FC Halifax Town v Hartlepool United preview

Venue: The Shay

Date: Tuesday, March 2

Kick-off: 7pm

Referee: Garreth Rhodes

Odds: Halifax win 15/8, draw 5/2, Hartlepool win 13/10


Last five games

Halifax: Bromley (a) W 2-1, Wrexham (a) D 0-0, Maidenhead (h) L 3-2, Barnet (a) L 2-1, Torquay (a) W 3-2

Hartlepool: Solihull (h) W 2-0, Eastleigh (a) L 2-1, Yeovil (h) W 2-1, Wrexham (a) D 0-0, Barnet (h) W 1-0


Manager: Dave Challinor

Position: 3rd

One to watch: Luke Armstrong. The striker, on loan from Salford, has nine goals in his last 13 appearances, including the winner against Barnet at the weekend.


Match facts: Only leaders Torquay have won more games in the National League this season than Hartlepool (13).

Hartlepool have won eight of their 11 matches since being knocked out of the FA Trophy on penalties by Halifax on December 19.

Hartlepool have won more than twice as many games (nine compared to four) and scored twice as many goals (22 compared to 11) at home in the league this season than they have away.

The Pools have won only once in their last eight away matches.

This game was originally scheduled for January 2, rescheduled for January 12 and then rescheduled again for February 2, but all fell victim to cold weather and freezing temperatures in Calderdale leaving the Shay pitch unplayable.

Halifax have kept only one clean aheet in their last 20 matches.

Only Sutton and Torquay have scored more goals in the National League than Halifax (36).

Town’s win at Torquay was the first game this calendar year in which they have scored the first goal in a game.


Last time they met: Billy Chadwick scored for Town and Nyal Bell was sent-off as Hartlepool won 3-1 on Boxing Day thanks to goals from Ryan Johnson, Rhys Oates and Mason Bloomfield.


Tuesday’s National League fixtures

Altrincham v Woking

Halifax v Hartlepool

Sutton Utd v Bromley

Solihull M v Dag & Red

Notts Co v King’s Lynn

Barnet v Yeovil

Chesterfield v Eastleigh

Wealdstone v Boreham Wood