SAM Austin reckons being dumped out of the FA Cup could serve Kidderminster Harriers well for the rest of the season.

Harriers had led by two only to lose 3-2 at Stourbridge last weekend, providing one of the shocks of the third qualifying round. 

Austin and his colleagues will be looking to put that behind them when returning to National North action in a third-versus-second clash at Bradford Park Avenue today.

"It was a real shock to us – we let down the fans and ourselves," said Austin.

"There are a lot of negatives that we need to fix and it could help us in the future because we need to realise what we did wrong and improve.”

  • Hereford have signed goalkeeper Matt Yates and defender Ethan Wassall on loan from Championship club Derby County ahead of travelling to Stockport County. 

The Bulls will be looking to end a seven-match winless run which has yielded one point since August 14 with new management team Tim Harris and Marc Richards hoping for a first win.

  • Recently-appointed Les Jones is in the same boat with Pershore Town sat four points adrift at the bottom of West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division ahead of the visit of Dudley Sports (all 3pm).

THIS WEEKEND’S FIXTURES

SATURDAY

Vanarama National League North: Bradford Park Avenue v Kidderminster Harriers, Stockport County v Hereford (both 3pm).

Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division Central: Alvechurch v St Ives Town, Tamworth v Redditch United (both 3pm).

Division One Central: Barton Rovers v Bromsgrove Sporting (3pm).

FA Vase first round: Hereford Lads Club v Paget Rangers, Shepshed Dynamo v Bewdley Town, Worcester City v Long Eaton United (all 3pm).

Total Motion Midland League Premier Division: Westfields v AFC Wulfrunians (3pm).

Division One: Cadbury Athletic v Littleton (3pm).

Division Two: Boldmere Sports v Feckenham (3pm).

Division Three: Alcester Town v Birmingham Tigers, Enville Athletic v Inkberrow (both 3pm).

Reserve Division: Redditch United v Fairfield Villa, Worcester City v Wyrley (both 3pm).

U21 West Division: Droitwich Spa BG v Lye Town Youth, Kidderminster Harriers v Continental Star (both 10.30am).

Les James Challenge Cup second round: Fairfield Villa v AFC Solihull (3pm).

Presidents Cup first round: Redditch Borough v Hampton (3pm).

Smedley Crooke Memorial Cup first round: Barnt Green Spartak v Worcester Raiders (3pm).

West Midlands League Premier Division: Malvern Town v Bilston Town Community, Pegasus Juniors v Tividale, Pershore Town 88 v Dudley Sports (all 3pm).

Division One: Droitwich Spa v Gornal Athletic, Willenhall Town v Bromyard Town (both 3pm).

SUNDAY

McDonald’s Worcester and District League Sunday Premier Division: Arrow v Worcester Athletic, Callow End v The Bell, Fernhill Heath Athletic v Perrywood, Northside v Clifton Rovers (all 10.30am).

Division One: FC Malvern v Eaton, FC United of Worcester v Express Falcons FC, Malvern Vale FC v Colwall St James, Pillar FC v FC Korono (all 10.30am).

Division Two: Colwall Wanderers v Kempsey Colts United FC, Droitwich Spa BGFC Rovers v Worcester Saints, GDL Athletic v Perdiswell FC Colts, Worcester City Wanderers v Blackpole Sports FC (all 10.30am).

Division Three: AFC Brickfields v Powick, Droitwich Spa BGFC Town v Droitwich Spa Eagles Reserves, Eaton Reserves v Grosvenor Sports FC, Lower Teme & Martley Reserves v Drakes Broughton Rangers Reserves, Perrywood Reserves v Malvern Radar, Worcester Saints Reserves v New Dales (all 10.30am).