FC Halifax Town v Hartlepool United preview

Venue: The Shay
Date: Tuesday, January 12
Kick-off: 7pm
Referee: Andrew Miller. Took charge of Town’s 1-0 defeat at Notts County and their 4-2 home win against Dover last season.

Odds: Halifax win 8/5, draw 12/5, Hartlepool win 8/5

Last five games
Halifax: Hartlepool (FAT h) W 3-3 (4-2 on penalties), Eastleigh (h) W 3-1, Hartlepool (a) L 3-1, Altrincham (h) W 3-2, King’s Lynn (a) D 1-1

Hartlepool: (FAT h) L 3-3 (2-4 on penalties), Stockport (h) W 4-0, Halifax (h) W 3-1, Notts County (a) W 1-0, Wealdstone (h) W 3-1


Manager: Dave Challinor. Was appointed in November 2019 and guided Hartlepool to ninth in the National League last season.
Position: 2nd
One to watch: Luke Armstrong. Has scored six goals in six league games for the club since joining on loan from Salford.


Match facts: Centre-back Neill Byrne is available for the game after missing Saturday’s 1-1 draw at King’s Lynn through suspension.

Only leaders Torquay have won more games in the National League this season than Hartlepool.

Only Torquay have scored more goals in the division than Halifax.

The Shaymen can go up to fourth in the table if they win or draw.

Town have scored in each of their last nine games, but have not kept a clean sheet in their last 14 matches.

Last time they met: Hartlepool beat Town 3-1 on Boxing Day. Billy Chadwick found the net for The Shaymen, for whom Nyal Bell was sent-off for two bookings.


Tuesday’s National League fixtures:

Dover v Boreham Wood

Halifax v Hartlepool

Follow all the action from the game on Tuesday night with Town writer Tom Scargill’s live blog at https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/football/halifax-town.