{"id":11346,"date":"2021-10-05T08:14:56","date_gmt":"2021-10-05T08:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nottinghamsport.com\/?p=11346"},"modified":"2022-02-03T23:06:54","modified_gmt":"2022-02-03T23:06:54","slug":"notts-look-for-better-at-halifax","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nottinghamsport.com\/index.php\/2021\/10\/05\/notts-look-for-better-at-halifax\/","title":{"rendered":"Notts Look For Better At Halifax"},"content":{"rendered":"

The second midweek fixture for Notts transpires tonight. This time the magpies will make the trip to West Yorkshire to face FC Halifax Town and it goes without saying how important a positive result would be out of this one.<\/p>\n

The magpies are coming into this fixture off the back of two straight defeats. This past Saturday, Notts suffered what may ultimately turn out to be their heaviest defeat all season, losing 1-4 to inform Woking on home soil. Notts, who led for seventy minutes prior to their unfortunate downfall, saw a lacklustre eight minutes conclude with deflating consequences as the cards put the game out of their reach.<\/p>\n

Onto more positive news coming into this fixture on behalf of the visitors for tonight\u2019s game, Notts\u2019 record at The Shay is one that\u2019ll leave travelling faithful feeling remotely confident prior to kick-off. In Notts\u2019 first season as a National League side, they defeated FC Halifax Town 2-4 away from home. On this day, the magpies showed great fight and determination with braces from Mitch Rose and Kyle Wootton helping their side come back from losing positions twice in the game. As for their second visit to The Shay, Notts\u2019 came away with a point in a game that was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On this day, it was Elisha Sam that put the magpies ahead early in the game, with a close-range shot nestling in the opposition\u2019s net just after seven minutes. Despite leading the game for eighty-three minutes, a mix up between the Notts backline saw forward Jamie Allen race clean through on goal before dispatching past Sam Slocombe to equalise for the Shaymen in the ninety-fourth minute. The late equaliser meant Notts were denied two wins from two visits as a National League side to The Shay. However, the magpies have another opportunity to make it a brace of victories at The Shay this evening, and many Notts supporters would argue that it is much needed.<\/p>\n

As for tonight\u2019s hosts in FC Halifax Town, they come into this fixture off the back of a goalless draw away at Barnet, the place opponents Notts County ran wild and left 0-5 winners on the opening day of the season. Despite drawing with the current league strugglers, this result increased the Shaymen\u2019s unbeaten run of form to five games. This same run of form includes some impressive victories, the most noticeable one being their 3-0 victory over big spending Stockport County. Tonight\u2019s hosts have only fell to defeat twice thus far this season, both being by one goal deficits to Yeovil Town and Maidenhead United. The Shaymen\u2019s impressive run of form in their past five games sees them currently sat fifth in the Vanarama National League. Forward Billy Waters, formerly of Torquay United, is certainly the one to watch for the visitors. Despite release from last season\u2019s play-off finalists in the summer, the forward has enjoyed an impressive start to his spell at FC Halifax Town, netting eight times in nine games.<\/p>\n

Defeat for either team tonight could see them drop out of the Vanarama National League play-off places. This could be an all-important catalyst for either side in their quest to come out of tonight\u2019s fixture victorious, especially the visitors, who have had heaps of expectation unsurprisingly thrown their way not only by the fans but also the rest of the league itself.<\/p>\n

So, what exactly can you expect out of tonight\u2019s game?<\/p>\n

Well, for me, and likewise every other game played from now until the end of the season, you can expect a game of high quality. Which doesn\u2019t seem so surprising to say as it first did, that being due to the close in the gap of quality between the Vanarama National League and the Sky Bet League Two. It is no secret that both sides need the three points for different reasons despite both being in the play-off places. Beginning with the hosts, they\u2019ll be looking to increase their unbeaten run of games to six with a win over Notts tonight. Having experienced this fixture in Notts\u2019 first visit as a National League side, I know the Shaymen faithful get right behind their side constantly from minute one to ninety, ensuring they have more than enough vocal encouragement to come out of their games successful. As this is the case, I expect no different in tonight\u2019s game and believe this could be the difference for the hosts this evening.<\/p>\n

As for the visitors, it is no secret that they could massively do with three points coming out of this fixture, given their two straight defeats prior to the game. Although the Magpies are still without Kyle Cameron, the forever important Connell Rawlinson and the experienced Sam Slocmobe, they do welcome back star-man Cal Roberts, who missed last weekend\u2019s game against Woking due to suspension. The wide-wan, who\u2019s tipped to be the best player in division by many, has proven already this season that he can provide the moment of magic when his side need it most and if they need it tonight, I wouldn\u2019t be surprised to see him do it once again.<\/p>\n

My personal predication for tonight\u2019s game is another 1-1 draw. I expect an open game with many chances and predominantly end to end football. However, I believe both sides will be wasteful and therefore will both take a point a piece from the fixture.<\/p>\n

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