FC Halifax Town claimed all three points in Hampshire after playing out an unlikely seven-goal thriller against Aldershot Town.
Just one change was made for today’s game after Tuesday’s goalless draw against promotion hopefuls, Sutton United.
Andrew Oluwabori nearly gave the Shaymen a dream start as his low curling effort was well saved by Jordi Van Stappershoef in the Shots goal. Hoti’s clipped free kick then gave Will Smith the chance to head goalwards, but his effort fell narrowly wide.
Oluwabori looked to cause problems once more on the 10th minute mark. He picked up the ball centrally, 30 yards from goal, and speculatively shot, but his attempt was high and wide.
Halifax completely bossed the opening stages of this tie, and this domination was rewarded on the 17th minute mark. Oluwabori played the ball into the path of Florent Hoti who found Billy Waters on the right flank, Waters then drove towards the penalty area before striking at goal ; his powerful effort was helped on the way by Dan Ellison, beyond the keeper and into the back of the net.
Aldershot showed their first sign of any intent through Ashley Akpan, his low daisy-cutter was brilliantly blocked by Adam Senior on the line, who managed to turn it round the post for a corner.
Jack Jenkins received the game’s first yellow card as he pulled back an Aldershot man who looked to break forward.
Halifax doubled their lead after half an hour on the clock. A chipped ball over the top found Florent Hoti in space ; he then played the ball across the face of the box to Oluwabori whose first touch was slightly loose. After regaining control of the ball, he checked back and rounded both the defenders and keeper before firing the ball into the back of the net. This was Oluwabori’s 5ᵗʰ goal of the campaign, and he deserved it after a magnificent first-half performance.
The home side pushed for one back before the break. Ryan Jones saw his low effort dribble wide before Jack Barham was denied what looked a certain goal as Adam Adetoro threw his body in the way before Hoti cleared.
The last chance of the half came from an Aldershot corner. The in-swinging delivery found James Henry, whose glancing effort was narrowly wide.
Just fifty seconds into the second half, the Shots pulled one back, Ryan Jones delivered the ball into the area before the unmarked Akpan smashed home.
Sam Johnson then looked to launch Halifax into attack as his long kick found Waters in space, but in the quest to get his second and Town’s third of the game, he dragged his effort wide.
There was a change in the LB area for Halifax just before the hour mark as Ryan Galvin replaced Angelo Capello, Luke Jenkins was also forced off due to injury for Aldershot with Christian Maghoma replacing him.
A second yellow card was dished out for the Shaymen, with Oluwabori picking it up for a cynical foul. Following this, the goal scorer of the second goal was replaced, with Max Wright coming on in his place.
Adetoro and Max Wright also went into the book as Town looked to hang on in the final fifteen minutes of the game.
Sam Johnson was made to work in the final stages as he got down quickly to save Henry’s goal-bound attempt.
Despite some resilient defending from the Shaymen, Aldershot Town found the leveller. A nice passage of build-up from Aldershot saw them work the ball into the box, the ball then fell into the path of Henry who slotted home nicely for his 11th goal of the season. Following the goal, Zak Emmerson was introduced.
The game delivered another twist five minutes from time, Van Stappershoef’s misplaced kick was capitalised on by Jamie Cooke as he slotted into an empty net to restore the Shaymen’s lead. That’s now three in three games for Cooke.
Just a couple of minutes later, Halifax entered dreamland once more as their two-goal cushion was back in place, Wright delivered from the right flank, which Emmerson met and guided into the back of the net for his first goal in a Halifax shirt.
The game wasn’t won yet however, with two minutes of the additional five minutes added left to play. Halifax once again found themselves picking the ball out of the back of the net. Tyler Frost delivered excellently to Barham, whose header was too good for Johnson.
Time did however run out for the home side, and Halifax managed to hang on for all three points in what turned out to be a classic in Hampshire.
Match Stats
Aldershot Town
1 Jordi Van Stappershoef, 4 Luke Jenkins, 7 Cameron Hargreaves, 10 Josh Barrett (19 Jonny Struttle 75), 11 Ryan Jones, 17 Aaron Jones, 21 Ashley Akpan (24 Maxwell Mullins 90), 22 Jack Barham, 27 James Henry, 34 Dejan Tetek (8 Tyler Frost 84) 35 Dan Ellison
Subs 28 Marcus Dewhurst, 2 Lachlan Byrd, 5 Christian Maghoma, 9 Kai Corbett
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Adam Senior, 27 Adam Adetoro, 15 Will Smith, 11 Angelo Cappello (3 Ryan Galvin 58), 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins (23 Tom Pugh 65), 18 Florent Hoti, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (7 Max Wright 66), 10 Jamie Cooke, 29 Billy Waters (21 Zak Emmerson 80)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 2 Jo Cummings, 26 Owen Bray
Referee: Ross Martin
Goals: Waters 18, Oluwabori 33, Akpan 46, Henry 79, Cooke 85, Emmerson 89, Barham 90+ 3
Yellow Cards: Jenkins 29, Oluwabori 62, Adetoro 68, Wright 72, Ellison 76, Evans 82, Hargreaves 90, R Jones 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2047 (79 away)
Aldershot Town 3 FC Halifax Town 4
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