Having made a telling contribution from the bench against Cambridge United, Scott Spencer is entering Sunday’s Skrill Premier play-off second leg with serenity as FC Halifax Town try and navigate their way to Wembley:
“They were a very solid team they had many physical players who nullified us as a team for a lot of the game. But we obviously got our chance with the penalty and Greggers (Lee Gregory) isn’t going to miss that. But we’ll see what happens, Sunday is a completely new game so we’ll see what they come with.”
The Shaymen have reigned supreme in Calderdale this term scoring an outstanding 56 goals in 24 matches, with 54 of FC Halifax’s 77 points being accumulated at home. Cambridge meanwhile amassed 52 of their 82 points at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. With both outfits boasting phenomenal home records, Spencer believed it was pivotal that the team utilised their fine home form on Wednesday evening to take a lead and a clean sheet into the second leg:
“I think one goes with the other, we were at home and we’re very confident when we play at home. So it was all about getting an advantage whether it was taking a nil-nil and clean sheet to Cambridge so we could attack them or take a 1-0 lead there. I still think the game plan would be the same regardless of whether it was a goalless draw or a 1-0 win, but again we’re strong at home and we’ve performed well at home all year so it was nice for the first-leg to be at home.”
Instructed to try and out manoeuvre The U’s rigid defensive line Spencer, Town’s only substitute of the evening, explained what Neil Aspin expected of him just before being introduced to proceedings:
“He told me to go up front with Greggers, drop in the hole and help out defensively if I needed too, but I had to be lively and make something happen.”
Prior to switching to FC Halifax Town in a loan switch in March, Spencer who has scored 52 goals in 110 games for Hyde during a three year-spell, endured a season of successive losses and deprivation of victories. As a result the former Southend United attacker appreciates this current promotion push to the Football League with Halifax, even more so due to the woes of the Ewen Fields’ side:
“When I joined on loan it was a completely different environment everybody was buzzing around the place, everybody is happy and pushing forward. So it has made me appreciate being in a positive dressing room, it has been different class and I’ve enjoyed every minute of being here so far.”
With the club potentially 90 minutes away from consolidating a Wembley play-off final birth, the 25 year-old former Everton trainee is excited at the prospect of featuring at the national stadium, as he continues to revel playing in FC Halifax colours:
“With the year I’ve had and the fact that anything can happen in football, the last month has been brilliant for me I’ve enjoyed being here. It is one of them it would be a great achievement for the lads who have been here all year as well with the club and what they’ve done with the club so far is different class anyway. Hopefully we’ll get through on Sunday but we’ll see what happens as anything can happen in football.”
Whilst few are casting an eye beyond this month, the proportion of Spencer moving permanently to FC Halifax Town is an enticing one for the Oldham-born player ,who bears a fondness for the club:
“Yeah of course but it is up to the gaffer as it is his decision but it is a great club to be at, especially at the moment.”
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