FC Halifax Town stay third in the table with a 1-1 draw away at Altrincham in the Vanarama National League before Easter Monday’s TV clash with Chesterfield.
Town boss Pete Wild named an unchanged XI from last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Woking at the Shay as his side looked for an 8th away victory of the season but had to settle for a point with a 1-1 draw at the J Davidson Stadium
Kian Spence put the Shaymen ahead on 14 minutes with a lovely tap in after a good move down the left-hand side. Gerry McDonagh held the ball up and found Billy Waters who got to the by-line and his pull back was tapped home by Spence for his fifth goal this season. The home side equalised at the start of the second half as Perritt got the final touch on a freekick from the right-hand side.
Town started the game brightly, a freekick into the box was headed behind for the first corner of the game by Kyle Ferguson, the short routine aw Warburton looked for Waters but was cleared by former Town midfielder Matty Kosylo
Altrincham had their own short freekick from Dan Mooney, he found Kosylo who turned in the box and he won his side a corner. As the ball was played into the box, an Altrincham man went down in the box, but no penalty was given and there were no appeals from the players.
Two minutes later a break from Kosylo and he spread the ball wide for Mooney, he was up against Swaby-Neavin, but his cross was cleared over his own bar by Niall Maher for a corner.
The home side thought they should had been awarded a penalty on 9 minutes, however referee Elliot Swallow showed Ryan Colclough a yellow card for simulation as he clearly went down with no touch. Then, Town went up the other end, Matt Warburton’s effort was deflected wide for another corner.
A Foul by Swaby-Neavin on Kosylo gave the home side a freekick, Mooney’s ball into the box was headed clear by Green, then Warburton looked to release Waters, but Andy White was able to head back to his own keeper.
Midfielder Kian Spence sent the 756 visiting fans into raptures with his fifth goal of the season after good work from McDonagh saw Waters get to the by-line and his pull back was met perfectly by Spence for the opening goal of the game.
Phil Parkinson’s side had won their last five home games in a row, and they looked for a reply, an ambitious 30-yard effort from Mooney after his own lovely backheel looked to catch Johnson off his line was never troubling the goal when he had better options.
Jordan Hulme did well against Jesse Debrah, his shot was easy for Johnson before Town were awarded a corner and had a chance to double their early lead. Dan Mooney’s back pass was not controlled by Thompson, and it went out for a corner. The ball in was headed towards goal and McDonagh looked to head past the keeper, but the offside flag was up.
A good challenge from Spence and Gilmour was able to find Waters outside the box, he had options, but he chose to shoot, and it was wide of the target as he looked for his 21st goal of the season.
A foul on Spence by Mooney for a shirt pull gave Town another good opportunity from a set piece, Matt Warburton’s effort curled around the wall and with the keeper at full stretch but the wrong side of the post.
Johnson was called into action on 31 minutes after a good move from Altrincham worked the ball to Elliot Osborne and his outstretched palm kept it at 1-0.
Hulme was held by Niall Maher and the home side had an opportunity with a freekick on the right-hand side, Mooney into the box but cleared by Spence.
An effort with just 6 minutes to the break saw #Jordan Hulme fire an effort at goal but Johnson was able to watch it all the way and a comfortable save.
In first half time injury time, Kieran Green was the first Town man into the referee’s book for a foul.
Gerry McDonagh and Tyrell Warren combined at the start of the second half, Warren’s cross was blocked for the first corner of the season half. It was cleared out and Town were able to come again, Waters into the path of Warren and his effort was saved by Tony Thompson, Warren had a chance to find a teammate, but Altrincham were able to deny Town a second.
The home side equalised on 51 minutes, a freekick for a foul by Harvey Gilmour on the left-hand side saw a freekick whipped into the box and Harry Perritt was judged to have got the final touch
Wild made his first substitution just before the hour mark as Luke Summerfield replaced Kieran Green.
Good play down the left with Warburton, Waters combine to find Gilmour but not able to get a good touch and Thompson was able to claim the ball.
There was a lack of communication after Mullarkey’s ball into the box was cleared by Warren only to Hulme when it was Johnson’s ball and Hulme’s effort was wide of the target despite his appeals for a corner.
Summerfield looked for Warren, but he was caught out by Ryan Colclough who went 1-1 with Johnson but his effort was high and wide, then Town had a great chance in the box as McDonagh had the goal in his sight and he poked his effort wide of the target.
With just 20 minutes left both managers made changes with Jordan Slew replacing McDonagh and Ben Pringle and Josh Hancock replacing Dan Mooney and Jordan Hulme.
Pringle had an effort from outside of the box which was pushed wide by Sam Johnson whilst Kian Spence was down on the ground injured and he had treatment prior to the corner which was claimed by Johnson and then he looked to release Spence, but Andy White had to get his head on the ball to put it out for a Town throw.
Josh Hancock was played in behind the Town defence, but his effort was saved by Johnson before Kosylo was booked for a foul on Spence and Wild’s final substitution of the afternoon saw Dearnley on for Gilmour.
Spence chipped the ball into the box and Warburton’s touch set himself for the shot, but it was always rising over the bar.
Four minutes of injury time was put up on the bar and within that first minute of added on time Summerfield looked to chip Thompson after he had headed the ball clear, but it was over the bar.
A lovely ball from Spence looked for Waters, his touch was goal bound but the offside flag was up against the Town frontman and Town weren’t able to find that second goal and take the point back to West Yorkshire.
Town will be in action on Monday in front of the BT Sport cameras as Chesterfield will visit the Shay, 5.20pm kick-off.
Altrincham:
1 Tony Thompson, 7 Dan Mooney (10 Josh Hancock 71), 8 Elliot Osborne, 29 Jordan Hulme (17 Ben Pringle 71), 11 Ryan Colclough (28 Eddy Jones 90), 15 Matty Kosylo, 20 Andrew White, 23 Harry Perritt, 24 Kyle Ferguson, 25 Toby Mullarkey, 32 Isaac Marriott
Subs: 6 Jake Moult, 14 Jake Cooper
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Jesse Debrah, 8 Kieran Green (4 Luke Summerfield 59), 10 Matt Warburton, 11 Billy Waters, 15 Gerry McDonagh (25 Jordan Slew 71), 17 Kian Spence, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin, 20 Harvey Gilmour (27 Zak Dearnley 84) 21 Tyrell Warren, 31 Niall Maher ©
Subs: 6 Tom Bradbury, 9 Aaron Martin,
Referee: Elliott Swallow
Goals: Spence 14, Perritt 51
Yellow Cards: Colclough 10, Green 45, Osborne 54, Kosylo 83
Red Cards: None
Attendance 2521 (756 away)
Altrincham 1 FC Halifax Town 1
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