FC Halifax Town ran out comfortable 3-1 winners away at Ilkley Town in the West Riding County Cup.
Despite conceding a late consolation goal through Kevin Gonzalez, first half goals from Tom Bradbury, Sam Essien, and Jamie Allen were enough to ensure Town progress to the next round of the cup.
Town came close after just seven minutes. Allen found Gerry McDonagh in the box but his effort deflected over for a corner. The cross came in towards Bradbury but his header back across goal was eventually cleared.
The Shaymen took the lead just three minutes later. A corner was swung in to the back post and Bradbury produced a towering header to make it 1-0.
Town had the chance to double their lead just past the half hour mark. Frankie Sinfield whipped the ball in from the right side but Mcdonagh’s header bounced narrowly wide of the post.
The Shaymen got their second 35 minutes in. The ball was sent to Allen who knocked it back for Sam Essien to hit first time perfectly into the bottom left corner.
With less than five minutes left until half time, Sinfield won Town a penalty after being bundled over in the box. Allen stepped up to fire it into the top right corner and make it 3-0.
Ilkley created a great chance to pull one back just past the hour mark. The ball was swung into Tom Smith six yards out but he couldn’t get his shot away before Tom Scott claimed it well.
With just three minutes left on the clock, Ilkley netted a consolation goal. Substitute Gonzalez was put through on goal and he slotted his effort past Scott to make it 3-1
The Shaymen held on for the remainder of the game with neither side creating many chances of note. Next up, Town travel to Pontefract on Saturday for the fourth qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.
Match Stats:
Ilkley Town: 1 Callum Gladding; 2 Alfie Heaton; 3 Macauley Smith; 4 James Nightingale; 5 Matthew Swift; 6 George Pearson (12 Josh Parker 62’); 7 Tom Smith (16 Asa Lowe 80’); 8 Harry Brown (C); 9 James Hughes (15 Kevin Gonzalez 54’); 10 Tom Fleming; 11 George Gomersall
Unused Subs: 14 Nicc Hewitt
FC Halifax Town: 12 Tom Scott; 2 Tom Uniatowicz (21 Lucas Schofield 60’); 3 Javid Swaby-Neavin; 20 Musab Aliyu (17 Patrick Taylor 80’); 4 Tom Bradbury (C); 14 Emmerson Cox; 7 Jamie Allen; 10 Sam Essien (19 Raffert Day 60’); 9 Gerry Mcdonagh; 8 Ben Darby; 23 Frankie Sinfield (16 Reon Donkor 67’)
Unused Subs: 1 Lewis Haley
Referee: Darius Bradley
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Bradbury 10’, Essien 35’, Allen 41’, Gonzalez 85’
Ilkley Town 1 FC Halifax Town 3
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