FC Halifax Town take on Southport for the second consecutive Bank Holiday Monday as the season draws closer to its conclusion, knowing a point will be enough to secure playoff football. However, midfielder Paul Marshall insists that his side will not be settling: โWe need to get to Southport and get a result because itโll put us in a good position,โ he said, โthatโll mean we take some pressure off ourselves for next Saturday to win that game. We know we need to get points on the board to guarantee the playoffs so we are going to go there and try and win.โ
The Shaymen are on the cusp of completing a season few will have dared to dream of in August, and Marshall says that the atmosphere in the changing room in the wake of the win against Macclesfield will carry over into Southport: โThe lads are buzzing, it was a great win. Weโll take that into Monday and hopefully pick up three points.โ
Despite Southport languishing in 18th, Marshall knows that their opponents wonโt roll over and let their visitors return to West Yorkshire with all three points: โTheyโll be going at it. I donโt think thereโs any team at this level that will ease off at any stage because theyโre all fighting for their contracts next season. They will want to win the game and impress their manager.โ
Marshall was replaced by Marlon Jackson on after 77 minutes of Saturdayโs game, and admits that heโd run himself into the ground in the tough conditions at The Shay. โIt was really hot and the pitch was rock solid,โ he said, โit was quite hard to play on. I got tired late on and told the gaffer I was struggling a bit fitness-wise and he took me off. But Iโll be fit and ready to go on Monday, thatโs for sure!โ
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