5:31pm Wednesday 17th March 2010
By Peter McKinney
DEFIANT Kidderminster Harriers manager Steve Burr has urged his shell-shocked troops to salvage some pride in their FA Trophy semi-final second leg at Stevenage Borough on Saturday.
The Aggborough outfit go into the game trailing 5-1 after they were stunned at home by the Blue Square Premier leaders last weekend.
That result was the first time Burr has experienced defeat since taking over the management reins.
Harriers, who also went down 3-1 at Luton in the Blue Square Premier on Tuesday, will need to win 4-0 to force extra-time and penalties.
But Burr felt the scoreline did not reflect the game and is hoping his side can draw inspiration from Cheltenham Town, who came from 5-3 down to beat Burton Albion in the Football League Division Two on Saturday.
He said: “As far as I’m concerned Stevenage flattered a little bit, they’re a good side but we did more than the 5-1 scoreline reflected.
“Having said that they were ruthless and Luton also put their chances away.
“There’s always a chance, there’s 90 minutes of football.
“They’ve come to us and won and obviously it’s going to be a very difficult task.
“Nothing’s impossible and we saw that in the Burton and Cheltenham result.
“After the first leg, the supporters will feel it’s all over but it would be nice to get a few down there.
“But we understand with the first leg we’ve let them down.
“It’s understandable that there won’t be too many making the trip.
“I think we’ve just to go there and show Stevenage that we didn’t deserve to lose 5-1.
“In that respect it’s going there and trying to win the match but you never know in football.”
Harriers have a host of injuries going into the game, with Dean Bennett, Gavin Caines and John Finnigan all to be assessed tomorrow.
On-loan duo James Lawrie (Port Vale) and Ross Atkins (Derby) could also play their last games on Saturday, unless their deals are extended.
Lawrie marked his first start for Harriers with a fine strike against the Hatters.
That defeat leaves 11th placed Harriers with a mountain to climb to reach the Football Conference play-offs.
They will have to win all of their remaining games to have a chance of making the top five.
Burr said: “We’ll have to see if John [Finnigan] can train on Friday and see if he gets any reaction.
“We have missed him and it’s come at the wrong time, because he was on the top of his game and has done very well.
“We keep going in the league. It’s a tall order but you learn more about the players in defeat than in the wins.
“I’m starting to find out one or two things about players now and like I said we’ll try and go to Stevenage a get a win there.”
Meanwhile, the club looks set to lose the services of goalkeeping coach Tim Flowers who teamed up with new Hull City manager Iain Dowie this week.
The former Blackburn Rovers man had been working with Harriers’ keepers on a Friday.
Harriers are also looking at Redditch United shot-stopper Danny Lewis.
Lewis has been training at the club for two months with Flowers but is not out of contract until the end of the season.
Defender Liam Dolman has extended his loan at Corby Town until the end of the season.
n Harriers, who entertain York in the league on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off), have seen their Conference clash at Hayes and Yeading moved for the second time to Thursday, April 15 (7.45pm kick-off).
They are also waiting for a date for the Worcestershire Senior Cup final, there they will take on Halesowen Town, who saw off local rivals Stourbridge 3-1 on Tuesday night.
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