Halifax kept up their 100 per cent start to their Northern Rail Cup campaign with a 38-6 win over Rochdale at the Shay on Sunday.

Now, you can see all seven Fax tries in our video.

Click play above to start watching now.

Match footage courtesy of Halifax RLFC.

HALIFAX utility back Lee Paterson has said he is ready to play in Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup showdown with Championship big guns Featherstone – but believes it would be a “big ask” to return to action against Daryl Powell’s back-to-back Grand Finalists.

Paterson only returned from six months on the sidelines following a knee reconstruction with a 70-minute stint against Rovers’ second-string in an under 23s friendly at Post Office Road last Friday.

The former Warrington junior emerged unscathed and the odds on a rapid elevation to boss Karl Harrison’s injury-ravaged first team squad shortened on Sunday afternoon when back rower Iain Morrison hobbled out of the 38-6 win over Rochdale with a knee injury, the full extent of which should be known later today.

“I think it would be a big ask to go back in against Featherstone,” said Paterson.

“If Karl asked me to play, I’d jump at it, but to go straight back into a game like that, where the winners are pretty much sure to finish top of the group, would be tough.

“I think London Skolars on Sunday week is more realistic for my first game at that level.

“In the end though, it’s Karl’s choice and I’ll do what he tells me to.

“My knee was a bit tender Friday night when I got home, but I think that was as much down to the pitch, which was pretty heavy, and the drive home as actually playing on it.

“After 70 minutes it was aching a bit so I came off, but it was a solid start.

“I was very nervous before the game, but once I was out there I started thinking about the game and just got on with it.

“The mental hurdle is a massive one to clear, I was waiting for the first knock on it but it got a whack after about 10 minutes and after that I was fine.”

Ironically, Paterson’s return to fitness coincided with the loss of close-season recruit Mick Nanyn with an almost identical injury.

“I spoke to Mick when he got the news and he seems okay,” said Paterson.

“If he needs any help, with advice or his rehab, then I’ll do whatever I can for him.

“It’s the same op as I had, so it’s six months minimum.

“You have to do everything they tell you to, push yourself as far as you think you can.

“If he comes back this season, it will be right at the end, but it’s still do-able.”

HALIFAX are running coach travel to London Skolars for next weekend’s final NRC group game, providing there is sufficient interest.

The cost will be £25 for adults and £18 for juniors and will leave the Shay at 9am.

To book, contact Neil Arber on 077144 88080.

Super League newcomers Widnes Vikings have suffered a major blow with the loss of Australian half-back Anthony Watts for at least six months with a knee injury.

The 25-year-old former Sydney Roosters player tore his right anterior cruciate ligament after going on as substitute to make his Super League debut in Sunday’s 38-18 home defeat by Salford.

Watts was forced to miss the Vikings’ opening two matches after being injured in a pre-season friendly against St Helens.

He is the second Widnes player to be ruled out for six months after forward Ben Kavanagh ruptured an Achilles tendon against the Reds.

Boss Neil Aspin found it hard to hide his disappointment after watching his Town side’s 10-match unbeaten run come crashing to an end with a 3-0 loss to promotion rivals Nuneaton last night.

The game started badly when the visitors took a fourth minute lead through Gareth Dean, deteriorated further with an injury to Jamie Rainford and a red card for Ryan Toulson and hit rock bottom as further goals from Danny Glover and Andy Brown sealed the home side’s fate.

And to make matters worse, last night’s visitors are now up to second in the Blue Square Bet North with the Shaymen slipping to third.

“The first goal was a bad one to concede,” said Aspin. “A player who is marked should not be getting a goal from a header at a corner.

“It was difficult from then on in.”

Aspin would have been looking forward to getting his players in at the break when, in first half stoppage time, Toulson was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

“I thought the first one was a yellow card,” he said, “The challenge was a little bit reckless and I could understand it.

