FORMER York City striker Adam Boyes is only likely to make the bench for tonight’s Blue Square Premier hosts Kidderminster Harriers.

Boyes, 19, joined the Aggborough outfit on loan at the beginning of March but has managed just two starts and was left on the bench for Saturday’s 0-0 FA Trophy semi-final, second-leg draw at Stevenage.

Despite the expected return of fellow on-loan striker James Lawrie to Port Vale, one-time Manchester United trialist Boyes is still unlikely to occupy one of the striking berths in Steve Burr’s 4-3-3 formation.

Instead, the Harriers are poised to recall Jack Byrne, cup-tied against Stevenage, in midfield and push Daryl Knights further forward to work in tandem with 12-goal top scorer Brian Smikle and target man Robbie Matthews.

Like Lawrie, goalkeeper Ross Atkins’ loan spell at Kidderminster ended at the weekend but the 20-year-old stopper’s stay from Derby is set to be extended.

If not, then fellow rookie Jasbir Singh would be handed only his second senior start with first-choice Dean Coleman ruled out until the end of the season with a groin injury.

On-loan Burton winger Marc Goodfellow is available again, having missed out at Stevenage due to playing for Barrow in the Trophy earlier this season, but may now have to wait for a recall to the starting line up.

Influential player-coach John Finnigan also remains a doubt after missing the last four matches with a calf problem.

Kidderminster will be hoping to bring an end to a win-less March, encompassing the 5-1 aggregate FA Trophy semi-final defeat to Stevenage, a 3-1 loss at Luton and draws against Ebbsfleet (2-2) and Eastbourne (0-0).

The 11th-placed Harriers are, however, unbeaten in five league games at home, stretching back to a 1-0 November reverse against AFC Wimbledon.

Kiddy’s record of ten league wins in front of their own fans is also only bettered by Stevenage (13), Oxford (12), Crawley (12) and Rushden (11) in the Blue Square Premier table.

Team (probable): Atkins, Courtney, Sharpe, Riley, Baker, Bennett, Byrne, McPhee, Knights, Matthews, Smikle.


Match facts

YORK City have made eight previous visits to Kidderminster in league football (Football League and Conference) and lost on six occasions.

In 2005/6 they drew 0-0 and their solitary success was in December 2002, when they won a Third Division (League Two) fixture 2-1 thanks to goals from Stephen Brackstone and Lee Nogan.

City lost the corresponding game last season 2-0 and the line-up on September 23, 2008, was: Ingham, Purkiss, Parslow, McGurk, Robinson, Rusk, Holmes, Wilkinson, Russell (Farrell), Brodie (Sodje), McBreen.

Players to have represented both clubs include Tim Clarke, Steve James, John Williams, Jon Newby, Andy Bishop, Andy Ferrell and Simon Russell.

It happened on March 23

1957: Arthur Bottom was the scorer in a 1-0 home win over Wrexham watched by 8,374. City were seventh in Divison Three North.

1968: A 1-1 draw at Notts County with Barry Jackson the marksman and City were 17th in the Fourth Division.

1991: Andy McMillan netted his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory over Burnley at Bootham Crescent in front of 4,407. Glenn Naylor was the other scorer and City were 20th in the Fourth Division.

2002: Kidderminster Harriers won 1-0 at York. It was City’s fifth defeat in six games and they were second from bottom in the Third (League Two). The attendance was 2,787.

Compiled by David Batters