Tomorrow’s hosts are unbeaten in their last five outings in all competitions, including entering this match off the back of successive league victories.
The Rebels followed up a midweek collection of three points courtesy of a 1-0 win over Hornchurch with an impressive 3-1 victory away to Hartlepool United last weekend, a result which propelled the Rebels into the top half of the table.
FC Halifax Town are experiencing a similarly successful purple patch of displays, with a home draw against Sutton United extending their streak without suffering a loss to four games.
Only one point and two places separate the two teams, setting up an intriguing first encounter in history between the two sides.
Worthing’s forward options has been bolstered by the incomings of versatile attacker Dominic Johnson-Fisher on a permanent transfer from Truro City and talented winger Emmerson Sutton on a loan deal from Queens Park Rangers over the last 24 hours.
Both players have been signed in time to be available for selection, fitness permitting – a big boost for Adam Hinshelwood with Dom Hutchinson and Ashley Nathaniel-George on international duty with Turks and Caicos Islands and Antigua and Barbuda respectively.
The Opposition
FC Halifax have been a mainstay in the National League, as their participation in the fifth tier this year signified a decade long stay in the Non-League’s top level.
Throughout the last ten years, the Shaymen have been rapping on the door of the EFL, with four play-off finishes. Last term, Halifax narrowly missed out on a place in top seven, ending the campaign in eighth position.
It was a dramatic conclusion to proceedings last time out in the league, with Halifax believing they had won the match through Max Bardell’s goal in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage-time. However, a lapse in concentration resulted in Sutton scoring seconds later to reduce John McGrath’s side’s return to just one point.
It’s not all doom and gloom at the Shay Stadium though, as the draw occurred after two triumphs on the trot with clean sheets against Hornchurch and Wealdstone, seeing them currently lie in 13 position.
FC Halifax Town are one of several phoenix clubs in Non-League, rising up through the ashes of an original club that ceased to exist. It was established ahead of the 2008/09 campaign after Halifax Town AFC, was wound up and expelled from the Conference following crippling tax debts.
Two promotions in three years saw the Shaymen rise to the Conference North, winning the 2010/11 Northern Premier League Premier Division title thanks in large to their top scorer, former Leicester City and England striker Jamie Vardy.
Alongside the phoenix club’s rapid rise through the divisions, the Shaymen have twice lifted the FA Trophy along the way. A 1-0 win over Grimsby Town in 2015/16 marked their first success in the competition, before replicating the feat in 2022/23 with a slender win over Gateshead.
The Gaffer
Following consecutive National League North play-off finishes with Buxton, John McGrath was hired by Halifax without hesitation.
Heralded for his ability to nurture young talents whilst embedding them into an attack-minded philosophy, McGrath continues to display his managerial credentials.
Halifax marks the third stop in McGrath’s managerial career, which began with a player-manager role at Mickleover Sports as his playing days drew to a close.
A Republic of Ireland U21 international while in Aston Villa’s academy, the midfielder went on to enjoy a playing career spanning over two decades, featuring for the likes of York City, Shrewsbury Town and Burton Albion.
His stay at Burton was the longest of his career, notching 215 appearances across six seasons in Staffordshire.
McGrath’s son, Jay, currently plies his trade at League One Doncaster Rovers, for whom John also played for early on in his playing days. The two made history together in 2019, becoming the first ever father and son duo to appear together in an FA Cup match while at Mickleover.
One to Watch
Pulling the strings in midfield and the primary creative spark, all while leading the Shayman’s league goal scoring charts this season, Irishman Zak Gilsenan is Halifax’s talisman.
The Blackburn Rovers academy product has already struck four times this campaign in the National League, which has aided a smooth transition after making the move from Gateshead during the summer.
Opening his account late on in the opening day defeat to Forest Green Rovers, Gilsenan notched a brace as the West Yorkshire side breezed past Tamworth in August while also commencing the scoring in a 3-0 home win over Hornchurch a fortnight ago.
However, his momentum has recently been disrupted by a minor injury which forced him off in the early stages of the midweek success over Wealdstone, limiting the midfielder to a substitute’s appearance last weekend against Sutton.
Returning to full fitness, GIlsenan will be attempting to continue where he left off by finding the net in a Halifax shirt.
He has previously featured in the EFL with Grimsby Town, prior to spells at Buxton in the National League North with current manager John McGrath and Gateshead.
Goalkeeper True Grant is another player to look out for, with the young shot-stopper, who is the son of former Premier League glovesman Lee Grant, keeping three clean sheets between the sticks on loan from Stoke City.
League Form Guide
Worthing FC | W4 D2 L3 GD: +2 | Pos: 11th
League Form: WWDDL
MD5: Worthing FC 2-3 Boreham Wood | Scorer: Razzaq Coleman De-Graft x2
MD6: AFC Fylde 2-2 Worthing FC | Scorer: Jose Marquez & Razzaq Coleman De-Graft
MD7: Worthing FC 2-2 Barrow AFC | Scorer: Dom Hutchinson x2
MD8: Worthing FC 1-0 Hornchurch FC | Scorer: Ricky Aguiar
MD9: Hartlepool United 1-3 Worthing FC | Scorers: Cory Adjetey-Brew, Ricky Aguiar & Jose Marquez
FC Halifax Town | W4 D1 L4 GD: +3 | Pos: 13th
League Form: DWWLW
MD5: FC Halifax Town 1-0 Hartlepool United | Scorer: Will Hugill
MD6: Aldershot Town 1-0 FC Halifax Town
MD7: FC Halifax Town 3-0 Hornchurch | Scorers: Zak Gilsenan, Ben Tollitt & Tayt-Lemar Trusty
MD8: Wealdstone 0-1 FC Halifax Town | Scorer: Amari Morgan-Smith
MD9: FC Halifax Town 1-1 Sutton United | Scorer: Max Bardell
Tickets
Tickets are still available for the visit of FC Halifax Town and are able to be purchased online through the FanBase app/website and on the turnstiles.
However, supporters are encouraged to purchase their tickets online in advance to minimise the disruption when entering the ground. The Club can never guarantee the availability of tickets at the turnstiles in the event of a sell-out. Buy your tickets here: Worthing FC vs FC Halifax Town Tickets
Soft Segregation will be in place for this match, which means all outlets, including Linda’s Kiosk in the North East Corner will be available for both sets of supporters.
Both Worthing FC and FC Halifax Town supporters can purchase their tickets online via Fanbase.
Please note as part of a newly-introduced league rule, children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult, otherwise they will be refused entry. Refunds are awarded at the Club’s discretion.
Pricing
Prices
Adults – £22.00
Concessions – £18.00
U22 – £16.00
U19 – £9.00
U14 – £6.00
U7 – £1.00
HOW TO FOLLOW
If you can’t be at the game, you can follow the game via live updates from the club’s official Twitter account.
Or if you prefer, you can watch Behind- the-Scenes access over on our Instagram account.
You can also listen to live commentary through the club’s official commentary service or watch the match live on DAZN.
Originally published by Worthing FC ↗