The final home game of the season is now upon us, as Curzon Ashton become the final side to visit the MBi Shay Stadium in the 2016/17 campaign.
The Shaymen will understandably be the in-form side going into the game with their three wins in the last five outings. For Curzon, it is quite the opposite, with three defeats in their last five games, two of which coming over the Easter weekend.
In the build up to Saturday’s clash, we look at the players that have featured for both sides over the years. We start with the obvious, and most recent acquisition to the Halifax squad, Adam Morgan.
The former Liverpool youngster has been a bit of a journey man to say he is only 22. After two loan spells at Rotherham United and Yeovil Town, Morgan signed on a permanent deal for the Glovers in 2014’s January transfer window. However, he soon fell out of favour with then manager Gary Johnson and was loaned to St Johnstone of the Scottish Premiership.
Spells at Accrington Stanley, Hemel Hempstead Town and Colwyn Bay followed before his move to Curzon in summer 2016. In his short time with the Nash, Morgan was massively important to their Emirates FA Cup campaign.
He scored twice in their first-round replay to send Curzon through to the televised game against AFC Wimbledon in the second round. He continued to impress in front of the cameras, scoring a hat trick and winning goal of the round despite a Wimbledon fightback in the final ten minutes cruelly knocking the Nash out of the competition.
Just six months after joining the club, Morgan left to become Shayman in December last year. He quickly notched nine goals for his new club, before gaining a more prominent role as a substitute in recent weeks.
Another current Shayman who has featured for Curzon over the years is cult hero, Scott McManus. The left-sided defender, who has just returned from injury after a long period on the side-lines, only spent a short time with the Nash.
Starting his career at Prestwich Hays, the former Manchester United youngster joined Curzon in 2008. However, after impressing in a pre-season friendly against Nottingham Forrest, McManus was picked up by Crewe Alexandra where he stayed for two years.
A tear at FC United pf Manchester followed before joining the Shaymen in 2011. McManus has since become the club’s record appearance maker and, most importantly, scored the winning goal at Wembley as Town won the FA Trophy for the first-time last summer.
The final player we look at only left the Shay last year, although it was his time at Curzon which was the most prominent. Sam Walker joined the Nash a few seasons ago and quickly made a name for himself, picking up the captain’s armband as he guided the Nash to two successive promotions.
His efforts at Curzon ere quickly noticed by the Shaymen, who brought Walker to non-league’s top flight in 2015 after making over 200 appearances for Curzon. The box-to-box midfielder continued to impress at the Shay, including a vital goal-line clearance in the FA Trophy final.
However, following Town’s relegation to the National League North, Walker signed for the league’s new boys Salford City. Unsurprisingly, Walker has become an important member of the Ammies’ midfield setup.
If you cannot make it to the Shay, there will be live match updates of the clash with Curzon Ashton along with live audio commentary available on Shaymen Player HD.
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