FC Halifax Town were held to 0-0 draw at home to Braintree Town.
Braintree came into the game bottom of the league having conceded 53 goals so far this season but kept a clean sheet to win a point against the Yorkshire opposition.
Braintree created the first chance of the game after three minutes when Callum Morton went through on goal. A poor tackle from Matty Brown stopped the attack but gave Braintree a free kick. Justin Amaluzor stepped up but fired his shot straight at Matty Kosylo.
Just five minutes later and Braintree won another free kick. Luke Allen crossed it in but failed to find a Braintree head. Halifax’s first real chance fell to debutant Scott Quigley as he raced into the box, only to be denied by an excellent last-ditch challenge.
Allen was the first Braintree player to go into the book following a poor challenge on Niall Maher in the centre circle. The next yellow came on the brink of half time. Courtney Richards this time going into the book following a poor challenge as Kosylo looked to go forward.
In a half with few chances, Braintree came close after 35 minutes when Braintree fired a low cross into the box. Halifax had a couple of mis-clearances before Joe Skarz put it behind for a corner. The corner went short before Quigley headed away.
Halifax looked an improved side in the second half creating several chances in the opening 10 minutes. The first saw Preston go to the by-line, but his cross was too close to Ben Killip. Four minutes later and Kosylo’s good work saw Southwell set to shoot but it was blocked for a corner.
Just over an hour into the game, and Nathan Clarke picked up a booking after a late tackle as Braintree looked to come forward. Following his late equaliser against Harrogate Town, Jamie Fullarton brought on Jonathan Edwards for Dayle Southwell.
Braintree’s best chance of the half fell to Justin Amaluzor. Amaluzor picked up the ball on the edge of the box but his shot hit the wrong side of the post and went behind for a goal kick. Quigley had a chance to win the game after 87 minutes. A long ball over the top fell perfectly for the forward, but his touch was poor, and Braintree survived.
The final booking of the game fell to Cameron James as he fouled Matty Kosylo as Halifax looked to break. The incident also saw James exchange words with Kosylo as it looked like it might spill over.
The result sees Halifax sit 17th in the National League, with Braintree still bottom. The Shaymen will take a break from the league next week with the visit of Solihull Moors in the FA Trophy.
My Man of the Match: Jacob Hanson
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 4 Nathan Clarke, 5 Matty Brown (C), 7 Matty Kosylo, 9 Dayle Southwell (10 Jonathan Edwards 76), 19 Jordan Preston, 25 James Ferry, 31 Niall Maher, 37 Scott Quigley, 39 Joe Skarz, 40 Jacob Hanson
Subs: 21 Shaun Rowley, 2 Michael Duckworth, 6 Josh Staunton, 11 Sanmi Odelusi
Braintree Town: 21 Ben Killip (C), 4 Andrew Eleftheriou, 7 Luke Allen (14 Lyle Della Verde 81), 10 Courtney Richards, 16 Kodi Lyons-Foster, 18 Marcel Barrington (22 Danny Rowe 75), 24 Callum Morton, 26 Ricky Gabriel, 28 Cameron James, 29 Robert Atkinson, 30 Justin Amaluzor
Subs: 5 Oscar Borg, 34 David Blackmore, 37 Taylor Curran
Goals: None
Yellow Cards: Brown 3, Allen 11, Richards 45, Amaluzor 66, Clarke 67, James 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1302 (26 away fans)
FC Halifax Town 0 Braintree Town 0
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