FC Halifax Town drew 1-1 away at Barnet in the Vanarama National League to make it two draws from the opening two games of 2020.
Town manager Pete Wild named the same starting line-up for the third game in a row and was boosted with the news ahead of the game that Charlie Cooper and Jack Redshaw had agreed new deals until the end of the season.
It was Redshaw who scored for Town in the 24th minute, with his second league goal (fourth overall), however Barnet equalised in the second half with a close-range effort from Jack Taylor.
It was a hard-earned point for the Shaymen after a busy festive period. The Bees started brightly through Jack Barham after just 15 seconds, but Sam Johnson was equal to the effort on goal.
Johnson was on hand again to tip a Taylor shot onto the bar at full stretch midway through the first-half, just before Redshaw fired home after Jeff King found him.
Simeone Akinola looked to equalise but he couldn’t get a decent connection and put the ball over the bar from close range.
Wes Fonguck burst forward but his shot went wide from the edge of the box as Town kept Barnet at bay with only long efforts at goal.
Approaching the hour mark the home side did eventually find an equaliser. A cross was delivered from the right wing and Town were unfortunate to see it strike Josh Staunton and fall to Taylor, who prodded home at the back post.
The two sides earned themselves a point and now Town will have a two-week break from league action with a long trip in the FA Trophy next weekend away at Torquay United.
Match Facts
Barnet 1. Scott Loach 2. Cheye Alexander (20 Vilhete 46) 3. Elliott Johnson 4.
Callum Reynolds 6. James Dunne 7. Jack Taylor 14. Simeon Akinola 16. Harry Taylor 18. Wesley Fonguck 23. David Tutonda (11 Dan Sparkes 84) 29. Jack Barham (27 Mason-Clarke 46)
Subs 24. Aymen Azaze 8. Charlee Adams
Town 1. Sam Johnson 4. Nathan Clarke 5. Matty Brown 7. Jamie
Allen (15 Liam McAlinden 69) 10. Cameron King (40 Shawn McCoulsky) 14. Josh Staunton 20. Jeff King 21. Danny Williams 22.
Charlie Cooper 23. Jack Redshaw (11 Tobi Sho-Silva 65) 31. Niall Maher
Subs 12. Will Appleyard 3. Jerome Binnom-Williams
Goals: Redshaw 24, Taylor 58
Yellow Cards: Staunton 46 Cooper73
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1333 (130 away)
Final Score Barnet 1 FC Halifax Town 1
Next Up
Town are next in action on Saturday 11th January when we travel to Torquay United in the FA Trophy
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