“The second one; he tried to follow the pass and at the end of the day he is sent off.

“That made it even more difficult.”

Town showed a slight improvement after half time despite being down to 10 men, but not enough to turn things round.

“We had to try to stay in the game as long as possible and we did that to a certain extent,” said Aspin.

“But we didn’t make real chances all night, we never put their goal under pressure or created anything with good football.

“And the second goal killed us.”

That came from the penalty spot when a cross from the right brushed Liam Hogan’s arm and the linesman alerted the referee.

“I though at first he had flagged for offside and suddenly it was a penalty,” said Aspin.

“We seem to get a lot decisions against us at the moment but we just have to roll our sleeves up and go on another unbeaten run.

“It is disappointing that our worst days have been at home.”

Previous home defeats this season have included a 5-1 reverse to Vauxhall Motors and a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Altrincham.

“It is never nice to lose a game and you would rather it be 1-0 than 3-0,” said Aspin.

“But it is still three points and we have a big test on Saturday.”

Report and pictures - pages 36-37

Porto’s forward Hulk has warned Manchester City he is “1,000 per cent” ready for them tonight.

The Brazilian star is expected to lead the Porto attack as they seek to overturn a 2-1 deficit in the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie at the Etihad Stadium.

The highly-rated Hulk, a formidable presence up front or cutting in from either flank, has yet to rediscover his best after recovering from a leg injury but he insists he is in good shape.

The 25-year-old said: “I am 100 per cent. I am sure if I wasn’t the manager would not pick me.

“But tonight I will not be 100 per cent - I will be 1,000 per cent.”

Halifax Town 0 Nuneaton Town 3

Ten man Town were left counting the cost of a disappointing night at the Shay as their 10-match unbeaten run ended.

Not only were they beaten by promotion rivals, who leap frogged them into second place in Blue Square Bet North, but Jamie Rainford limped off and they had Ryan Toulson sent off - all before half time.

The Shaymen were up against it from the fourth minute when Gareth Dean headed home unmarked from a corner.

And while they were nominally in the contest after that, they were out for the count after Danny Glover blasted home a 69th minute penalty.

Andy Brown’s 89th minute effort from close range was nothing more than the icing on the cake for the visitors who extended their unbeaten run away from home to 11 matches.

Aaron Hardy returned to the Town side in place of the injured Liam Needham while James Dean replaced Cameron Darkwah, who dropped to the bench alongside returning skipper Tom Baker.

The Shaymen pushed Nuneaton back in the opening stages but could have been caught on the break when Danny Glover sent a pass across field for Wesley York, whose shot sliced wide.

And when Neil Carwright jinked his way into the area on the right after four minutes, his cross was deflected behind for the game’s first corner.

Town’s marking from Adam Walker’s kick was poor and that allowed Nuneaton central defender Dean to head his side in front unmarked at the far post.

The Shaymen were struggling and Simon Eastwood was a relieved man when Danny Lowe’s attempted clearance sliced gently into his arms.

Walker’s second corner was dealt with far more easily than his first had been and Luke Ashworth stepped in to dispossess Brown in the area soon after.

A cross field pass from Toulson to Dean, which was miscontrolled, was the highlight from the Shaymen who were really struggling to get anything going.

They looked hesitant in possession and when they were defending against a side clearly buoyed by the six goals they had scored at Colwyn Bay at the weekend.

A Scott McManus cross, that flashed across the visitors’ goal after 20 minutes, threatened to spark them into life.

And Dean won Town’s first corner of the game a minute later, Ashworth’s header from Toulson’s ball in being deflected over the bar.

Rainford took a whack on the top of his foot just before the half hour mark and limped back onto the field but he was unable to continue and he was replaced by Jason St Juste.

York enjoyed a double slice of luck soon after, playing a one-two off Hardy before firing over, with the referee awarding a corner despite the protests from Eastwood who claimed not to have got a touch.

