DAVE Hockaday has demanded a winning mentality from Kidderminster Harriers as they seek redemption at Stourbridge.

The Aggborough outfit return to the scene of their darkest hour this season on Saturday, when they visit the Glassboys in the FA Trophy First Round (3pm ko).

The head coach is sure the Reds have improved since September's humbling 3-0 FA Cup loss at Amblecote.

They go into the clash on the back of narrow 1-0 losses to Grimsby and Gateshead.

Saturday’s home defeat to the Heed was particularly painful as Patrick McLaughlin bagged a 94th minute goal to stun the hosts and deny them a much-needed point.

“We’ve lost to Grimsby and Gateshead, two teams with big budgets and squads and on both occasions I felt we didn’t deserve to,” commented Hockaday.

“We should have taken two points from those games but we’ve got nothing and we have to learn how to win games.

“We are where we are with the players we have but somehow we need to find the icing on the cake.”

Harriers face a Stourbridge side, who play two levels below in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier, which have enjoyed an impressive run to the FA Cup Second Round before losing to Vanarama National League outfit Eastleigh on Saturday.

Hockaday said: “I am sure we will put on a better display this time at Stourbridge and I feel we can go there and get something from the game.

“Last time the keeper made a couple of errors but we also didn’t react how I wanted them to.

“That was the worst we have played all season but we've improved since then.

“But the defeat also helped me make my mind up about a number of players and since then we have changed the squad.

“Now I am very happy with the group I have got, they are a nice bunch and work very hard.

“Stourbridge will be very tough, they lost 2-0 to Eastleigh but at 0-0 had some very good chances to take the lead.”

Matthew Barnes-Homer is expected to be given permission to feature by parent club Aldershot for Harriers.

On-loan duo Kyle Howkins and Ben Whitfield have been allowed to play by West Bromwich and Bournemouth respectively.

The Glassboys are without suspended skipper Stuart Pierpoint, while Leon Broadhurst and Lewis Solly are injured.

Harriers, who are bottom of the National League, have also released rookie striker George Obosu because of squad and budget reasons.

New signing Omari Patrick is ineligible because he played for previous club Beaconsfield SYCOB against Chalfont St Peters in the Trophy.

The fleet-footed wideman has signed until the end of the season having had trials at Brentford and Glasgow Rangers.

Saturday’s Trophy clash is pay on the day, with tickets £10 for adults, concessions £5 and under-11s free of charge.

In the event of a draw, the replay will be held at Aggborough on Monday (7.45pm).

Fans can follow all the action from the clash with The Shuttle’s live match updates.