FC Halifax Town have a quick turnaround for their next tough fixture, with promotion-chasing Sutton United being the visitors on Tuesday night.
The weekend saw the Shaymen record an impressive victory against Sutton’s fellow promotion candidates Boreham Wood, as Matty Brown and Mike Fondop-Talom fired home to ensure Town hit the ‘magic 50 -point’ marker.
The result should now all but secure Town’s survival in the Vanarama National League, and Jamie Fullarton’s side will be full of confidence when Sutton visit the MBi Shay Stadium.
In the run up to the first of two midweek fixtures, we look at what has been happening in the National League over the weekend.
We start with the bottom end of the National League table, as Chester FC became the first side to fall foul of the dreaded drop zone.
The Blues, who were defeated 2-0 against a strong Tranmere Rovers side, saw their fate sealed despite being a place above Guiseley, but games in hand meaning that the Lions can still mathematically secure safety.
Their fate sealed what has been a problematic season both and off the pitch for the Blues, with financial troubles looming over them throughout the campaign.
Boss Marcus Bignot, who has already been told that he will not be in charge for next season’s National League North campaign, told the National League he was hurting following the result.
“It’s a sad day for the club, but many clubs have experienced relegation and bounced back – now the important thing is how it bounces back.
“I’m really gutted for the supporters and the volunteers. We’ve not been good enough, but since the news broke of the problems three months ago we have lost so much.
“Relegation has been inevitable for a while, but it hurts. It’s hard for everyone and everyone feels the pain.”
Whilst Bignot was hurting at the result, his Tranmere counterpart on the touchline, Micky Mellon, was understandably impressed with his side’s result.
Goals from Andy Cook and James Norwood made it back-to-back wins for Mellon’s men, helping them rise to fourth in the National League standings. With the season now entering its most important stage, Rovers will be looking to build on last year’s play-off final defeat to Forest Green Rovers.
There’s still time to go yet before attention switches to the play-offs, and Mellon told the National League that his side must keep the focus on maintaining their high standards.
“At this time of the year, it is all about results, clean sheets, we have set a standard and look to maintain that…
“It is the business end of the season it all becomes very exciting, we are enjoying being in the build-up of it all.
“The experience the players have, we have been there and done that and know that the focus is just on ourselves.”
And finally, Solihull Moors climbed out of the bottom four after a 1-0 win over Hartlepool United at the weekend, with the Moors currently enjoying a good run of form.
Not only are Mark Yates’ side unbeaten in their last six league outings, they have also managed four successive clean sheets, the latest seeing them overtake Barrow to sit in 20th place.
The Moors dominated throughout the 90 minutes at Victoria Park, but scored the only goal of the game in the 88th minute thanks to Adi Yussuf to give them a three-point cushion over Ady Pennock’s Barrow.
Solihull will now prepare for what will be a huge game against Maidstone United on Tuesday, as they look to distance themselves further from the drop-zone.
If you cannot make it to the game against Sutton, then there will be live match updates along with commentary available on the club website.
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