FC Halifax Town: Change in system worked well last time out, says Skarz

Joe Skarz feels Town's change in system worked well in their 1-1 draw with Chesterfield on Saturday.
Actions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Joe SkarzActions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Joe Skarz
Actions from FC Halifax Town v Chesterfield, at the Shay. Joe Skarz

Having played the same 4-2-3-1 system all season, Halifax switched to a 3-4-1-2 formation against The Spireites.

Skarz formed part of the back three alongside Nathan Clarke and Niall Maher, with Jacob Hanson and Matty Kosylo as wingers.

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“We’ve been working on it,” Skarz said after the game. “We worked on it Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (last week).

“We do a lot of shape work in training. We tried it on Tuesday, 11 v 11 for three 20 minute spells, working on that system.

“Thursday, we worked on it again, and I thought it worked quite well, especially with them playing three up-front.

“At times, as a back three we were one-on-one. Their attacking players are not bad, they’ve got Hines, Shaw, Kiwomya, and when they’re gambling off Denton, it’s hard at times.

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“I thought we used the width quite well, we got Kossy and Jacob in play and we created chances.

“On another day, we’d have won. I don’t know about their goal, it looked a foul to me. But these things happen.”

On his role as a centre-half, Skarz said: “I enjoyed it. I’ve done it a bit, I’ve played in a three at Bury.

“You can get on the ball, and just give it to Kossy really! That’s kind of your job.

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“There was a bit of a misunderstanding in the second-half when ran off and I played it to him, but that happens sometimes.

“It was nice to play next to Nathan (Clarke), who’s experienced and talks you through the role.”

Skarz made his first appearance in nearly a month against Chesterfield, after rolling his ankle in the 3-0 defeat at Maidenhead on September 15.

“I thought it was a good performance,” Skarz said of the Chesterfield match, “I thought we did quite well, against good opposition.

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“They were quite direct to big Tom (Denton), and getting runners off him.

“They had three up-front all game, against the three we had at the back. But when you’ve got a lad who’s six foot, seven inches, you can do that because you know he’s either going to win the header or contest it.

“I really enjoyed the game, it was challenging and I thought overall, we performed quite well.

“We had chances, and I think we probably deserved all three points.”

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Skarz is familiar with the recent FA Cup pedigree of Saturday’s opponents Warrington, who reached the second round in 2014, and is not expecting an easy ride at the Northern Premier League outfit.

He added: “Tough draw. I watched them a few years ago when they had a good run and played on telly.

“They’ve got Mark Roberts, who was here in pre-season and who I’ve played against many times in the Football League.

“They’ve got good, experienced players like David Raven.

“It’ll be a tough test for us.”