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BPA: It Was A Strange Game

Posted by Kelly Gilchrist
Posted on Sun 12 Mar 2017
Posted in First Team

FC Halifax Town came out on top against West Yorkshire rivals Bradford Park Avenue with a 3-1 win at Horsfall Stadium after a goalless first half. After Oli Johnson put the hosts ahead, Richard Peniket levelled the score line before Tom Denton and Matty Kosylo scored two late goals to clinch the three points for the Shaymen.

The win sees Halifax remain in the play-off positions and get back to winning ways after a disappointing draw and loss to Boston United and Alfreton Town respectively. After the match, we spoke to Scott Garner who was pleased with how the team bounced back from going a goal downโ€ฆ

โ€œFirst half wasnโ€™t going our way. This time of year, the pitch is boggy and youโ€™ve just got to dig in and itโ€™s down to hard graft and the quality will come through in the end. We conceded a goal against the run of play really, but we stuck at it, we didnโ€™t panic and our chances came and we took them in the end. It was great to celebrate in front of the fans.โ€

The first half had no real moments to shout about, with both sides struggling to break down the opposing defences. Chances were at a premium, but soon the fans were treat to a much better second half performance. Former Guiseley man Oli Johnson opened the scoring for Avenue, and Scott believes this gave the visitors the impetus to push on instead of the hostsโ€ฆ

โ€œI think they setup defensively, but weโ€™ve got enough to handle that. It was just a strange game really. I think them scoring, opened the game up if anything. I think going 1-0 down, as strange as it sounds, helped us win the game in the end because it was a tight game. We went 1-0 down but we made some changes and it affected the game spot on, exactly what the gaffer wanted. It came around to our favour and weโ€™ve end up going out 3-1 winners in a great game.โ€

Six minutes after Johnsonโ€™s deft lob, Richard Peniket slotted home from an angle to equalise and Scott knows that the momentum was then Halifax, who made the most of itโ€ฆ

โ€œSoon as it goes 1-1, you think โ€˜this is our game nowโ€™. Like I said, those scoring gave us more chance to win it really. The goal has gone in and you notice nobody goes and celebrates that because weโ€™re not happy with that, we want to go on and get three points and cement ourselves in those playoffs.

Two disappointing results โ€“ we needed to win today, so weโ€™ve won today and we can kick on again.โ€

The second Halifax goal is one that will provoke a few debates โ€“ albeit within the Halifax squad. A Matty Brown whipped cross looked to have missed the head of Tom Denton by a whisker and nestled into the bottom right corner, however the striker is adamant he got the final touch. We turned to Scott for a definitive answer, however the defender was just as unsure, but happy that the ball had found the back of the net neverthelessโ€ฆ

โ€œI think Sam in goal had a claim to it as well! Everyoneโ€™s tried to claim the goal, but I leave it up to debate as long as itโ€™s gone in. The keeper was stranded when a good ball like that came in – what a way to win it. And Kossy, what composure he shows to go through at the end, round the keeper on a bobbly pitch, it was great. I enjoyed running over to the crowd and everyone was going nuts.โ€

The first half was another frustrating one for the Shaymen faithful, but Scott is just happy that the team could repay them by grabbing the victory in the second 45 minutesโ€ฆ

โ€œAt half-time the fans were disgruntled, it wasnโ€™t right. But weโ€™ve all got to stick in it together and youโ€™ll get the results in the end. Weโ€™re a strong team and we never give up, so they stuck with us and we got the goals. Every corner, youโ€™re like โ€œIโ€™d love to score myself and get over there and celebrateโ€. Couldnโ€™t have been any better, itโ€™s a great day for me.โ€

Next up for Halifax is a home tie against the Tigers of Gloucester City. Scott hopes that it will be the Shaymen who will be roaring come the final whistle, with another three points tucked under their belts.

โ€œWeโ€™ve had two bad results and we really let ourselves down. Weโ€™re still in a great position though and hopefully we go on and win the next game and weโ€™re in a strong position to hold that spot in the playoffsโ€

Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist

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