4/3/08 - Kidderminster v Stafford Preview

Stafford Rangers make the short trip down the A449 this evening to face a local derby against Kidderminster Harriers.

And they will be keep to get another unbeaten run started following the disappointment of the 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Farsley Celtic last Saturday.

But Rangers will not be the only team looking for the three points. Kidderminster have lost their last four games and have not won since they defeated Farsley at Aggborough in mid-January. Currently in 15th position, they realistically can not make the play-offs and their total of 41 points all but guarantees they will avoid relegation.

Steve Bull will have an almost identical squad to choose from compared to Saturday. Again, strikers Nathan Smith, Del Olaoye and Marco Adaggio will probably not feature and Matt Hazley limped off early on against Farsley. Jemiah Richards continues to recover from his broken metatarsal

Kidderminster boss Mark Yates will be forced to make changes if the loan spell of central defender Luke Jones is not extended by Shrewsbury Town.

It was back on the first Tuesday of the season that Rangers faced Kidderminster at Marston Road. Seb Arnolin found the net for Stafford but they took all three points home with a 3-1 win. Two of the key players on duty that day, keeper Scott Bevan and striker James Constable, are no with Kidderminster having both joined Shrewsbury during the January Transfer Window. Another, Justin Richards, the scorer of two goals at Marston Road, is now with Oxford United.

Games between Stafford and Kidderminster go back an awful long way with the first competitive meeting probably being a Birmingham League game during the 1893/94 season. The home side came out on top in both games with Kidderminster winning 3-2 and Stafford winning 4-1 (in the days before Marston Road).

In more modern times, Rangers and Kidderminster have met in 43 league and cup games since the War with Rangers winning just 13 of them. In fact Kiddy have won nine of the last 13 meetings - tonight will be a good time to dent that recent record. Stafford last won at Aggborough during the 19945/95 season.