Halifax (H) Match Thread

Eight changes in total from the side that lost at Stockport County.

Grimsby Town: Crocombe; Efete, Waterfall, Pearson, Crookes; Fox, Coke, Clifton; Maguire-Drew, Sousa, Taylor.

Substitutes: Longe-King, Revan, Hunt, Bell, Wright.

I really can’t for the life of me understand why Bapaga doesn’t make the bench at least.

Looks a relatively decent line-up though, although Coke in midfield always concerns me

Pleased Soussa is back, just hope Taylor not left on his own up front, a bit worried about defence if Halifax break away, as Waterfall,Pearson and Crookes are not the fastest, but doesnt look too bad a team to put out, and a strong subs bench too. Heres hoping, an early goal would give us some confidence as long as we dont sit back.

Pleased to see Erico back, his pace frightens teams. Even though his final ball needs work I think he adds value to the side

Quoted from pontoonlew

I really can’t for the life of me understand why Bapaga doesn’t make the bench at least.

Looks a relatively decent line-up though, although Coke in midfield always concerns me

Yeah was thinking the same about Bapaga. Versatile too so surprised doubly that he doesn’t make it. Perhaps injured or ill. No room for Lennie, Scannel, Grant I note.

Quoted from chaos33

Yeah was thinking the same about Bapaga. Versatile too so surprised doubly that he doesn’t make it. Perhaps injured or ill. No room for Lennie, Scannel, Grant I note.

Lennie is suspended.

Also worried Taylor will be left isolated.

Funny game, football. I have a feeling, deep in my urinary tract, that we win this today. Late on.

We’ll soon see.

First moan from me. No food at all for the lower and upper. Really poor

One up front at home when low on confidence, fairly standard Hurst approach I’d say. Haven’t seen Bell play, but 442 with Bell and Taylor up top would feel more ambitious.

Quoted from Poojah

Funny game, football. I have a feeling, deep in my urinary tract, that we win this today. Late on.

We’ll soon see.

Think you might have a urinary tract infection Poojah mate  

Quoted from promotion plaice

Lennie is suspended.

Oh yeah course.

Got a horrible feeling we are about to get a tonking. Probably understandable given the contrast in our form and theirs. Come on Town.

Just arrived. Lovely day for footy. Tad breezy.

Quoted from promotion plaice

Think you might have a urinary tract infection Poojah mate  

Well something’s burning. Let’s hope it’s our form from here on in…

It will be a hard game today but a 2 - 1 win will do us good and move up to the play off places.

Quoted from Hagrid

First moan from me. No food at all for the lower and upper. Really poor

We’ve got a new badge and website. What is your problem?  

Interesting interview with Hurst on BT. Apparently we’ve barely trained together since early December and, by his own admission, he doesn’t know which way it will go today regards performance and fitness. Here’s hoping!

Quoted from cardiffmariner

Interesting interview with Hurst on BT. Apparently we’ve barely trained together since early December and, by his own admission, he doesn’t know which way it will go today regards performance and fitness. Here’s hoping!

Also inferred he thinks he’s identified ‘the issue’ behind our recent form. Here’s hoping.

No Goalie on Subs bench!

Quoted from Morris Minor

No Goalie on Subs bench!

Have hardly ever had a keeper on the bench in the Conference. Only 5 subs.

Quoted from Poojah

Also inferred he thinks he’s identified ‘the issue’ behind our recent form. Here’s hoping.

Maybe he looked in the mirror this morning?

Our midfield looks worryingly absent so far.

Quoted from Heisenberg

Maybe he looked in the mirror this morning?

Ooh, I can feel the burn…

Blimey this is awful

Looking second best in midfield thus far, and disappointed with the number of ‘second balls’ we are failing to win. They are passing it much better than us.

You can see why are Halifax are 2nd in the table, come on Town.

Halifax look good - full of confidence. Town battling.  I feel we need a bit of help from Lady Luck.  

Sousa should have had a pole there.  Did all the hard work.

One decent free-kick aside, Maguire-Drew looks well off the pace.

To be honest there's not much difference between these two sides - confidence is the big thing. Commentator also says they've had a settled side which makes a massive difference

Stockwood was on Humberside earlier strongly refuting suggestions from some supporters that the players "don't care". I'm not sure they're as wrong as he thinks, considering how flat footed and lazy we look and how many second balls Halifax are easily winning today.

Crossing aside, Efete is looking strong in both halves of the pitch.

