FC Halifax Town v Hartlepool United
National League
Tuesday 6th August 2019, 7.45pm
The Shay Stadium
In Opposition
Pete Wild's new look FC Halifax Town got off to a flying start at the weekend when they enjoyed a thumping 4-1 win at Ebbsfleet United on the opening day.
There were plenty of new faces in The Shaymen's squad for
the trip South but they seemed to bed in perfectly as they took advantage of an
early red card for the hosts to run out comfortable victors.The surprise resignation of former boss Jamie Fullarton in
the middle of July seemed to put the West Yorkshire outfit on the back foot
slightly in their preparations for the new campaign.However, they moved swiftly to appoint former Oldham Athletic chief Wild as his successor and he quickly set about reshaping the squad in readiness for the big kick-off.
One To Watch
Nathan Clarke's know-how in the centre of the FC Halifax Town defence will once again be crucial throughout the new campaign.
Now 35, the former Huddersfield Town and Leyton Orient
defender was a regular for The Shaymen last term and they will hope he can be ever-present
again during 2019/20.Vastly-experienced and a real leader, Clarke has amassed more than 60 senior appearances in his career but he is still churning out excellent performances – and chipping with goals as he did in Town's 4-1 win at Ebbsfleet United on Saturday.
Head To Head
Tuesday night's game will be the 127th competitive meeting, with the two old foes locking horns again over the past couple of seasons for the first time since 2001/02.
Pools enjoyed a National League double over The Shaymen last
term, winning both games 2-1, though historically Halifax have the edge having
triumphed in 56 fixtures.The Shay is usually a good venue for Pools – their win therelast season was their third victory in Halifax in the last four visits.
Last Meeting
Pools 2 FC Halifax Town 1
Friday 19th April 2019
Pools: Loach, Kioso, Kerr, Anderson, Edgar, Donaldson, Holohan (Noble 74), Featherstone, Molyneux (Bale 89), Kabamba, James.
Subs not used: Catterick, Amos, Muir.
FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Clarke, Brown, Staunton, Skarz, Hanson (Freedman 72), King, Berrett, Kosylo, Duku (Gondoh 65), Rodney.
Subs not used: Rowley, Preston, Quigley.
On The Whistle
Daniel Middleton will take charge of his fifth Pools game on Tuesday night, having refereed us twice in each of the last two seasons.
Indeed, Middleton was the man in the middle when we made the
trip to FC Halifax Town last term when he sent-off two home players during our
2-1 triumph.He also oversaw our 2-1 home win over Gateshead at the turn
of the year, as well as the 1-1 draw against Sutton in October 2017 and our
remarkable 3-3 draw at Fylde in March 2018.Live Commentary
You can listen to FREE online commentary here on the Official Website with Mark Simpson set to be behind the microphone once again at Halifax on Tuesday night.
Not only will you be able to access the live coverage
wherever you are in the world, you'll also be able to join our Chat Room to
discuss the action with fellow Poolies and send questions in!Click here now to access the live online commentary.
Tickets
Tickets for Tuesday night's game are available to Pools fans on cash turnstiles at The Shay Stadium prior to kick-off.
Click here for all the information you need on tickets for Tuesday's game.
Betting Odds
Halifax 7/5
Pools 9/5
Draw 21/10