FC Halifax Town host Leyton Orient at the MBi Shay Stadium on Tuesday night following the match postponement just over a week ago, due to a frozen pitch.
The Shaymen will want to bounce back following their recent defeats to Maidenhead and Bromley to get back the winning mentality in the dressing room.
Town did show that they can compete, with their first half performance against a very strong Bromley side but a goal from Louis Dennis and a brace from Josh Rees, meant a long dull trip back to West Yorkshire.
Despite the loss, there were positives to take from the defeat at Hayes Lane. One of them the return of Shaun Tuton, who made his first appearance since he arrived on loan from Barnsley.
Halifax will be hoping that the loss does not lead to another poor run. As it is getting to the stage of the season where “We will see what we are made of” Billy Heath said after the defeat down South.
The team currently sit in 18th position, with just a four-point gap between themselves and the drop zone, after recent results due to a long list of injury problems.
After not winning any of their last four league matches, Leyton Orient are on a bad patch themselves after the good run they enjoyed following the appointment of Justin Edinburgh as manager at the end of November.
The O’s have lost two and drawn two of their last four league games, and are just two points below the hosts before kick-off on Tuesday night.
Town’s defence will need to be wary of Macauley Bonne. As the oppositions threat in attack, the former Lincoln City man is second top goal scorer in the division with fourteen to his name behind AFC Fylde’s Danny Rowe with sixteen goals.
The striker added to his tally in the first minute of his last game at home to Aldershot Town, but the shots came from behind in that one to win the game 3-2.
Tom Denton hit the target in the last match which the two sides met at Brisbane Road in an emphatic victory for Billy Heath as his side started the season very much on the up.
The big number 9 was on the bench for the defeat to Bromley, so he will be ready to face up against the likes of former Wolves man George Elokobi who will likely start for the away side in defence.
The last time these two teams met up was back in September when Town won the game 3-0 with goals from the late departed Adam Morgan, before Tom Denton and Matty Kosylo added to the doom and gloom for the home side.
In a match which could have been a lot more, the Leyton Orient goalkeeper for this game, Charlie Grainger deserved a lot of credit for keeping the score down.
Match Officials
Referee: Peter Gibbons
– The referee from the Wirral has officiated in three of Town’s matches this season. Including two draws and a defeat. The man in the middle on Tuesday, is yet to show a red card this season but has shown 27 yellow cards.
Assistants: Michael Barlow/Lewis Raper
Fourth Official: Johnathon Bickerdike
Follow the Game
There will be live updates and audio commentary available on the club website and Shaymen TV.
You can also follow the action via Town’s official Twitter account, @FCHTOnline.
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