BOSS PENN HAS A PLAY-OFF INKLING
Harriers have the form to succeed
RUSS PENN insists momentum is key to a promotion push – and believes his high-flying Kidderminster Harriers can slip through the back door and finally clinch a place back in the top-flight.
Tuesday night’s Eliminator win at Alfreton Town was Kiddy’s seventh win on the trot in National League North, while only conceding one goal along the way – a Charlie Oliver penalty for Southport in a 3-1 victory.
It’s a run which has got the Harriers faithful dreaming of a return to Non-League’s top table after an eight-year absence – even though Penn’s men have hardly had things their own way this season.
A play-off semi-final defeat to Boston United last season ultimately led to the loss of key players such as Sam Austin, Geraldo Bajrami and Omari Sterling-James last summer and a major overhaul at Aggborough.
As a result, a combination of inconsistency and a lengthy injury list hindered Kiddy’s progress with the former Football League club sitting in the lower half of the table in the early part of the year.
Now back firing on all cylinders, however, the full-time Harriers are in the box seat again and have emerged as serious contenders to progress through the knockout stages.
Standing in their way are the league’s other full-timers, King’s Lynn Town, who just missed out on an immediate return to the top-flight when they were edged out of the ti“We’re tle race by AFC Fylde. Penn is under no illusions as to what to expect – a North clash of the titans.
“We’ve gone through some rough times this year but hopefully we are reaping the rewards now,” the 37-yearold told The NLP after Amari Morgan-Smith’s first-minute goal saw off Alfreton in Tuesday night’s Eliminator.
“We’re going into form, that’s seven wins on the bounce, conceding one goal, which was a penalty, but its a different task against King’s
Lynn on Sunday.
“Another full-time team like ourselves, they’re the second best team in the league and took it all the way to the end, so we’re up against a proper team.
“Since the gaffer [Tommy Widdrington] has gone, they’ve won five out of five so, like ourselves, they’re in fine form.
“We couldn’t have a harder game on Saturday but our away form is the best in the league so we’ve got to take that momentum going into it.
confident and we’re looking forward it. I’m comfortable with the back three and the back five at the moment, and when you come up against the Matt Rheads of this world, you can never have a comfortable evening.”
Kiddy were one of TEN sides fighting for a play-off place on the final day and Penn was also quick to heap praise on his rivals for producing a thoroughly entertaining finale for the fans.
“I think there were only two teams not playing for anything on Saturday, with seven teams in the relegation battle as well, so it just shows you how entertaining the season has been,” Penn added.
“The race for the play-offs, with so many clubs involved, would have been so exciting for so many sets of supporters, having seven spots really keeps the season open.
“I think it’s really unfair that only one team goes up automatically at our level
“It stresses us managers out, I tell you, but it’s great to be involved in.”