Town defender Liam Hogan says he has a clean sheet target in mind as Town prepare to move into the busiest period of the season so far.
The Shaymen have currently played fewer league games than any of the teams above them and they take on Droylsden on Saturday as they bid to keep in touch with the early pace setters Brackley Town, Chester and Guiseley.
Hogan missed Town’s last league game, the emphatic 4-0 win over Vauxhall Motors, with a stomach bug which left him bed bound and saw him lose almost a stone in weight.
But despite not having played for a week, he was back for Town at the weekend as they won at Cammell Laird to progress to the first round of the FA Trophy and home game against Altrincham.
“For me personally it was just a matter of getting back into it,” he said of the 1-0 win in Birkenhead.
“It was a scrappy game and probably one of our worst performances of the season but to get the win was the main thing.”
The shut out at Laird was Town’s eigth in their last 12 games, an achievement Hogan credits the entire team with.
“It’s not just about me and Danny,” he said of his centre-back partner and club captain Danny Lowe.
“We defend as a team from the front and although sometimes it’s me and Lowey who have to make a last ditch tackle or block, we keep clean sheets as a team.”
Hogan, who featured at right back in the second half against Laird following a change in formation, admits he prefers playing at centre back and that his partnership with Lowe is growing stronger with every game.
“We’re quite similar players I think,” said Hogan.
“Niether of us are the tallest but we’re both quite mobile I think that benefits the way we play and we’ve got a good understanding because we’ve been at the club a few years now.
“I can play at right back and have done in the past, but it does require a change of mindset to play their and on Saturday I’d liked to have got up and down a bit more.”
Although keeping clean sheets is his main aim, Hogan confessed he is also trying to make an impact at the other end.
“I’ve got a bet on with Scott McManus about who can score the most goals this season, but it will probably end up a 0-0 draw at this rate,” he added.
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