FC Halifax Town: Bring on the league leaders - Wild ready to go toe-to-toe with Torquay

FC Halifax Town boss Pete Wild says Saturday’s clash with league leaders Torquay at The Shay will be a good test for where his side is.
Pete Wild. Photo: Marcus BranstonPete Wild. Photo: Marcus Branston
Pete Wild. Photo: Marcus Branston

The Shaymen clinched a much-needed point against Notts County on Tuesday night thanks to Jamie Allen’s dramatic last-gasp equaliser.

And Wild says Saturday’s game will be another yardstick of how good his side is after competing well in most games this season but only winning once.

“We go into it on the back of a positive result,” he said.

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“Neal Ardley (Notts County manager) said we’re a far better team than we were last year and that’s very humbling for me, because that shows that we’re progressing as a football club.

“And if we’re progressing, we’re doing right. That’s all we can ask for at times, is a bit of progression.

“Let’s see where we’re up to on Saturday.”

Torquay have won six of their first eight league games and are the highest scorers in the division.

“Gary Johnson’s an excellent manager,” Wild said.

“They came here and comprehensively beat us last year, and I thought in the two league games against them, they played excellent football.

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“Gary knows his apples, he knows how to get a promotion-winning team.

“They’ll be organised, tough to play against, tough to beat, good on the counter-attack, they play good football.

“I think you’re going to see what you’ve seen from Stockport, what you’ve seen in bits from Notts County.

“If we’ve got aspirations of being at the top of the league, you have to go toe-to-toe with Stockport, done that, toe-to-toe with Notts County, done that, you’ve got to go toe-to-toe with Torquay on Saturday, and if we do that, then we give ourselves a chance.”

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Wild confirmed that wing-back Jeff King’s three-game suspension remains after the appeal against his red card against Wealdstone last week was rejected, meaning he will miss Town’s next two matches.

“It wasn’t overturned unfortunately,” said Wild, who was due to find out on Wednesday what punishment he will receive for his own sending off last week.

“It’s mad because the fans scream out for passion, he gives you passion.

“I still don’t believe it’s a red, but such is life. I have to take my medicine with my red card and the hefty fine that’s come my way.

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“You’ve got to own your mistakes and I’ve certainly owned mine, Jeff’s owned his, Danny Williams has owned his and we move on.

“One thing we all are is committed and desperate to do well for this football club.

“Sometimes that oversteps the mark, and when we do, we’ve got to hold our hands up.”

But wing-back Danny Williams is available after a one-game ban, and Wild is hopeful of adding a striker to his squad by the weekend.