FC Halifax Town finished the season off in style after a 2-0 victory away at Chorley, securing third place and setting up a tasty play-off semi-final against the Class of 92โ subjects Salford City.
It wasnโt a game for the neutrals but the Shaymen ground out the three points at a fittingly name Victory Park. Tom Denton opened the scoring midway through the first period when he tapped into an empty net after Christian Dibble had spilled a Jordan Sinnott strike into the path of the forward. It wasnโt until stoppage time when Billy Heathโs side secured the game after Josh Wilde was bought down in the box to earn his side a penalty, leading to Liam King coolly slotting away the spot-kick for a hard-fought victory.
Billy Heath rung the changes with one eye on the play-offs as he gave some of the ladโs valuable minutes, Brown was one of the players to be drafted back into the side. The numerous changes didnโt do the side any harm as it looked like they had been playing alongside each other week in week out. Chorley were piling the pressure on in the second half knowing that, at the time, they needed to get something out of the game but the Shaymen defended excellently and captain Matty was proud of his side todayโฆ
โThe gaffer made a lot of changes and give the lads who havenโt been playing some valuable minutes and everyoneโs put a shift in. Great team performance, first half I think it was even but then second half Chorley were probably the better side. The piled it on us but we dealt with it as a team, I never thought they were going to score to be honest. They huffed and puffed but couldnโt break us down, we put a great shift in for each other. I think the 2-0 is deserved in the end with the way weโve played.โ
Brown, who took the captaincy today deputising for the injured Kevin Roberts, put in a stellar performance playing in the heart of a back five alongside Cliff Moyo, Danny Hone, Nathan Hotte and Scott McManus. The defender put a strong case in for Wednesdayโs play-off first leg at Salford but Matty is not fazed by the team selection and will be behind Billy no matter what his decision may beโฆ
โThatโs up to Billy, I have been missing quite a bit this season and when I get chance to play I want to show what I can do but thatโs out of my hands. Whatever the gaffer goes with Iโll be 100% behind the lads, itโs about the team and weโll be going into the play-offs full of confidence because I just donโt see whoโs going to beat us.โ
The home side threw everything, including the kitchen sink, at the Shaymen but they just couldnโt find that elusive goal they were looking for. Matty felt confident in their ability that they wouldnโt concede over the 90 minutes, and it proved exactly that with the 2-0 victoryโฆ
โThey threw everything at us. We put a shift in, at the end they had about six strikers. Moyo, Wilde and McManus tucked in and we defended and matched them, they didnโt really have a shot on goal, not that I can recall anyway. They had a lot of possession but I didnโt feel threatened all game. Me, Hone and Hotte talked all game and we didnโt feel they would get past us so thatโs all you can ask for.โ
The defender let out a huge raw at the end of the match fist pumping in the air knowing that it was a big victory for himself and the lads. Brown has missed a few games this season due to injury but he is grateful for the support that he has received from the Shaymen faithful and loves being part of the sideโฆ
โThe fans have been great, even with myself Iโve been missing quite a lot of the season and itโs been hard. I have always received good support from the fans, theyโve always been great with me and I love playing here so itโs always nice to show a bit of passion back, thatโs what the fans want to see.โ
With the Shaymen facing Salford on Wednesday in the first of their two games against the Greater Manchester side in four days, Matty is full of confidence that the Shaymen can overcome tough opposition over the two legs and book themselves a place in the play-off final against either Kidderminster Harriers or Chorleyโฆ
โJust the same way we approach every other game, we all trust each other and weโll go into the game full of confidence. We donโt need to go there and win, we get a draw and weโll take them back to the Shay and hopefully do the job there but whateverโs thrown at us Iโm sure we can deal with it.โ
Watch the full interview on Shaymen Player HD right now.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist