FC Halifax Town host fourth-placed Yeovil Town at The Shay on Saturday lunchtime looking to recover from their 3-2 defeat to Barrow, when they surrendered a two-goal lead in the final 20 minutes. The 12.30pm National League fixture will be broadcast on DAZN, with Halifax facing defensive selection problems and Yeovil seeking a fourth successive away league victory.
John McGrath’s side appeared on course for three points against Barrow on Tuesday after Ben Tollitt scored in the 29th and 61st minutes. Seb Thompson reduced the deficit with a long-range strike before Innes Cameron equalised in the 81st minute. Halifax then had Raheem Conte sent off for a second yellow card, and Cameron headed the winner in stoppage time to complete the visitors’ comeback.
McGrath was highly critical of the collapse afterwards, describing it as his most disappointing defeat since taking charge. The Halifax manager singled out his side’s failure to win aerial challenges and prevent crosses during the closing stages, having seen his team surrender a position that could have taken them towards the leading group. The defeat ended a six-match unbeaten sequence across competitions.
Halifax will be without two defenders for Saturday’s meeting. Max Bardell, who had played every minute of the club’s league campaign before suffering a hamstring injury at Southend United, is expected to be sidelined for four to five months. Conte is suspended following his dismissal against Barrow, leaving McGrath with changes to make in his defensive line.
Yeovil returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory at Hornchurch on Tuesday. Zain Westbrooke scored his first goal for the club in the 72nd minute before substitute James Daly doubled the lead almost immediately after coming on. Charlie Pegrum pulled one back for Hornchurch in the closing stages, but Billy Rowley’s side held on to end the hosts’ three-match home league winning run.
The victory followed a 2-1 home defeat to Altrincham, which had ended Yeovil’s six-match unbeaten league sequence. Before that setback, the Glovers had recorded successive 6-0 victories over Boston United and Wealdstone, with Brett McGavin scoring a hat-trick at Grosvenor Vale. Yeovil have won their last three away league matches and scored in every league game on the road this season.
Rowley also has an injury concern after Jordan Norville-Williams was forced off with a hamstring problem at Hornchurch. The defender is awaiting a scan and will miss Saturday’s trip, with Bristol City loanee Seb Naylor available as an alternative. Yeovil’s leading league scorer Johl Powell has eight goals, while Daly’s contribution from the bench on Tuesday provides another attacking option.
Halifax won the corresponding fixture 3-2 in August 2025, when Owen Bray scored twice and Will Harris struck the winner after Yeovil had briefly taken the lead. The return meeting at Huish Park finished goalless in April. Yeovil’s last victory at The Shay came in 2019, when Gold Omotayo scored both goals in a 2-0 win.
Yeovil enter Saturday fourth in the National League with 28 points from 15 matches, seven ahead of tenth-placed Halifax. The Shaymen have scored in each of their last 12 matches according to their official preview, but face a difficult test against visitors who have won three consecutive away league fixtures.
