Halifax Town vs Anstey Nomads on 13 January
On January 13, 2026, Halifax Town will host Anstey Nomads at The Shay for an exciting FA Trophy encounter. Both sides are eyeing a deep run in this prestigious tournament, with Halifax Town seeking to build on their solid form and Anstey Nomads aiming to cause an upset. The stakes are high, and the weather forecast suggests a crisp, clear day, ideal for fast-paced football.
Halifax Town: Tactical Approach and Current Form
Halifax Town come into this fixture on the back of a mixed run, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five matches. Their primary tactical setup under manager Chris Millington tends to focus on a compact 4-4-2 formation, aiming to dominate possession in the middle third and exploit wide areas. They average 55% possession, a strong indicator of their build-up play, often patiently working the ball from defense to attack through short, quick passes. Their xG (expected goals) stands at 1.4 per match, underlining their solid attacking threat.
Key players for Halifax include central midfielder Kieran Green, who serves as the engine of their midfield, constantly breaking up opposition play and dictating tempo. On the wing, Jordan Slew has been in fine form, providing pace and creativity on the flanks. However, they will be missing their star forward, Jack Redshaw, due to a muscle injury, which could disrupt their attacking rhythm.
Anstey Nomads: Tactical Approach and Current Form
Anstey Nomads, playing in the lower tiers of the non-league system, have had an inconsistent campaign, with two wins, two losses, and one draw in their last five matches. They typically operate in a 4-3-3 formation, focusing on quick counter-attacks and vertical passes to their pacey forwards. With an average of 47% possession, they are more focused on defensive solidity and breaking quickly when the opportunity arises. Their xG is lower than Halifax's at 0.9 per match, reflecting their more direct and less controlled style of play.
Winger Joe Gorman has been the standout player for Anstey, with several assists and key contributions in their recent wins. He will be crucial in the counter-attacking system, as will striker Connor Smith, whose clinical finishing could pose a significant threat to Halifax's defense. Anstey will, however, miss defender Luke Shaw due to suspension, which may weaken their defensive cohesion against Halifax's attacking threat.
Head-to-Head: History and Psychology
Historically, Halifax Town have dominated the encounters between the two teams, winning four of the last five matches, with one draw. Their most recent clash, earlier this season, saw Halifax run out 2-1 winners, but the game was closer than the scoreline suggested. Anstey Nomads have often found themselves outclassed by teams of Halifax's caliber, yet their recent improvement and strong counter-attacking play suggests they will come into this fixture with more confidence. The psychological edge remains with Halifax, but Anstey's resilience could make this a tighter contest than expected.
Key Battles and Critical Zones
The key battle in this match will be Halifax's central midfield against Anstey's counter-attacks. With Kieran Green’s ability to control the midfield and break up attacks, Halifax will look to nullify Anstey’s transitions. However, Anstey's pacy wingers, especially Joe Gorman, will be crucial in exploiting any space left behind by Halifax's full-backs. The right-wing duel between Gorman and Halifax's left-back could be decisive, with Gorman’s speed and creativity likely to be one of Anstey’s main outlets.
Another critical zone will be the battle in the final third. Halifax, despite missing Redshaw, have the technical quality and tactical discipline to break down Anstey’s defense. The use of wide areas will be crucial, with both teams likely to stretch play to exploit space on the flanks. Anstey’s ability to defend deep and counter quickly will hinge on their full-backs maintaining concentration, especially against Halifax’s wingers, Slew and Ainge.
Match Scenario and Prediction
Halifax Town will likely dominate possession, as they have in most of their recent games, controlling the tempo through midfield and trying to break down Anstey with quick passing and wide play. Anstey will sit deeper, looking to defend in numbers and hit Halifax on the break using their pace on the wings. Given Halifax’s strong defensive record and Anstey’s struggle to match the quality of their higher-tier opponents, it seems likely that Halifax will come away with the win, though Anstey may still find moments to threaten on the counter.
Prediction: Halifax Town 2-0 Anstey Nomads. Halifax will control the game through midfield and should prove too strong for Anstey, who will struggle to cope with Halifax's attacking depth.
Final Thoughts
With a strong tactical setup, Halifax Town are clear favorites, but Anstey’s counter-attacking play could cause some problems. The key question this match will answer is whether Anstey can disrupt Halifax’s rhythm and exploit their defensive vulnerabilities on the break. It promises to be an intriguing encounter, with Halifax’s quality likely to see them through in the end.
