PREVIEW | FC Halifax Town (H)
THE DETAILS
Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town
Vanarama National League
Grosvenor Vale
Saturday 11th December, 3:00pm kick-off
TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday's National League fixture are £15 Adults, £10 Concessions, £8* 18-23 years old and £5 U18s. The 18-23 next generation offer is online only, we recommend that all supporters purchase their tickets online HERE save the anticipated lengthy queues at the paid turnstile on the day. Saturday's game is unsegregated.
A reminder also that season ticket holders of both Premier League and EFL clubs are eligible for the concession ticket price of £10, just present your season ticket on the day as proof.
*online purchase only
THE CONTEXT
The Shaymen come to The Vale wanting to right the wrongs of last weekend's surprise FA Cup 2nd Round loss to National League North side Kidderminster Harriers, seeing the club miss out on a lucrative 3rd Round tie. They do however arrive to Ruislip in red-hot league form, sitting in fifth and dazzling sides with their energetic attacking football. The two sides cancelled each other out last season with a win at each other's homes behind closed doors, in fixtures that produced three red cards. Saturday's game could be another fiery encounter. Stones will be looking to bounce back from the last minute defeat to Bromley on the weekend after battling for long periods of the game with ten-men following keeper George Wickens' red card.
TEAM NEWS
Stuart Maynard is beginning to have fewer options to select from as the Shaymen visit this weekend. Rhys Browne remains sidelined with an ankle injury, with Jaydn Mundle-Smith also missing Saturday's game at Bromley with a knock. Nikola Tavares was a late withdrawal from last week's squad after failing to recover from a thigh injury in time, however he could return this weekend. The experienced Medy Elito could return after missing the past seven games with injury, Connor Stevens is back in full training and could feature on the bench. Alfie Marigliani could make his full debut in goal should the Stones fail to find an emergency keeper in time with George Wickens now facing a three-match ban. Ashley Charles returned from his suspension in the weekend's defeat to Bromley, whilst Craig Fasanmade is also back in the side after returning from a successful loan spell at Hemel Hempstead Town. Zach Dronfield will be unavailable after returning to Hampton & Richmond Borough on loan.
WHAT WAS SAID?
Stuart Maynard: "They're a very attack-minded team, they play 4-2-3-1 which ends up 4-3-3 a lot of the time and one pops in off the front three, they've got lots of pace out wide in Jordan Slew and Jack Vale and they've got Billy Waters up front who they signed from Torquay in the summer who is among the top scorers in the league."
FORM GUIDE
Stones:
Bromley (A) 3-2 L (Umerah, Cook) Stockport County (H) 1-4 L (Jackson)
Dover Athletic (A) 2-3 W (Sweeney 2, Umerah)
Wrexham (A) 0-0 D
Barnet (H) 1-0 W (Browne)
FC Halifax Town:
Kidderminster Harriers (A) 2-0 L Torquay United (A) 2-3 W (Slew 2, Waters) Wrexham (H) 1-2 L (Slew)
Dover Athletic (A) 1-3 W (Waters 2, Green)
Maidenhead United (H) 7-4 W (Warren, Warburton, Spence, Waters 2, Slew, Newby)
WHO TO WATCH FOR?
Billy Waters: Waters is likely to be leading the Shaymen's front line and the striker is bang in form having joined from last season's defeated play-off finalists Torquay United in the summer. Known more in the Gulls side for his workrate than his goals, the forward has really found his shooting boots since making the move up to Yorkshire, scoring 14 goals in 21 appearances in all competitions this season. The Stones defence will need to be wary.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played - 2
Won - 1
Drawn - 0
Lost - 1
LAST TWO MEETINGS
Mar 2021 - Stones 1-2 FC Halifax Town (Lewis)
Nov 2020 - FC Halifax Town 0-1 Stones (Parish)
SPONSORS
We thank this week's match sponsors Harrow Windows, we hope you all enjoy the hospitality and thank you again for your continued support of the club. And we would also like to thank our ball sponsors for the day Tony & Peter Drew.
Preview by Chris Woods