Simon Garner, who had been kicked from pillar to post at Eastwood, won a free kick nine minutes before the break but was unable to beat the first defender with his ball into the box.

St Juste did well moments later on the left, going to the byline before pulling his cross back, but Dean could not connect.

McManus was alert to a quickly taken free kick and there was another scare when Eastwood and Lowe left a ball for each other and Glover almost nipped in.

Town’s woes increased in first half stoppage time when they were reduced to 10 men after Toulson received a second yellow card and was sent off.

Ashworth was the man sacrificed at the break as Town brought on Baker in midfield with Hardy switching to right back.

But it was left back McManus who perked things up with a rasping 46th minute drive from distance that Nuneaton keeper Danny Alcock tipped over.

And Dean almost clipped a ball through for St Juste, but a defender managed to stick out a foot and intercept.

Dean stuck out a leg and forced a save from the Nuneaton keeper after getting on the end of an Eastwood clearance and the big striker was inches away from connecting with a McManus cross moments later.

You would not have known that the Shaymen were a man down, although the visitors appeared content to rest on their one goal advantage.

The frustration was growing on the pitch and off it as Aspin’s side struggled to make inroads with Dean and Holland caught offside in quick succession.

And, after Hogan had been judged to have fouled Walker, Glover thumped a long range shot off the post.

Baker tried his luck from distance, but his shot lacked power.

Darkwah was given the chance to make amends for his red card at the weekend but he was given plenty to do after Nuneaton were awarded a 69th minute spot kick.

It was a debateable award as a cross from the right brushed Hogan’s arm, but Glover made no mistake from the spot, crashing the ball high into the net.

McManus latched onto a Simon Garner pass before crossing too high for the men in the middle and the defender was brought down moments later by Neil Cartwright as he looked to make more good ground down the left.

Glover had a chance to rub salt into the wounds with four minutes remaining when he raced clear on the left but fired wide of the right hand upright.

But Brown succeeded where his teammate had failed when he forced the ball home from close range with a minute remaining.

The gamed ended messily with a rash challenge from St Juste on Cartwright and an altercation after Mark Noon had brought down Dean.

Hundreds of supporters enjoyed a night of laughter and entertainment at FC Halifax Town’s annual sporting dinner.

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson was among the star speakers at the dinner, at the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford.

Merson, now a pundit for Sky Sports, gave a refreshing account of his life in professional football, with honest but humourous insights into life in the game.

He also wore an FC Halifax Town tie during Sky Sport’s Soccer Saturday show the following lunchtime.

The crowd were also entertained by former TV comedian Mick Millar, who rose to fame in ITV’s The Comedians, and compere John Helm, who ran the auction, raffle and fundraising on the night.

FC Halifax Town director Bobby Ham said he was delighted with how the evening went.

“The club’s fourth sporting dinner was another great success,” he said.

“Paul Merson and Mick Millar royally entertained our guests, with the evening being well received by all.

“Some people have already asked us if they can reserve tables for next year,” he said.

New sales and marketing executive Mark Brier said: “I’d heard how good it was last year and the work done by Pete Stajic, the board and Greg Stainton deserves huge credit.

“Many people commented on the quality of the event, from both an image and experience viewpoint and I’d also like to thank the team at Cedar Court.”

The next big events are the end of season presentation night in May and the club’s annual golf day in June.

For more information contact Mark on 07852 207622 or email markbrier@fchalifaxtown.com.

STUMP Cross and Warley Rangers blasted the title race wide open in the Haslem-Sheppard Halifax & District AFL with convincing victories over the top two in the Premier Division.

Stump moved up to fourth with games in hand on the sides above them after sinking leaders Ryburn United 3-0 while third-placed Warley crushed second-placed Greetland 4-0.

Gareth Sherwood got the only goal of the first half for Stump at Shroggs Park, scoring at the back post after half an hour after good work down the left from Josh Hiley and Dan Crosland.

