FC Halifax Town have been defeated 1-0 away at Maidenhead and have dropped to 2nd place in the Vanarama National League.
Town boss Pete Wild made four changes from the starting XI against Alfreton in the FA Trophy last weekend with Tom Scott, Jay Benn, Martin Woods and Martin Warburton in for Sam Johnson, Luke Summerfield, Kian Spence and Jordan Slew.
The Magpies beat Chesterfield 3-2 in midweek and made it a third home win in a row thanks to Josh Kelly’s first half goal condemning the Shaymen to just a third away league defeat of the season.
Town started brightly putting pressure on the home defence and had a great chance from Matty Warburton who forced a great save from Daniel Gyollai after a twisting run into the box.
Charlee Adams smashed the ball over the bar after Josh Kelly cross had been cleared by Kieran Green into Adams’ path as the home side looked for the opening goal
Green went down with an injury on the 20-minute mark, and he was unable to carry on being replaced by Jesse Debrah, before the substitution could be made an Adams freekick was headed over the bar by Clerima.
Martin Woods corner was met by captain Niall Maher at the near post, but he was unable to get his effort on target and Town were behind just two minutes later. Josh Kelly capitalising as Town didn’t clear and his effort beat debutant Tom Scott for the only goal of the game.
Five minute later Kelly created space inside the box but his effort this time was over the bar, then a Sam Beckwith cross was headed wide by Emile Acquah just before the break.
Good play from Jamie Allen saw him beat the defender before he found Warburton inside the penalty area, but his effort was always too high and out for a goal kick.
Acquah had another effort after winning the ball off Benn, but it was well wide of Scott’s near post before another Kelly chance, but his shot was dragged wide of the target after getting away from Debrah’s attention.
Kelly continued to cause issues for the Shaymen, and a bursting run needed Warburton to put the ball out for a corner, which resulted in Clerima heading wide of the target
Waters had a chance to equalise with just over 10 minutes left, he worked hard to get into a shooting position, but it went well over Gyollai’s goal.
The Shaymen couldn’t find an equaliser and will go again on Tuesday night in front of the BT Sport cameras when Boreham Wood will travel to the Shay, 7.45pm kick-off.
Match Stats
Maidenhead United:
1 Daniel Gyollai, 15 Sam Beckwith, 6 Remy Clerima, 4 Will DeHavilland, 24 Alan Massey, 16 Ryheem Sheckleford, 3 George Wells (28 Josh Smile 89), 27 Charlee Adams, 19 Ryan Upward, 18 Emile Acquah, 22 Josh Kelly (17 Reece Smith 84)
Subs: GK Harry Palmer, 5 Manny Parry, 8 Shaun Donnellan
FC Halifax Town:
12 Tom Scott, 2 Jay Benn, 3 Jack Senior, 6 Tom Bradbury, 7 Jamie Allen, 8 Kieran Green (5 Jesse Debrah 25), 10 Matty Warburton, 11 Billy Waters, 21 Tyrell Warren (20 Harvey Gilmour 46), 26 Martin Woods, 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 4 Luke Summerfield, 17 Kian Spence, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin
Referee: Robert Whitton
Goals: Kelly 29
Yellow Cards: Warren 45
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1221
Maidenhead United 1 FC Halifax Town 0
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
