FC Halifax Town pulled off a deserved 2-0 win over ten-man Solihull Moors. Goals from Manny Duku and Devante Rodney helped Halifax reach the 50-point milestone for the season.
Solihull had to play the second half with ten men after Lee Vaughan was sent off for a high foot. Solihull never recovered as Halifax ran out comfortable winners over the side who started the day in second.
The game got off to a quick start as Solihull won a corner in the first minute. Darren Carter took but could only find the hands of Sam Johnson. Just three minutes later and Halifax looked to open the scoring. A Devante Rodney free kick went just wide of the post.
Town broke the deadlock after 14 minutes. Duku was put through on goal by Niall Maher. Duku had time and space in the box before blasting it into the top corner.
Referee Sam Purkiss required treatment after 35 minutes as James Berrett clattered him. Berrett was going for the ball but Purkiss got in the way and was brought to the ground. Play continued after a minute with a drop ball.
Solihull were reduced to 10 men moments before half time as Lee Vaughan was shown a straight red. Vaughan went in with a high foot on Matty Kosylo which caught him on the back. The referee was given no choice and brandished the red card.
Solihull made their first change of the day on the hour mark. Danny Wright made way for Jermaine Hylton as they looked to equalise.
Halifax continued to dominate early in the second half. A Joe Skarz corner found Berrett on the edge of the box, but his shot was well over the bar. Duku caused more problems for Solihull as a good ball found Kosylo on the edge of the box. Kosylo teed it up for Berrett but his shot was well saved by Boot.
The Shaymen made their first change of the game as Scott Quigley came on for Manny Duku. Their second came just ten minutes later as Berrett was replaced by Cameron King. Solihull also made their second as Jamie Reckord was brought off for Adi Yussuf.
Solihull had a rare chance as a Carter header looked destined for the back of the net. However, a brilliant save from Johnson denied Solihull as Halifax looked to hold out.
Rodney sealed the game just eight minutes from time as Rodney got his third in four games. A long ball wasn’t dealt with and Rodney went through on goal. Rodney had time and slotted it under Boot to make it 2-0.
Solihull made their final change of the ninety as Tyrone Williams came off for Terry Hawkridge. Town made their final change just a minute after Matty Kosylo came off for loan signing Ryan Gondoh.
Solihull looked to pressure on Town towards the dying moments. A succession of corners came to nothing however, as the Shaymen defence held firm.
Town face Ebbsfleet United on Saturday at the MBI Shay Stadium at 15:00. Town remain 14th whilst Ebbsfleet sit 9th after a 2-0 win over Maidstone United.
My man of the match: Devante Rodney
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 2 Michael Duckworth, 4 Nathan Clarke, 5 Matty Brown ©, 6 Josh Staunton, 7 Matty Kosylo (33 Ryan Gondoh, 86), 18 James Berrett (8 Cameron King, 77), 31 Niall Maher, 34 Manny Duku (37 Scott Quigley, 67),35 Devante Rodney, 39 Joe Skarz
Subs: 21 Shaun Rowley, 19 Jordan Preston,
Solihull Moors: 1 Ryan Boot, 3 Jamie Reckord (9 Adi Yussuf,81), 4 Kyle Storer, 5 Liam Daly, 6 Alex Gudger, 8 Darren Carter, 12 George Carline, 13 Nathan Blissett, 19 Danny Wright (10 Jermaine Hylton, 60), 24 Terry Hawkridge (2 Tyrone Williams, 84), 25 Lee Vaughan
Subs: , 17 Luke Maxwell, 23 Matt Stenson
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Assisstants: Elliott Heward and Daniel Woodward
4th Official: Michael Coles
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