In what was a fantastic day all around, the Shaymen made easy work of Harrogate Town on Easter Monday, putting the North Yorkshire side to the sword in a 3-0 victory.
Dion Charles opened the scoring ten minutes in after fine play from the Fleetwood Town loanee. Matty Kosylo then doubled Town’s lead just before the half-hour mark and it was plain sailing for Billy Heath’s side from then on in. Kosylo then doubled his tally for the afternoon ten minutes before the end giving Halifax a resounding 3-0.
The defender’s last appearance for the Shaymen came all the way back in the famous FA Trophy success at Wembley on the 21st May 2016. A total of 331 days spent on the side-lines watching his side climb into the play-offs. McManus was delighted to pull the Halifax shirt back on, even if it was an unorthodox position in the middle, but he is hoping for more before the end of the current campaign…
“It felt good. It’s been a while, coming on in central midfield was a bit strange but it’s something that I’m willing to do for the team. Hopefully I can keep making little cameos.”
Halifax’s longest-serving player is nearing 100% fitness, but one problem is match fitness, just like any other footballer returning from a lengthy injury. The only way that is going to improve is by playing games…
“I would say I’m close to 100% fit, but obviously, my match fitness is going to be well off with not playing close to a year at Wembley. The only way I’m going to get that up is by playing games so hopefully if I can squeeze a few in before the end of the season that’ll be good.”
The Shaymen came into this match looking to bounce back after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to AFC Fylde and cement their play-off place. Harrogate is always a tricky place to pick up points but Heath’s side made it look easy after this comfortable victory. This dominance helped Scott slot into the centre of the park…
“It’s not like I was coming on with any pressure on me. The pressure was completely off the team, we were dominating the whole game so like I say, coming on in the middle felt relatively easy because the team were playing so well, so it made my job a lot easier.”
It was a mystery when McManus came on to where he would play with Josh Wilde still on the pitch but he slotted into that hole left by David Lynch, the man he came on for. Lynch had already received a yellow card and Billy was wary of Harrogate getting a foothold back into the match…
“I just think it was because we had no centre midfielders on the bench. I think he was worried about David Lynch receiving his second yellow card which at the time it was 2-0 so it could have changed the game a little bit. He came to the bench and said we’ve got no-one to come so I volunteered. I enjoyed it so that’s all that matters really.”
The Shaymen faithful were excellent once again, as they have been throughout the campaign. They were clearly loving the defender being back in the fold and were in full voice belting out: “There’s only one Scott McManus”.
When Scott did come on he received a resounding cheer from the stand where the fans were housed, this is something that McManus enjoyed thoroughly…
“It’s class, if I was going to try and get myself up for a game I wouldn’t need too with something like that. I’ve worked my socks off for Halifax for the last six years up and down the Shay so it’s greatly appreciated and if they could keep it up that would be amazing.”
There are only six other Shaymen who are still at the club since the FA Trophy – Matty Brown, Kevin Roberts, Richard Peniket, Sam Johnson, Josh MacDonald and Jake Hibbs, who albeit is out on loan. McManus is excited by the current crop of players at the club and is excited to play alongside them, especially Jordan Sinnott who he admires greatly…
“We’ve got Jordan Sinnott, I like him. I played against him when he was on the right wing, I don’t know why he was being played there because he’s probably one of the best players at CAM in this division. They’re all new to me bar a few, so I look forward to playing with them all.”
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
