FC Halifax Town: Macclesfield won't take it easy, says Bolton

Defender James Bolton is warning that his former club Macclesfield won't be any pushovers when they visit The Shay tomorrow in Town's relegation-decider.
Vanarama National League.
FC Halifax v Altrincham.
Halifax's James Bolton.
26th March 2016.
Picture : Jonathan GawthorpeVanarama National League.
FC Halifax v Altrincham.
Halifax's James Bolton.
26th March 2016.
Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe
Vanarama National League. FC Halifax v Altrincham. Halifax's James Bolton. 26th March 2016. Picture : Jonathan Gawthorpe

Bolton began his career at Macclesfield and made 10 appearances for The Silkmen before signing for Halifax in 2014.

Manager John Askey was in charge during Bolton’s final season at Macclesfield, and the Town defender believes the Silkmen boss will have his team fired up for the match, despite his team guaranteed to finish in either ninth or 10th place.

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“They haven’t got much to play for and it’s such a massive game for us, so you’d think that might give us the edge,” said Bolton.

“But I know the manager at Macclesfield and he won’t take it lightly - he’ll want to get a result.

“It sounds harsh but he’ll want to put us down, it’s that cruel.

“The squad’s stayed pretty similar to when I was there so I know quite a few of the lads.

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“They’ll let me know I’m in a game when it starts, I know that.

“But we’ve just got to show the same fight as we did last Saturday.

“Football’s a weird game but it’s in our hands, we’ve just got to play as well as we can and not panic, and I think we’ll be OK.”

Bolton admits Town’s National League status has come under sever threat during recent weeks, but reckons the spirit in the squad has got them to within one more win of safety.

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“We thought we’d thrown it away with the losses against Aldershot and Kidderminster,” he said.

“But it shows the character the lads have got that we’ve kept going.

“There’s been a lot of Tuesday games and you’re not spending much time on the training ground.

“It takes it out of you physically and mentally.

“We were struggling massively, although I didn’t think too much of it to be honest.

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“I always knew with the squad we’ve got that we could turn it round.

“But the way we have done is brilliant, and really, if we’re being critical, we could have had our safety sealed easily by now if we’d won a couple of more games, which just shows how well we’ve done I suppose.”

Injuries to fellow defenders Matty Brown and Hamza Bencherif mean Bolton has played at both right-back and centre--back in a back three and a back four recently.

“I think I’ve played in every position at the back now!” he added.

“I don’t mind, I’ll play wherever I’m needed.

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“It’s the same with Kev (Roberts). He’s done a really good job at centre-half and me and him work quite well together.

“We’ve just dealt with it.

“We complement each other quite well, we’re not short of any pace with us there.

“You’ve got to get your bearings when you’re switching from a back three to a back four.

“But as soon as you’ve got into it, it’s fine.”

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