By Jon Couch
Matty Kosylo has helped lead FC Halifax Town‘s recent resurgence – but he confesses he is not yet playing to his full potential.
The 26-year-old playmaker helped the Shaymen claim a first Football League scalp since the new club’s inception in 2008 with a 1-0 victory over League Two Morecambe in Tuesday night’s first round replay.
That earned them a home second-round clash with League One strugglers AFC Wimbledon next Saturday lunchtime with the National League club just 90 minutes away from a potential third-round money spinner.
But while the BT Sport cameras will be hoping to capture another major cup upset, Kosylo insists he has a point to prove himself and is looking forward to his place in the spotlight.
A timely training-ground injury at the back end of last season ruined any chance of a rumoured move into Football League – and now he’s ready to make amends.
His 11 goals for the Shaymen last season helped attract the attentions of a number of top clubs such as Brentford, but after a patchy start to the current campaign, honest Kosylo believes he needs to find more if he is to finally land his dream move.
“I’ll be honest, I don’t think I’ve been as effective as I could have been this season by my standards,” he admitted after taking his goal tally to five with the winner against Dover. “At the start of last season I was playing the best football of my career, I just don’t think I’ve hit that level yet.
“I had the injury and a bit of a rough start to the season through work problems but that’s all sorted now and I can feel my form slowly coming back.
“Any footballer would be lying if they said they didn’t have any ambition to play in the Football League. I’ve come through Evo-Stik Division One, Premier, Conference North and Conference and I think I’m more than ready to make the natural progression into the Football League.
“Yes, Friday night will be a shop window for us players, who all dream of scoring the winning goal or making the winning assist, but more importantly it’s about the club and playing your part for the team.”