Halifax Town v Crawley Town

Blue Square Premier League

3rd November 2007

The Shay - Kick off 3pm

Halifax Town play hosts to Crawley Town this Saturday at 3pm down at The Shay, in match 18 of the Blue Square Premier League calendar.

Crawley currently sits in 13th place in the table, whilst The Shaymen are occupying 18th spot.

With Tuesday nights victorious FA Cup replay out of the way, Chris Wilder can welcome back Jake Wright to the fold, after serving his suspension for a red card away at Aldershot.Matt Doughty, who has shared the left back spot with Wright and will be vying to keep his place though, after an impressive performance against Evesham,

Tyrone Thompson will be making his first return to The Shay after choosing not to take up an offer of a new contract in the summer. He will captain the side, which boasts former Grays Athletic stopper Ashley Bayes, and Guy Madjo, whose name is well known in Blue Square Premier League circles.

The Shaymen are still without Danny Forrest and Andy Campbell, although Ryan Toulson could return to the starting line up, with the impressive loan signing Simon Heslop slotting in to midfield next to Tom Kearney at the expense of Steve Bushell.Heslop, of course scored that screamer on Tuesday night from all of 30 yards to put Town 2-1 ahead against Evesham, after striker Jon Shaw had brought Town back in to the game minutes earlier.

On the injury front for Crawley, they will be without winger Jamie Cook with a hamstring injury, but they are boosted by the return of Paul Watson and Thomas Pinault to the squad.

With the noose which was the tax bill no longer round the neck of everyone associated with Halifax Town, and a place in the 1st Round of the FA Cup to celebrate, all momentum is going in the right direction for The Shaymen this Saturday.Everyone from Secretary, Manager and player, to fan, programme seller and turnstile operator must do all they can to ensure 3 points are in our pockets come 4.50pm.The stats are favourable for Town, with us winning 3, drawing 5 and being unbeaten at home, whilst on the road Crawley have only won 2, drawn 2 and lost 4.The Shaymen scoring 12 goals at home and conceding 6, with a 7 to 12 reverse for Crawley.

Greg Young to score first in a 2-1 win is 230/1 on Bet365.com - and after seeing his shot against Evesham on Tuesday, my quid's going on that!

Steve Clifford