KIDDY KEEP EDS FIRMLY GROUNDED
ED WILLIAMS says Kidderminster Harriers can now fully focus on launching a National League North title challenge after crashing out of the FA Cup.
Kiddy had enjoyed a near flawless season until Southern League Central side Stourbridge stunned them in the third qualifying round last weekend.
Since John Eustace left to become assistant manager at Queens Park Rangers in the summer, Neil McFarlane has over seen just two defeats in his first two months in charge.
Eustace’s side were beaten in the National North playoff eliminator match last season thus extending their two-year absence from NonLeague’s top-flight.
A rousing start under McFarlane this season breathed fresh new hope into Aggborough ranks before last weekend’s setback.
But midfield ace Williams is staying positive and reckons there could be a silver lining to their cup defeat.
“Our aim is be challenging for the title,” he told The NLP. “We had a sore weekend last week in the FA Cup but we can purely focus on the league now and see what we can do. We want to pushing for that top spot. It’s been a good start by the boys.
“Neil’s been great with us. He’s a great motivator. He demands a lot of us and we’ve kept giving it back. We’ve all got a great relationship with him and it’s very positive.”
Williams has been Kidderminster’s standout performer since joining from Gloucester City in June, seizing his chance when playmaker Dan Bradley was sent off early in the season.
He has scored seven goals so far with his performances earning him September’s National League North player of the month and an England C call-up while also attracting interest from the likes of Leeds United, Aston Villa, Derby County and Ipswich Town, although Williams stresses he’s paid little attention to those rumours.
The 22-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Estonia in midweek for Paul Fairclough side and feels the benefit of full-time football at Kidderminster is paying off.
“It’s always nice to pick up individual awards but the main thing is how the team is doing,” the former Cheltenham Town youngster added.
“It’s good to get goals from midfield. I’ve tried to add that to my game over the past few years, it’s something I hadn’t been doing before, but it’s coming together for me this year. I just want to keep on improving day in, day out. Hopefully it can continue.
“I really enjoyed my three years at Gloucester with Marc Richards and Tim Harris, it’s a special place to me. Coming to Kidderminster, it was a challenge, a big club, full-time training too and I think that has made me go up a level with my performances.
“We were full-time at Cheltenham but I don’t think I was ready for it as I hadn’t physically matured yet. I didn’t play much there but dropping into Non-League with Hartpury and then Gloucester has allowed me to develop.”
After 11 games, Kidderminster sat second in the table, seven points behind leaders Chorley, before their clash at third-placed Bradford PA yesterday.
There is ground to be made up already but the early signs are that McFarlane’s side have the quality to keep up the chase.
Chorley come to Aggborough next month after a run of five favourable games but Williams isn’t thinking too far ahead.
“There’s still a long way to go but we’re happy with the way we’ve started,” he adds. “We’re a good passing team, I think that suits my game. We like to get forward and play on the front foot. Long may it continue.”