When FC Halifax Town take to the field at Bamber Bridge's Irongate ground on Tuesday evening, only 66 days will have passed since the two sides met at the Shay on the opening day of the Unibond season.

Over 1500 Town fans turned out in anticipation of a flying start for the new club but they were given a rude of awakening about Unibond life as the visitors romped to a 3 v 0 with all the goals coming in the 2^nd half, courtesy of Danny Mahoney(2) and Michael Mason.

No one will dispute that the Shaymen have improved immensely since that game and Tuesday's fixture gives Jim Vince the perfect opportunity to measure that progression in a game where there will be at least 6 changes to the starting line up from the one that kicked off the campaign, Craig Mawson and Thomas Harban are no longer with the club, Steve Payne, Ross Clegg and Neil Ross are injured and Justin Walker is currently out of the team.

After resting a few players for the weekend's Unibond Cup game against Curzon Ashton the Manager is expected to revert to the team that beat Skelmersdale 3 v 0 a week earlier, this being the clubs 4^th League game without defeat.

They face Phil Enwhistle's team who currently occupy 3^rd place in the table with 20 points from their 11 games but only 7 of those have come on home soil.The Shaymen can give themeslves a huge lift with a victory at the start of a key week where they also face Clitheroe at home on Saturday.