FA Cup Preview

FA Cup time
By KJ
November 8 2003

Today Kidderminster Harriers take on Northwich Victoria in the 1st round of the FA Cup. Both teams arent having the best of seasons and both could do with a lift in fortunes.

HARRIERS V VICS
Today sees Kidder get their FA Cup campaign underway with a tie against Conference outfit, Northwich Victoria. The Vics, who Kidder had many a battle with in our Conference days are struggling at the foot of the table, just like us. A winnable game but this is the FA Cup and anything can happen. I have said before, I prefer playing teams we wouldn’t normally face, i.e. not a fellow 3rd div. Side. This is not to say that I expect us to win easy etc its just so boring playing a team you play twice in any case. Lets hope for a good run.
Northwich, to me, were always the acceptable face of Cheshire non league football. The other “Cheshire set” as I called them, Altrincham, Runcorn, Witton Albion were typical boot and hopers, where the Vic’s did seem to try and play a bit. My 1st memory of facing the Vic’s was a 3-0 home defeat in the FA Trophy. Mark Ward was playing for them then and scored I think. We were in the Southern League and Vics were above us in the APL(now Conference). Overall, I do have happy memories of beating them but thinking about it, they had their fair share of victories over the years. None more so than our 1st championship year, we lost 3-0. They tore us apart that night, mind you, they did have Dele Adebola on loan from Crewe at the time. As for our victories, our last competitive game against them saw us win 3-1 in our 2nd championship season. Another game that sticks out, is our 1-0 win in 96/97. Ian Olney’s goal proving to be the winner, in a very close game, which saw the Vic’s reduced to 9 men.
So on to today, Harriers could have star striker Bo Henriksen back after injury, as well as left back Scott Stamps. One of our two loanees can play, Andy White can, but Steve Burton isn’t allowed. Therefore I believe Stampsie could return today as left back. Difficult to predict, its anyones game really. Why not have a go on the prediction league.
For anyone who needs it, click on below for directions (Vic’s fans etc).