FC Halifax Town defeated Altrincham 3-2 at the Shay Stadium in the Vanarama National League.
Goals from Luke Summerfield and Billy Chadwick in the first half followed by a Martin Woods wonder-strike in the second secured all three points for the Shaymen. Joshua Hancock and Dan Mooney netted the consolation goals for Altrincham.
As both teams looked to take control of the game early on, Town won a corner after Danny Williams’ cross was blocked for a corner. A short routine between Summerfield and Martin Woods saw Williams get the ball on the edge of the box. His shot from distance was not too far wide as Altrincham won a corner.
In the 13th minute, The Shaymen had a golden chance to take the lead. A long ball over the top found Billy Chadwick bearing down on goal. The forward’s shot was saved by Anthony Thompson, but the rebound fell to the feet of Jack Earing. Despite having most of the goal to aim for, Earing could only put it in the north stand.
Just four minutes later and Town took the lead. A freekick from deep found Jeff King at the back post. His low cross hit the hand of an Altrincham defender and referee Rebecca Welch pointed straight to the spot. Summerfield stepped and fired perfectly into the top right corner to make it 1-0.
In the 29th minute, Halifax doubled their lead courtesy of loanee Chadwick. King threaded a great through ball to Kieran Green on the right wing. A low ball to the edge of the box found Chadwick. After beating his man, the forward fired low into the bottom corner to make put Town 2-0 up.
Less than a minute later and Altrincham pulled on back. Form Shayman Matty Kosylo did well to beat two men before pulling the ball back to Hancock on the edge of the six-yard box. The strike just about beat Sam Johnson to pull one back for the visitors.
In less than a minute after the restart Town restored the two-goal cushion. Green made a great run into the box before laying it off for Woods. The central midfielder hit it first time to curl into the far top corner.
Altrincham pulled another back in the 70th minute. A long diagonal ball into the box fell to the feet of substitute Mooney. A good first-time effort and Johnson could not get down quick enough to prevent the goal.
This result sees the Shaymen climb to seventh in the league. Meanwhile, Altrincham drop to 9th in the league. Town face Hartlepool United at the Shay on Saturday 2nd of January, 3:00pm kick off
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson; 2 Jeff King; 5 Neill Byrne; 6 Tom Bradbury; 8 Kieran Green (32 Neil Danns 67’); 10 Jack Earing; 11 Danny Williams; 19 Luke Summerfield; 26 Martin Woods; 31 Niall Maher ©; 36 Billy Chadwick
Unused substitutes: 12 Harrison Davison-Hale; 3 Jack Senior; 15 Gevaro Nepomuceno; 20 Dom Tear
Altrincham FC: 1 Anthony Thompson; 3 Connor Hampson; 5 Thomas Hannigan; 6 Jake Moult ©; 10 Joshua Hancock; 11 Yusifu Ceesay (34 Ryan Colclough 73’); 15 Matty Kosylo (7 Dan Mooney 46’); 23 Thomas Peers (9 Jacob Blyth 60’); 24 Joel Senior; 29 Alistair Smith; 35 Harrison Holgate
Unused substitutes: 20 Shaun Densmore; 30 Simon Richman
Referee: Rebecca Welch
Assistants: Adam Burgess & Alex Clarke
4th Official: Jordan Crossley
Yellow Cards: Kosylo 41’, Byrne 41’, Hampson 45’, Moult 61’, Danns 82’, Chadwick 90’
Red Cards: N/A
Goals: Summerfield 17’, Chadwick 29’, Hancock 30’, Woods 46’, Mooney 70’
FC Halifax Town 3 Altrincham 2
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