Jordan Burrow’s penalty miss in the first half meant that FC Halifax Town ended their unbeaten pre-season run with a 0-0 draw against League Two outfit Accrington Stanley.
Josh MacDonald, who caused the visitors many problems down the right hand side throughout the game, saw his driving run rewarded with a penalty after he was brought down on the edge of the area.
Burrow was the man to step up to the spot following referee Aaron Jackson’s decision and looked to add to his goal tally after scoring on Tuesday night away at Matlock. Unfortunately for the home fans, travelling keeper Aaron Chapman went low to his right to deny the Shaymen the lead.
Going into the game, the Shaymen were searching for a fifth pre-season win out of seven after a late equaliser at Matlock agonisingly denied Town the chance to continue their almost perfect run of results.
However, it was the visitors who came out the stronger of the two sides with the impressive Sean McConville creating Stanley a chance within the first minute. His pin point pass allowed striker Terry Gornell to produce a low shot, barely troubling Steven Drench in the Shaymen goal.
This seemed to thrust Town into action as MacDonald continued his ever impressive pre – season campaign with two gut busting runs down his favoured right hand side. However, his efforts could only force a corner which sadly came to nothing.
It was not long until MacDonald produced his first pin-point cross of the game as his high delivery form the right found Tom Denton lurking in the visitors’ box.
The 6ft 7in summer recruit managed to easily meet the cross with a strong header but he just could not direct it away from visiting keeper Chapman who parried the ball to safety.
This seemed to be a recurring problem for Town in the final third. Just minutes later MacDonald produced yet another impressive ball in finding Hone at the back on his own who directed his header straight into the arms of Chapman.
At the other end, Accrington forward Shay McCartan looked sharp in possession in conjunction with McConville. Both players were involved heavily with the visitors’ build up play down both wings but the final balls were unable to find a red and white shirt in the box.
The second half brought much of the same at the MBI Shay Stadium as both teams seemed to have settled back into the game well but the chances were few and far between.
Centre back Daniel Hone was at the heart of Stanley’s troubles. It was his strong, defensive presence that prevented striker Gornell from potentially putting the visitors ahead with plenty of crucial tackles.
Both Hone and Gornell were involved in some confusion later on in the half as it seemed they had been sent off for two separate heated debates. Instead, they were bizarrely ordered to be replaced to avoid any further trouble.
As the air cleared there was one more chance for the home side to snatch the win. Matty Kosylo, who filled the position left by MacDonald’s substitution, managed to twist and turn before supplying an almost perfect cross towards the six yard box. Peniket was only inches away from adding to his fantastic pre-season goal tally.
With pre-season now over, attention turns towards next Saturday’s opener of the Vanarama National League North season. The Shaymen travel to Nuneaton Town hoping to get their 2016/17 season off to a flying start.
Attendance: 720
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