FC Halifax Town travel to National League leaders Leyton Orient on Saturday afternoon (3pm KO).
The Shaymen travel south to Leyton on the back of a 0-1 defeat at home to Maidenhead United at The Shay last time out.
Despite the defeat, it was a fairly productive March for Jamie Fullarton’s side. In seven games in March, Halifax won three, drew two and lost two with perhaps the highlights of the month being a 2-0 win against high flying Solihull Moors and a 3-0 victory against Barnet.
However, The Shaymen’s last win on the road came at the beginning of March as they won 0-1 at Eastleigh thanks to a late Scott Quigley goal. Since then, Halifax have drawn 1-1 at Barnet and lost 1-2 at Dover, but there would be no better way to bounce back on the road than a win at the league leaders.
Halifax go into the game in 16th place on 51 points with 41 games played.
As for Orient, as aforementioned they currently sit top of the Vanarama National League on 77 points with 40 games played. The O’s did have a chance to increase their lead at the top of the table on Tuesday evening as they played one of their games in hand against Bromley. But Justin Edinburgh’s side were beaten 1-2 at Hayes Lane.
Orient did take the lead through Josh Coulson on the stroke of half time however were dealt a blow just after the start of the second half when Marvin Ekpiteta was sent off for a late challenge. Bromley were able to take advantage of having an extra man and overcame Orient by two goals to one.
Ekpiteta will miss Saturday’s game due to his dismissal.
Orient’s defeat was the first time they had lost since 16th February. Before then, they had won eight out of ten games in all competitions, which included wins over AFC Fylde and Wrexham in the league and they also booked their place in the FA Trophy Final after beating Telford in the semi final.
The danger man for Leyton Orient will be forward Macauley Bonne who has fired The O’s to the top of the table with 21 goals so far this season.
In the reverse fixture at The Shay in September, the sides drew 1-1. Halifax took the lead midway through the second half courtesy of Dayle Southwell’s penalty. However, Orient’s James Alabi played the role of super sub as he scored a last gasp goal to save a point for his side.
Saturday’s game will be refereed by Peter Gibbons. He will be helped by assistants Adam Ricketts and Anthony Pope while Jamie Wells will be the fourth official at Brisbane Road.
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