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Darlington: Gutted To Be Missing Out

Posted by Kelly Gilchrist
Posted on Sun 25 Dec 2016
Posted in First Team

FC Halifax Town centre-back Scott Garner is โ€˜guttedโ€™ that he wonโ€™t be involved in Mondayโ€™s Boxing Day clash with Darlington FC.

The former Boston United captain was sent off in the Emirates FA Cup replay against Eastleigh just under two weeks ago, and says itโ€™s a hard time for him: โ€œIโ€™m really frustrated with myself, people say you get Boxing Day off but itโ€™s not like that at all. Iโ€™m actually gutted Iโ€™m not involved and I feel like Iโ€™m missing out if anything.โ€

Garner was relishing playing against rivals Darlington in Townโ€™s festive double header with the County Durham based outfit, with close friend Liam Marss set to start against Town on Boxing Day.

Excited at the prospect of a derby, Garner said: โ€œI think theyโ€™ve got a big lad up front too who I was looking forward to having a battle against,โ€ Town will pose a new threat on Monday as well, with new signing Liam Morgan coming straight into the fold.

A signing that Garner describes as โ€˜excitingโ€™, he told us that he โ€œheard a rumour [FC Halifax] were signing him at training the other night, obviously [Garner] did well in the FA Cup against Wimbledon, and heโ€™s very highly rated.โ€

Morgan signed from National League side Curzon Ashton, having scored eleven goals in nine appearances for the Nash. Bringing a wealth of experience, the scouse striker spent twelve years at Liverpool before moving on to Yeovil Town.

Garner said: โ€œFor us to bring a player like that in at this stage of the season, itโ€™s a great move for us and it can only be a positive thing really.

โ€œLetโ€™s hope he comes in and bangs a few goals in for us!โ€

Town have struggled in form recently, but Garner thinks their disappointing FA Cup exit could be a โ€˜blessing in disguiseโ€™: โ€œWeโ€™ve had a chat and I think we really need to concentrate on the league, getting as many points as possible and moving up the table. We need to string a good few wins together again.

โ€œI think if you actually look, weโ€™ve got games in hand so weโ€™re not really in a bad position, we just need to up our performances and standards, and start performing for each other now.โ€

Manager Billy Heath has come under a level of scrutiny in recent weeks, but Garner says that the team is โ€˜confidentโ€™ theyโ€™ll bounce back and get on track in the league. He said the gaffer has been working hard with the team on the training pitch: โ€œWeโ€™ve been doing some good sessions in training, going through set pieces and all the little extra things.

โ€œWhen itโ€™s not quite going your way at times, youโ€™ve got to get the little percentages that you can add up and win you games really.โ€

Despite being confident, Garner conceded that Town havenโ€™t been hitting the levels expected of them. On the AFC Telford United result last weekend, Garner said: โ€œThe Telford goal the other day, to stick it in the top corner from 25-30 yardsโ€ฆ Nine out of ten times its going straight over the bar, but for it to go into the top corner, you just think โ€˜oh, Godโ€™.โ€

โ€œBut then it was down to us to have the game out of sight, and we didnโ€™t really perform up to the levels we should have on the day, but Iโ€™m sure we will in the future.โ€

โ€œWe rescued a point in the end, but itโ€™s not good enough at home. Now weโ€™ve got to go into two big Boxing Day and New Yearโ€™s Day games really going for it and get a good return.โ€

FC Halifax Town face Darlington FC at The Darlington Arena on Boxing Day, kick-off is 3:00pm and if you canโ€™t make it, you can catch full audio coverage on Shaymen Player HD from 2:45pm, as well as full match updates on the Shaymen Wall and our official Twitter account, @FCHTOnline.

Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist

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