FC Halifax Town are going to Wembley following a- 1-1 draw and a 3-2 penalty win over Altrincham for the Isuzu FA Trophy Final.
Town boss Chris Millington made three changes to the starting line-up with Mani Dieseruvwe, Milli Alli and Jesse Debrah in for Adam Senior, Rob Harker and Jamie Cooke.
Altrincham went ahead in first half injury time as Jordan Hulme nicked the ball past Sam Johnson, but a late Milli Alli goal sent the game to penalties and it was Luke Summerfield, Jamie Stott and Mani Dieseruvwe that scored to send the Shaymen to a Wembley final again.
The Robins started brightly, just six minutes into the game, a good run by Maximillan Oyedele and his shot was straight at Johnson who could save low down.
Town’s first opportunity came from Milli Alli, he had a chance from distance, but it was straight at Altrincham goalkeeper Oliver Byrne, then the home side went up the other end, Joe Hugill fired the shot past Sam Johnson but the wrong side of the post for the home side.
A dangerous cross from the left-hand side for Altrincham, needed to be well defended inside the six-yard box by Jack Senior then the shot from distance from Isaac Marriott was fired straight at Johnson.
It took until the 20th minute for the first corner of the game which went to the home side following a freekick from the halfway line, it came off Jesse Debrah and out for a corner on the near side. The ball into the box was headed up in the air and then headed straight at Johnson by defender Kyle Ferguson.
Town looked for the opening goal two minutes later, the ball was worked to Matt Warburton, and he fired the shot at Byrne who watched it all the way, then two minutes later Alli found Golden but his curled effort from the edge of the box was well over the bar.
Joe Hugill got into the box, his cross fell to Jordan Hulme, he went down under a challenge. Appeals from the fans but nothing given bar the goal kick.
The Altrincham frontman Jordan Hulme into the box on the right-hand side, got a shot in came off Sam Johnson and fell to James Jones but he couldn’t make the most of the rebound and it went out harmlessly for a goal kick.
Sam Johnson was called into action again, as a shot came in from Hulme which was deflected off Debrah and Johnson had to parry the ball away from goal and out for a throw on the near side before a throw on the far side, worked well to Edward Jones and his shot was deflected over the bar for a corner.
Town were having their own opportunities, excellent play by Milli down the left-hand side, beat a couple of men but his cross was finally blocked for a corner. Summerfield’s ball was headed goalwards by Mani Dieseruvwe but saved by Byrne.
Good play again by the home side and Town had to clear for a corner when Oyedele looked for Hugill into the box, but Cappello cleared for a corner but as we got to 45 minutes, the home side took the lead. Good play down the right, the ball worked into the box and a fantastic block fell to Josh Lundstrum, his shot came in and Hulme nicked the ball past Johnson for the opening goal of the game.
Town looked to find an equaliser at the start of the second half, Alli shot was saved by Byrne only to Warburton and he was forced into a second save from close range.
Alli had another opportunity coming in from the right-hand side but he was unable to get it on target and it went out harmlessly again for a goal kick.
The home side nearly doubled their lead just before the hour mark. The ball found Welch-Hayes, touch and his shot was saved by Johnson and then had another opportunity, but the ball went out for a goal kick.
Chris Millington made the first change of the game, Jamie Cooke replaced Matt Warburton
Altrincham nearly doubled the lead a minute later, Hulme did well to keep the gall, Hugill released Oyedele and he raced towards goal and his shot was wide of the target.
Another effort for the home side saw the ball come to James Jones at the edge of the box but it was easy for Johnson as Altrincham patiently looked for the chance to find that elusive second goal.
Town boss Millington made his second substitution with striker Rob Harker on for Tylor Golden with just over 15 minutes later, Summerfield then had a freekick into the box, lovely ball in and it fell to Mani Dieseruvwe and his shot was wide of the target.
Oyedele then had the goal in his sights and fired a shot which had Johnson scrambling but wide of the target, then a corner into the box was headed goalwards by Ferguson but saved by Johnson.
Good hold up play from Mani Dieseruvwe found Alli who took on his marker but fired his shot into the side netting as he continued to look Town’s danger man.
Another superb save by Johnson kept the Shaymen in the tie as Altrincham cut the Town defence apart with Joe Hugill past Jamie Stott but denied by the legs by the Town goalkeeper.
Town had a corner which was cleared by the home side and they raced clear, Hugill got to the edge of the box and his shot was over the bar when he had better options with just over five minutes to play.
Millington made his final change, on loan striker Fidel O’Rourke replaced Angelo Cappello with just a couple of minutes of normal time remaining.
A shot came in from Harker, he appealed for handball in the box as did the Town fans, nothing given, then Town found Cooke at the edge of the box but his shot was high and wide.
The fourth official put three minutes of injury time to be played on the board and Town found their equaliser deep in injury through Milli Alli into the bottom corner past Byrne to force a penalty shoot-out
Altrincham made two subs for penalties, one of them was Elliot Osborne who was the first man to take a penalty in front of the Shay fans and he sent Johnson the wrong way to put Altrincham ahead.
Jack Senior’s penalty was saved by the feet of Oliver Byrne, Joe Hugill’s penalty managed to get past Johnson despite him going the right way, Luke Summerfield put the ball neatly into the bottom corner to make it 2-1, Edward Jones penalty was saved by Johnson, Jamie Stott put the Shaymen level sending the keeper the wrong way. Oyedele’s penalty was saved by a strong hand by Johnson, Mani Dieseruvwe fired Town into the top corner to put Town ahead. The final penalty for the home side was taken by Tyrese Sinclair and his penalty came off the bar to send the Shaymen to Wembley Stadium on May 21st.
Town are back in action on Good Friday when Wrexham will travel to the Shay in all-ticket match, 3pm kick-off.
Match Stats
Altrincham: 1 Oliver Byrne, 34 Miles Welch-Hayes, 26 James Jones, 5 Kyle Ferguson (10 Elliot Osborne 90), 6 Lewis Baines, 2 Edward Jones, 8 Josh Lundstrum, 4 Isaac Marriott, 28 Maximillan Oyedele, 9 Jordan Hulme © (35 Tyrese Sinclair 90) 39 Joe Hugill
Subs: 11 Luke Burgess, 18 Ben Pringle, 21 Matthew Gould, 27 Aaron Bennett, 30 Harry Perritt
Sam Johnson, 2 Tylor Golden (17 Rob Harker 74), 6 Jamie Stott, 5 Jesse Debrah, 3 Jack Senior, 18 Angelo Cappello (29 Fidel O’Rourke 88) 4 Luke Summerfield, 20 Harvey Gilmour, 21 Milli Alli, 10 Matt Warburton (19 Jamie Cooke 63) 9 Mani Dieseruvwe
Subs: 14 Jack Hunter, 15 Tom Clarke, 16 Jordan Keane, 22 Festus Arthur
Ref: David Rock
Goals: Hulme 45, Alli 90
Yellow Cards: J Jones 73
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 4771 (909 away)
Altrincham 1 FC Halifax Town 1
Penalty Shoot-Out Halifax win 3-2
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