That was no more than Stump deserved because they were the better side in the first half.

Sherwood missed with a lob and was twice denied at his feet by the Ryburn ‘keeper before making it 2-0 on the hour.

Ryburn came back strongly with midfielder Simon Carter outstanding but missed opportunities to get back into the game, notably when Billy Grogan skied a penalty after ‘keeper Wayne Codman had brought down Christian Silkstone.

Stump completed victory - to the delight of their manager Tony Kniveton who had a spell in charge at Ryburn - when Hiley cashed in on good work from Oliver Smith to curl the ball in with five minutes left.

Warley’s win was as convincing as the scoreline suggests, getting on top after an even first 20 minutes against opponents they drew 1-1 away with recently.

The ball trickled over the line for Matthew Bodkin to open the score after 20 minutes and Brian Matthews doubled the lead five minutes before half time when he slid in to get on the end of a great ball from Andy Hudson.

Centre backs Jonathan Brownridge and Andy Zolly maintained their good form for Warley, who extended their lead when Bodkin cut in from the left and hit a good shot.

Paul Kendall’s left footed effort with 10 minutes left completed a fine afternoon’s work for Warley.

Hebden Royd Red Star were 6-5 home winners against AFC Crossleys in a thriller.

The visitors took the lead after 10 minutes, taking advantage of two weak challenges. They almost made it two from a corner, but right back Harry West cleared a header off the line.

Red Star equalised when Simon Leah slotted home at the second attempt and then went in front, Ryan Thomas using his pace to break down the right before squaring for left winger Jordan Dean to tap home.

Shortly before half time, Star struck a double blow. West scored with a deflected effort following a corner, then a counter attack put Thomas clean through and he finished unerringly.

Home complacency was severely punished as Crossleys mounted a stirring fightback at the start of the second half. A combination of soft challenges, lazy marking and good forward play allowed the away side to stun their hosts with a four goal blitz inside 15 minutes and take the lead once more.

Star boss David Whitehouse sent on Jamie Eaton, who launched a move which was completed when Eddie Harvey fired low beyond the keeper.

With 10 minutes left Daniel Lumb’s slide rule pass enabled Leah to finish high into the roof of the net.

Shelf moved further away from the bottom of the table with a hard fought 3-2 home win over strugglers Holmfield.

They elected to play up the slope against a strong wind and there were few chances in the first half.

Shelf held out until 10 minutes before the break when Gaukroger fired in from the edge of the box.

Shelf missed plenty of chances in the second half and their task became greater when Gaukroger got his second with a 30 yard volley.

The home side came to life and Jimmy Andrew made it 1-2 after a neat turn and shot in the penalty box.

Shelf pushed on for the equaliser and Craig Fletcher’s long range effort was going wide until Paul Andrew flicked out a leg to send the ball past the Holmfield keeper.

Both sides had chances to win the game but Andrew came up trumps for the home side with a wind-assisted corner.

Waiters Arms booked their place in the semi-finals of the West Riding Sunday Trophy courtesy of an entertaining and gutsy performance which resulted in a 5-4 victory at highly-fancied Gomersal.

Waiters started strongly with Adam Fenton and the imposing figure of Freddie Bottomley bossing the midfield. And it was Bottomley who opened the scoring with a superb volley over the keeper from Paul Mitton’s cross.

Waiters continued to dominate with wingers Oliver Coates and Dean Fulton causing the home defence all sorts of problems and when the two combined Fulton ran through and deftly chipped the keeper for 2-0.

Things got even better just before the break when, after a succession of corners, top scorer Lee Wood rose highest to nod home Bottomley’s pin point delivery.

Waiters sat deep at the start of the second half with full backs Chris Doyle and Dean Park coming under increased pressure and when centre half Daniel Duck misjudged a long ball Gomersal’s Keiron Armitage ran through and notched his 25th goal in 10 games.

