UP NEXT, the first team is on the road for the first time in 2026 as they travel to face bottom side Harrowby United in the first of consecutive matches against the same opposition.

Kimberley will go into the match having reached a higher points total than last season with a win last weekend. With two wins in their last five matches, the miners will be looking for back to back victories for the first time since October. Sitting just outside the playoff positions, it is essential that the boys continue in their recovery and find some consistency to give themselves a chance at promotion.

Harrowby United are currently propping the table up as they prepare to host the miners at the Fruehauf Stadium. With a single win in the last five matches and three defeats in a row, a victory is very much needed if they are to have any chance of staying in the division.

Last weekend, Kimberley welcomed Deeping Rangers to Greenwich Avenue. A much better performance saw the miners controlling large periods of the game without finding a breakthrough in the first forty five minutes. Josh Timson broke the deadlock eleven minutes into the second half, finishing into the bottom corner after a low cross from Hanif Alassani. There was a lot of huffing and puffing without many more chances in the game.
Final score: KMW 1-0 Deeping Rangers

Harrowby’s last match was at home against second bottom Ashby Ivanhoe. The game was over as a contest by half time as George Clark scored twice and Will Robson scored for the visitors while Kareem Abouraia scored for Harrowby just before half time. Jesse Vowles and ex-Kimberley man Matt Moffatt each added a goal to round off a convincing win for Ashby.
Final Score - Harroby United 1-5 Ashby Ivanhoe

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides last met in April last season. A superb, dominant performance gave the Miners their biggest away win in the league this season and a first away win by more than one goal. Lewis Weaver, on his first start since returning from going AWOL at Clipstone set up Paul Johnson with a great run and low cross from the left for Johnno to tap the ball into the goal from six yards to give the miners a half time lead. Early second half goals from Finn Ryder and Lewis Weaver wrapped up the 3-0 win for Kimberley.

The two sides last met at the Stag Ground in October 2024 in what was an entertaining five goal thriller. Kemal Yeniberitz opened the scoring for Harrowby, with Nathaniel Peters equalising minutes later to go into half time at one apiece. As was customary at the time, Kimberley let in two quick goals in the second half as first Tom Harris and four minutes later, Jack Gurney scored for Harrowby. Braden Noon-Brandy bagged a late consolation for Kimberley. Final Score 2-3.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

The club was established in 1949 and initially played in the Grantham & District League. They remained in the Grantham League until joining Division One of the Central Alliance in 1967. However, after a single season in the Central Alliance the club transferred to Division One of the East Midlands Regional League.

A fifth-place finish in 1973–74 saw Harrowby promoted to the Premier Division. The league became the Midlands Regional Alliance in 1985, and the club won the Premier Division and Challenge Cup double in 1989–90. They subsequently moved up to Division One of the United Counties League. Although the club won the division in 1991–92, they were unable to take promotion to the Premier Division. However, after finishing as Division One runners-up in 2002–03, the club were promoted to the Premier Division.

The 2005–06 season saw Harrowby finish bottom of the Premier Division, after which they dropped back into the Grantham & District League. The club spent the 2007–08 season in the Lincolnshire League, finishing bottom of the table, before joining the Supreme Division of the Central Midlands League. In 2009 they were renamed Grantham Rangers, but folded at the end of the 2009–10 season, which had seen them finish bottom of the Supreme Division.

A new Harrowby United was established in 2012 when Grantham & District League champions Beehive United changed their name to Harrowby United upon taking promotion to Division One of the United Counties League. In 2013–14 a third-place finish saw the club promoted to the Premier Division. They were relegated back to Division One after finishing second-from-bottom of the Premier Division in 2016–17. In 2023–24 the club finished fifth in Division One, qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Clipstone 4–1 in the semi-finals, they defeated Newark Town 2–1 in the final to earn promotion to the Premier Division North.

HONOURS

United Counties League - Division One champions 1991–92
Midlands Regional Alliance - Premier Division champions 1989–90
Challenge Cup winners 1989–90

FINALLY

Both sides are in dire need of consistency and a win would set things up for the following weekend at Greenwich Avenue. Kimberley have the opportunity over the two matches to move back into the playoff places, while Harrowby can move off the foot of the table with two wins.

There’s limited parking and the clubhouse and bar will be open.

Kick off is at 15:00

See you there