Yates relishes KitKat crunch game (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Yates relishes KitKat crunch game

8:54am Thursday 3rd January 2008

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KIDDERMINSTER Harriers manager Mark Yates has called on his players to keep their unbeaten run going when they take on resurgent York City away in the Blue Square Premier on Saturday.

His Aggborough troops are on a high after beating Forest Green Rovers 1-0 on New Year's day, which stretched their unbeaten run to six matches.

Victory ensured they are nine points off fifth-placed Cambridge United and kept alive their hopes of making the play-offs.

Tuesday's win came after two hard-fought draws, with Harriers holding Forest Green 2-2 on Boxing Day and battling out a 0-0 stalemate at Oxford on Saturday.

"We've picked up five points over Christmas and extended our unbeaten run to six games, so we go into the rest of the season with a lot of confidence and self belief," said the manager.

"We may have started the season slowly but if we continue to work hard we can end the season on a real high.

"We're on a nice run but we need to extend it if we are to get ourselves higher in the table.

"We thoroughly deserved to beat Forest Green on New Year's Day. It's a testament to us because they are one of the best teams in the division but we more than matched them."

While Yates is eager to see his side keep up their good form he will have to shuffle his pack for Saturday's trip to KitKat Crescent. Strikers James Constable and Justin Richards and midfielders Andy Ferrell and Russ Penn miss the game with one-match suspensions after picking up five bookings apiece.

The Harriers manager will have captain Stuart Whitehead to call upon if needed. The skipper, who was suspended for the trips to Forest Green and Oxford, was left on the bench for Tuesday's clash.

Saturday's opponents have carved out an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions for newly appointed manager Colin Walker.

"We won't go into this game and roll over for York," said Yates.

"The players are all determined to keep our run going. It also means we'll have four fresh faces for our trip to Altrincham."

After York, Harriers go to Altrincham in the league on Tuesday night (7.45pm kick-off).

With the January transfer window now open Yates also hinted he might bring in several new faces. Midfielder Dean Bennett, who enjoyed a three-month loan from Chester City earlier in the season, is believed to be high on his wanted list.

"We have a few targets that we are pursuing but there's no reason to panic at the moment," said the manager.

"We've received a few tentative calls about players but nothing concrete has happened yet."

n Harriers' Worcestershire Senior Cup tie at home to Stourport Swifts has been rescheduled for Tuesday, January 22.

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