FC Halifax Town: Fairhurst aiming for positive end to tough season

Fairhurst has worked his way back from damaging his knee ligaments at the start of the season, an injury which kept him out for three months.

The striker was on the score-sheet in the 4-2 win at Nantwich last Saturday - his first start and his first goal since April 25 last year when playing for Macclesfield at Torquay.

“It was the last game of the season last year,” he recalled.

“Obviously I’ve had injuries since then and it’s been a tough season for me, injuring my cruciate ligament.

“It’s just a case of getting minutes under my belt.

“The gaffer said for me to do that and he’d start involving me.

“That’s what I’ve done, got a goal as well, and most importantly we got a win.

“Personally it’s just good to get some game time and to top it off with a goal.

“I’ve got to build on that now.”

Fairhurst felt a weight had been lifted off his shoulders having finally made his first start of the campaign.

“The gaffer spoke to me on the Thursday and said he might be going with me,” he said.

“We had a meeting at the hotel on the morning of the game and got told I was starting.

“I’m happy I got my chance and all the lads have said I did alright so I’ve got to build on that.

“It’s just a relief to be back playing again, to get a start.

“A bit of pressure is off me, which you’re bound to feel when you’ve had a cruciate injury.

“I’ve only just recovered over the last couple of months.

“You’ve got to get up to match fitness which I’m going to build up as the weeks go on.

“There’s not long to go in the season now but doing extra in training and at home it can only benefit me.”

Fairhurst admits he still has work to do to reach full fitness having only played a handful of games all season.

“I’m not as fit as I want to be but it will come,” he said.

“I haven’t really played all season and you do lose fitness.

“You can do all the running in the world but it’s a completely different story when you playing games and you’ve got to work hard and be switched on.

“It’s so different to just being on a running machine, but it’s just enjoyable to be back out there.”

The 26-year-old felt Town deserved their first-leg win, and now believes only their own complacency can stop them reaching Wembley.

He added: “I thought we played well, we were strong and we did the job we needed to do.

“It’s difficult coming to these places but we said we had to do a professional job, which we did.

“Obviously we conceded twice but that happens. We’ve got that ability in the team and that work-rate for each other that’s helped us get the win.

“They’re still in it but if we do the same job back at home, don’t switch off or try and take things easy, we’ve got a bit more quality than them and that will tell on the day, unless we get a bit arrogant.

“That’s the only thing that’s going to let us down, but I don’t see us doing that at all.”