Former Shaymen Joe Ironside opened the scoring for the home side but Tom Denton replied midway the first half, and then Jordan Sinnott was the match winner late on with just five minutes to go after converting a penalty.
The Shaymen came into this must-win match knowing that a victory would be vital in the race for promotion and that proved so with Billy’s side taking all three points back to West Yorkshire, doing the double over their promotion rivals in the process.
In the opening 20 minutes Kidderminster were camped in the Shaymen’s half as it looked like they were going to run riot at Aggborough. The home side had several chances to increase their lead but Johnson was equal to their attempts, putting in a man of the match performance.
Halifax’s resistant was cracked just over ten minutes into the match when the home side deservedly took the lead, as Joe Ironside met a corner from James McQuilkin and headed the ball past Sam Johnson.
Midway through the first-half Denton powered his header into the back of the net after Kevin Roberts’ excellent first time cross was met expertly well at the back post by the striker as he powered his header into the corner out of the reach of Sam Hornby.
Minutes prior to Denton’s equalising goal Charles had a header blaze wide. Sinnott’s free-kick was met by the loanee but his effort on goal couldn’t be directed towards goal, anywhere on target and it would have a goal.
The last kick of the first-half fell to James McQuilkin from the penalty spot. Sinnott was adjudged to have bought Ryan Croasdale down just inside the area and the referee blew for a penalty. The spot kick from McQuilkin was blazed wide, as the midfielder fluffed his lines.
Johnson proved to be man of the match for the Shaymen after making several saves to bail his team out, most of them coming in the first half but one huge save at the end prevented the Shaymen from dropping two points.
Denton was imperative for Billy’s side this afternoon and he crashed his header off the bar from a Sinnott free-kick, the ball was met by the goal scorer at the back post who looped his head back to where it came from, only for the crossbar to deny him and his side a second.
Cliff Moyo was introduced by Billy with only ten minutes to go and the defender made an instant impact, winning a penalty with quite literally his first touch of the afternoon. Moyo won the ball in the box and was taken down to the floor. The referee made no hesitance in blowing up for a penalty to the despair of the home faithful.
The penalty duties fell to Sinnott, and the midfielder made no mistake in burying the ball beyond Sam Hornby to give the Shaymen all three points, to keep the side in third only two points behind their opponents.
Lineups:
Kidderminster Harriers: 1 Sam Hornby, 2 Jared Hodgkiss, 3 Zaine Francis-Angol, 4 Ryan Croasdale, 5 Keith (c), 6 Jordan Tunnicliffe, 7 Daniel Nti (17 Sam Austin 68), 8 James McQuilkin, 9 Joe Ironside, 10 Elton Ngwatala, 11 Arthur Gnaoua (Andre Brown 85) (Daryl Knights 85)
Subs Not Used: 12 Tyrone Williams, 14 Tyrell Waite
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 2 Kevin Roberts (c), 3 Josh Wilde, 4 Jordan Sinnott, 5 Scott Garner, 6 Nathan Hotte, 7 Liam King (17 Cliff Moyo 82), 8 David Lynch, 9 Tom Denton, 10 Dion Charles, 11 Danny Clarke ( 15 Richard Peniket 57)
Subs Not Used: 12 Steven Drench, 14 Danny Hone, 16 Adam Morgan
Goals: Joe Ironside 11’, Tom Denton 30’, Jordan Sinnott 84’
Yellow Cards: David Lynch 72’
Red Cards: N/A
Attendance: 2025 (274 away)
Man of the Match: Sam Johnson
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