On Saturday 4th October Hednesford Town continue on their travels with a visit to Market Harborough and an Isuzu FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round game against Harborough Town.
Harborough play at step 3 in the pyramid system, the same level as Hednesford but in the Southern League Premier Central. They are top of the league table and undefeated this season with 21 points from nine games, earned from six wins and three defeats, scoring 18 goals and conceding just five. Their home form has delivered three of those wins, 4-0 against Needham Market, 2-0 versus St Ives and 1-0 against Quorn with two 1-1 draws against Spalding United and Halesowen Town. Their away form has seen wins at Bury Town (3-1), Kettering Town (1-0) and Redditch United (3-0) along with a 2-2 draw at Leiston. They also progressed into the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup last Saturday after an impressive 4-1 home win over National North side Peterborough Sports, defeating Leek Town after a replay and Worksop Town in the previous rounds although a much changed side was knocked out of the Leicestershire Senior Cup on Tuesday night by Lutterworth Town.
Their squad is packed with plenty of non league experience at step 3 and above. Ex Tamworth, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Banbury, Stratford and Spalding defender Liam Dolman has been captaining the side recently in the absence of Connor Kennedy and alongside him at full back is former Redditch United, Solihull Moors and Brackley man George Carline who had a spell at Keys Park under Liam McDonald in 2026/17, starting 23 games in the league/FA Cup/FA Trophy and scoring nine goals. In midfield is former Barwell legend Brady Hickey while up front is Ben Stephens who has been with Kings Lynn, Barwell, Macclesfield, Stratford and Kettering alongside former Brackley, Boreham Wood, Solihull Moors, Stevenage, Tamworth and Leamington striker Danny Newton. Completing the front line is another ex-Pitman Riley O’Sullivan who made 46 league/FA Cup/FA Trophy appearances in 2021/22 and 2022/23 for Hednesford scoring seven goals before joining Stratford and then Spalding. Their leading scorers have five goals each and are Hickey and O’Sullivan with three league and two FA Cup goals and Stephens with four in the league and one in the FA Cup.
Harborough’s best run in the FA Trophy came in 2023/24 when they reached the second round proper losing 0-2 at home to Chelmsford City while Hednesford of course won the competition in 2003/04 beating Canvey Island 3-2 in the final at Villa Park, a game that featured current first team coach Mark Danks in The Pitmen’s side.
Harborough Town came into being in 2007 through the merger of Harborough Town Juniors, Harborough Spencers and Harborough Minis and play at Harborough Town Community Ground, Northampton Road, Market Harborough Leicestershire LE16 9HF. The stadium has been recently upgraded with a new 154 seater stand on the west side of the ground, two covered standing areas on the east side of the ground, new toilets and turnstiles along with an artificial pitch. They have an average attendance of 610 in all competitions with the best being 909 for the game against Peterborough Sports.
Kick off on Saturday is 3pm with admission (cash or card) being £15 adults, £8 concessions, £3 U16s with U5s free and the Matchday programme costing £2. Match coverage will be available on Mixlr. If the scores are level after 90 minutes then the game will be decided by a penalty shoot out and there will not be a replay.
Hednesford Town FC is on Mixlr
