With only two games now remaining of the season, FC Halifax Town have yet another chance to seal a playoff place in the National League North. Although they will still have to rely on other results, a win against Curzon Ashton this Saturday to take the Shaymen a step closer to their goal.
Saturday’s opponents make the trip from the outskirts of Manchester to face the side they defeated in November. That 4-2 score line was the start of Halifax’s miserable 10-game winless run; however, the club’s fortunes have soon turned around as they sit 3rd in the table.
Let’s have a look back at that disappointing match last year as well as some other encounters in the past…
The Shaymen travelled to the Tameside Stadium in high spirits, having lost only once in their last 12 competitive matches, and having recently reached the Second Round of the FA Cup after knocking out Dagenham & Redbridge. However, those grins and smiles would soon be wiped away as the visitors fell to a shocking 4-2 defeat, which was also the Nash’s first home league win of the season.
Niall Cummins opened the scoring with a tap-in on the rebound, before Adam Morgan doubled his former club’s lead moments later with a similar finish. Seconds after the restart and Halifax believed they had found a way back into the game when Cliff Moyo’s diving header connected with a Josh MacDonald cross to find its way into Hakan Burton’s goal.
However, Morgan was on hand yet again to put Curzon ahead, this time with a well-hit, low finish past Steven Drench. As well as goals, there were plenty of dismissals in the feisty encounter – the first red card being dished out to Curzon’s skipper Alex Brown. This didn’t hamper the home side’s chances however, as a long ball over the Halifax defence found Joe Guest, who slotted home past Drench. The game got even crazier when the referee dismissed Cummins for his second yellow, not long before sending off Joe Stott after a large melee on the pitch following a rash challenge on Josh Wilde.
The numerical advantage did mean the Shaymen were able to claw a goal back thanks to an own-goal from an impressive Connor Hampson.
The last encounters with Curzon came in Halifax’s league title winning 2009/10 Northern Premier League Division One North campaign. A Stephen Payne penalty was the difference when the two sides met in September, but the reverse fixture was even better. The Shaymen put five goals past Curzon who were unable to reply – a flattering score line considering that although Halifax were top of the table, Curzon were only in third.
FC Halifax Town welcome Curzon Ashton to the MBi Shay Stadium this Saturday at 3pm.
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