Hartlepool United: Match Report
FCHT: Johnson, Hanson, Skarz, Brown, Clarke, Berrett, King, Staunton, Kosylo, Duku, Rodney. Subs: Rowley, Preston, Quigley, Freeman, Gondoh
Hartlepool: Loach, Kioso, Kerr, Edgar, Anderson, Featherstone, Donaldson, Holohan, Molyneux, James, Kabamba, Subs: Catterick, Amos, Bale, Noble, Muir
FC Halifax Town will feel disappointed at this afternoon’s 2 v 1 defeat to Hartlepool United at the Super Six stadium. Despite taking the lead Jamie Fullarton’s men were pegged back at it’s the hosts who take the 3 points.
In a thoroughly entertaining end to end first half in the Hartlepool sunshine both sides had plenty of efforts on goal. Nicke Kabamba, leading the line for the hosts, headed over a left-wing cross early on but The Shaymen responded on the counter attach with good work on the left from Matt Kosylo. A throw in found its way to Manny Duku who was narrowly off target with a curling 20-yard shot. Cameron King scuffed his left foot shot wide of the target before Devante Rodney gave Town the lead when he netted the 6th goal of his loan spell at the Club. King won the ball on the left side of the penalty area, shaped to shoot but instead picked out Rodney who finished from 15 yards out.
Hartlepool responded with a Gavan Holohan run and shot before an effort from Luke James forced Sam Johnson into a save. And the keeper was in action minutes later when he turned over a 25-yard shot from Lee Molyneux as Pools piled on the pressure. And it was from another Molyneux cross that the equaliser came on 32 minutes when James turned home his near post cross.
Town responded with a Kosylo shot that was straight at Scott Loach in the home goal. A couple of corners came to nothing and the final chance of the half came for the hosts when right back Peter Kioso surged forward but his shot found the side netting.
The 2nd half failed to live up to the excitement of the first period with both teams unable to find the killer ball and both keepers were largely spectators. Luke James did head over from 8 yards out but soon after Hartlepool took the lead. James Berrett lost the ball in midfield, Nicky Featherstone ran towards goal and found Lee Molyneux who finished from 12 yards out with a left foot shot.
Town responded with a Jacob Hanson cross that was deflected into the Keeper’s hands before Josh Staunton found Kosylo in a dangerous position, but he was offside. A pair of free kicks in dangerous positions followed, firstly Kosylo’s shot was deflected for a corner then moments later Devante Rodney’s effort was high and wide.
Ryann Gondoh and Harry Freeman, making his Conference debut for the Club, replaced Manny Duku and Jacob Hanson as Town searched for an equaliser. Neat midfield passing from King, Gondoh and Freeman released Rodney, but keeper Loach was off his line in time to clear the danger.
Cameron King had the final effort of the game but his 25 yards shot was way too high and the afternoon ends in a disappointing defeat for FC Halifax Town.
Hartlepool United: 1 Scott Loach, 2 Peter Kioso, 15, Fraser Kerr, 34 David Edgar, 17 Myles Anderson, 16 Nicky Featherstone, 7 Ryan Donaldson (C), 14 Gavan Holohan (6 Liam Noble 74), 21 Luke Molyneux (21 Adam Bale 90), 33 Luke James, 29 Nicke Kabamba
Subs: 13 Ryan Catterick, 28 Danny Amos, 10 Niko Muir
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 4 Nathan Clarke, 5 Matty Brown (C), 6 Josh Staunton, 7 Matty Kosylo, 8 Cameron King, 18 James Berrett, 34 Manny Duku (33 Ryan Gondoh 65), 35 Devante Rodney, 39 Joe Skarz, 40 Jacob Hanson (24 Harry Feedman 72)
Subs: 19 Jordan Preston, 21 Shaun Rowley, 37 Scott Quigley
Goals: Rodney 14, James 32, Molyneux 53
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 3018 (178)
Full Time: Hartlepool United 2 FC Halifax Town 1
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
