Hopefully, Bonfire Night won’t be the only cause for celebrations on Saturday as FC Halifax Town return to Emirates FA Cup action against Dagenham & Redbridge at Victoria Road, hoping to advance to the Second Round.
The Shaymen defeated Harrogate Town to book their place in the First Round where they were awarded an away fixture against the 3rd placed National League side.
Halifax will have preferred to have gone into this game on the back of another win, but they were denied after a 3-1 defeat to Brackley Town on Saturday. Matty Kosylo made his return from injury in that game and hopes he can push on even more despite the disappointing result…
“It certainly felt good to play. It’s been a frustrating start for me, because I have high expectations of myself. I was expecting to hit the ground running and carry last season’s form on, but it happens in football and it did feel good to be back out there. Hopefully the gaffer gives me more playing time as the games wear on and I can contribute effectively to the team.”
Matty also believes the recent loss won’t affect the team too much, and that it’s just a case of dusting themselves down and regaining the focus needed to advance to the next round of the famous competition…
“I think the lads have shown already that they’re capable of bouncing back after a difficult result and none more important than in the FA Cup 1st Round on Saturday. The manager and a few of the other lads have experienced going further than the first round, so fingers crossed that we can go there and get a result and if not, hopefully get a draw and bring them back to the Shay.”
‘Anything can happen’ seems to be the slogan of the FA Cup and Matty hopes that despite the Daggers being the favourites going into the weekend’s game, the Shaymen can spring a surprise against the East London side…
“Anything can happen and that will be in our minds in terms of a positive outcome rather than a negative outcome considering we are the underdogs. I’m sure that will be in a few of the lads mind, but like I say, it will be in a positive way and the lads will be going out there to get a result. We’re not going there to just sit there and roll over, have a nice day out; we’re there to get a result”
You may have thought the likes of Gloucester City, Brackley Town or Darlington were all tough away days, but Dag & Red could possibly be the longest trip for Halifax this season, with 218 miles separating the MBi Shay Stadium and Victoria Road. Although, Kosylo doesn’t expect the long journey to have that much of an effect on the squad…
“I don’t think it’ll make much of a difference, other than we’ll be sleeping in a hotel rather than our own beds! Being away, it might have a positive outcome for the lads, in terms of less pressure, considering we are the underdogs as well, so we’ll be going there with nothing to lose and full of confidence. So I don’t think the travelling matters, with our situation of travelling the day before on the Friday.
FC Halifax Town make the long trip to Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday 5th November, with kick-off coming at 3pm.
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