Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town - Match Preview
THE DETAILS
Wealdstone v FC Halifax Town Vanarama National League Grosvenor Vale
Saturday 6th March, 3:00pm kick-off
HOW TO WATCH
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions enforced by UK government, all elite football in England is required to be played behind closed doors. As a result we will be streaming this fixture live and you can purchase your streaming pass HERE.
THE CONTEXT Wealdstone go into this fixture off the back of a midweek 1-0 win over play-off chasing Boreham Wood, in what was the Stones first league win since December. The Shaymen, like many others, have endured a very stop-start season but come into the fixture off of two positive results over third-placed Hartlepool United and league leaders Torquay United after a disappointing defeat to the league's then basement side Barnet. The return fixture in November saw the Stones pick up a late 1-0 win which propelled them into the lofty heights of second place in the National League, although the Shaymen did pick up two red cards in the fixture.
TEAM NEWS Tuesday night's match winner Connor Smith is a doubt after going off with an ankle injury against Boreham Wood. George Langston could return from injury, he had his loan deal extended from Watford extended until the end of the season. Josh Meekings and Joseph Olowu are out until next month. Connor Stevens, Moses Emmanuel, Charlee Hughes, Lewis Everett, Matt Lench and Jorome Slew are all unavailable.
FORM GUIDE Stones:
Boreham Wood (H) 1-0 W (Smith)
Wrexham (A) 4-1 L (Parish)
Eastleigh (H) 0-0 D Sutton United (A) 4-1 L (Parish) Torquay United (A) 1-1 D (Mendy)
FC Halifax Town: Hartlepool United (H) 1-1 D (Green) Torquay United (A) 2-3 W (O.G., Earing, King) Barnet (A) 2-1 L (King) Maidenhead United (H) 2-3 L (Green, Bradbury) Wrexham (A) 0-0 D
WHAT WAS SAID Stuart Maynard: "We went up to their place and won 1-0 but they had two men sent off. They're a very good side that have had a lot of injury problems over the past month or so, similar to ourselves really and they haven't been able to field their strongest team. It's another tough test, there are no easy games in this league. We'll research them and come into Saturday with a game plan."
WHO TO WATCH FOR? Jeff King: The Shaymen's right wing-back has hit a purple patch of goals in recent games, scoring in their defeat to Barnet and victory over Torquay United, equalling his season-best record of four goals. A much-travelled player despite his age, that's until last season when he was a key part of the squad last season that made it to the National League play-offs and the wing-back role has suited his style of play as he's cemented a regular starting position whilst at the club. Wealdstone's left-side didn't see the best of him in the return fixture as he was sent off after just three minutes, but he will be looking to atone for that at The Vale this weekend.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played - 1 Won - 1 Drawn - 0 Lost - 0
LAST MEETING Nov 2020 - FC Halifax Town 0-1 Stones (Parish)
Preview by Chris Woods