FC Halifax Town welcome bottom of the league side Bradford Park Avenue to the MBi Shay as they look to condemn their West Yorkshire rivals to another defeat.
Billy Heath’s side will be looking to build on their impressive 5-0 win at Ashton Athletic in the FA Cup. Park Avenue lost 1-0 to Salford City in the same trophy to add more misery onto their, so far, disastrous season.
Current form:
The Shaymen are failing to find consistency with a quarter of the season already down. A 5-0 win away at Ashton Athletic in the FA Cup second qualifying round wouldn’t have done the sides confidence any harm whatsoever, after losing 3-2 at Gainsborough Trinity last time out in the league. On the other hand, Park Avenue are consistent, but for all the wrong reasons. As shown below Avenue are in rotten form and they could already be left behind by the teams above them, with them only picking up three points so far. Avenue were not given the easiest of FA Cup ties as they came up against Salford for the second consecutive season.
Salford grabbed a 1-0 win and condemned Park Avenue to their second defeat in the space of three days.
FC Halifax Town: LWDWLW
Bradford Park Avenue: LLLLLL
Key-man:
Despite their lowly position in the league Park Avenue do have quality and former Football League players within their ranks. Liam Dickinson, Emile Sinclair and Sanchez Payne to name a few. The key man plays in the centre of the park and will need no introduction to the Shaymen faithful. Nicky Wroe was snapped up by Avenue in July after spending just under a season at The Shay. The former Town captain has a wealth of experience that will be crucial to Avenue in this turbulent season, Wroe is a calming influence in the central role and will be looking to unlock The Shayman’s defence giving the forwards good service in the process.
Last Meeting:
These two West Yorkshire sides last met in February of this year at Garforth Town in the West Riding County Cup. Park Avenue came out eventual winners beating The Shaymen 5-4 on penalties after the teams couldn’t be separated at 3-3. Michael Potts opened the scoring for Avenue before loanee Shaquille McDonald squared it up for The Shaymen. Danny Hattersley and Ryan Qualter scored to make it 2-2 before Sébastien Carole thought he had won it for Avenue. Hattersley though was on form as he forced the tie into penalties in the dying moments. This did not faze Avenue as they held their nerve to progress into the semi-final.
Match Officials:
Referee: Marc Edwards
Assistant Referee: Samuel Barrott
Assistant Referee: Peter Walker
Follow the game:
There will be full match commentary on Shaymen Player.
Match updates will also be available on the Shaymen Wall as well as the club’s Official Twitter feed. (https://twitter.com/FCHTOnline)
Shaymen Player will also have full match commentary from the game as well as extended match highlights from the game, as well as all the reaction from Billy Heath and the team.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
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