FC Halifax Town narrowly beat a strong Middlesbrough academy side to secure an opening day win in the 2025/26 iteration of the National League Cup. Middlesbrough went ahead after a sustained period of first half dominance however Halifax answered back with two well taken goals to secure three points.
Adam Lakeland named a much-changed side from Saturdayβs defeat to Southend, with Owen Bray, Will Harris and Will Hugill the only players to retain their places.
It was Middlesbroughβs youngsters who dictated much of the opening half-hour. Max Howells and Frankie Coulson posed the greatest threat for the visitors, with Nathaniel Ford called into action on several occasions to produce vital saves and keep the scores level.
Sonny Finch squandered a golden opportunity from eight yards but quickly made amends. After Coulson pressed high to regain possession, he squared the ball to Finch, who calmly slotted home to give Middlesbrough a deserved lead.
The Shaymen, however, responded in under five minutes. Harriss won the ball on the edge of the box before finding Kawa, who switched play wide. Angelo Cappello whipped in a dangerous cross, and after a brief goalmouth scramble, Jamie Cooke was on hand to tuck the ball away and restore parity.
For large spells, the second half lacked rhythm, with both sides struggling to carve out clear opportunities. A flurry of substitutions from each bench attempted to inject fresh energy into proceedings.
With just over ten minutes remaining, Angelo Cappello came close to putting Town in front. Collecting the ball on the edge of the box, he exchanged a neat one-two with substitute AJ Warburton before unleashing a strike, only to be denied at the near post by Owen Foster.
The contest appeared destined to drift towards a stalemate as the clock ticked into the final minutes. However, five minutes from time, Owen Devonport netted his first goal for the Shaymen after being introduced midway through the half. Turner-Cooke delivered a teasing in swinging cross which Devonport glanced goalwards, guiding the ball beyond Foster to seal the victory.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
12 Ford, 29 Tarima (14 Harvey Sutcliffe 75), 26 Griffin, 24 Hayes-Green, 11 Cappello, 4 Hugill (27 Turner-Cooke 63), 20 Jenkins, 17 Bray, 22 Kawa (31 Devonport 63), 10 Cooke Β©, 9 Harris (19 AJ Warburton 75)
Subs: 1 Johnson, 16 Mills
Middlesbrough
1 Foster, 2 Howells (15 Patterson-Powell 65), 3 Mccormick Β©, 4 Johnson, 5 Edmundson (16 Cartwright 46), 6 Lenihan (14 Baptiste 46), 7 Coulson (17 Hamelberg 82), 8 Woolston, 9 Finch, 10 Hamilton (18 Bakre 65), 22 Samuels
Subs: 12 Acheampong, 19 Lloyd
Referee: Declan Brown
Goals, Finch 39, Cooke 43, Devonport 84
Yellow Cards: Howells 49, Johnson 56, Turner-Cooke 81
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 207
FC Halifax Town 2 Middlesbrough 1
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