The arrears were reduced further when Wood inexplicably caught the ball off a corner in his own box resulting in a spot kick which Gomersal’s Andy Kaye netted.

This wasn’t to deter Waiters though and when Duck released Mitton he made no mistake with an ice cool finish to make it 4-2.

The game should of been wrapped up by then with only 10 minutes left but in true Waiters style they made it hard for the travelling support as Gomersal netted again through Kaye after a slip by Danny Johnson.

Manager Adam Fenton tried to shore things up giving Oliver Brierley his cup debut and his through ball released Fulton who netted sublimely on the run past the on rushing keeper.

Still it wasn’t over with Gomersal again netting in the dying seconds after the outstanding Ash Raynar in the Waiters goal had tipped a free kick on to the bar, Armitage netting the rebound.

Waiters then saw out the final seconds to earn a semi final date at Woodlesford in March.

Manager Fenton said: “The result and performance was the best in the Waiters history and the support the lads gave each other was outstanding. “They deserve their place and could go all the way and obviously the cup run means we should have enough in the coffers to carry on next year which is a bonus.”

ROB Malone had club officials scrambling for the record books as he netted 10 goals in Division One leaders Sun Inn’s 18-1 success over rock bottom Halifax Rangers.

That result meant that Sun easily retained their position at the head of the standings but a good day got even better after second-placed Oddfellows and fellow title hopefuls FC Champs both suffered defeats.

Rangers were in trouble early on when they had a player sent off for a professional foul. Sun took full advantage with malone running rampant.

It was far from a one man show, however, as Ben Timson (3), Wayne Collins, Ryan Collins, Tom Gorringe, Michael Drennan and James Symonds also got in on the goalscoring act.

Oddfellows slipped up 3-1 against a Queens Head side who defied their position close to the bottom with a fine display.

Queens could only muster the bare 11 but rallied well and fully deserved their victory.

Strike pair Frank Odion and Carlton Balmer worried Oddfellows all game and the pair combined well for Odion to give Queens a 1-0 interval lead.

It could have been more had they not been denied by a couple of good saves by the keeper.

Oddfellows started the second half well and Queens custodian Anthony Fenwick did well while the defence remained strong.

Balmer settled the nerves when he added a second but Oddfellows pulled one back to put the outcome in doubt again before Balmer wrapped up the points, netting from the rebound after his initial shot had been saved.

FC Champs saw their hopes of strengthening their title claim with a 4-3 home reversal by mid-table Old Pond.

Both sides showed great commitment in a cracking game which saw Pond hit the front through a superb team goal, Joe Shaw starting and finishing a move involving a succession of one-twos involving Michael Barlow and Paul Taylor.

Third placed Champs came back strongly and Dan Crosland broke free to fire home the equaliser, before Oliver Smith headed in a cross from the left flank to give the home side the lead. A top drawer turn and finish on his left saw Tom Robinson make it 3-1 to Champs.

Darrell Holdsworth gave Pond a lifeline with the last kick of the first half, smashing home from distance with the goal of the game.

There were chances at both ends in the second half with Champs starting to look the most likely. However, Ben Briggs made some good saves in the visitors net and at the other end Pond countered and Barlow squared for Ryan Richardson to smash home the winner.

Second bottom Ovenden Amateurs did their survival hopes a power of good with a 5-0 success at fellow strugglers Elland Sports Reserves.

TRIANGLE reduced the gap on Division Two leaders Stallions to five points after their 12-0 home drubbing of Stubbing Wharf.

Alex Brown claimed the scoring honours with five while Ben Brown, Damian Cook and Damian Roberts all netted twice. James Thompson made up the final tally.

Rastrick BC’s hoped of following suit stalled when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ryburn Valley while Ryburn United maintained their push for a promotion place with a 4-2 victory over The Vine Reserves.

