It was a Good Friday indeed for FC Halifax Town, who secured a valuable three points on the road at AFC Fylde, thanks to Ryan Galvin’s first-half header.
Just one change was made to the starting eleven ahead of the clash at Mill Farm, with Luca Thomas coming into the side in place of Adam Adetoro.
The visitors made a bright start and nearly opened the scoring inside five minutes. Tom Pugh struck an audacious volley from distance, but Ben Winterbottom was equal to it, comfortably collecting the effort.
A lovely turn on the halfway line by Daniel Nkrumah released Angelo Cappello down the left flank. The winger swung in a dangerous cross towards the back post, where Jamie Cooke met it with a volley, but Owen Evans produced a solid block to deny him.
Nkrumah continued to impress in the early stages and should have broken the deadlock after 20 minutes. A clipped cross from Cappello took a slight deflection off a Fylde defender before reaching Nkrumah, but the forward could only head over from close range.
Cappello was involved once again just moments later. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, he drilled a low effort towards the bottom right-hand corner, but it rolled agonisingly wide of the post.
Halifax’s pressure finally told on the half-hour mark. Ryan Galvin wheeled away in celebration after heading home his second goal for the club—both of which have come via headers. On this occasion, it was Adam Senior who provided the assist, nodding the ball across goal and putting it on a plate for Galvin to convert.
Fylde manager David Longwell was clearly dissatisfied with his side’s start, responding with a 33rd-minute substitution as Joe Riley replaced Max Bardell.
The Shaymen came close to doubling their lead shortly afterwards. A delicate touch from Nkrumah played in Luca Thomas, whose powerful strike cannoned back off the post and away to safety. Moments later, Florent Hoti forced Winterbottom into a smart stop from a well-struck free kick.
The second half began with more frustration for Thomas, who struck the woodwork for a second time. After beating his man with some neat stepovers, he cut inside and fired a curling effort that had Winterbottom beaten—but not the crossbar.
Both sides saw yellow early in the second period. Harry Davis was cautioned for dissent after arguing with the assistant referee, while Cappello received a booking for simulation following a fall inside the penalty area.
Halifax continued to push for a second goal and should have extended their lead by the hour mark. Some intricate interplay between Hoti and Cappello teed up Pugh on the edge of the area, but his powerful drive flew over the bar.
The Coasters picked up another yellow card soon after, as Ethan Mitchell forcefully nudged Josh Emmanuel off the ball. From the resulting free-kick, Cooke tested Winterbottom once again, but the Fylde goalkeeper was alert to make a good save.
Town made their first substitutions of the afternoon shortly afterwards, with Lewis Leigh replacing Pugh and Zak Emmerson coming on for Thomas.
Despite dominating for large spells, Halifax were almost made to pay for missed chances. In a rare moment of promise for the hosts, Ashley Boatswain found space in the box but somehow missed the target from just five yards out. It was comfortably Fylde’s best move of the match.
The Shaymen made their final changes late on, as Cappello, Hoti and Nkrumah were replaced by Harvey Sutcliffe, Sean Tarima and Dubem Eze.
Four minutes were added on at the end of normal time, but Halifax saw out the final stages professionally to secure a crucial three points on the road.
Match Stats
AFC Fylde
31 Ben Winterbottom, 3 Owen Evans (29 Danny Ormerod 80) 4 Harry Davis, 8 Ethan Mitchell, 10 Nick Haughton, 11 Jonathan Ustabasi (2 Dan Sassi 46), 14 Max Bardell (40 Joe Riley 33), 15 Will Hugill, 17 Corey Whelan ©, 18 Lincoln McFayden (7 Charlie Jolley 57), 20 Gavin Massey (19 Ashley Boatswain 62)
Subs: 33 Charlie Clark, 6 Adam Long
FC Halifax Town
31 Toby Savin, 5 Adam Senior ©, 3 Ryan Galvin, 20 Jack Jenkins, 18 Florent Hoti (29 Sean Tarima 86), 9 Luca Thomas (21 Zak Emmerson 76), 23 Tom Pugh (28 Lewis Leigh 73), 8 Daniel Nkrumah (22 Dubem Eze 89),10 Jamie Cooke, 11 Angelo Cappello (14 Harvey Sutcliffe 84), 16 Josh Emmanuel
Subs 12 Nathaniel Ford, 27 Adam Adetoro
Referee: Peter Wright
Goals: Galvin 28
Yellow Cards Davis 53, Cappello 55, Mitchell 68
Red Cards: None
Attendance 1733
AFC Fylde 0 FC Halifax Town 1
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