’ve both got our causes and one’s as equally as important as the other as far as I’m concerned.”
On the injury front, Harriers are only certain to be without skipper Shane Byrne as a result of his knee injury.
Alex Penny and Sammy Robinson returned to the squad for Tuesday’s game with Fylde after illness and injury respectively. Matt Preston is also nearing a comeback.
Bromley pair Todd Miller and Cole Kpekawa are unable to feature against their parent club on Saturday.
Kick off at Bromely on Saturday is at 3:00pm.
Away travel is available from Harriers up to and including Friday, and supporters are reminded that they can buy match tickets in advance and make a saving.
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