NEXT month's Wembley showdown against Stevenage Borough will give Kidderminster Harriers' players a golden opportunity to compensate fans for failing to reach the Nationwide Conference play-offs.

That's the main aim for Aggborough captain Stuart Whitehead, who this week saluted the club's loyal supporters for continuing to back the squad during a league campaign which has drifted into obscurity.

Whitehead, preparing to lead the team out at the new Wembley Stadium on May 12 when Harriers face Conference rivals Stevenage in the final of the FA Carlsberg Trophy, said: "It's been disappointing for the fans as far as the league's been this season, so hopefully we can give them a little something at Wembley - a pay-back for turning up week in, week out, to support us. It should be a nice day and it'll give them something back this year and then hopefully next season we can go on and progress in the league."

Following their Easter programme, which resulted in a 1-1 draw at Weymouth and a 1-0 home defeat against Woking, 11th-placed Harriers find themselves a massive 13 points away from the play-off zone with five games left.

They now face another two matches in four days - away to Rushden & Diamonds on Saturday and at home to Aldershot Town on Tuesday - in their quest to finish as high in the table as possible.

Whitehead is blaming Harriers' below-par Aggborough form for their failure to mount a serious challenge for a play-off spot and is promising fans better home comforts next season.

He said: "One of the big factors this season has been our home form.It's just not been good enough. We've lost ten at home and won nine away.

"And if you win nine away games, and then get your home form right, you're a Championship-winning team. Our home form has really affected our season.

"That's been the problem with the league and if we can get that sorted for next season, coupled with our away form, who knows what we could do?

"Obviously, the Wembley experience has just put a shine on the season.

"We had a lot of new players at the start of the season and it takes time for them to gel. That has taken time, but the nucleus of having a good team is there.

"If we keep the nucleus of the squad together and make additions of three, four or five players then I think we really could have something special.

"But our home form is a big key for next season. If we sort that then we could be right up there."

Boss Mark Yates was disappointed by Monday's performance against Woking and admitted afterwards: "It looks like the players have got their eyes firmly fixed on Wembley.

"Only Mark Creighton's guaranteed a place in the starting line-up and the rest have five games to impress me and put their case forward about playing."

Yates will be without Russell Penn for three games, starting with the Aldershot clash, after the midfielder collected his 15th booking of the season in the clash with Woking.