FC Halifax Town: Hot-shot Denton off to a flyer for Shaymen

The Town striker has netted four goals in Halifax’s first two games and became the first player to score a hat-trick on his debut in the club’s history with three at Nuneaton last Saturday.

He also became the first Town player to score a hat-trick on the opening day of a season since Mick Priest scored three away to Chesterfield in 1958.

“It’s a good start for me,” said the forward.

“I didn’t expect to get a hat-trick in the first game but you’ve got to take them when they come because you might go five without one.

“I’m always confident I can score. I’m not one to worry about not scoring.

“I just get on with my game and if I’m not scoring hopefully I’ll make an assist or just do my best for the team.

“I target 20 every season.

“I got 25 in the first season under Billy and 21 last year so to get off to the start I have this season with four in two, I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my Halifax career.”

Denton’s consistency over recent seasons means he is now a marked man in the Conference North, something the striker relishes.

“You’ve got to be physical or you’ll just get pushed off the ball,” he said.

“You have to be big and strong and try to bring your team-mates into the game.

“I enjoy that side of the game. If you take some you have to give some back. It’s good fun.

“Near the end of the Altrincham game I got two men marking me at a corner.

“That’s a compliment to me though I suppose because they obviously think I’m a danger, I’ll take that.

“People seem to target me. They probably see me as a threat but I don’t think they understand what my game is about.

“Sometimes we can surprise a few teams like we did on Saturday.

“Some teams man-mark me and some don’t really know what to do against me.”

Denton is upbeat about Halifax’s prospects after an encouraging start to the campaign.

“We’ve got four points from two games and two points a game gets you promotion, so it’s a good start,” he said.

“We’ve got to target two points a game now.

“Hopefully we can make it seven points out of nine on Saturday.

“I fancy us to win.

“We’re looking good going forward, scoring goals.

“Hopefully we can keep a few clean sheets and I think we’ll win more games than we lose.”