It’s the penultimate league match of the season and the survival push continues for the Fleet with this rescheduled game. Danny Searle’s squad originally travelled up to Halifax in mid-March but that one was subsequently called off 45 minutes before kick-off and with The Shay pitch in little better shape a month on, it’s off from Yorkshire to Lancashire instead – to Accrington Stanley’s Wham Stadium, 27 miles west of Halifax.
Form Guide
Once again the Fleet face a side pushing for the play-off places. Halifax hosted Barnet at the Wham Stadium on Saturday but it was the Bees who triumphed in a 2-0 win. Halifax, previously in excellent form, have picked up one win in their last four leaving them a point inside the play-off places with two games in hand. Those games give the Shaymen an advantage over their rivals for the top seven – Southend United, Aldershot Town and Oldham Athletic. And they play Oldham two days after meeting the Fleet.
The venue
Having been undefeated in our last three visits to The Shay (two wins and a draw), it’s a trip to Accrington’s Wham Stadium instead for the first time in almost 20 years. Fleet have played at the former Crown Ground against Accrington on three occasions (twice in 2004 and once in 2005), with two draws and a win to our name. Opened in 1968, the ground has a 5,450 capacity. Since our last visit, one end has had a roof added and a new covered stand – the Eric Whalley Stand – was opened in 2018 next to the away terrace. Fleet fans, however, will be situated in the Main Stand, Block A, Turnstile 5 for this one.
Who’s who
Long-serving goalkeeper Sam Johnson joined Halifax back in 2015 on an initial loan deal and has since played more than 340 times for the club. He broke through Port Vale’s academy where he went on to make 23 appearances between the posts before loan spells at Stafford Rangers and Gateshead.
Midfielder Luke Summerfield arrived at The Shay in 2020 and has featured 28 times for the club this season. Summerfield joined from Wrexham having previously played for the likes of Grimsby, York and Plymouth Argyle.
Up front, Rob Harker joined from Burnley and spent a short loan spell at Hartlepool before joining the Shaymen in 2022. Harker has scored eight goals this season in 27 appearances.
The manager
Chris Millington was appointed as Halifax manager at the end of the 2021/22 season following a three-year spell as assistant with the club. Millington was also assistant at Oldham before joining the Shaymen and has since managed 86 times for the club, leading them to an FA Trophy triumph at Wembley last season.
Ticket info
Further ticket information can be found here. There are no advance online sales and tickets are only by cash on the day.
