FC Halifax Town face Boston United in a National League fixture at The Shay on Tuesday night. The match kicks off at 7.45pm and will be broadcast live on National League TV. This is a key fixture for both sides as they look to climb the standings.
John Doolan’s side go into the game sitting 14th in the table with 13 points from their opening ten matches. Their recent form has been mixed, with a 2-1 defeat at Worthing last time out following a three-game unbeaten run that included a 3-0 win over AFC Hornchurch. The Shaymen have scored 13 goals this season, averaging 1.3 per game, but have conceded the same number. Their next fixture after this is a trip to face Woking on Saturday.
Boston United arrive in 18th place, having also taken 13 points but from one more game played. The Pilgrims have struggled on the road recently, losing their last two away fixtures. They will be without suspended defender Jake Rooney, while Nicholas Pozo, Kai Mauro and Ollie Bostock are away on international duty. Manager Ian Culverhouse may need to look at his squad depth to cover these absences.
Team news
Halifax Town are expected to field a familiar lineup, with the back line of T. Grant, D. Crowe, M. Bardell and S. Hobson likely to remain intact. Manager John Doolan was pleased with the character shown in their last home outing. "We deserved the win and the three points, especially after the start we had," Doolan said after the 1-1 draw with Sutton United. He will hope for a similar level of commitment as his team seeks to improve their home record.
Boston United’s last starting XI included top scorer Lenell John-Lewis, who has 11 goals this season. The visitors will hope he can trouble a Halifax defence that has conceded 13 league goals. For the Shaymen, finding a consistent goalscorer remains a focus, with S. Johnson yet to open his account this campaign. The club's stats page shows Johnson has featured in all ten league games.
The game is a chance for Halifax to build momentum ahead of a busy period in the fixtures list. A win could see them move into the top half of the table, providing a psychological boost. Boston, meanwhile, will be desperate to end their poor away form and put distance between themselves and the relegation zone. The tactical battle between Doolan and Culverhouse will be intriguing, with both managers known for their organised approaches.
