A splendid individual goal from Matty Kosylo set FC Halifax Town on their way to a West Yorkshire derby victory over Guiseley in front of the live BT Sport cameras.
Town’s previous fixture viewed by a national television audience saw cult hero Scott McManus net a wonder goal against Grimsby Town as the Shaymen secured the FA Trophy at Wembley in May 2016.
And Kosylo scored with an equally impressive strike, in what was, up to that point, a timid lunchtime encounter, which, along with a second half header from captain Matty Brown, helped Halifax to record back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
McManus was one of four changes from the side that beat Solihull Moors last Saturday – Town’s first win of the campaign. Scott Garner and Michael Duckworth also made a welcome return to the defensive unit and Nathan Hotte was chosen ahead of David Lynch to partner Connor Oliver in the centre of midfield.
The Lions, who came into the game on the back of their own first win of the new season last weekend against Torquay United, started the brightest and immediately seemed ultra-comfortable on the ball.
Reece Thompson managed to get in behind the Town defence but McManus produced a phenomenal tackle in the penalty area before Alex Purver saw his effort from outside the box deflect over.
McManus proved effective at the other end as his low shot was deflected inches wide with Guiseley goalkeeper Joseph Green beaten.
Green was in action again moments later when he, seemingly blatantly, hauled down Adam Morgan but the referee, Thomas Bramall, waved away the vehement appeals for a Halifax penalty.
But that disappointment was soon forgotten about as Kosylo took centre stage in the 25th minute. Picking the ball up on the left-hand side, the lively winger easily beat his full-back, Connor Brown, before waltzing his way towards the edge of the box – past another four yellow shirts in the process – before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the far top corner.
It was a truly stunning goal, captured on national live television and a fantastic way to open his account for the 2017-18 campaign.
Suddenly, Town were in the ascendancy and chances were being created at a rapid pace. At the heart of it all was the strike-partnership of Tom Denton and Adam Morgan – as the tall striker set up the former Liverpool star for a hat-trick of opportunities.
A Denton flick-on allowed Morgan to run in on goal but Green did well to block at his near post before another Denton header into the path of Morgan was hit first time by the ex-Curzon Ashton striker. This one, however, failed to trouble Green.
Denton then played an exquisite pass to Josh Macdonald and his low cross found Kosylo who in turn found Morgan, but Morgan, again, struck the ball into the empty North Stand.
John Rooney, arguably the visitors’ most dangerous outlet, failed to severely test Sam Johnson as the half neared its end. And the second half largely saw the Lions dominate but, yet again, Johnson did not have a save to make.
And they were punished with twelve minutes remaining when Brown scored his first ever goal for the Shaymen, thumping a header past the helpless Joseph Green from a Connor Oliver corner to seal a deserved win.
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