Preview: Halifax Town vs. Barnet - prediction, team news, lineups

Dean Brennan's side head into the weekend on a run of four consecutive victories in the league and will be looking to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Halifax Town picked up back-to-back league victories for the first time since October as they edged out Dorking Wanderers 3-1 when the sides squared off last Tuesday.

Jamie Cooke, Kian Spence and Tyler Golden all found the back of the net to put the Shaymen in a commanding three-goal lead heading into the final 23 minutes before Ryan Seager pulled one back for the visitors with a 78th-minute strike.

Prior to that, Halifax Town suffered a 1-0 loss against 10-man Yeovil Town on November 26, which saw their three-game unbeaten run in the league come to an end, before picking up a 1-0 victory over Chesterfield one week later.

Chris Millington's side head into the weekend on a run of six consecutive home wins in the National League, scoring 10 goals and keeping four clean sheets since a 4-0 loss against Woking on October 1.

Halifax Town have picked up nine wins, four draws and lost nine of their 22 league matches this season to collect 31 points and sit 10th in the National League standings, level on points with Eastleigh and Boreham Wood.

Barnet, on the other hand, continue to stake their claim for a place in the promotion playoffs as they secured a 2-0 home victory over Wealdstone last weekend.

In a one-sided affair at the Hive Stadium, former Blackpool midfielder Harry Pritchard opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Nicke Kabamba put the result beyond reach with a 53rd-minute strike.

The Bees have now won each of their last four league matches, scoring seven goals and keeping four clean sheets since a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Southend United.

However, Barnet were dumped out of the FA Cup as they fell to a 1-0 loss against Accrington Stanley on November 26 courtesy of an 84th-minute winner from 24-year-old midfielder Ethan Hamilton.

With 36 points from 21 matches, Brennan's side are currently fifth in the National League standings, four points adrift of third-placed Woking in the automatic playoff semi-final spot.

While Barnet will be looking to pick up a fifth league victory on the bounce, they take a trip to The Shay, where they have lost their last four visits and are winless in seven straight matches since September 2013.

Halifax Town National League form:

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Barnet National League form:

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Barnet form (all competitions):

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Team News

Off the back of a dominant display against Dorking Wanderers, Millington has no major reason to tinker with his XI, meaning that we could see a front two of Angelo Capello and Emmanuel Dieseruvwe.

Golden, Jesse Debrah, Jamie Stott and Festus Arthur should retain their starting roles at the defensive end of the pitch, shielding Sam Johnson between the sticks.

With his strike in midweek, Cooke has now scored four goals in his last seven matches, and the 20-year-old should start in midfield alongside Spence and Mathew Warburton.

Barnet could also line up similarly from last week's victory, with Sam Beard, Louie Annesley, Jerome Okimo, Jerome Okimo and 24-year-old Ben Wynter forming the back five once again.

While he has failed to find the back of the net in three straight matches, former Peterborough United man Idris Kanu should receive the nod in attack, joining Congolese DR striker Kabamb.

Halifax Town possible starting lineup:

Johnson; Golden, Debrah, Stott, Senior; Capello, Spence, Summerfield, Gilmour; Dieseruvwe, Harker

Barnet possible starting lineup:

Walker; Beard, Annesley, Okiomo, Collinge, Wynter; De Havilland, Gorman, Pritchard; Kanu, Kabamba

We say: Halifax Town 2-1 Barnet

Halifax Town and Barnet have put together a fine run of form in the league and we anticipate an action-packed contest at The Shay on Saturday. Halifax have won their last four home games against the Bees and we are backing them to come away with a slender victory in front of their home fans once again.

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