Match Preview: AFC Fylde v Kidderminster Harriers(National League)15/08/23.
The Coasters play their second home game on the bounce with the visitors being the ever familiar Kidderminster Harriers. Kidderminster were formed in the year 1886 and have played their home games at Aggborough since the 1887-88 season. The Harriers saw some struggles in their early years as a professional club starting with being wound up in 1891. The club then returned to amateur status but found further financial issues as well as accusations of bribery for certain games. However, the Harriers were a hotbed for good players with players being sold to the likes of Wolves and West Brom for large fees at the time. The club eventually moved from the Birmingham leagues to the southern leagues just before WW2 however this did not last long due to financial issues and voluntarily moved themselves back to the Birmingham leagues. They enjoyed some success during the 60s and 70s winning county cups and the west midlands leagues on numerous occasions which led to them playing in what is now the national league. During the 80s the club enjoyed something which can only be described as a magic striking partnership with Kim Casey and Paul Davies scoring just under 600 goals for the club during their time there. However, despite the goals success didn’t come until 1994 when the club finished top of the conference but were refused promotions due to fire regulations not being met at Aggborough stadium. The Harriers eventually made the step up to the football league in 2000 and managed to stay there for 5 years but due to a mixture of poor results and once again financial issues the club got relegated back to non league. Life in non league started off well with a day out at wembley but unfortunately losing out to Stevenage and after that the downward spiral started. Multiple playoff finishes meant the club should’ve gained promotion back to the football league but once again mismanagement with finances led to points deductions and cuts in the playing budget and were eventually relegated to the national league north in the 2015-16 season.
In their first season in the national league north the now Birmingham City manager John Eustace took them to the playoffs but ultimately failed. He managed to do the same again in the season after but failed in the playoffs again and then moved onto QPR.
After Eustace left, a series of managers came in and out but nobody settled till Russell Penn arrived. Penn managed to gain control of the Harriers and achieved a playoff finish and a memorable cup run in his first full season. In his second season at the helm Penn took the Harriers back to the national league after a 23 year wait for a promotion, the Harriers are certainly going to savour this season.
Last time out
The Coasters come into this game on the back of a heavy home defeat to Chesterfield whilst the Harriers claimed their first 3 points of the season with an away win at York City. The Harriers are currently on 4 points from an available 6 drawing with Woking at home on the opening day as well as Saturday's win away at York. With 0 goals conceded in the first 2 games Russell Pennn’s side look hard to break down. However the Coasters will be looking to get there first win of the season after claiming 1 point from there first 2 games, looking threatening on the attack but a bit shaky at the back conceding 6 goals in 2 games but also scoring 4.
The Manager: Russell Penn
Russell Penn can be seen as one of the younger manager’s in the division at the age of 37 his ideas can be seen as a fresher way of playing football. In his playing days Penn was somewhat of a midlands man playing for Birmingham City, Alvechurch, Burton Albion and Kidderminster. Penn, often a fans favourite at clubs or becoming known as mr reliable, made over a 100 hundred appearances for Kidderminster, Cheltenham Town and York City which shows his incredible loyalty to the teams he played for. Penn ended his playing days back at Kidderminster in 2019 after a successful career bouncing around lower league football clubs and the top end of non league. Penn then moved to the backroom staff at the Harriers and became the assistant under James Shan. However, after Shan moved on Penn was given the hot seat at Aggborough and was tasked with getting Kidderminster back to the top tier of non-league. His first period of management was curtailed early as the season ended due to the coronavirus pandemic. However in his first full season, he enjoyed a cup run which will go down in Kidderminster’s history reaching the FA Cup 4th round before being cruelly knocked out in extra time by Premier League side West Ham United. The Harriers went on to finish the season in the playoffs but got knocked out in the first round by Boston United who also beat the Coasters in the playoffs that season. In his second full season with the club Penn managed to gain promotion via the playoffs, for the first time in 23 years the Harriers were promoted. It was playoff success for Penn’s men doing it the hard way winning away at Alfreton Town, Kings Lynn Town before winning away at Brackley Town in the playoff final to gain promotion back to the National League. Penn will be looking for more success like this in the near future.
Key Players
Ash Hemmings- Hemmings is a player who all Coasters fans will never forget after his short spell at the club under Dave Challoner. A tricky winger who can play anywhere across the front line is always a threat. A lethal striker of the ball, Hemmings can still score in the air despite his height and will cause the Coasters a real handful on Tuesday night.
Amari Morgan-Smith- The official number 9 for the Harriers, Morgan-smith is a tidy striker who can be seen as a poacher within the box and often will seem silent within matches but always seems to pop up on the scoresheet. Scoring against the Coasters last season at Mill Farm Morgan-Smith will be looking to add to his tally against the coasters.
Joe Leesley- Leesley is a versatile midfielder who can also play out wide for the Harriers. A great passer of the ball, Leesley often drops into midfield to release the likes of Hemmings and Morgan-Smith. Keeping him quiet could be essential for the Coasters to come out on top.
