FC Halifax Town travelled to North Yorkshire rivals Harrogate Town and returned home with three points with a 2-1 win against their promotion chasing hosts with goals from Nathan Clarke and Dayle Southwell for the Shaymen.
Defender Callum Howe put Harrogate ahead in the first half, but Clarke equalised in the second half from a Ben Tomlinson corner before Southwell struck on 88 minutes to seal the points.
Town manager Jamie Fullarton had made one change with Michael Duckworth replacing Jacob Hanson at fullback.
A cross from the left by Matty Kosylo looked for Sanmi Odelusi get on the end of it but Harrogate keeper James Belshaw got enough on the ball to send out for a throw on the near side
Lloyd Kerry had a shot deflected for a corner and Callum Howe headed the resulting corner wide of the target under pressure from the Town defence.
Howe had another header wide of the target as he proved to be a handful from set pieces from another Harrogate corner
Kerry was the only player to go into referee Daniel Middleton’s book with a late challenge on James Ferry on 26 minutes.
Michael Woods went close for the home side with a curling shot with the outside of his foot which looked to have beaten Johnson but was inches wide of the target
Southwell went close for the Shaymen with our best opportunity of the first half after a dangerous counterattack, but his shot was turned around the post by James Belshaw which saw Preston, Kosylo combine for Southwell inside the box
However, Harrogate took the lead on 36 minutes. A foul by Niall Maher, gave Joe Leesley a freekick, he chipped the ball into the box, it was headed into the air and Callum Howe fired home from close range
Howe had another header straight at Johnson as they looked to double their lead before the break.
The Shaymen started the second half brightly and didn’t have to wait long for the equaliser. Ben Tomlinson off the bench at half time for Sanmi Odelusi, swung a corner in and Clarke headed home
Harrogate appealed for a penalty for handball, but Daniel Middleton wasn’t interested in the appeals deeming it not deliberate.
Dayle Southwell’s late strike into the bottom left hand corner sent the travelling fans into jubilation and he could have had a second shortly afterward but fired wide.
The Shaymen return to action on Saturday with the trip to Gateshead in the Vanarama National League, 3pm kick-off
Harrogate Town: 1 James Belshaw, 2 Ryan Fallowfield, 4 Josh Falkingham (c), 5 Callum Howe, 6 Warren Burrell, 10 Dominic Knowles (16 Aaron Williams 84), 11 Joe Leesley, 17 Lloyd Kerry, 18 Jack Muldoon (8 Jack Emmett 80) 20 Liam Kitching, 21 Michael Woods (9 Mark Beck 62)
Subs: 7 George Thomson, 13 Joe Cracknell,
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson, 2 Michael Duckworth, 3 Ryan Sellers, 4 Nathan Clarke, 5 Matty Brown 9c). 7 Matty Kosylo, 9 Dayle Southwell, 11 Sanmi Odelusi (14 Ben Tomlinson 46) 19 Jordan Preston, 25 James Ferry, 31 Niall Maher
Subs: 21 Shaun Rowley, 6 Josh Staunton, 10 Jonathan Edwards, 22 Mekhi McLeod
Goals: Howe 37, Clarke 55, Southwell 88
Yellow Cards: Kerry 25
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2310
Harrogate Town 1 FC Halifax Town 2
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