Duo sign as Harriers aim to make strong start (From Worcester News)

Duo sign as Harriers aim to make strong start

3:26pm Friday 8th August 2008 in News

HARRIERS will want to avoid a potential banana skin and get the Blue Square Premier off to a winning start when they take on newly promoted Lewes at home on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

The Aggborough side will be eager to avoid repeats of opening day defeats at home to St Albans and Aldershot in recent years but the Blue Square South champions won't be a push over for manager Mark Yates and his troops.

Midfielders Simon Russell and Dean Bennett are both available to play after signing new deals with the club on Friday.

Yates has no injury worries going into Saturday's opening game and has plenty of options now that he has finally completed his squad rebuilding.

New addition Adam Bartlett looks set to make his debut at this level of football in goal after being awarded the number jersey ahead of Dean Coleman.

Luke Jones, who has recovered from a knee injury, is expected to line-up in central defence with captain Mark Creighton, while left-back Lee Baker, who has joined Harriers on a month's loan from West Bromwich Albion, may also make his debut.

The Harriers manager also has to choose between strikers Justin Richards, Matthew Barnes-Homer and Darryl Knights or may decide to use them in a three-pronged attack.

Lewes manager Kevin Keehan, who took over from Steve King at the end of last season, has revamped his squad for the coming season and has seen last campaign's top scorer, Paul Booth, go to Havant and Waterlooville.

However, he has added Grays striker Scott Taylor, former Aston Villa midfielder Michael Standing, ex-Brighton defender Zac Beda, as well as Seb Wallis-Taylor and Chris Breach from Bognor Regis.

Shuttle On-line will have team details and live match updates at Aggborough from 2.30pm onwards.