FC Halifax Town fell to a 2-1 defeat against Wrexham this evening in a closely contested encounter at The Shay.
Jordan Slew had given The Shaymen the lead, but late goals from James Jones and Paul Mullin secured all three points for the visitors.
Town would’ve wanted to make a quick start, and that’s exactly what they did, putting the Welsh side on the back foot straight away. The Shaymen won a free kick in a dangerous position and a corner in quick succession, but these chances were well-dealt with by the visitors.
It would take until the 17th minute for either side to test the opposition goalkeeper, when Jesse Debrah saw his headed effort head towards the top corner, but there wasn’t enough power, and Rob Lainton plucked it out of the air.
Halifax showed their threat on the counterattack a couple of times in the first half and came closest to scoring after a fantastic long ball by Jack Senior picked out Billy Waters. Waters then found Jack Vale who laid it off for Kian Spence, with the midfielder getting a good shot away, and producing a fine save from Rob Lainton
The closest either side came to taking the lead in the first half was from long-range efforts, as both defences held firm. A fine effort from Wrexham’s Jordan Davies looked destined for the bottom corner, but went just narrowly wide, before Billy Waters had a similar effort flash past the post down the other end minutes later.
As the game began to open up in the second half, both sides started to create more chances. Down one end, a period of sustained possession led to a penalty shout for the Shaymen as Billy Waters went down under the challenge of Hayden, before Reece Hall-Johnson took it down the other end and picked out Paul Mullin, however his effort was tame and saved comfortably by Sam Johnson.
Hall-Jonson continued to be a threat down the right for Wrexham, and minutes later picked out Bryce Hosannah who managed to get a shot away, but it was well blocked by Niall Maher.
After an end-to-end second half, Halifax took the lead in the 67th minute. Town did brilliantly to win the ball in the middle of the pitch, with the ball eventually finding its way to Matty Warburton. Warburton controlled well, before picking out Jordan Slew, with the winger finishing well, sending the ball under Lainton and giving the Shaymen the lead.
The Shaymen’s lead would last just over 10 minutes however, with Wrexham soon getting back on level terms. After sustained pressure from the visitors, the ball found James Jones on the left-hand side of the box, with his shot being deflected and finding its way into the bottom corner, restoring parity in the game.
Both sides clearly wanted all 3 points in what was a close game on the night. The Shaymen continued to press to regain the lead. Jack Senior found Tyrell Warren with a great cross-field ball, who promptly picked out Billy Waters. Waters bared down on goal and looked to get a shot away, but the striker was dispossessed before he could do so, and the chance came to nothing.
Undeterred, Town continued to push forward and create opportunities. Elliot Newby came so close to restoring the lead for his side as he cut in from the right and hit the post before a Tyrell Warren header was well saved by Lainton.
Ultimately however, it was the visitors who would come away with all three points, courtesy of a 90th minute goal from Paul Mullin. The striker was played in after good work down the left from Wrexham, and the striker made no mistake, firing past Sam Johnson from just inside the box into the bottom corner.
Match Stats:
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 5 Jesse Debrah, 8 Kieran Green, 10 Matt Warburton, 11 Billy Waters, 17 Kian Spence, 21 Tyrell Warren, 22 Jack Vale (24 Elliot Newby 68), 25 Jordan Slew (20 Harvey Gilmour 76), 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 4 Luke Summerfield, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin, 26 Martin Woods
Wrexham:
1 Rob Lainton, 2 Reece Hall-Johnson, 4 Shaun Brisley (19 Jordan Ponticelli 73), 5 Aaron Hayden, 6 Ben Tozer, 7 Jordan Davies, 8 Luke Young ©, 12 Dan Jarvis (9 Jake Hyde 63), 17 Bryce Hosannah (16 Cameron Green 73), 10 Paul Mullin, 30 James Jones
Subs: 21 Christian Dibble, 32 Max Cleworth
Goals: Slew 67, Jones 83, Mullin 90
Yellow Cards: Maher 48, Hosannah 61, Hayden 84, Newby 88, Mullin 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 3344 (1212 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Wrexham 2
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