Harriers eye New Year cheer

Early in the New Year the club found itself on the brink of folding due to its poor financial position but after some incredible fund raising off the pitch things soon started to move in the right direction. The club then went on to narrowly miss out on the play-offs that season following a terrific run of results; it was certainly a roller coaster of emotions.

It was a fantastic achievement to finish that campaign so well and the team carried this good form into the current season, where they now find themselves in a strong position as they bid to return to the Football League.

The Harriers currently sit in sixth position, well placed behind the leading pack and with a game in hand on both Southport and York City who occupy fourth and fifth position, respectively.

After a very competitive start to the campaign, the league table is slowly beginning to take shape as we pass the halfway point of the season.

At the top, Wrexham and Fleetwood are fighting it out for the honour of being crowned Champions whilst beneath them lie a host of clubs who all still harbour realistic ambitions of reaching the play-offs; in my opinion there are ten sides fighting it out for third, fourth and fifth position. At the foot of the table it is also too close to call, with the bottom eight sides battling to avoid the drop at present.

I certainly won’t be putting any money on how things pan out just yet but it all bodes well for an exciting second half of the season.

Following a brilliant unbeaten run of form that stretches back the best part of two months, people are now starting to sit up and take notice of the Harriers. You have to go back to early November to find the last time the club tasted defeat.

The fact that Jamille Matt and Steve Burr won the Player and Manager of the Month Awards for December is testament to how well the club is doing at present. Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Forest Green extended the club’s unbeaten run to ten matches.

Matt scored five goals in five appearances during December, including a brace in the 4-1 victory against Bath City, and he carried on where he left off by grabbing the equaliser at the New Lawn, rising highest to head home a teasing cross from Mickey Demetriou. The 21-year-old’s performances have now begun to grab the attention of Football League clubs, notably Northampton Town, who had had three offers for the striker rejected last month. The striker is deservedly earning all the plaudits that he is receiving at the moment and one hopes his fine form continues long into the New Year.

Both the Player and Manager of the Month awards are a credit to the team as a whole. Everyone is stepping up to the plate on the field and the results speak for themselves. For example, Demetriou has put in some terrific performances at left-back since coming into the side and it says a lot that he is currently keeping Mike Williams out of the starting XI.

The club’s squad may not be the biggest in the division but it certainly isn’t short of quality. Everyone who comes into the side is putting in a shift, something that is vital for any team. This was proved over the festive period as Burr’s men took seven points from a possible nine available; not a bad return given the gruelling fixture schedule that is a test for any side.

However, the New Year brings with it a new challenge as the Harriers now have to play six matches in the space of three weeks before the end of January; five league fixtures and a tie against Droylsden in the FA Trophy. Burr has already dipped into the January transfer market to boost his ranks by signing Daniel Bradley from Tamworth on a deal until the end of the season. The former Aston Villa trainee made 47 appearances for the Lambs last season and featured in 19 games for them this term.

It could prove to be a crucial month in determining where each team finishes come the end of the season. Matt admits that is will be a key period in which the most consistent teams will rise to the top.

It all starts this Saturday against Hayes & Yeading at Aggborough, COYR!

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