5:53pm Wednesday 10th March 2010
By Peter McKinney
KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Steve Burr urged his in-form side to rise to the occasion for Saturday’s FA Trophy
semi-final at Aggborough.
Victory over current holders Stevenage Borough would give Burr’s side a much-needed advantage ahead of the second leg at Broadhall Way on Saturday, March 20. Harriers, who are unbeaten in 10 games,
have been given the toughest test after being drawn against the tournament favourites and Blue Square Premier’s current leaders.
However, Burr believes that his troops have already demonstrated they can upset the odds in this competition.
Their 2-1 win at Oxford United in the previous round showed they can mix it with the best sides in the Conference.
It will take another superlative display against Graham Westley’s in-form troops, who marched to the top of the table with a 4-0 trouncing of Barrow on Tuesday night.
But with a Wembley appearance the prize for the winners over 180 minutes, Burr is sure his players don’t need any extra motivation.
“The pressure will be on us to go out and lay down a marker and give ourselves the best chance possible of getting through,” commented the manager.
“Whatever happens, we must remember that nothing will be decided by this game and that we’ve got 90 minutes a week later.
“We’ve been given a tough draw but we’ve already proved that we can beat the best when we knocked Oxford out in the previous round so we know we are capable of it. “The players don’t need any
incentive to win these games.
“The prize is Wembley and it’s a once in a lifetime chance for all the players.
“I’ve told them that every tackle they win, every header and every shot is a step closer to the dream.
“I had the honour or appearing there twice and it’s an experience you never forget.”
Burr has suffered semi-final disappointment in this competition once before, ironically when his Northwich Victoria side lost 4-3 on aggregate to Harriers in the 2006-07 season.
But the two-time finalist with Macclesfield won’t let himself be affected by that previous last four clash.
He said: “We went into that game 2-0 down but within 20 minutes of the second leg we were back on level terms and had plenty of chances to win it.
“Harriers managed to score a couple of goals though we had chances that went begging, but those games have no influence on our semi-final this time around.”
A bumper crowd is set to descend on Aggborough for the club’s biggest game of the campaign (3pm kick-off).
Fans will get a chance to see what is hopefully not their only glimpse of the trophy this season on Friday, when it is displayed in the Swan Centre between 12.30pm and 2.30pm .
Supporters eager to see it are urged to bring their own cameras.
Burr’s squad are set for their biggest test as they play three vital games in the space of eight days.
Sandwiched between the semi-final games, Harriers take on play-off hopefuls Luton away on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off), in a Blue Square Premier encounter that could help to determine their
chances of making the top five.
The club suffered a minor setback this week, when they had three points removed after expelled Chester’s Conference record was expunged.
That meant they dropped down one place to tenth in the table.
n The club have also set a new date for their final outstanding league fixture at Barrow.
They will now visit Holker Street on Thursday, April 8 (7.45pm kick-off).
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