Ryburn’s young side, whose ranges age from 16 to a couple of over 20s, had Oriel Strophair in good goalscoring form as he claimed a hat-trick - shaking off the rustiness from his club’s nine week lay-off.

It was Stophair who opened the scoring but an improved Vine side, who had been beaten 8-0 in the first fixture between the two sides earlier in the season, hit back to level before the break.

Stophair put his side back in front and then he and Matt Swales combined to set up Alex Coburn for the third.

Strophair then broke through to complete his treble but The Vine, who were denied twice by the woodwork, showed good battling qualities to add a second.

Royd Club remain on the fringes following their 1-0 success at King Cross CB&AC Reserves while Top Club edged the mid-table clash with Greetland Goldstars 2-0.

At the foot second bottom Hebden Bridge reeled in the team directly above them - Halifax Rangers - courtesy of a 4-1 success over their fellow strugglers.

]]> 1.4267874 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 09:07:50 +0000 http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/chance_to_get_back_on_track_1_4267866

Town have the perfect chance to put the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Eastwood behind them when they face fellow promotion hopefuls Nuneaton at the Shay tonight.

It is the first game of a quickfire double header with the Midlands outfit, the return taking place at Liberty Way at the weekend.

And it will be a game the Shaymen should be looking forward to as the stats suggest they do better against the better sides.

In eight matches against sides currently in the top eight they have won four and drawn three with the only defeat being their last in the league at home to Altrincham back in early December.

Since then, Town have won eight and drawn two in a 10 match unbeaten run that has seen them become leaders Hyde FC’s closest challengers.

Nuneaton’s record against sides currently in the top eight is not as impressive.

In fact their win at Colwyn Bay at the weekend was their first in six attempts after draws at Hyde and Guiseley and defeats against Stalybridge Celtic, Gainsborough Trinity and Altrincham.

They are currently on a five match unbeaten run and that is just a small part of a 10-match unbeaten run away from home, a run that has put them firmly among the promotion chasers.

Hyde are not in action this evening so the Shaymen could close the gap on them to five points and the teams will have played the same number of games.

They will, of course, have to play better than they did at Eastwood at the weekend if they are to do that.

Even though they were 2-0 up after eight minutes they never really played with any real fluidity although they will be hoping that the officials do not play as big a part as they did in Nottinghamshire.

Cameron Darkwah was red carded, Neil Aspin was sent to the stand and a dodgy penalty was awarded against them all before half time of a game that eventually ended in a 2-2 draw.

Despite all that, they really should have had enough to see off a side currently scrapping for its Blue Square Bet North life with no wins in the league since October.

Nuneaton Town are the side that was formed to replace Nuneaton Borough when they went out of business in the summer of 2008.

The old club have been to the Shay before, playing against Chris Wilder’s Halifax Town in the Nationwide Conference in September 2002.

Back then 1,402 saw goals from Paul Stoneman, Andy Farrell and Ian Fitzpatrick give Town a 3-1 victory in the first game of a nine match unbeaten run.

There is little doubt that Aspin would settle for the same result from tonight’s clash which will almost certainly be watched by a crowd bigger than that.

HALIFAX coach Karl Harrison expects to find out tomorrow whether key forward Iain Morrison will be available for Sunday’s Northern Rail Cup blockbuster against Featherstone.

Morrison, who made the move to the Shay from Rovers in the autumn, was taken to hospital during Sunday’s comfortable 38-6 home win over Rochdale after injuring his knee.

Initial X-rays proved inconclusive and the Londoner will now have an ultrasound examination in Halifax tomorrow.

“Iain got his studs caught in the turf and said he felt something ‘pop’ in his knee,” said Harrison.

“We weren’t going to take any chances with him because we were already in control of the game when it happened, so he came straight off and went for X-rays.

“He came back from the hospital and they say there’s nothing broken, but it’s the same knee he’s had reconstructed in the past so we weren’t taking any chances.

“Our doctor thinks it could be something relatively minor, but Morro’s a tough, experienced competitor who knows his own body.

