With FC Halifax Town building up to their massive game against Chorley in the Vanarama National League North, returning Scott Garner is itching to come back into the side and help them in the game he has labelled as a cup final.
A constant feature in the back four for the first half of the season, Garner received a red card in the loss against Eastleigh almost a month before the game against Chorley and in his absence The Shaymen have slumped to two draws and two losses, the most recent being a devastating 1-0 loss to league strugglers Stalybridge Celtic. With Halifax in woeful form and ninth in the league table, Garner believes this is could be a defining point in the season for his side.
βTuesday is a massive game, you can almost see it as a cup final. Weβve got to get something out of that now. Weβve got to give confidence to each other, when weβre closing teams down weβll back each other and press together. Iβm positive we can get the result.β
Chorley are enjoying a fine season, currently sitting in third place level on points with second placed Kidderminster Harriers. Having gathered three wins from their last five and the only loss in that run coming against league leaders AFC Fylde, The Magpies will be more than a stern test for Billy Heathβs men.
Garner believes that despite the odds being against his team, a win against Chorley could be exactly what the team needs to get their season back on track.
βThe sooner we get a win the better now. Itβs been way too long for a squad like ours to be without a win. Itβs down to the players, weβre the ones on the pitch we need to put a performance together and get three points. Iβm convinced it will just click and weβll be back to where we were in a good run of winning games. One win and we roll onto the next one and before you know it weβre four five games unbeaten and looking up again.β
Morale was certainly low after the loss against Stalybridge who had only won one other game at home all season and had lost nine times at Bower Fold. There was a plethora of chances for Halifax to take the lead but the all-important goal eluded Heathβs side.
Despite the result being a poor one, it was clear to see Halifax deserved at least a point and Garner stated it is up to the players to change things around.
βI thought we didnβt play bad on Saturday and we dominated the game. You couldnβt have imagined we would lose 1-0, go down to ten men and miss a penalty. Little things like that happen when everything is going against you but we need to dig ourselves out of that hole and hopefully that will start on Tuesday.β
The defender will presumably be put straight back into the team after Daniel Hone saw red in the Stalybridge game and his presence may be just what The Shaymen need as the side havenβt kept a clean sheet in his absence.
βI donβt know if Iβm even playing yet but Iβm looking forward to being able to challenge someone, win my headers and get back into the routine of it all. Iβm glad itβs on Tuesday and not Saturday so I can get back into it, get a win in the bag and see a few smiles coming back and we roll on.β
One other thing that the 27-year old can look forward to is the possibility of lining up with already fan favourite, Adam Morgan. The attacker was signed from Curzon Ashton and has started each of the three games Halifax have played since he joined.
Four goals in three games for the former Liverpool man has excited everyone involved with the club and Garner has seen his talent during training sessions, so wonβt be surprised come Tuesday.
βIβve not played with Morgan yet, Iβve played against him in training and he is really sharp. I love the way he just gets a yard and shoots, he has goals in him and heβs a great addition to the side. Heβs got that nasty side to him as well I can see the winner in him so he is definitely a great addition.β
Β
You can see FC Halifax Town take on Chorley at the MBi Shay Stadium on Tuesday the 10th of October, 7:45pm kick off.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist