FC Halifax Town fell to a 1-0 defeat against Ebbsfleet United at The Shay this afternoon.
In a game of few clear chances it was Gozie Ugwu’s first-half strike which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two sides, as in-form Ebbsfleet secured their fourth win in six games.
Town began the opening passage of the game on the front foot, using their width to put pressure on their visitors. Jack Redshaw was at the end of the best of Halifax’s chances, having a well-struck volley blocked by an Ebbsfleet defender.
Shortly after, Redshaw received the ball outside the box on the left-hand side, turned his man and hit a left-footed shot goalward. The Fleet’s goalkeeper Jordan Holmes did well to get down and capture the effort.
The visitors then created a chance of their own, on the break from the Redshaw chance. A long ball upfield ended with Josh Umerah hitting the post, though he picked up a knock when doing so and was substituted shortly after.
His replacement was Tomi Adeloye, who hit the ground running out wide. On the sixteenth minute, the substitute burst out after a ball over the top, before cutting in and outmuscling Jerome Binnom-Williams.
Inside the box was Gozie Ugwu who finished well in front of goal after Fleet’s Adeoye pulled the ball back. The former Chesterfield striker made it back-to-back weekends finding the scoresheet.
Redshaw continued his top form in the game when Town had a free-kick twenty yards out on the 25-minute mark. His effort flew just over the bar.
The Shaymen’s number 23 was later played in on goal and rounded the on-rushing goalkeeper. However, Fleet defenders were on hand to cover their keeper and blocked his goal ward effort out for a corner.
Town had a couple of other chances go off target in the hunt to find a first-half equaliser – Devante Rodney firing an effort over the bar far out was one of those chances.
The second period was a much more attritional affair as Town saw plenty of the ball whilst Ebbsfleet sat back to defend their lead.
The Shaymen pushed hard but their visitors stood firm. Binnom-Williams saw an outside-of-the-foot curler deflected away when on course for the top corner, and on a number of occasions promising build-up did not quite fall Town’s way in the box.
Ebbsfleet defended well, though, ultimately earning a clean sheet, and frustrating the Shaymen.
Match Facts
FC Halifax Town 1 Sam Johnson; 3 Jerome Binnom-Williams; 4 Nathan Clarke (C); 6 Liam Nolan (69”); 14 Josh Staunton; 20 Jeff King (79”); 21 Danny Williams; 22 Charlie Cooper; 23 Jack Redshaw; 31 Niall Maher; 35 Devante Rodney
Substitutes: 12 Will Appleyard; 8 Jack Earing; 11 Tobi Sho-Silva (69”); 16 Jacob Hanson; 17 Josh MacDonald (79”)
Ebbsfleet United: 21 Jordan Holmes; 2 Jack King (C); 6 Lawrie Wilson(85”); 9 Gozie Ugwu; 10 John Goddard; 12 Josh Umerah (14”); 15 Jamie Grimes; 20 Michael Timlin; 22 Marvel Ekipiteta; 24 Josh Payne; 26 Jermaine McGlashan
Substitutes: 23 David Gregory; 4 Alex Lawless (85”); 13 Harry Palmer; 16 Mathew Achuba; 25 Tomi Adeloye (14”)
FC Halifax Town:
Yellow Cards: Nathan Clarke (50”); Tobi Sho-Silva (74”)
Red Cards: None
Ebbsfleet United:
Yellow Cards: Tomi Adeloye (62”); Jermaine McGlashan (84”)
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2,154 (52 visitors)
FC Halifax Town 0 Ebbsfleet United 1
Goals:
Goals: Gozie Ugwu (16”)
Next up
Boreham Wood (Away) – Tuesday 17th March 7.45pm Kick Off
Read more posts by FC Halifax Town
;