“He’s got an ultrasound booked in for tomorrow, so we’ll have to wait until then.”

Morrison, who is widely regarded as one of the best forwards outside the top flight, has also played for Harlequins, Hull KR, Huddersfield and Widnes in a career dogged by serious injury.

His stay at Post Office Road was curtailed after a clash of heads with Fax teammate Makali Aizue in last June’s Northern Rail Cup semi final left him with a shattered jaw.

“Iain deserves a bit of luck,” said Harrison, who is expected to redouble his efforts to extend Wakefield forward Matt James’ loan spell at the Shay.

“If there’s any chance at all, we’ll try to get him patched up and on the field against Featherstone on Sunday.”

James, who sat out Sunday’s match after rolling his ankle at Dewsbury eight days ago, is due to return to Belle Vue on Friday after an initial month-long stay with Fax.

“I’ll certainly be talking to Richard Agar this week,” said Harrison.

“We’ve got a massive injury crisis; the 17 guys who played on Sunday were basically the 17 we had fit on the day.

“It goes without saying we’d like to keep Matt.”

Halifax’s Co-operative Championship clash with Swinton, originally scheduled for Sunday, May 27, at Leigh Sports Village, has been brought forward to Friday, May 25, with an 8pm kick off.

Town must step up their game when they take on Blue Square Bet North play-off rivals Nuneaton at the Shay tonight (7.45pm).

That is the message from boss Neil Aspin, who was a disappointed man after watching his side throw away two valuable points at Eastwood on Saturday.

The Shaymen had to settle for a 2-2 draw despite being two up after just eight minutes.

And Aspin knows a repeat performance simply won’t do against the Midlands outfit who won 6-1 at Colwyn Bay three days ago.

“Saturday was the most disappointing display of any of the games in our 10 match unbeaten run,” he said. “But we can’t dwell on that.

“Nuneaton are a good side and we have to play better, especially at home.

“Their result at Colwyn Bay was good when you consider we had been there the week before and Colwyn had been on a good run before that.

“They will be full of confidence coming to the Shay, but this is the kind of game you want to be involved in.

“If you want to achieve things you have to take points off your play off rivals.”

Tonight’s game is the first of two in five days against Nuneaton, who host Aspin’s side at the weekend.

But as far as the Shay chief is concerned it is one game at a time.

“If you get a good result in the first game it gives you confidence going into the second,” he said.

“But results over Christmas, when sides played each other twice, showed that the first game has no bearing on the second.

“I am just looking at tonight’s game and looking at getting the improvement from the team that we will need.”

Jamie Rainford is in line to make his first appearance at the Shay since returning to Town in a permanent deal from Chester.

But Aspin has a couple of injury concerns he must address before he can finalise his selection this evening.

Liam Needham is the biggest doubt with the groin problem that forced him from the field in the second half at Eastwood.

And the midfielder, who has been impressive in recent weeks, looks unlikely to figure.

Scott McManus was also struggling towards the end of Saturday’s game but appears to have more chance of playing tonight than Needham.

Skipper Tom Baker, who has not figured in a league game since the middle of last month, will have a fitness test.

Aspin will also be checking on leading scorer Lee Gregory who was an unused substitute at Eastwood.

And he is hoping that having left him on the bench at the weekend means the striker might be able to play tonight.

“Lee was still feeling his hamstring a little bit in training last week and we were not willing to risk him,” said Aspin.

“I would like to think that by not playing him on Saturday he could be all right for tonight.”

Nuneaton are fourth in the table, three points behind Town but with a superior goal difference and they know that victory tonight would see them move up to second.

The Shaymen will move to within five points of leaders Hyde FC if they win.

Town fans wishing to book a place on the official supporters coach to Nuneaton on Saturday can do so by calling the travel line on 07707 143094. Transport will leave the Shay at 11am and the cost will be £16.