FC Halifax Town exited the Buildbase FA Trophy after a narrow defeat at the hands of Halesowen Town at The Shay. A single goal from Jamie Molyneux was enough to see the West Midlands side through.
Town started the game on top, showcasing their higher league advantage. Jeff King and Josh Staunton both had chances go wide of the goal in the opening six minutes. As the first-half progressed the game showcased a lively balance. However, there were not any real clear-cut chances within the first twenty minutes.
Later, in the twenty-sixth minute, the visitors registered their first shot on target of the game. This came through Robbie Bunn who picked the ball up after an interception and fired low to Johnson’s left. Johnson did well to get down and hold the effort in his grasp. Halesowen added to their shot count when a deflected shot on the edge of the box hit Johnson’s side netting.
Town then created a chance of their own just before the forty-minute mark when some good play on the left from Jerome Binnom-Williams and ended up with Danny Williams in a good position out on the flank. Williams looked up and plucked out Josh Staunton inside the penalty area; he volleyed over the bar.
The word ‘even’ would be perfect to summarise the first-half, both teams were lively but neither could find the golden touch to create big chances.
The second half began with a half-chance when Jack Redshaw flashed a header goalwards, which found its way into Brendon Bunn’s hands. However, Halesowen countered the Halifax effort, and went one better on the forty-ninth minute.
Halesowen went on an attack which ended with a through-ball from Robert Evans into the box for Jamie Molyneux. The striker calmly slotted the ball past Johnson to put the West Midlands side ahead.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage minutes later when Montel Gibson was played in on goal. Nathan Clarke did well to defend the attacker into an angle, as he had a shot which hit Johnson’s side netting.
The Shaymen looked to level the game and hoped they could get momentum through substitutions. Jacob Hanson replaced Cameron King after 54 minutes, and that was followed by the introduction of Tobi Sho-Silva coming on for Jamie Allen after 59 minutes.
Sho-Silva had a good opportunity to equalise: a corner was taken into the heart of the box where Binnom-Williams rose highest to head goalwards. On its way forward, Sho-Silva connected with the ball and tried an acrobatic effort which was flashed just over the bar.
Sho-Silva later then had another chance to put the game level when he flashed a shot wide. The move started with Jeff King on the flank who pulled the ball across to Michael Duckworth, who saw his chance find its way into the path of Sho-Silva before he struck wide.
The final Town change was made ten minutes from time when Josh MacDonald came on for Duckworth, who was unfortunately subbed off with an injury; a rash challenge in from behind by the visitors’ Robert Evans.
After the substitution, the Shaymen re-grouped and came close once more to levelling the game. This time, five minutes from time, Nathan Clarke flashed a free header wide of the goal. Halesowen countered and tested Johnson with a shot inside the box.
That effort was the final chance of the game, as the Shaymen exited the Buildbase FA Trophy in Round Three. The visitors took their chance through Jamie Molyneux, but Town could not quite prevail with their openings.
Pete Wild’s men will now look towards their next game, coming in the Vanarama National League, against Sutton United.
Match Facts
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson; 2 Michael Duckworth (80″); 3 Jerome Binnom-Williams; 4 Nathan Clarke (C); 7 Jamie Allen (59”); 10 Cameron King (54”); 14 Josh Staunton; 20 Jeff King; 21 Danny Williams; 22 Charlie Cooper; 23 Jack Redshaw
Subs: 6 Liam Nolan; 11 Tobi Sho-Silva (59”); 13 Will Appleyard; 16 Jacob Hanson (54”); 17 Josh MacDonald (80″)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Halesowen Town: 1 Brendon Bunn; 2 Lewis Wright; 3 James Bowen (63”); 4 Robert Evans; 5 Paul McCone (C); 6 Jordan Piggott; 7 Joshua Hawker; 8 Robbie Bunn; 9 Montel Gibson (89”); 10 Jamie Molyneux (68”); 11 Ahmed Ali
Subs: 12 Andrew Parsons; 14 James Ashmore (63”); 15 Ashley Sammons; 17 Jack Holmes (89”); 18 Luke Yates (68”); 19 Bradley Catlow
Yellow Cards: Robert Evans (79”); Ahmed Ali (90”)
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1,483 (346 visitors)
FC Halifax Town 0 Halesowen Town 1
Goals:
Goals: Jamie Molyneux (49”)
Next up
Sutton United (Home) – Saturday 15th February 3pm Kick Off
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