MANAGER Mark Yates has demanded his strikers regain their lethal touch in front of goal ahead of Harriers' FA Trophy clash against York City at Aggborough on Saturday.

Harriers' strike force may have shared 26 goals between them this season but they have dried up during the last three months.

Fifteen-goal top scorer Justin Richards has only bagged six in the last 17 matches and has not scored in the league since the victory over Mansfield in December.

Apart from the goal he scored against Ilkeston in the FA Trophy three weeks ago, Richards has not been able to match his prolific form from earlier in the season.

Strike partner Matthew Barnes-Homer has also struggled to put the onion bag in the net, scoring just three times in 17 matches.

However, he will be full of confidence after his brace in the 2-0 win over Histon.

"I told the strikers that if they worked even harder then they would get their rewards and Matthew [Barnes-Homer] is proof of that," commented the manager.

"We hadn't been scoring as many goals as earlier in the season and they had dried up for our forwards.

"Before the Histon match I demanded more from them and I think I got it.

"I'm sure if Justin keeps putting himself about and having shots then the goals will come for him."

However, going into the third round clash the manager must be confident that his squad is well equipped to cope with battling on two fronts.

Squad players Luke Jones and David McDermott both played well against Histon when deputising for injured dup Mark Creighton and Russ Penn.

Yates said: "When Mark [Creighton] got injured I had no qualms about playing Luke [Jones], who's been chomping at the bit to get into the team.

"David's another who had to wait, but he's a good player with a lot of guile and ability and can create things."

Harriers will be confident that they can see off inconsistent York and book a quarter-final place in the Trophy.

The Yorkshire side's recent record at Aggborough is lamentable with just one win their in the last seven attempts, while they have lost at Harriers on the last three occasions.

Unlike Harriers, who beat Ilkeston and Burscough, York have had to play Blue Square Premier teams Northwich and Oxford to get this far in the competition.

However, Yates' troops will have to be wary of hitman Richard Brodie who has grabbed 12 goals in as many games.

Creighton is set to miss tomorrow's game because of his hamstring problem. Russ Penn is also recuperating from the cruciate ligament bruising he sustained last weekend.

York boss Martin Foyle is without the cup-tied Levi Mackin, Adam Smith, Christian Smith and Simon Brown.

David McGurk are Mark Greaves are both injury doubts for the Minstermen. Former Harrier Simon Russell is set to return to Aggborough with York.

Sports editor Peter McKinney will have team news before the 3pm kick-off and then follow all the action at Aggborough with minute-by-minute updates.

Supporters eager to have their say can also post comments as the match unfolds.

HARRIERS V YORK LIVE MATCH UPDATES AND COMMENTS