Previous Meetings
8th October 2016
National League North
Kidderminster Harriers 3 vs 3 AFC Fylde
Goalscorers: Kidderminster- Arthur Gnahoua (13), Elton Ngwatala (49), Keith Lowe (86) Fylde- Danny Rowe (43) James Hardy (62,72).
Attendance- 1970
The first game between these 2 sides did not disappoint as both sides looked to gain the early advantage in what would be a tight title race. An entertaining game which saw both sides pegged back during the game where attacks were on top.
18th March 2017
National League North
AFC Fylde 2 vs 2 Kidderminster Harriers
Goalscorers- Fylde- Dan Bradley (82) Matt Blinkhorn (97) kidderminster- Ryan Croasdale (25) Keith Lowe (35).
Red Cards: Fylde- Sam Finley, Kidderminster- Ashley Carter, Tyrell Waite
Attendance: 2359
The best ever game between these 2 sides to date with both sides going hammer and tongue to get the victory. The game had everything you would want between 2 sides vying for the title going at it like 2 heavyweight boxers going blow for blow. Coasters fans will feel like they got the better outcome with a late equaliser causing absolute bedlam in the home end, a game which will live long in the memory.
25th September 2021
National League North
AFC Fylde 2 vs 1 Kidderminster Harriers
Goalscorers: Fylde- Nick Haughton (6) Stephen Dobbie (84) Kidderminster- Joe Foulkes (52)
Attendance- 1120
A late winner of class from a player of class for the Coasters meant that Fylde kept the 3 points at Mill Farm. A tight affair which was closely contested between the 2 sides which could’ve ended up as a draw but Dobbie’s finish was the only difference between the 2 sides.
12th March 2022
National League North
Kidderminster Harriers 0 vs 1 AFC Fylde
Goalscorers: Fylde- Nick Haughton (6)
Attendance: 2771
James Rowe’s first game as Fylde manager saw 3 points return to the Fylde Coast in what was another closely contested affair between the 2 sides with a Nick Haughton chip being the only difference between the 2 sides. Kidderminster’s main threat was once again Ash Hemmings who probably should’ve scored but the Coasters defence remained resilient. Both sides managed to reach the playoffs with both sides losing out to Boston United with Fylde losing out in the Semi finals.
13th September 2022
National League North
Kidderminster Harriers 0 vs 0 AFC Fylde
Attendance: 2148
An early season game between 2 sides expecting to be at the top of the table turned out to be a game where each side cancelled each other out. The Coasters debuted their ‘Barcelona’ esque away kit for the first time which seemed to gain positive reaction from the fans.
15th October 2022
FA Cup
Kidderminster Harriers 2 vs 2 AFC Fylde
Goalscorers: Kidderminster- Ash Hemmings (54) Yusifu Ceesay (56) Fylde- Nick Haughton (11, 72)
Attendance: 1558
A month after their last meeting the coasters once again faced the Harriers in what was an entertaining cup tie. A Chris Neal mistake almost cost the coasters the tie but a Nick Haughton wonder free kick took the game back to Lancashire, which was seen as another positive for Coasters boss Andy Taylor.
18th October 2022
FA Cup
AFC Fylde 2 vs 0 Kidderminster Harriers
Goalscorers: Fylde- Siya Ligendza (64) Luke Charman (82)
Attendance: 495
The Coasters eased into the next round of the cup with strikers Charman and Siya both scoring good goals. A dominant display from the Coasters with the win never looking in doubt.
20th December 2022
FA Trophy
AFC Fylde 1 vs 1 Kidderminster Harriers (2-4 on penalties, Kidderminster win)
Goalscorers: Fylde- Nick Haughton (67) Kidderminster- Jack Bearne (19)
Attendance: 328
A game to forget for both sets of fans 5 days before christmas. A freezing affair at Mill Farm saw an error-filled game go to penalties which saw the away side progress with some laid back penalty misses from the home side.
10th April 2023
National League North
AFC Fylde 0 vs 2 Kidderminster Harriers
Goalscorers: Kidderminster- Amari Morgan Smith(3,34)
Attendance: 1269
A dominant first half display from the away side saw them take all 3 points in what was the Coasters second defeat within a week. Morgan-smith was the main man in what sent Kidderminster on a mazy run to the Playoff final and eventually getting promoted with Fylde, this could be seen as a turning point in there season.
Opposition Form
The Harriers come into this fixture in great form gaining 4 points from an available six in their first 2 games back at National League level. This form however is not beginner's luck as the Harriers have suffered just 2 defeats in all competitions since the 25th February 2023. A successful pre-season from Russell Penn's side saw them play a variety of sides and tested themselves against league 2 opposition and was unfortunate to not come away with a win. However with a tried and tested system set in place at Kidderminster, they may go under the radar this season and may surprise some people if they manage to keep this form up.
