FC Halifax Town got back to winning ways against a relegation threatened Gainsborough Trinity, and put Saturdayโs defeat to Gloucester City behind them.
The away side took a shock lead midway through the first half when Jordan Thewlis slotted the ball past Sam Johnson in the Halifax goal, Trinity held out until the 51stย minute when an own-goal from Chris Salt saw the Shaymen back on terms.
Adam Morgan proved the hero on the night when the striker slotted the ball past George Willis, at the second time of asking, after a great initial save from the 21-year-old.
The first goal for the Shaymen came courtesy of an own-goal from Chris Salt after the defenderโs touch eluded the goalkeeper and rolled into the net. Clarke was the last Halifax player to get the touch but he knows that it wasnโt his goalโฆ
โWell youโll take anything but unfortunately it didnโt touch me. If it goes down as me fair enough but I was about a yard or two off it so never mind itโll come.โ
It was relief all round when former Liverpool striker Morgan placed the ball into the back of net with just under ten minutes remaining in the tie. It could prove to be a huge goal come the end of the season in the race for the play-offs and considering the recent run of results which Danny Clarke touches onโฆ
โItโs been difficult because I think the last few games weโve started the first half brilliantly but we just canโt get that first goal. It was a forced change with Kosylo going off, obviously, Morgan does what we got him here to do โ score goals. Itโs an important goal and we needed it after the results weโve had the last couple of games.โ
Getting three points on the board is vital at any time of the season, but even more so when youโre during a play-off battle with numerous sides from Kidderminster Harriers down to Brackley Town. Danny knows the importance of these victories and will take them however they comeโฆ
โWith the countdown now of just eight games left so we just need to keep getting three points however they come. Like I say, we canโt start any better apart from getting an early goal, dominating teams, dominating possession. Itโs good to get a couple of goals.โ
The away side put up a good defensive performance with Dave Frecklingtonโs sitting inside the relegation places on goal difference, and it looked like they were going to take a point back with them to Lincolnshire until their resistance was finally broken late on. It was all Halifax in the second half and Clarke was relieved to see his side take all three pointsโฆ
โWe give them something to hold onto, it was the first time they got in our half, our final third. Once they got that goal it was backs to the wall, theyโre fighting for different reasons and it down to us just to break them down then. Fortunately, the pressure we put on them second half worked.โ
The Shaymenโs next opponents come in the shape of FC United of Manchester. This will produce a fantastic atmosphere and a bumper crowd will be expected between two of the biggest clubs in the division. Clarke knows this and will hope his side can score an early goal to silence the home faithfulโฆ
โI think thatโll be one for the fans, it will be a good atmosphere. All we can do is just keep starting how we are, itโs not that we are starting slow and going a goal behind, weโre getting out of the box. If we get an early goal, we can silence their crowd and get our fans on our side.โ
FC Halifax Town travel to FC United on Saturday 25thย March, with kick off scheduled for 3:00pm.
You can catch all the build-up and live match commentary on Shaymen Player HD from 2:45pm, as well as full match updates on the Shaymen Wall and our official Twitter feed @FCHTOnline.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist