For the start of the holiday period we travel to the back of beyond for a mid table game with three of our players having an enforced break due to suspensions.    Daryl Burgess would have missed the game anyway after missing the York game through red cards but when two more players, including the influential Johnny Mullins, get red carded at York for swearing at the referee it's the last thing we need.

Mullins picked up his punishment in the tunnel following the game and the other player, Michael Blackwood, earned his after mouthing off following the award of a penalty for handball.    They will both miss the other Bank Holiday game against Cambridge Utd at Aggborough on Monday.

With Wayne Graves still out through injury the Harriers manager, Mark Yates, has drafted two youth teamers into the squad for the remainder of the season.    Ashley Walker (centre half) and Tom Byrne (forward) will make up numbers just incase they're needed and also to give them a taste of the big time.

Simon Russell or Lee Thompson will take the place of Blackwood and either Neil Haworth or Mike McGrath will fill in for Johnny Mullins.    The Burgess vacancy will be taken by Gavin Hurren again.


Canvey are a club in turmoil - aren't all Conference clubs? - and after their owner and manager, Jeff King, complained of a lack of support from the islanders there is now talk of the club either folding or being amalgamated with nearby Chelmsford City.    Canvey's main problem is not it's isolation or the proximity of the big London clubs but the growing success of nearby Southend Utd, a team that used to be with us in League Two but now running away with the League One leadership and heading for the Championship next season.    That's where the Canvey target audience have gone.

The Islanders will be without Ben Sedgemore, brother of our own Jake, because of a season long knee ligament injury.    Also out are Dominic Sterling and Chris Duffy with injuries and John Kennedy facing a late fitness test.

Their star striker, Lee Boylan, put in for a transfer this week and is now looking for a new club.    If he puts on a good display tomorrow (but not too good) then we might feel inclined to put in a bid for him.    It is a free transfer isn't it?


Result? draw!


Harriers from:
Danby, Lewis, Harkness, Rea, Haworth, McGrath, Smith, Jake Sedgemore, Fleming, Walker, Hurren, Russell, Penn, Reynolds, Sheldon, Newby, Byrne, Thompson.

Canvey Island from:
McKinney, Potter, Kennedy, Chenery, Dolan, McGhee, Minton, Gregory, Boylan, Clarke, Tait, Ward, Bimson, Noto, Keeling, Ibe, Conroy, Jay, Hallett, Lowes.