FC Halifax Town made the ninety-mile round trip to Goole in hope of progressing through to the next round of the West Riding County Cup, and managed to secure their place thanks to penalty shootout heroics following a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Victoria Pleasure Grounds featuring goals from
Chris Ovington, Josh Schofield and Adam Lunn for the hosts, and Ousman Cham, Jake Taylor and Karamo Sesay for the visitors.
The game started in a lively manner, as the Northern Counties East Premier side put pressure on the visiting Shaymen side down the right through Lee Elam, who himself was a Halifax player fifteen years ago. His cross in from the right in the first minute forced keeper Shaun Rowley into putting the ball out for a Goole corner.
One player looking to make the most of their opportunity to shine in the first time was Ousman Cham, who was recently been recalled from his loan spell at Brighouse after two months. He was able to have a shot in the eighth minute as a result of a header from Simon Lenighan, though this was again blocked by a Goole defender.
The fifteenth minute saw the hosts take the lead, as a long throw into the Halifax box by Jordan Emery managed to its way into the path of Chris Ovington, who was able to calmly slot the ball past Rowley.
Just before the half hour mark, the game saw some end to end action. Shaun Rowley prevented himself from being chipped at one end, and Jake Taylor had his effort cleared from inside the Goole area.
Thirteen minutes into the second half, the Vikings doubled their lead through Josh Schofield after a corner in from the left ended up at his feet, allowing him to fire home.
Town weren’t to settle for this however, as they got a goal back in the seventy second minute, albeit through fortunate circumstances as a mix up between keeper Joe Wilton and his defence gave Ousman Cham an open goal, an opportunity he was happy to take.
This was the beginning of a rampant ten minutes for the Shaymen, as just four minutes later Halifax were awarded a penalty. Jake Taylor converted his effort from the spot, as he chooses to shoot to the left for the equaliser.
To top off Town’s purple patch, centre back Karamo Sesay managed to put Halifax in front in the eightieth minute. This came about from Ousman Cham’s corner, which initially fell to Tosin Abioye. His effort was saved, but Sesay was there to finish what his defensive partner started.
Goole weren’t to let this deter them though, as they once again punished Town from a corner in the ninety fifth minute. This time, the goal came through Adam Lund, as he headed in the corner from the right.
Penalties it was then. Ellis Wade scored Town’s first, whilst Chris Ovington made it 1-1 for Goole. Simon Lenighan got Town’s second, and Adam Lund managed to get Goole’s second to make it 2-2. Mekhi McLeod was the third taker for Halifax, and he made it 3-2. Josh Schofield had the chance to equalise, but Rowley managed to save his effort. Jake Taylor gave Town a two-penalty advantage, but Marcel Chigumira put the penalty that he needed to score to keep Goole in it well over the bar, meaning that Town had won 4-2 on penalties to secure their place in the next round of the West Riding County Cup.
FC Halifax Town: Rowley (c), Benn, O’Regan, Sesay, Abioye, Lenighan, McLeod, Gordon (Wade 67), Taylor, Freedman, Cham
Subs not used: Hill, Janis, Da Costa, Simpson
Goole: Wilton, Schofield, Jeff, Sellers, Lund, Emery, Elam (Tweddle 45), Nicholson (Harrison 85), Allan (Chigumira 45), Barwick (c), Ovington
Subs not used: Haigh, Dunnett
Referee: K Haycock
Man of the Match: Mekhi McLeod
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