Ten-man FC Halifax Town held on to take a points away at Notts County in the Vanarama National League.
Aaron Martin netted his first goal for the Shaymen before Jack Senior’s second booking left the Shaymen with just ten men after 35 minutes. Elisha Sam equalised before half time but Notts couldn’t utilise their man advantage to take all three points.
It took over ten minutes before either side got a shot off. Kyle Wotton did well to hold off Niall Maher before finding Jayden Richardson. The fullback made a great run through the middle of the pitch before firing a shot narrowly wide.
Again Notts looked the most likely to score. A nice corner routine found an attacker on the edge of the box whose shot was blocked. It eventually fell to Richard Brindley at the back post but his effort inexplicably went wide.
Despite some nervy moments at the back, Town took the lead. Senior lofted the ball towards the Notts box for Martin to chase. Vitezslav Jaros looked favourite to win it but Martin knocked it round the keeper before smashing it into an empty net for his first goal for the Shaymen.
Notts almost managed an instant reply. A quick free kick was sent wide and a shot from Sam smacked the outside of the post as the Shaymen held on to the slender lead.
With 55 minutes left of the match, Town were reduced to ten men. Just five minutes after picking up his first booking, Jack Senior received his second yellow of the game despite seemingly very little in the challenge.
With just two minutes left on the clock, the hosts were level. Town were getting deeper and deeper before Sam fired a shot in from the right corner of the box to find the bottom corner.
Just over 12 minutes into the second half and Notts came close to taking the lead. Adam Chicksen swung the ball into the box and Town couldn’t deal with it. The ball eventually fell to Wootton but his effort was straight into Sam Johnson’s hands.
With just over 15 minutes left, Richardson created a golden chance to take the lead. The defender made a bursting run into the box, beat two Town defenders but Johnson did well to make the save at the near post.
Again Notts County came agonisingly close. The hosts worked the ball to the right-hand side of the box. Rodrigues played into the box but the final shot was inches wide of the post.
With seven minutes added on, Notts thought they had the winner. A dangerous free kick was sent into the back post. It eventually fell into Cameron and his effort came back off the cross bar as Town survived again.
Despite constant pressure for the remainder of the game, Town clung onto take a point home. Up next for the Shaymen is a home fixture against Barnet on Saturday.
Match Stats
Notts County
13 Vitezslav Jaros, 23 Adam Chicksen, 4 Kyle Cameron ©, 2 Richard Brindley, 26 Jayden Richardson, 14 Ed Francis (27 Zak Brunt 70 / 17 Frank Vincent 87), 18 Matthew Palmer, 20 Ruben Rodrigues, 19 Elisha Sam (7 Kairo Mitchell 87), 10 Roberts, 9 Kyle Wootton
Subs: 5 Connell Rawlinson, 11 Aaron Nemane
FC Halifax Town 1 Sam Johnson, 3 Jack Senior, 4 Luke Summerfield, 5 Jesse Debrah, 6 Tom Bradbury, 7 Jamie Allen, 9 Aaron Martin (20 Harvey Gilmour 46), 11 Billy Waters (15 Gerry McDonagh 80), 17 Kian Spence, 26 Martin Woods, 31 Niall Maher © (16 Jamie Thomas 78)
Subs: 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin, 25 Jordan Slew
Referee: Michael Barlow
Goals: Martin 18, Sam 43
Yellow Cards: Rodrigues 18, Senior 30, Waters 37, Spence 90
Red Cards: Senior 36
Attendance: 5603 (392 away)
Notts County 1 FC Halifax Town 1
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