FC Halifax Town were held to a goalless draw against Solihull Moors.
Town were looking to get their second win of the week whilst Solihull were coming into the game having lost just one in their last 14.
Both sides will come away from this game feeling they could’ve done enough to take all three points. However, they both failed to get the ball over the line. This left Town with their first nil-nil at home of the season.
Pete Wild made just one change from the side that beat Wealdstone on Saturday. Billy Waters, fresh from scoring his 20th goal in all competitions started in the place of Zak Dearnley.
Town started the game well claiming their first chance inside the first ten minutes. Kian Spence made a run and passed to Waters. He then passed it back to Spence on the inside who gave it straight back to Waters. He turned and took the shot; it was comfortably caught by Ryan Boot.
Town continued their spell of good play when Gerry McDonagh took a shot from the edge of the box. Boot managed to get to the right of the goal to prevent the shot giving Town the lead.
A strong spell for Solihull Moors started in the 24th minute. Callum Maycock had Solihull’s first big chance of the game as he fired a shot from range. Sam Johnson was on hand to comfortably save the effort. Solihull had another shot just a few minutes later as Joe Sbarra had an effort on goal, but it was an easy save for Johnson.
The Shaymen went into the break having had the better of the chances. This match becomes the fourth home game in a row to be goalless at half time.
Town started the second half fiercely. Waters was seeking his 21st goal in all competitions as he sent a shot firing towards the goal. James Clarke cleared it off the line for Solihull to deny Town the lead.
McDonagh was involved in the action again as he sent a shot towards goal, Warburton was there to chase it down, but he was beaten to the ball by Boot.
Solihull soon countered with Jesse Debrah being forced to put in a solid block to deny Solihull an attack into the box. They continued to apply the pressure with a flurry of chances, however, they were all dealt with well by Town.
Town responded to the Solihull pressure positively. A flurry of position came as Town had the ball in the Solihull box, but nobody was able to get the shot away, until the ball fell to Waters. His shot was blocked and fell to the feet of Warburton. Town continued to push for the goal as Tyrell Warren fired his effort from outside the box just wide of the goal.
An almost instant response came from Solihull as Andrew Dallas had his shot cleared off the line by Niall Maher. The ball fell to Sbarra for the follow up, but his shot was cleared out by Town.
Town were the first of the two sides to make a change tonight. On the 71st minute Luke Summerfield came on to replace Kieran Green.
Both sides made a change in the 74th minute. Martin Woods came on in the place of Spence in the middle for Town. Whilst Kyle Hudlin came on for Dallas for Solihull.
Woods had been on the pitch less than 10 minutes before he was able to create a chance for Town. He passed the ball through the box down to Warburton, but the ball managed to get ahead of him and bounce away.
That was Warburton’s last action of the game as he was replaced by Jordan Slew in the 82nd minute as Town made their final change.
The 85th minute saw Solihull’s second change, Kyle Storer came on for Danny Newton.
The game ended with calls for a penalty for Town as Waters was brought down in the box with what Town deemed to be a pull. The referee, Lewis Smith, waved it away and blew for full time.
The Shaymen remain in third position in the Vanarama National League with Solihull Moors sitting two points being in fourth. Next up at The Shay is Woking on Saturday at 3pm.
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Jesse Debrah, 6 Tom Bradbury, 8 Kieran Green (4 Luke Summerfield 71), 10 Matt Warburton (25 Jordan Slew 82), 11 Billy Waters, 15 Gerry McDonagh, 17 Kian Spence (26 Martin Woods 74), 20 Harvey Gilmour, 21 Tyrell Warren, 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 27 Zak Dearnley, 28 Pierce Bird
Solihull Moors:
1 Ryan Boot, 2 James Clarke, 5 Callum Howe ©, 7 Joe Sbarra, 8 Callum Maycock, 10 Jamey Osborne, 11 Ryan Barnett, 14 Harry Boyes, 19 Andrew Dallas (27 Kyle Hudlin 74), 24 Danny Newton (4 Kyle Storer 85), 25 Lois Maynard
Subs: 3 Jordan Cranston, 15 Callum Reilly, 22 Mark Ellis
Referee: Lewis Smith
Goals: None
Yellow Cards: Warburton 45, Newton 84, Osborne 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance 1750 (59 away)
FC Halifax Town 0 Solihull Moors 0
Read more posts by Alice Lawson
;
