Harborough, one point above the drop zone, visit Merthyr in the FA Trophy, with no new update on Paul Malone

Wednesday 11 November 2026 · By Oliver Brannigan

Harborough Town, one point above the relegation zone with a game in hand, visit Merthyr Town in an all-National League North FA Trophy second-round tie on Saturday. There is no new update on Paul Malone. Mitch Austin’s side did not play in midweek and are 19th on 17 points from 14 matches. They have scored 13 league goals, the fewest in the division.

Their most recent first-team outing remains the 5–1 FA Cup defeat at Leyton Orient on 7 November, when Malone scored on 69 minutes, a volley from Eliot Putman’s corner, in front of 1,113 travelling supporters. The Harborough Mail reported at the time that he scored just a day after losing his grandfather, and that he suffered a suspected broken leg. That wording is unchanged, and nothing is added here about the family or a diagnosis. Austin said then that he was proud of him.

After Merthyr, who are 17th on 19 points after a 4–1 win over Hebburn on 7 November, Harborough visit leaders South Shields at 7.45pm on Tuesday 17 November and go to bottom club Spennymoor Town on 21 November. A rearranged home league game with Radcliffe is listed for 7.45pm on Tuesday 1 December. Those three away dates in a week, followed by a meeting with the side immediately below them, will do much to shape their position above the cut.

Scarborough are now 20th on 16 points with a goal difference of minus 3, after a 1–3 home defeat by Marine on Tuesday, and Radcliffe remain 21st on 16 with a goal difference of minus 8. The bottom four, from 21st to 24th, are relegated. Harborough’s game in hand is an advantage only if it can be converted.

South Shields lead on 32 from 15, two clear of Hereford. First place is promoted automatically, and second to seventh contest the play-offs. No National League North club is in the FA Cup second round. No first-team league or Trophy game is scheduled today. The BBC table was last updated at 07:36 on 11 November. The BBC table used throughout was last updated at 07:36 on 11 November and already includes Tuesday’s three league results.

The BBC table, last updated at 11:13 on 9 November, still shows Harborough Town 19th on 17 points from 14 matches, with a record of 4 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats. They have scored 13 and conceded 17, for a goal difference of minus 4. Those numbers have not changed since 31 October, because no National League fixture has been played in this window. The FA Cup, National League Cup and county cups do not count in the standings. Harborough Town occupy one point above the relegation zone, with a game in hand.