FC Halifax Town: We can beat Dover - and the drop, insists Hughes

The winger netted two goals in the Easter double-header against Altrincham and Barrow - the first securing a vital three points and the second barely a consolation in a heavy defeat.

Dover are fifth in the Conference and have won five of their last seven games, but Hughes believes Town can register what would be an impressive win after what he concedes was a poor result at Barrow.

“I’m disappointed with the result,” he reflected. “We were saying in the dressing room that it was a scrappy game, a bit of a dog-fight and 4-1 probably wasn’t a fair reflection but we gifted them some goals.

“We’ve just got to brush ourselves off and go again at Dover - I think we’ve got a strong group of lads so we’re capable of doing that.

“We had a few injuries at Barrow but there’s no excuses going to be made.

“We know it’ll be difficult at Dover but we’ll be up for it.

“I think we’re capable of getting a result and I think we’ve proved that - not necessarily at the start of the season but we battered them at home.”

If Hughes keeps his place in the team at Dover, it will be the first time he will have started back-to-back league games all season.

Only Josh Macdonald has made more substitute appearances for Town this season than Hughes’ 23 cameos off the bench, and the former Hyde man is now targeting a regular starting berth in the side.

“I’ve always believed I’m capable of scoring goals , I just needed a run of games to show it,” he said.

“I’ve got five now, which isn’t that bad, although obviously I want more.

“Hopefully I can get into double figures. I just want to keep playing.

“Consistency will come with more games and hopefully I’ll get that.

“Every time I play I just try to work hard and try to give something back, whether it’s a goal or an assist.”

Hughes has been in and out of favour all season at The Shay and was also sent for a loan spell at Bradford Park Avenue in October.

He admits he has had to show some character to fight his way back into contention.

“You’ve got to be mentally tough to be in this profession and if you’re not, you’ll probably fall by the wayside,” he said.

“Not everyone’s going to be your biggest fan and not everyone’s going to love you. You’re going to split opinions.

“But it’s down to you and what you do on the field and it’s up to me to produce.

“I know what I’m capable of, I’ve just got to keep my head down, hope I keep starting, keep working hard and I’ll get my rewards.”

Hughes is confident Halifax are good enough to stay clear of relegation.

He added: “It’s been like a yo-yo with the win on Saturday and the defeat on Monday, but we’re still confident.

“We’ve got more than enough in the squad to get out of this relegation battle, but that’s what we’re in and we need points.”