Halifax look like a side used to playing with each other with some confidence. We've suffered quite a bit from chopping and changing and don't get a rhythm together. Couple of individually good moments but we haven't quite threatened as a team yet.

Halfway through this half and holding our own.

Quoted from cardiffmariner

Crossing aside, Efete is looking strong in both halves of the pitch.

I said exactly the same to my son. He briefly looked up from his Nintendo switch

Think efete, Sousa, Taylor and maguire-drew look good………and DO care!

Bit better now

Fox had done the defender up like a kipper.  How was that not a foul? He just got shoved.

Coming into it nicely now.

Efete is like a Skegness sewage pipe - he’s a dangerous outlet.

Some comments so far are way off the mark with regards both performance and effort. Doing okay against a good side, particularly given our recent form.

Quoted from DB

Halfway through this half and holding our own.

Feels very much like the Notts County and Chesterfield games so far. We look solid enough and are having some decent spells of possession without looking massively like scoring.

Hopefully this one ends more favourably. We need that goal.

Quoted from Mayaman

Fox had done the defender up like a kipper.  How was that not a foul? He just got shoved.

No chance. Slew was stronger and Fox was still off balance from the (delicious) turn.

Better in this second half of the first half but we look short of good off the ball movement in their half.

Quoted from Poojah

Feels very much like the Notts County and Chesterfield games so far. We look solid enough and are having some decent spells of possession without looking massively like scoring.

Hopefully this one ends more favourably. We need that goal.

Fingers crossed.  I think we are just not sharp enough in front of goal.  That extra touch or second to think about shooting and it's too late.

Maguire-Drew having a good game.

Town have grown into the game and now looking a threat.

Jesus! I forgot that coke was in the starting line up

Quoted from Poojah

Feels very much like the Notts County and Chesterfield games so far. We look solid enough and are having some decent spells of possession without looking massively like scoring.

Hopefully this one ends more favourably. We need that goal.

Third time lucky against a good team. It's our turn.

Quoted from chaos33

Better in this second half of the first half but we look short of good off the ball movement in their half.

That’s the difference for me. I think back to some of the goals we were scoring earlier in the season and they were all about movement. The third away at Altrincham was magnificent.

We’re the better team at the minute but just lacking that quality in the final third.

Sousa is causing probs.  Nobody can accuse him of not caring.  

Is it me or they dirty girl privates. But clever at it.. All over Pearson at corners before it's taken and then loads of double hands in people's backs.. Id go down its redicilous.

Quoted from Mayaman

Sousa is causing probs.  Nobody can accuse him of not caring.  

He's a good player, lots of talent which is why he's had attention from much bigger clubs. Just needs to find that end product and have the confidence to make something happen from those good positions. He keeps the ball so well.

Quoted from Poojah

That’s the difference for me. I think back to some of the goals we were scoring earlier in the season and they were all about movement. The third away at Altrincham was magnificent.

We’re the better team at the minute but just lacking that quality in the final third.

Numerous ‘nearly moments’ in the past 10-15 mins. As you (and others) have said, lack of movement, confidence, sharpness in the final third at the moment plus a lack of lucky bounce.

The Town fan in me fears a Halifax goal against the run of play (as Waters breaks through…).

I'm watching on TV and I can't see anyone in a black and white shirt who doesn't seem to care

Some harsh comments. Efforts there, crowds a wee bit flat. Refs weak.  neither side testing the keeper yet

Very Notts and Chesterfield like

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

Numerous ‘nearly moments’ in the past 10-15 mins. As you (and others) have said, lack of movement, confidence, sharpness in the final third at the moment plus a lack of lucky bounce.

The Town fan in me fears a Halifax goal against the run of play (as Waters breaks through…).

He was well away.  Who got back was it Waterfall?

Quoted from Mayaman

He was well away.  Who got back was it Waterfall?

Waterfall has saved us a couple of times today

Quoted from Mayaman

He was well away.  Who got back was it Waterfall?

Yes.

Coke off . Hunt on

Looks to me like everyone cares but that should be a given it’s quality we lack

Don't like to see a player go off injured, but this could be Hunts type of game, lots of space and ball being passed on the deck by both teams.

Another situation where they got a free kick when we got the ball.   I think our players are too honest. Taylor could have gone down but he stayed strong. I don't like playing that way but ...

Fox looks off the pace to me and it’s telling. He’s a good player in my opinion. Coke’s injury looks nasty but could be a blessing in disguise getting Hunt on the pitch.

Quoted from Mayaman

He was well away.  Who got back was it Waterfall?

