Match preview Vs AFC Wimbledon

The Harriers look like being without the services of David McDermott tomorrow following that crunching tackle from Wrexham's Silvio Spann that left him in a heap on the floor and a possible broken leg.  Thankfully after being rushed to hospital for investigation the fears proved unfounded and the diagnosis was just a badly bruised ankle but it'll mean he'll miss our first ever game against AFC Wimbledon.

Set to come back for us is Gavin Caines (right) following his one game match ban and Dean Bennett.  He missed Tuesday nights game with a slight knock.

During Caines absence Chris McPhee has filled in at centre half but it's doubtful if this will continue and unless Mark Yates decides to give Tom Sharpe his big chance then Caines will return.

Newly promoted AFC Wimbledon play their games at Kingstonians old ground, Kingsmeadow, and we have been there on a number of occasions in the past but not since 2000.  They are actively looking for a site to build a new stadium a bit nearer their Merton roots but that's a long way off.

The Wombles have started their Premier campaign well but it's doubtful if they have the real player resources to get much higher than the fourth place they currently find themselves at.  The crowds are standing up well though and they have an average of just over 3,400 so far this season.

Ironically, being a comparatively new club, the crowds for their games are far more healthier than another new club just a few miles away from them that also found themselves promoted last season.  Hayes & Yeading have to get by on crowds with a much lower average of 575.  It can't be the history of the poorly supported original Wimbledon that brings the crowds to Kingsmeadow.

As far as injuries are concerned the Dons are hopeful that Luke Moore has recovered from an injury he picked up in the away win at Rushden last Tuesday and there will also be fitness checks on Paul Lorraine, Jon Main and Ricky Wellard, all of whom were suffering from flu-like symptoms before the Rushden game.  Luke Garrard has been sent out on loan to Boreham Wood FC for match fitness.

We have only won once on the road so far this season - at Grays - and we're well overdue another win.  We have come close to it in recent games against FGR and York City and I think that with a prevailing wind and Matt Barnes-Homer hopefully finding his scoring boots again that we could snatch this one.




Harriers from:
Coleman, Singh, Baker, Riley, Courtney, Sharpe, Farrell, Finnigan, Knights, Hadley, McPhee, Bennett, Hayward, Caines, Costello, Barnes-Homer, Smikle, Dolman, Matthews.

AFC Wimbledon from:
Little, Pullen, Brown, Turner, Conroy, Hussey, Adjei, Inns, Judge, Hatton, Taylor, Kedwell, Main, Godfrey, Duncan, Gregory, Johnson, Wellard, Moore, Montague, Rapson, Lorraine.

Links to AFC Wimbledon websites here
Directions to AFC Wimbledon here
Find Pubs around Kidderminster here
Find Hotels around AFC Wimbledon here
Have a flutter on this game here: Free £20 Bet with Blue Square