Another hard slog, with no reward, will soon be over once we have ended our final game of the season against Champions Accrington Stanley.    There's no denying that they're worthy victors of the Conference title this season but you have to worry for their future once they start to mix it with the big boys of League 2.    I don't think they have enough strength in depth, apart from five keepers, and only one player that could make something of himself there is the wide man, Gary Roberts.    They will undoubtably strengthen to some extent but to acquire the class of player needed they're going to have to splash the cash.

I also feel that, although it has received the grading status necessary to enter the Football League, it will come as something of a shock to visiting fans and will soon become an object of derision.    The previous winners of the 'crap ground' award was Cheltenham with their risible away end but when fans of Lincoln, Northampton, Oxford (if they don't get relegated) and Darlington see a ground with all four sides like the old Whaddon Rd away end they'll be in stitches.

A poor ground doesn't make a team but I think that Accrington could have bitten off more than they should have done and, sadly, will soon be back down into the Conference.

For them Peter Cavanagh will miss the game after he was sent off last week against Tamworth and earned himself a one game ban.    They seem to have no injuries so should almost be at full strength for their celebration party.


It's that party that we should be hoping to spoil with a display that will want us coming back for more next season.    With only three players signed up for next season so far, Sedgemore, Hurren and Penn, the rest of them will have to play out of their skins to impress enough to keep their P45's in the office drawer.

Certainties to stay will be Danny Lewis, John Danby, Simon Russell, Lee Thompson, Luke Reynolds and Terry Fleming with the rest crossing their fingers in anticipation.    Johnny Mullins will almost certainly be leaving Reading and he'll be wanting to return to Aggborough permanently unless the worst happens and a League club take him on.

Two more players returned to their clubs this week too; Jon Newby back to Bury and Simon Rea back to Nuneaton but only temporarily I feel.    Rea fitted in well with us and could make a good addition to the squad.    Not so with Newby who I thought disappointing and doubly so because I've always been a great admirer of him.

For this game our only doubt is Jonny Harkness with a slight achilles problem and he'll probably miss the game rather than aggravate it.

Let's hope for a win to send us on our hols happy and, even though I have my doubts, I wish Accrington all the best of luck in the League and enjoy it while they can.    If only it was us going up in their place.


Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Harkness, Haworth, Burgess, Mullins, Walker, McGrath, Smith, Sedgemore, Fleming, Graves, Hurren, Russell, Penn, Reynolds, Sheldon, Byrne, Blackwood, Thompson.

Accrington from:
Alcock, Fearon, Gallagher, Dibble, Elliot, Welch, Williams, Tretton, Proctor, Jagielka, Craney, Mangan, Mullin, Edwards, Todd, Ventre, Richardson, Cook, Roberts, Boyd, Boco, Brown.