FC Halifax Town earnt three points at home to Aldershot Town in the Vanarama National League with a 2-0 win at the Shay.
Town boss Chris Millington made three changes from Saturday’s defeat at Chesterfield with Jamie Stott, Harvey Gilmour and Jamie Cooke into the starting XI.
The first opportunity of the game came in the 10th minute, a shot from striker Rob Harker was high and wide from 30 yards out for the home side.
It took until the 24th minute for the first corner of the game and it was awarded to The Shaymen after Harvey Gilmour and Matt Warburton combined, the cross was blocked. Luke Summerfield’s corner was cleared at the near post.
A beautiful pass from Summerfield saw him spread the ball wide for Angelo Cappello, the ball was played back to Summerfield, but he curled his shot off target.
Former Town striker Tahvon Campbell had a first time shot from 30 yards out parried by Sam Johnson for a corner, Oliver Pendlebury’s ball into the box, flicked on at the near post and Jamie Stott headed out for a second corner. Town were able to clear the second corner through Tylor Golden.
The visitors looked to find a goal before the break, but they were denied with a shot from Henry Ochieng deflected into the hands of Johnson and then Tyler Frost curled his shot narrowly over the bar.
Shortly into the second half, a foul by Jai Rowe on Jamie Cooke gave Town a freekick on the left hand side. Summerfield’s ball into the box was headed wide of the target by Harker.
Town boss Chris Millington made the first substitution of the game as Milli Alli came on for Matt Warburton on 57 mins, whilst Aldershot made their first change two minutes later with Ryan Glover on for Tahvon Campbell.
The Shaymen looked for the opening goal and a Capello cross found its way to Summerfield from a header clear inside the box, but he was unable to get a shot in and Aldershot were able to clear.
However, they weren’t to be denied a goal and took a deserved lead on 64 minutes. Milli Alli went down in the box with no penalty awarded, the ball went back to Cooke his cross was cleared only to Harvey Gilmour, he took a touch and fired past Ashby-Hammond into the bottom corner from 20 yards out to send the majority of the 1472 crowd home happy.
Town had the perfect opportunity to double the lead a few minutes later, a cross from the right-hand side fell to Jamie Cooke but his effort was saved by Ashby-Hammond
The Shots went close as Tyler Cordner won the ball on the half way line, he raced forward and fired a
Ross McNeilly made a double substitution with Jake Hutchinson and Michael Klass on for Myles Kenlock for Josh McQuoid with 15 minutes to play.
A late freekick from Gilmour was able to play the ball into the box but Adam Senior was unable to get a shot in at the far post and went out for a goal kick.
Town would have got the second in the last couple of minutes but for a fine save by Ashby-Hammond. Capello found Summerfield and he fired his shot goalwards from 10 yards out but the goalkeeper denied the Shaymen.
Adam Senior was booked for a challenge on Jack Barham gave the Shots a set-piece but the freekick went wide of Johnson’s goal.
Jack Hunter was brought on for Jamie Cooke deep into second half injury time before Pendlebury was booked for a challenge on Hunter on the halfway line.
A final Shots corner four minutes into injury time was headed away and Town were able to counterattack, Alli raced forward with Ashby-Hammond up field for the corner and he slotted home to ensure all three points and celebrated acrobatically in front of the Town fans.
The result sees The Shaymen remain in 16th place whilst Aldershot drop to 18th in the table with the Shaymen moving 3 points above their visitors tonight.
Town will now be back in action on Saturday with an Isuzu FA Trophy Semi-Final tie away at Altrincham, 3pm kick-off
1 Sam Johnson, 2 Tylor Golden, 18 Angelo Cappello, 6 Jamie Stott, 27 Adam Senior, 3 Jack Senior ©, 20 Harvey Gilmour, 4 Luke Summerfield, 10 Matt Warburton (21 Milli Alli 57), 19 Jamie Cooke (14 Jack Hunter 90), 17 Rob Harker (9 Mani Dieseruvwe 68)
Subs:, 15 Tom Clarke, 16 Jordan Keane
1 Luca Ashby-Hammond, 2 Myles Kenlock (17 Jake Hutchinson 74), 5 Tyler Cordner, 8 Tyler Frost, 9 Tahvon Campbell (23 Ryan Glover 59), 10 Josh McQuoid © (20 Michael Klass 74), 15 Jai Rowe, 16 Corey Jordan, 18 Henry Ochieng, 19 Ollie Pendlebury, 30 Jack Barham
Subs: 38 Finlay Westen, 3 Ollie Harfield
Referee: Michael Barlow
Goals: Gilmour 64, Alli 90
Yellow Cards: J Senior 41, A Senior 90, Pendlebury 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1472 (78 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Aldershot Town 0
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