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Match Preview | Kidderminster Harriers (A)

Halesowen make the short 11 mile trip to Russ Penn's old side Kidderminster Harriers in a tasty FA Trophy Second Round clash

Written by Ben Ditchfield

Halesowen who are currently six unbeaten, play a Kidderminster side who are sevenunbeaten, in a mouthwatering tie at Aggborough, the former home of current Yeltz boss Russ Penn.

Penn spent five years at The Carpetmen, in two separate spells while making over 120 appearances as a player, before taking over as the manager of the club back in February 2020.

He was in the hot seat for 161 games, where he claimed a 42% win ratio, combinating to a promotion to the cream of the crop of non league football back in 2023. His dad, Mark Penn also has ties to the match, having made eight appearances for Halesowen against Kidderminster between the years of 1983 and 1988.

"They were one of the main factors in giving me a foothold in my career, its going to be a really emotional day, ive got a lot of friends at Kiddy, some of them i never got the chance to say goodbye, but football moves on and you build new relationships", stated Penn speaking to Radio Halesowen Town last week.

Now though, the recently turned 39 year old is going to be sitting in the away dugout at Aggborough, as he looks to get one over on his old side, as the Yeltz make the trip on high spirits, having not tasted a defeat since the 24th of September.

"We are on top of our game at the moment and its going to be an amazing day, we are going to enjoy it no matter what. I want us to go their and do ourselves proud and i genuinely think we have a chance to win the match, its a one-off game, a 90 minute game plus penalties if need be," said the Yeltz boss.

The side will be unable to call on the services two hugely influential characters, as both McKauley Manning and 14 goal man Kieren Donnelly will both be missing from a Yeltz matchday squad for the first time since September 2022, following on from the huge blow of them both receiving second yellow cards in the win over Sudbury last weekend.

"I might have to start myself to be honest, said Penn, "But no jokes aside, it will give some players a time to shine, we have enough bodies in the building to go there and be very competitive."

The game will most likely see the first start in a Halesowen shirt for Nick Clayton-Phillips, as Jordan Ponticelli looks set to retain his spot in the 11, looking to score for the fifth successive match, with the aim of becoming just the second player, along with Donnelly, to score in that many games in the last decade, having not scored more than once in successive games in his whole career.

Our opponents, will be heading into the clash as favourites, with the National League North side, just a point of the top of the second tier of the non league pyramid, as they look for a swift return to the National League. Amari Morgan-Smith and Ashley Hemmings, the two biggest dangermen for the side, having scored 15 goals between them this season in all competitions and 19 between them last season, in the National League.

Former Premier League boss, Phil Brown, took over the job at, after replacing Penn in January, where he oversaw five wins in a row to start his career as Kidderminster head coach. In the 41 games he has managed the side, a strong defense, the catalyst to their play, having conceded just 38 goals, keeping 15 clean sheets in the process.

The two sides haven't met in a competitive match since April 2010, where Halesowen, lost 2-0 in the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup, following goals from James Lawrie and Brian Smikle. In the 17 meeting since 1980, the Yeltz have won just four, with three of them coming in the last five meeting, as 10 wins headed the way of our opponents along with three draws.

A strong start to the game could be necessary for the sides chances of getting a result and sealing progression, in their first second round match of the FA Trophy since the memorable run to the Semi-Final in the 2019/20 season. Kidderminster have won their last six when taking the lead and have lost just once in 90 minutes since January 2021, in their last 53 games when leading at half time (winning 44 of them).

Key Seasonal Stats

Kidderminster

League Position - 2nd (National League North)

Season Record - 11W 5D 5L

Form (Last 5 Games) - WWWDW

Top Scorer - Amari Morgan-Smith (8 Goals)

Most Appearances - Christian Dibble, Zak Brown, David Davis (21)

Most Starts - Christian Dibble (21)

Biggest Win - 4-0 vs South Shields (Home - 12th November)

Biggest Defeat - 2-0 vs Scunthorpe United (Away - 30th August)

Longest Unbeaten Run - 7 Games (19th October - Present)

Longest Winless Run - 3 Games (30th August - 7th September)