Billy Heath’s side will be looking to make it seven wins from their last eight games when they host Boston United at the MBi Shay Stadium on Saturday.
The last team these two sides met was a comfortable one to say the least for the Shaymen, blowing the Pilgrims away in a dominant 4-1 victory. Alex Simmons and Tom Denton produced a goal in each half, the later with an impressive curling effort from 20 yards well out of reach of Boston’s keeper on the stroke of full-time.
Denton was the stand-out performer on the day at the Jakemans Stadium, returning to the starting line-up ahead of Richard Peniket. Almost six months on it could be a case of ‘déjà vu’ in terms of Heath’s selection.
Denton is arguably staking a claim to be back in the starting line-up on Saturday after his impressive performance from the bench against Altrincham just under a fortnight ago. `
With two games in hand against three of the other four teams battling for the play-offs, a game against a side you’ve only lost once against is a blessing.
Halifax’s only defeat to Boston United however came at the MBI Shay back in October 2012. Striker Mark Jones gave Boston an early lead before Newsham sealed the points with 15 minutes remaining with an impressive lob over Halifax’s Matt Glennon, despite Gareth Seddon giving the Shaymen a way back in the game during stoppage in the final few minutes.
Only two of five total encounters between the teams have taken place at the Shay. The previous season (2011/12) saw a thrilling 3-2 encounter take place.
A Ross Hannah double and a strike from James Dean before the half-time whistle set the tone for an onslaught. This proved not to be the case as Mark Newsham and Josh Burge brought Boston United back into the game with fifteen minutes remaining, but the Shaymen managed to hold out.
Boston come into Saturday’s game recording just one win in the last five, so confidence will be high heading into this one…
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