Report: FC Halifax Town 0-2 Magpies

Maidenhead United ramped home an excellent 2-0 victory over FC Halifax Town on a glorious Saturday afternoon in West Yorkshire. 

 

It was just the one change for Alan Devonshire’s starting XI, as Joshua Johnson replaced Nathan Ferguson in midfield. With Craig Ross out injured and Alan Massey on the bench, Will de Havilland was once again assigned to the captaincy role. 

 

Halifax kicked off the game, and would have the first half-chance after a quiet opening ten minutes. Florent Hoti charged down the middle and struck towards goal before reaching the United defence, skying his effort well over the crossbar. 

 

For the remainder of the first 45, United had most of the possession and the better of the chances. A long throw-in from Remy Clerima was not held by Toby Savin, but the hosts cleared the loose ball before a Maidenhead player could strike home an opener. 

 

Savin would be called into action yet again as the half entered its final stages. Joshua Johnson latched onto the ball from 20 yards out, forcing the Halifax ‘keeper to tip his shot wide of the post. 

 

 

The second half was one for the neutrals as two teams – one trying to stay in the division, and another trying to get out of it – fought back and forth in search of a crucial goal. 

 

Much like an hour before, Halifax had the first real opportunity of the half as Daniel Nkrumah charged into the box, coming together with Manny Onariase, before testing Sam Howes from a tight angle. 

 

A shot on target for Shawn McCoulsky five minutes later threatened the hosts’ hopes of a clean sheet. The striker’s footwork tricked his man, allowing him to shoot at goal only for Ryan Galvin to clear off the line. Moments later, Reece Smith had his shot from the corner of the box saved by the busy Halifax ‘keeper. 

 

It was the Shaymen’s turn to have a go at goal as the game passed the hour mark, and Hoti would fire over the bar once again, albeit this time from closer distance and an unmarked Angelo Cappello to his left. 

 

At the other end of the pitch, a hasty clearance to beat McCoulsky and Tristan Abrahams allowed Savin to give his palms a rest, albeit only briefly as he was soon forced to collect the #23’s cross from a free kick. 

 

All bar 57 of the 1,485 in attendance felt aggrieved as the entertaining encounter entered the last 20 minutes. Nkrumah was brought down in front of goal which, much to the dismay of the home crowd, was waved away by the referee. 

 

Substitutions can be the difference when there’s a deadlock, and Sam Barratt proved testament to that fact five minutes before stoppage time. A beautiful build-up which culminated in Smith finding his fellow midfielder on the left allowed Barratt to hammer home into the bottom right corner. 

 

A game which had taken 87 minutes to produce a goal saw its second just a few minutes later. McCoulsky, once a loanee at Halifax, found Savin off his line and produced a wonderful chip, much to the elation of the travelling faithful. 

 

As much of the ground emptied out, the few in the far corner were in party mode. Even with a late chance for the hosts, the five minutes of stoppage time flew by, and United took home a much-needed three points. 

 

 

FC Halifax Town: Savin, Emmanuel, Senior ©, Adetoro, Galvin, Cappello (Sutcliffe, 87’), Pugh (Tarima, 63’), Jenkins (Bray, 87’), Hoti, Nkrumah (Thomas, 81’), Cooke (Emmerson, 63’) 

 

Magpies: Howes, de Havilland ©, Latty-Fairweather (Cochrane, 87’), McCoulsky (Sho-Silva, 90’), Ferdinand, Johnson, Pettit (Abrahams, 46’), Smith (Welch-Hayes, 89’), Clerima, Kiernan (Barratt, 75’), Onariase 

 

Attendance: 1,485 (57)