Aspin has positive intentions in bid to sink Mariners again

The Shaymen, unbeaten in eight games and sitting fifth in the table, travel to third-placed Grimsby Town for a fixture that is expected to attract a bumper crowd of 4,500.

With second-placed Cambridge United already guaranteed a place in the play-offs, the other two clubs vying for a place in the top five with Halifax and the Mariners are Braintree Town and Gateshead.

With those two clubs due to meet at the Amlin Stadium in Essex, tonight has the potential to provide a big say in which of the quartet bidding for a top-five position misses out.

Aspin, however, only has eyes for his own side as they travel to Blundell Park hoping to repeat Saturday’s 4-0 hammering of Barnet in north London.

He said: “We have got to go to Grimsby and try and win the game. You would be silly to think that you are going to be going away, and running out with victories like the one against Barnet.

“But the intention has to be positive from the start. We have got to go there and try and win the game.”

Halifax thrashed Grimsby 4-0 at The Shay in the autumn, but Aspin is forecasting a tough test for his side, who can take a giant stride towards the play-offs with victory tonight.

He added: “It has got no bearing on the next game. We have played really well at home, which against Grimsby was a fantastic performance. But, away at Grimsby, they need to win to maintain their play-off push. We know it is going to be totally different to the home game, but we are going there in good spirits.”