We'll now need to take this to Nene Park and do the business there too.
They're another club in turmoil - there seem to be a lot this season - and a couple of weeks ago they told six players to find other clubs. Those six included the likes of Lee Phillips, Andy Burgess and Curtis Woodhouse and since then two others, Phil Gulliver and Dean McDonald have already left.
In their place have come a load of cheap youngsters including one time Yates target, Brendan Moloney, and also the slightly older Clayton Fortune on loan from Darlington.
On the day we were going through to the next round of the Cup they were beginning to rue having gone out to Evesham in the previous round when only 1002 fans turned up for the home League game against Weymouth with approximately thirty of those visiting fans. Very worrying times at Nene Park. Wonderful!
Yesterday we signed Stefan Moore for a further month although being a free agent it was probably just a formality. He could either play for us or go elsewhere but that seems not to have happened.
We have also had Russ Penn and Adam Bartlett on International duty in Italy this week. The former Harriers striker James Constable scored in the 2-2 draw and both Penn and Barts played the full game.
Enough has been said now about Penn's behaviour after being hauled off last Saturday and if he does get on the team sheet tomorrow then it'll be a sign that everything has been sorted. He could be made to sit on the bench for a while though and then bring him on to score his traditional goal against Rushden.
There is another question of who will sit on the bench. Could it be Martin Riley after he has deputised for Luke Jones so well while Luke has been serving his three match ban or will Yates decide to carry on with Riley and so force Jones to earn his place back in the starting line-up. A hard decision to make but whatever he decides we'll look strong at the back with either player.
We have no injuries but Rushden will be without keeper Alan Marriott for up to six weeks after he tore a stomach muscle.
I think we'll continue our good form at Nene Park with another narrow win. We already have the impetus of winning the home game earlier in the season and it would be nice to get our first double of the season.
Teams:
Harriers from:
Bartlett, Coleman, Baker, Riley, Lowe, Ferrell, Creighton, Bowler, Jones, Knights, McDermott, Bennett, Hayward, Brittain, Penn, Barnes-Homer, Smikle, Richards, Moore.
Rushden from:
Roberts, Day, Cox, Shariff, Osano, Jelleyman, Hope, Knight, Woodhouse, Phillips, Clare, Burgess, Fortune, Rankine, Tomlin, Moloney, Wolleaston, McGuinness, Beecroft, Boden, Kelly, Corcoran, Smith, Hilliard, McDonald, Wilcox.
Links to Rushden & Diamonds websites here
Directions to Rushden
here
Find Pubs around Kidderminster here
Find Hotels around Rushden here
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