What Hartlepool United, Southend United and FC Halifax Town are saying about the National League play-off race
Southend United, FC Halifax Town and Hartlepool United are battling for the final play-off place in the National League.
Southend United are clear favourites to see off the challenges of FC Halifax Town and Hartlepool United to land the sixth and final National League play-off spot.
Kevin Maher’s side currently occupy seven place in non-league’s top flight after they edged to a late win against Yeovil Town and built on the momentum gained by their FA Trophy semi-final win against Southport at the weekend. Halifax were not in action on Tuesday night but they watched on as Hartlepool crashed to a deeply disappointing 7-0 away defeat at Wealdstone that has left Nicky Featherstone’s men five points adrift of the top seven and Southend also have the benefit of holding a game in hand.
The battle to land a play-off spot could be all but decided over the always crucial Easter weekend as all three sides face tricky fixtures. Pools travel to Scunthorpe before hosting title favourites Rochdale at the Prestige Group Stadium and Halifax visit Altrincham before returning to the Shay to face Tamworth. Southend’s task appears more straightforward as they take on Sutton United and Braintree Town, two sides sitting in the bottom eight of the table. But what are all three sides saying about the battle for a play-off spot as the season enters its final month?
Kevin Maher - Southend United manager (7th place, 39 games, 65 points)
Speaking after his side’s home win against Yeovil, the Shrimpers boss told the club’s official YouTube channel: “At the weekend, we came from behind in difficult circumstances. I think all of the teams at the top end of the league and around where we are face games like that where you have to come through. Not all games are going to be easy, everyone is going to make it difficult as Yeovil did so it’s important you come through them with the three points. It’s important we chase what’s in front of us and continue looking forward.”
Sam Johnson - FC Halifax Town goalkeeper (8th place, 41 games, 62 points)
He told The Halifax Courier: "It's out of our hands," he said. "We've probably got to win at least four of our remaining games, and definitely beat Southend and hope they slip up a couple of times. Stranger things have happened in football, games turn so quickly and back-to-back wins can change everything. We've got two in such a short period now with the games on Friday and Monday so come Tuesday morning, it could all look a bit different. That's what we have to hope for and hope other teams slip up, and we have to capitalise in that."
Nicky Featherstone - Hartlepool United manager (9th place, 40 games, 60 points)
Speaking after Tuesday night’s heavy defeat at Wealdstone, the Pools boss said: "We're going to come under a lot of scrutiny, negative press and reaction from the fans, we're going to have to double down and stick together as a group; we're going to get a lot of stick in the next few days, and rightfully so after that performance. We need to stick together at the minute. It's hard to work out, I didn't see that coming with the form we've been in. Before tonight, I think we'd won five out of the last seven; I didn't see it coming at all, it's a difficult one for me to get my head around.”
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