Tom Denton is cautiously confident ahead of Saturday’s tie against Stalybridge Celtic at the MBI Shay Stadium.
There will be familiar foe on the opposition dugout in the form of Steve Halford, a close mate of the Shaymen striker and one of the joint managers at the club after Liam Watson resigned from Celtic last Friday.
Halford and Phil Phillips secured the club’s first victory last Tuesday night in a thrilling 3-2 contest at home to Gainsborough Trinity.
“The lads have been saying this week that the focus should be for us to try and win all our home games and then pick up as many as you can away” insists Denton.
“Stalybridge won’t be a push over though on Saturday. They might be down the bottom but Steve and Phil have come in and given the club a much needed lift. After Tuesday’s results they now something to build on going forward now but we’re more than capable of taking all 3 points on Saturday” the striker added.
FC Halifax Town return home after two consecutive away fixtures – 2-1 victory away at AFC Telford followed by a thrilling fixture at Salford City FC on Tuesday night, in which Kevin Roberts’s header in the dying minutes made it 2-2 and rescued a point for the Shaymen.
“First half at Salford I think we deserved to be ahead. In the dressing room at half-time there was no concerns about heading back out and carrying on with the same outcome. But Salford to their credit came out strong and got some luck with the penalty decision which you need in football at times” admits Denton.
“11 vs 11 we would probably say 3 points dropped but given the circumstances (2-1 down and Danny Hone sent off with 30 minutes remaining) a draw was a great result in the end.”
Denton described the scenes as ‘crazy and a great feeling’ before adding that “those moments show the togetherness that this squad has and the determination to play until the final whistle and fight for every ball and we got rewarded at the end with Kevin’s header”.
The Shaymen’s 6ft 7 giant has had a fantastic start this season – with 7 goals in his opening 9 games. Despite not scoring in three games (AFC Fylde), Denton isn’t fazed and is proud of the start he has made at the club.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start to be honest with 7 in the first 9. All strikers go through a little blip but it’s something I’m really too bothered about or focused on.”
“I do expect us to score goals at the weekend but I’m more focused on the team rather than myself, as long as the ball ends up in Stalybridge’s goal I don’t care who scores” Denton added.
FC Halifax Town host Stalybridge Celtic on Saturday 10th September – kick off 3pm.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
