After a couple of quiet weeks, it was time for the first meeting of the season with Preston. AFC started a little short on numbers with the club unable to fund a strong enough knee bandage for Bobbins. Adie was out of the country desperately searching for an illness that could get him 2 weeks off from photographing the outside of football grounds and the academy players on lockdown enforced by dictator Rat as opposed to any medical expertise or travel restrictions.
AFC started in their orange kit while Preston opted not to ‘Play All in White’ but in red. The game started quickly and quite openly with Halifax playing 4-4-2 and Preston a 5-3-2 resulting in a lot of space either wide- or as both defences proved- behind them.
The first goal came when ‘A Lack of Understanding’ saw space in behind Halifax’s defence and allowing ‘Damo’ to run through and score his first of two goals.
Luders was enjoying success down the left beating men like Ryan Giggs (but without the speed, chest hair or distraction of family member’s wives and a little less ‘Handsome’). Both he and Andy beat their man before wasting the shooting opportunity.
Halifax did find the net when a loose ball fell to Martin who slotted (or scuffed) his finish into the far corner.
A free kick on the edge of the box saw Preston score again when it went through the wall and then through Wiggy. Fortunately, a couple of minutes later the keeper’s union was in force as Martin’s deflected shot slipped under the Preston keeper. An almost identical free kick from Preston to their earlier one was then held by Wiggy.
Preston scored their third when AFC boldly (or to most tacticians, stupidly) left two on two at the back from a corner. The corner was cleared over the top before being squared across the box and a comfortable finish.
Halifax weren’t left with ‘No Hope’ and fought back again when a ball over the opposing defence found Bealesy carrying his meals deals towards goal and he was able to hold off their defender before finishing from just inside the box.
Half-time with a score of 3-3 but Bobbins was not in a ‘Bad Mood’ urging more of the same going forward and saying ‘If you wanna’ win it, keep it tighter at the back. It also brought a search for fresh legs, but none could be found so Bobbins opted for the very long legs of Barks instead.
As the second half wore on, both teams started to tire on the heavy pitch and both defences tightened up. A bit more quality from either team would have won it and Martin almost scored his hat-trick when he rounded the keeper but was unable to get his shot away. Then in the final minutes, Preston snatched it when too much space was afforded on the edge of the box allowing a turn and a curling finish into the bottom corner.
An entertaining game and a match report probably written in totally the wrong order.
Man of the Match: Halifax’s own ‘Teenage Icon’ Martin Probets
Next up are Hull at home on the 28th (or possibly Manchester United on Saturday).
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