LDV News From The Kidderminster Camp

Last updated : 24 February 2006 By Thetashkentterror
Mark Yates
New Harriers boss, Mark Yates, who was speaking exclusively to Kidderminster's official club website, www.harriers.co.uk, talks about his side's chances against Carlisle in their efforts to reach the Northern Final of the LDV Vans Trophy :


"This is a massive, massive game for the club as well as the team. It's obviously a big occasion for the lads to play in at this stage in the Competition and we know that every game we play is bringing in extra money to the club.

"But let's face it, nobody outside of the club gives us much of a chance tonight, so all we can do is go there and put in our best performance and hope we can surprise a few people.

"Carlisle are flying really high at the moment and they're playing some brilliant stuff with a good team but everyone knows that Cup games give you that something a little bit different. We'll be going there with a positive attitude and we're determined to give it our best shot."



Kidderminster go into this semi-final clash with a fully fit squad and will be confident of causing an upset after already despatching three Football League sides to get to this stage. All of those three games have been at home though with the Harriers beating Darlington 2-1, Boston 3-0 and Bradford City 2-1 so far.

New manager Mark Yates, who was previously a player-coach at Championship outfit Burnley, took over the reins at the Worcstershire side on the 6th of January 2006. Yates won the post, from caretaker-boss Martin O'Connor, who had been overseeing training since the dismissal of Stuart Watkiss who had been sacked in December.

Yates has two wins out of two in the League so far although the Harriers were dumped out of the Second Round of the FA Trophy thanks to a last-minute Aaron McLean winner for Grays at Aggborough between those two fixtures. His side are still struggling to readjust to life back in the Conference though, after their relegation from League Two last season and are currently 16th in the table, just ten points above the drop zone.

Recent loan signing from Watford, Francino Francis, who turned 19 six days ago, is likely to be partnered upfront by ex-Mansfield Town man Iyseden Christie. Coventry-born, and Harriers top scorer with 12 goals this season, Christie has been the subject of much transfer speculation recently with many Kidderminster fans believeing this could be his final game before he completes a transfer window move to Rochdale.

The Harriers show much more better form at home than they do away from Aggborough, picking up only 11 of their 30 Conference National points on their travels. United have a good overall record at Brunton Park against Kidderminster, winning three, and drawing one, of their four home games, netting six goals in the process. Let's hope the Blues can keep that record going tonight as they claim their place in the Northern Area final of the LDV Vans Trophy.


For a full head-to-head preview of the previous results between the two teams Click here