Saturday: Buxton in the Cup

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HARRIERS go in search of a place in the Fourth Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup when they travel to Buxton on Saturday.

The Reds meet their league rivals having sealed their place in the third qualifying stage with a dramatic 2-1 injury time win over Leek Town.

Buxton’s passage to this stage was equally as tense, they needed two bites of the cherry to get by Barwell, a 2-2 draw first time out followed by a 2-1 victory in the replay, the Bucks having gone behind in the second tie, too.

The side were also victorious in their last league game, a 2-0 victory over Rushall Olympic that put to bed a four-match losing streak in National League North.

That stretch had come after a flying start to the season that saw them beat Leamington, Farsley and Darlington in their opening three games of 24-25, a trio of home outings.

Now firmly back in the saddle, they’ll be looking to add progress in the FA Cup to the run at the expense of Phil Brown’s Harriers.

The Aggborough chief said: “It’s a great challenge because it’s not about probably the FA Cup game, it’s more important the two games in the league, if you put markers down.

“We’ll be facing them, guaranteed, three times this season so, hopefully, we’ll put a good enough marker down that they’ll understand what we’re all about. We know what they’re all about, or at least we think we do.

“If they play around with the system [and] team selection, we’ll have a look at them strong, weak, whichever the case may be, but when it comes to the league games, I’d imagine both Managers would be trying to boast a full-strength team, and in the Cup games there might be one or two changes, which we’re thinking about doing as well.”

Harriers will be making just a third ever trip to Buxton, having journeyed their in National League North in 2022 and the FA Trophy way back in 1971.

The more recent meeting there ended all square in a 1-1 draw for a Reds side then managed by Russ Penn.

Heading into Saturday, boss Brown said Paul Downing remains out with an injury, as does Birmingham City loanee Ben Beresford, though the latter could hopefully be just a couple of weeks away from a return to training.

Harry Ibbitson has been granted permission by Bradford City to feature for Harriers in the FA Cup, while last week’s defensive addition, Kam Kandola, could also appear.

Kick-off at Buxton is at 3:00pm. The tie will go to a replay at Aggborough on Tuesday should scores be level after 90 minutes.

For Saturday’s game, away travel remains on sale from Harriers up to and including Friday, while the hosts have strongly urged travelling supporters to purchase match tickets in advance. Those requiring a seat should also notify a steward at the ground.

 

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