FC Halifax Town captain Liam King believes that Town fully deserved the three points following their hard-fought victory against Chorley FC, as Town can now fully concentrate on the play-off fixtures.
Tom Denton’s seventeenth goal of the season along with King’s penalty late on secured what was a scrappy game for both sides on a difficult playing surface. And with other results in our league, Salford City were confirmed as the opponents for Town’s Vanarama National League North play-off semi-finals.
With Chorley also looking to claim their spot in the competition, it was always going to be a difficult game for both sides. King was just relieved to get the desired result in the end.
“It was a scrappy game, it is expected at this stage of the season. Obviously, Chorley needed to come out and get some points but they got there in the end. The pitch didn’t do (the game) any favours, you can see out there it is rock solid and bobbly.
“We have come out on top and it is fully deserved. You can’t come to places like this and get the ball down, Kidderminster must come here on Wednesday and I will be interested to see how they play because they’re a passing team.
“(The scrappiness) was always expected but the lads did the basics. Two nil is probably a fair result and we soaked that pressure up at the end really well”.
The Shaymen spent most the second half with their backs against the wall, tirelessly defending wave after wave of Chorley attacks. Although, when Josh Wilde was brought down in the box, King felt that he was the man to double Town’s lead.
“I will be honest, I felt fine. I have taken a lot of big penalties in the past. Obviously, you always want to score your penalties but we were winning one nil and the game was near enough done anyway. I am pleased I got the goal and now we have finished on a high going into the play-offs”.
Despite the two goals, it was Town’s defensive line that was the busiest. Danny Hone especially being the stand-out performer due to winning his battles with Chorley’s Marcus Carver. A resilient performance was needed at the back, and King believes that this is exactly what was displayed.
“We went with a back three today and I was saying to Brown there he has made changes but the team was not weakened. We have got such a strong squad going into the play-offs, it is brilliant. They all did fantastic.
“Hone did fantastic and Brown coming back was nice and solid. Even Nathan Hotte has been ‘Mr Consistent’ all season back there and he has done a great job”.
The season has certainly been a long one, and Town fans will surely be glad to solely concentrate on the play-offs. Salford, who will provide a difficult test, are the team to beat if the Shaymen are to reach the final.
Despite the challenge, King believes that Town can overcome this, and is relishing a return to the starting eleven.
“The play-offs are a bit of a lottery at the start, Salford are a good side but we have a good side as well. I think we have got to stay in the game on Wednesday, get a good result there and bring them back to the Shay on Sunday. We will have every chance of making the final so let’s hope the lads stick together and we get there.
“I have been struggling with my heel for the last few weeks, which is why I didn’t play last week. I came on today and I have been kicked on it but let’s hope it settles down. I will be doing everything to be fit for Wednesday”.
You can watch the full interview with King along with post-match reaction from Billy Heath and Matty Brown on Shaymen Player HD.
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