Think so. Ate up the yards like Usain Bolt.

They just showed a quick clip of Coke's leg - 2 long gouges from studs and it wouldn't surprise me if he was unavailable next game as that heals. Looked like an accident, however.

Started watching after 15 minutes, managing to distract my 3 year old (she's only complained about football being boring a couple of times) and I think we've done OK without quite managing to get the final shot in. Need the ball to drop for us, I think, especially as you'd expect us to wilt a bit in the second half.

Think we had seven in the box in that attack. Liquid football.

Having a few chances but no cigar

Well on top now

0-0 half time against an in form team. Looking good for a win as we seem to match them.

Doing so much right now.  Really deserve a goal.  I feel if we get it, more will come.  

Finished the half looking like the team we was earlier in the season, lots of energy and pressure. That's been the frustrating thing, we know they can play like that but in recent games they looked like they've given up. It's really up to the team to show they are still capable of producing that form.

First half report:

Effort 10
Quality 7
Waterfall 9
Luck 1
Worry about a sucker punch 10

Best half I've seen for ages.

The better side and playing decent just the final ball, Ref is very weak but a good performance so far come on Town. !!

Quoted from Knut Anders Fosters Voles

First half report:

Effort 10
Quality 7
Waterfall 9
Luck 1
Worry about a sucker punch 10

I 100% agree. Halifax are clever off the ball when defending

Good first half and even Steven’s.

Halifax started strong but we grew into the game, and finished the stronger in a game that has had few chances.

If we can have more of the same with a bit more end product, we could win this. Fingers crossed

Crowd are at bit subdued and maybe they are understandably a bit nervous given recent form

UTM

One day somethings gonna click and sousa will get about 8 goals in a match

Where is Doig I have not seen him since he came back does he know he is back with us ?

Good half overall and on top without creating anything clear cut apart from Fox’s chance, and he should’ve done better.

Finished strong.

Maguire-Drew looks like hes suffering from a bit of post covid, but his crosses have been good.
Sousa is Sousa,  tricky quick causing problems just no end product unfortunately.
Waterfall playing his best again, the way he hunted Waters down when he got away was fantastic.
Fox the same are Maguire -Drew I think he's feeling a bit of that post covid drain but some of his passes have been fantastic.
Hunt coming on really seemed to light a fire under us and we really started to look dominant.

Look like Hurst has finally realised again a high press and attacking with more then 1 player is more effective then defending the 6 yard box with 10 and attacking with only 1 player.

On balance you’ve got to be reasonably pleased with that first half. Best half I’ve seen from us for some time.

If there’s a criticism, it’s that we’re not creating nailed on chances and aren’t doing enough with the myriad of half chances we’ve created.

Big test will come in the second half. How will Town hold up physically, and how will Halifax come out of the blocks. I think they’ll change things during the break.

They defend well but it feels like we have movement back in our attacking play. The Fox flop our best chance, shoulda done better

Inthought filipe was banned

Good game and a good half for us. I fear they’ll get their one chance……..I hope not. UTM!

Good game and a good half for us. I fear they’ll get their one chance……..I hope not. UTM!

Quoted from immariner

They defend well but it feels like we have movement back in our attacking play. The Fox flop our best chance, shoulda done better

It was a bit of a flop. It looks like he’s been snipered on the replay.

Quoted from Hagrid

Inthought filipe was banned

Bullied his way back in.

Sousa reminds me of my father, he promises so much, I get excited and I’m just left disappointed again.

I know that’s most Non League wingers but he has to start delivering on some of this promise

Two thoughts - we’ve been the better side. Halifax will probably win.

I’m a bit worried this is following the blueprint of the Chesterfield and Notts Co. games.
We’re playing the better football without threatening the goal.
Hope I’m wrong

Off the bar! So unlucky.

Come one Town!!

Edit: now off the line. It’s coming!

Nearly a goal from Mag Drew, got the crowd going.

Anyone else get that feeling we're just not going to score after Maguire shot and that header

Great effort by Maguire-Drew, hits the bar.

Brilliant start by Town.

unlucky as intercourse we are anyway!! luck 0 out of 10 so far

How do they keep lumping it up to their lone striker in acres of space behind our defence?

Waters has a high centre of gravity for a little ‘un. Strange.

Great move for the shot that hit the bar.  Waters played for the foul there.  

Quoted from Mayaman

Great move for the shot that hit the bar.  Waters played for the foul there.  

If anything Halifax are good at conning the ref by falling over and the ref wants to give them everything.