At the moment this game is in some doubt due to a heavy snowfall in Yorkshire on Thursday but York say that under the snow the ground is still playable.  This, of course, will only work if they don't get a hard frost early on Saturday morning.  Then there will need to be a very early inspection to save the travelling Harriers fans the prospect of another farce like Guiseley when the game was on and off like a Belisha Beacon (pedestrian crossing for you young 'uns)

We'll be without four essential players, Ferrell, Constable, Richards and Penn, for this game against the Leagues most in form side.  It was only a few weeks ago that City were hovering just above the relegation spots but the appointment of last months Manager Of The Month has seen then rise above the Harriers in the table.

Fate's on our side for this game because now the dreaded Manager Of The Month curse can take it's full effect.

Our four are all out due to the accumulation of yellow cards but Mark Yates say's that we need not worry because we have 'strength in depth'.  38yr old Neil Howarth (assistant manager) is expected to get a place on the bench now that defender Jon Munday has gone out on loan to local rivals Worcester City.

Dean Bennett might be back in the fold permanently, coming to join us for a third time, but we have no idea who else is on Yates' list.  There is also talk of someone leaving but, again, no idea who it could be.  We'd be daft to decimate our already small squad further.

York have let former Harrier Chris Beardsley go out on loan to Kettering Town of the BSQ North and he knocked in two goals for them in their 6-1 win against Solihull Moors on New Years Day.  They have no injuries to speak of with just Paul Brayson coming back from flu.

This game is going to be a tough test for us to see if we can keep up our run of six games un-beaten and with York on their own un-beaten run (8 games) it could go either way.


Stop Press: Dean Bennett signs from Chester City





Harriers from:
Bevan, Coleman, Harkness, Kenna, Bignot, Creighton, Bennett, Howarth, Whitehead, McGrath, Hurren, Russell, Blackwood, Barnes-Homer, Smikle, Christie.

York City from:
Evans, Mimms, Craddock, Robinson, Elliott, McGurk, Parslow, Sodje, Panther, Brayson, Farrell, Woolford, Greenwood, Brodie, Wrigley, Turnbull, Wroe, Purkiss, Lloyd, Kelly, McWilliams.