FC Halifax Town enter Sunday’s playoff semi-final second leg with the slenderest of margins after beating Cambridge 1-0 on Wednesday night.
The game will be screened live on ESPN, and represents Halifax’s fifth appearance on TV this season, and the second time at the R Costings Stadium.
Team News:
Josh Wilson is the only injury doubt as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury sustained on the final day of the regular season, and in the build up to Wednesday’s game he revealed he was hopeful of being fit enough to be selected. Elsewhere, Adam Smith’s 10th yellow card of the season picked up in the first leg will not result in a suspension. James Bolton returned to the starting line-up during the week after his illness before Kidderminster, and he felt no ill-effects after the game.
Current Form:
Town’s win consigned Cambridge to their fifth consecutive defeat, and another home clean sheet stretches the visitor’s scoreless run by as many games. Meanwhile, Halifax won their first game since April 19th, after a loss at Southport and a draw at home to Kidderminster, and the momentum gained towards the end of the season will give everybody at the club hope that they can get over the line.
Key Man:
Luke Chadwick had an exceptionally quiet game for Cambridge in the first leg, and the former Manchester United, Reading, Burnley, West Ham, Stoke, Norwich & MK Dons man will be keen to try to turn his side’s fortunes around. The pressure is on the 33-year old to pull his team through, and the battle with Messrs Marshall, Maynard and Pearson will be fascinating to watch.
Played for Both:
Much like last time, the list of personnel that have appeared for both is as follows: David Adekola, Simon Ainge, Phil Bolland, Peter Butler, Jon Challinor, Chris Clarke, Mike Ferguson, John Francis, Peter Graham, Steve Guinan, Mike Heathcote, Jonathan Hedge, Ronny Hildersley, Tommy Horsfall, Neil Horwood, Scott Houghton, Paul Kent, Andy Lee, Dave Lennard, Craig Middleton, Adriano Moke, Jamie Murphy, Mick Norbury, Steve Richards, Dave Smith, Justin Walker & Paul Wilson.
Down the Years/Last Time Out:
Halifax added their seventh win, and sixth in the league on Wednesday, pulling themselves to within four of their opponents. A draw on Sunday would send Town to Wembley, and be the ninth tie between the sides. The last encounter saw a Lee Gregory penalty send Adam Smith the wrong way, and the Shay into raptures. Josh Coulson conceded the spot kick and blazed over from six yards as the game entered its final throes.
Follow the game:
Shaymen Player will host live kick-by-kick coverage, as well as full match highlights and interviews from Neil Aspin and some other members of the camp.
There will be updates via the Shaymen Wall, and via Twitter (@FCHTOnline).
As mentioned, the game is also live on ESPN, and kicks off at 1330BST.
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