Harriers look for revenge (From Worcester News)

Harriers look for revenge

8:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in News

MANAGER Steve Burr is urging his side to book their place in the FA Trophy quarter-finals and earn a little bit of revenge when Kidderminster Harriers take on Luton at home on Saturday.

The Aggborough outfit are eager to lay down a marker in non-league football’s premier knockout competition but standing in their way are their Blue Square Bet Premier rivals from Bedfordshire (3pm kick-off).

The manager is also keen to avenge their 2-1 home league defeat to Gary Brabin’s promotion hopefuls at the start of October, when Robbie Willmott bagged a brace.

With a place in the last eight up for grabs and a chance to take a step closer to Wembley, Burr is looking for victory.

He said: “We owe Luton a bit of revenge for them beating us at Aggborough in the league.

“We felt we were a bit unlucky but on the other hand they probably had a bit more about them.

“I’m still surprised they’re still in the Conference with the fans they have and their resources.

“They are only just above us in the table, so there’s not much between us and we’d love to beat them and go further in the Trophy.”

Harriers go into the game looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss at Stockport County on Saturday.

One player who will certainly miss out and could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines is Tom Sharpe.

The luckless defender was stretchered off on Saturday and the club are awaiting the results of a scan taken yesterday.

Sharpe, who also suffered a serious knee injury last season, had looked impressive at centre back and solid deputising for the injured Lee Vaughan at right-back before this latest setback.

Vaughan may well start on Saturday after resuming training this week.

Harriers have a trio of players cup-tied for the Hatters’s visit, with Lee Hendrie, Tony Breeden and new signing Marvin Johnson missing out.

Johnson became the fourth player to join in the January transfer window, signing from Evo-Stick Northern Premier League outfit Romulus on Tuesday night for a four-figure fee.

The 21-year-old has scored 18 goals for the Birmingham-based club and attracted attention from Watford, Bristol Rovers and had a trial at Burnley.

Burr revealed he had been watching Johnson for a number of months.

“We’ve watched Marvin on numerous occasions and we’re very pleased about signing him,” commented the manager.

“He’s a pacey left-sided player who can also play as a striker.

“Marvin spent a few weeks on trial at Burnley but they’ve decided not to do anything so we decided to make a move.

“Like a number of players we’ve signed from the lower leagues we’re giving him his chance.”

It was a relatively quiet end to the transfer window for Harriers, with the club managing to hold onto top scorer Jamille Matt, who had generated interest from a host of clubs in the Football League.

Meanwhile, on-loan winger Luke Medley’s time at the club looks as though it could be over.

The summer signing will have his contract cancelled by mutual consent when his loan spell at Woking comes to an end in a fortnight’s time.

After Saturday’s Trophy tussle, Harriers then face a derby at Telford on Tuesday night in the league (7.45pm kick-off).

n Read match Stockport report — Page 94