The Shaymen travelled to the EBB Stadium to take on Aldershot Town, looking to continue their positive start. Town put in a strong defensive display for most of the game, but a late goal from The Shots saw Halifax leave Hampshire empty-handed.
The Shaymen got the game underway and started brightly, but The Shots quickly found their rhythm, with Aldershot looking the more comfortable of the two sides after five minutes.
Town won a free kick in a decent position in the seventh minute. Zak Gilsenan lifted the ball over the top into The Shots’ penalty area, but it was calmly cleared.
Aldershot took control for a spell, but The Shaymen stood strong and defended well to keep The Shots at bay.
Town had the first proper chance of the game after 15 minutes. Following some lovely team football, Raheem Conte sent a long ball forward, finding Will Hugill making a daring run. Hugill collected the ball, opened his body up and fired towards goal, but Jonathan Macauley saved well.
Aldershot replied with a flurry of chances of their own, with Conte and Shaun Hobson stepping up to help keep Town on a level playing field.
Cody Johnson became the first player to be booked in the 24th minute following a late challenge on Connor Lawless. The midfielder gave away a free kick just outside the box, and from the resulting chance, Aldershot were awarded a penalty after Kiki Oshilaja was caught on the penalty spot.
Tristan Abrahams stepped up to take the penalty, but True Grant stood strong and dived to his left to save it, keeping Town level and making it his first penalty save for The Shaymen.
Aldershot’s Tyrese Dyce was the second player booked in the 34th minute after a late challenge on Conor Carty.
Johnson then gave away another free kick just outside The Shaymen’s box, leaving the midfielder needing to be careful as he was already on a yellow card. Abrahams’ effort went over the wall but wide of the left post.
Johnson was replaced by Cruz Allen in the 40th minute, with Allen making his second appearance for The Shaymen. John McGrath prevented Johnson from potentially picking up a second yellow.
Both sides went into the break level at 0-0, with Town having shown a strong defensive display in the first half and looking for that all-important goal in the second.
The Shots got the second half underway and were immediately in control, but once again The Shaymen held their ground, denying Aldershot any clear shots on goal.
Adom-Malaki put The Shaymen under constant pressure with a great chance to put The Shots ahead, but Grant once again denied Aldershot to keep Town level.
After 15 minutes of the second half, The Shaymen regained control of the game, keeping the ball and slowly breaking down The Shots, but they just couldn’t find the final pass.
Cruz Allen was shown a yellow card in the 60th minute following a late challenge in the middle of the field.
Town made two changes in the 64th minute, with Ben Tollit and David Kawa replacing Amari Morgan-Smith and Zak Gilsenan.
The Shots responded with two changes of their own, as Abrahams and Marcus Diananga were replaced by Marcus Wyllie and Alfonso Tenconi.
Both sides had a few half chances after the substitutions, but nothing came of them as the game remained 0-0.
Carty was substituted in the 74th minute, with Connor Douglas replacing him. Aldershot also made a change, with Brody Peart coming on for Hakeem Sandah.
The Shaymen came close to taking the lead in the 78th minute, but Macauley pulled off a good save to keep Aldershot level.
The Shots finally took the lead in the 80th minute after The Shaymen were caught asleep at the back. Substitute Marcus Wyllie was left unchallenged in front of goal and slipped the ball past Grant. Town were left disappointed after putting in a strong defensive display throughout the game.
Aldershot made another change in the 90th minute, with Dyce and Adom-Malaki making way for Elijah Oladunjoye and Jordan Alves.
The Shaymen pushed for an equaliser late on but couldn’t find a way through, with Aldershot holding on to secure all three points. Despite a strong defensive performance for the majority of the game, Town were left frustrated after conceding late and failing to find the goal their performance deserved.
Aldershot Town
40 Jon MacAulay, 2 Michee Efete, 5 Kiki Oshilaja, 6 Dominic Odusanya, 7 Tristan Abrahams (19 Alfonso Tenconi 65), 9 Marcus Dinanga (20 Marcus Wylie 65), 11 Hakeem Sandah (21 Brody Peart 76), 12 Michael Stickland (c), 18 Nino Adom-Malaki (27 Jordan Alves 90), 23 Conor Lawless, 17 Tyrese Dyce (24 Elijah Oladunoye 90)
Subs: 13 Charlie Patmore, 16 Jack Matton
FC Halifax Town
33 True Grant, 2 Max Bardell, 8 Will Flint, 5 Shaun Hobson, 3 Raheem Conte, 4 Will Hugill, 30 Cody Johnson (c) (27 Cruz Allen 41) 20 Tayt Trusty, 10 Zak Gilsenan (17 Ben Tollitt 63), 14 Amari Morgan-Smith (64 22 David Kawa 64), 9 Conor Carty (11 Connor Douglas 76)
Subs: 1 Sam Johnson, 16 Deniche Hill, 23 Dylan Crowe
Referee: Matthew Russell
Goals: Wylie 80
Yellow Cards: C Johnson 24, Dyce 34, Allen 60
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1960 (75 away)
Aldershot Town 1 FC Halifax Town 0
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