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BPA: We Have To Be Prepared

Posted by Kelly Gilchrist
Posted on Thu 9 Mar 2017
Posted in First Team

FC Halifax Town defender Kevin Roberts says that Town will be fully prepared as they gear up for the all West Yorkshire tie away at Bradford Park Avenue.

Following Tuesdayโ€™s disappointing loss away at Alfreton Town, Town can quickly turn their fortunes around as we enter the crucial stage of the season.

For Roberts, it will be vital that he and the rest of the squad are ready for any circumstances in Saturdayโ€™s derby. ย 

โ€œIt is a derby so it is going to be a tough game, like every other game in the league is. It might be quite a scrappy game so I cannot see much โ€˜footballโ€™ being played. We must turn up and be prepared to work, getting the three points in whichever way it is.

โ€œWe are not a team who does not like doing it ourselves. Obviously, if we want to get ourselves in the play-offs we need to offer more than that but that is the first thing you must do. You have to work your way into the game and win your battles in the hope that your football comes out on topโ€.

Craig Westcarrโ€™s strike last time out was the only goal needed to end Halifaxโ€™s impressive run of eight games unbeaten in the Vanarama National League North. Despite an impressive first half performance Town were unable to take their opportunities, and Roberts understands that this will need to change.

โ€œTo be fair to the lads, I thought we dominated in the first half. We were unlucky not to go into half time one or two up.

โ€œAs soon as Alfreton got the goal in the second half we started to panic and rush everything when, realistically, there was plenty of time left to get a goal. It was a poor reaction from us when the goal went in.

โ€œWe need to score more goals and make sure we are not conceding too easy at the other end which was a poor goal (on Tuesday). We have not scored for two games now, we have had our chances but we have scored a lot of goals this season so I am sure we will find the back of the net sooner or laterโ€.

As we enter the final two months of the season, the race for a spot in the play-offs is quickly heating up. A game in hand for the Shaymen puts them in a good position over the chasing pack.

Despite the pressure from the likes of Stockport County and Darlington, Roberts has identified that earning a play-offโ€™s spot is the only thing on the minds of the squad.ย ย 

โ€œI would be lying if I said it was not in our minds. That is the target, we have to finish in the play-offs. Before the Boston game, in the back of our minds we still had the chance of putting some pressure on Fylde but that might be gone now.

โ€œObviously, we will never give up until it is not possible but the play-offs are the target, we are not shying away from that. That was the target at the beginning of the season and that is where the lads want to be nowโ€.ย ย 

If you cannot make it to Horsfall Stadium, then there will be live match updates along with commentary available on the Shaymen Wall and Shaymen Player HD respectively

Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist

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