FC Halifax Town were held to a defiant Aldershot Town in a crucial game for the home side curtesy of a Martin Woods second half opener and then a Mikael Ndjoli equaliser with just four minutes from time.
The game started with Aldershot creating the most chances out of a dull opening ten minutes. Kodi Lyons-Foster came close as he nearly latched onto an Aldershot free-kick but only just missed before another free kick for the visitors ended up with a Colin Daniel rebound going wide of the post.
Halifax grew into the first half with strength as Jordan Slew laid the ball off to Matt Warburton who had Towns first shot of the game, but this effort was deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing in the end.
On the quarter hour mark Kian Spence out of nowhere unleased a shot from 25 yards out which bounced just wide of Ryan Hall’s goal. Not long after and Mikael Ndjoli for Aldershot found himself with a great opportunity charging through on goal, but Pierce Bird did well to put in a strong tackle to win the ball back.
24 minutes into the game and Aldershot so nearly took the lead through Colin Daniel who found acres of space down the left-hand side and managed to get his shot off, but Sam Johnson in the Town goal managed to get down low to turn it behind for a corner.
Just two minutes later and Aldershot keeper Ryan Hall was called into action when Town won a free kick on the edge of the box which Matt Warburton took but Hall was able to match the shot. The rebound fell to Tyrell Warren whose effort went over in the end.
The Shaymen registered the best chance of the game when Javid Swaby-Neavin played a wonderful ball into the box which Jordan Slew got on the end of with a half volley, but it was well saved by Hall.
Slew was again causing problems for the Aldershot keeper when he decided to shoot from range which the keeper had to be on hand to save to his left-hand side.
The visitors so nearly found the first goal of the game when Tommy Willard danced around the town defence before planting a shot at goal which Johnson managed to save well. Halifax played the counterattack which resulted in Warburton taking on two shots, both which were well saved and then Billy Waters then trying his luck from the edge of the box which was tipped over from Ryan Hall.
The first half finished goalless with FC Halifax Town going into the break with the better chances to find the opener.
At the start of the second half the Aldershot keeper gave himself a nervy moment when his attempt to clear the ball was blocked at point blank range by Warburton but fortunately for the Aldershot fans straight back into the arms of Ryan Hall.
In the 54th minute Kian Spence picked the ball up on the edge of the box before making moves around the penalty area and landing a shot towards goal, but it rolled just wide of the post in the end.
With half an hour left to play FC Halifax Town took the lead through first half substitute Martin Woods, the Scotsman picked the ball up from outside the box before unleashing a thunderous effort which went into the top left-hand corner to put the Shaymen one up.
Not long after and Town were causing more problems for the Aldershot defence when Swaby-Neavin played a fizzing ball into the box which the Aldershot defence struggled the clear.
After 68 minutes Matt Warburton played in an inviting low cross from the right-hand side which only needed a touch to turn it in but unfortunately for the home side nobody was there to turn it home.
Not long after and Town so nearly had their second after Harvey Gilmour flicked the ball onto Warburton on the volley who struck over from just outside the six-yard box. Jordan Slew was next to have a go, but his hesitant effort was blocked wide for a corner.
Aldershot Town registered their first shot of the second half in the 80th minute when Lyons-Foster took a shot on from the edge of the box, but it was easily blocked and cleared away by the Town back line.
With just five minutes to play Warren moved the ball into a good area before playing a great ball on the edge of the six-yard box which Waters couldn’t quite get to.
Aldershot Town found an equaliser out of absolutely nothing right near the end of the 90 when Mikael Ndjoli beat Johnson at his near post to bring the visitors level.
The game finished 1-1, because of this result it means FC Halifax Town drop down to 4th in the Vanarama National League table whilst Aldershot Town remain 20th.
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Jesse Debrah, 8 Kieran Green (26 Martin Woods 32) 10 Matt Warburton, 11 Billy Waters, 17 Kian Spence, 18 Javid Swaby-Neavin, 20 Harvey Gilmour (27 Zak Dearnley 73), 21 Tyrell Warren, 25 Jordan Slew (14 Matty Stenson 87), 28 Pierce Bird
Subs: 2 Jay Benn, 16 Jamie Thomas
Aldershot Town:
13 Ryan Hall, 3 Lewis Kinsella, 6 Kodi Lyons-Foster, 10 Jacob Berkely-Agyepong 18 Mo Sylla, 20 Mikael Ndjoli, 22 Giles Phillips, 23 Jayden Harris (25 Elis Watts 65), 26 Alfie Saunders, 27 Tommy Willard (11 Harry Panayiotou 75), 33 Colin Daniel (9 Mo Bettamer 75)
Subs: 5 Kevin Lokko, 7 Alfy Whittingham
Referee: Paul Marsden
Goals: Woods 59, Ndjoli 86
Yellow Cards: Berkeley-Agyepong 51
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2662 (249 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Aldershot Town 1
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