FC Halifax Town were left frustrated at the EBB Stadium after surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3–2 against Aldershot Town.
Will Harris had put the Shaymen ahead just before half-time and doubled the advantage early in the second half, but Aldershot responded emphatically with three goals in ten minutes through Charlie Warren and Will Nightingale. Despite late pressure and a heated finish, Halifax were unable to find an equaliser, as the hosts completed a dramatic comeback.
The Shaymen kicked off at the EBB Stadium and began on the front foot, but Aldershot Town remained composed in the early stages. The hosts had the first real chance inside three minutes after a sharp break caught Halifax on the back foot, though Shaun Hobson and Will Smith recovered well and the resulting effort went over the bar for a corner, which came to nothing.
Halifax dominated possession in the opening 10 minutes, probing the Aldershot defence but struggling to find a decisive final pass. Josh Hmami later received the ball on the left from Will Hugill and attempted a cross towards Will Harris, but the ball drifted goalwards and forced keeper Boyce-Clarke to tip it over the bar.
Two successive corners for Halifax followed, though neither troubled the Aldershot backline. Aldershot then threatened after a slick passing move ended with Charlie Warren, but Halifax defended well and blocked the shot.
The Shots continued to apply pressure, yet Halifax remained resilient. Sam Johnson was called into action when Sean Patton broke through and fired goalwards, but the Shaymen keeper stood firm to preserve the deadlock. Aldershot captain Ryan Hill received the first booking after a strong challenge on David Kawa.
The game was briefly halted in the 25th minute after Will Hugill and Ollie Scott clashed heads. Play resumed with a drop ball, but Halifax were unable to capitalise. Aldershot made the first substitution on 32 minutes, bringing on Luke Jenkins for Widdrington.
Halifax came close again when David Kawa surged through the Aldershot defence and looked to find Harris, but Will Nightingale intervened to clear. Moments later, Aldershot nearly took the lead when a long ball found Hill, who laid it off to Warren. The forward beat Smith and Hobson and fired narrowly wide of the right post.
Halifax took the lead in the 45th minute after a deflection from Luke Jenkins fell kindly to Will Harris on the edge of the box. The striker struck a low, driven effort into the bottom-right corner for his 19th goal of the season. Six minutes of added time were played, during which Halifax created further chances through David Kawa and Kieron Morris but failed to extend their advantage. The referee brought the first half to a close with the Shaymen holding a 1–0 lead.
Aldershot began the second half with intent, though Halifax maintained their shape and defended well. The Shots earned two more corners, but again Halifax stood firm.
The Shaymen doubled their lead in the 56th minute following a determined run through midfield from Will Hugill. He found Harris on the edge of the box, and the striker fired once more into the bottom-right corner to score his second of the afternoon and his 20th of the season.
Aldershot responded quickly. Three minutes later, they pulled a goal back from a free kick just outside the penalty area. Ryan Hill ran over the ball before Charlie Warren struck it first time, beating Sam Johnson comfortably to make it 2–1.
Just six minutes after Halifax had gone two goals clear, Aldershot equalised. A scramble in the penalty area saw several shots blocked before the ball fell to Will Nightingale, who fired first time. The effort deflected off Johnson and into the net to level the score at 2–2.
Adam Lakeland made his first substitution shortly after, replacing David Kawa with Owen Bray. Aldershot then took the lead in the 65th minute when a long ball was sent into the box and Charlie Warren was on hand again to finish, capitalising on a breakdown in communication in the Halifax defence.
The Shots made another change in the 66th minute, bringing on Kwayne Blair Thomas for Sean Patton. Halifax almost equalised soon after when Owen Bray’s corner found Will Smith, but his effort sailed over the bar.
The Halifax bench received a yellow card in the 69th minute following a disagreement with Lakeland, while Charlie Warren was booked for pulling down Thierry Latty-Fairweather. Lakeland made two further substitutions in the 73rd minute, introducing Tom Lavery and Adam Adetoro.
Will Smith then received the third booking of the match after bringing down Warren on the edge of the area, with Halifax fortunate not to concede a penalty. Halifax came close to an equaliser in the 82nd minute when Kieron Morris fired over from ten yards out. Lakeland made his fourth substitution shortly after, replacing AJ Warburton with Florent Hoti.
In the final five minutes, Halifax pushed hard for an equaliser but were unable to break through Aldershot’s defence. Four minutes of added time were signalled. Aldershot made a late substitution, bringing on Brody Peart for Keane Mark Anderson.
A scuffle broke out near the Shaymen’s dugout following a challenge by Ollie Scott on Cody Johnson, resulting in a red card for substitute Kwame Thomas and yellow cards for Scott and David Kawa.
The referee then blew for full-time, bringing the contest to a close.
Aldershot Town
41 Coniah Boyce-Clarke, 6 Theo Widdrington (4 Luke Jenkins 32), 7 Cameron Hargreaves, 12 Keane Anderson (11 Brody Peart 90), 19 Ryan Hill ?, 22 Oliver Scott, 23 Hady Ghandour, 24 Charlie Warren, 25 Will Nightingale, 29 Sean Patton (9 Kwame Thomas 67), 33 Sam Inwood
Subs: 16 Pat Nash, 15 Christy Grogan, 17 James Henry, 27 Toby Nelson
1 Sam Johnson ?, 19 AJ Warburton (18 Florent Hoti 83), 5 Shaun Hobson, 15 Will Smith, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather (33 Tommy Lavery 75), 30 Cody Johnson, 4 Will Hugill, 8 Josh Hmami (3 Adam Adetoro 75), 28 Kieron Morris, 22 David Kawa (17 Owen Bray 63), 9 Will Harris
Subs: 12 Nat Ford, 16 Jevon Mills, 20 Jack Jenkins
Referee: Aji Ajibola
Goals: Harris 45, 56, Warren 60, 65 Nightingale 62
Yellow Cards: Hill 23, Warren 71, Smith 80, Scott 90, Kawa 90, Hugill 90
Red Cards: Thomas 90
Attendance: 2044 (78 away)
Aldershot Town 3 FC Halifax Town 2
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