FC Halifax Town were defeated 2-0 at the Wham Stadium by 2nd placed Barnet in the Vanarama National League thanks to first half goals from Danny Collinge and Callum Stead.
Town boss Chris Millington had made one change with Jack Hunter in for Luke Summerfield
In the first of two games played at the Wham Stadium due to issues with the Shay pitch, the first effort came from Town. Jamie Cooke won the ball on the left-hand side and cut inside. His curling effort was over Josh Keeley’s goal.
The visitors took the lead on 10 mins. A throw in from Jordan Cropper was flicked on by Nicke Kabamba and Danny Collinge tapped home at the far post.
They doubled the lead just three minutes later. A short corner was crossed into the box and Callum Stead headed past Johnson to make it 2-0 to give the Shaymen a mountain to climb.
A good save from Town captain Sam Johnson needed to be made to save from Stead to tip his effort over the bar as Barnet looked for a third goal within just 15 minutes.
The ball in behind from Kane Thompson-Sommers looked for the run of Max Wright, he fired wide of the target, but the offside flag was up against him so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.
Town boss Chris Millington was forced into an early substitution with Jack Evans on for the injured Ryan Galvin on 19 minutes.
Cooke and Hoti combined in midfield, the ball played out for Max Wright and his cross was met by Harker, but his header was never troubling Josh Keeley and out for a goal kick.
Zak Brunt did well at the edge of the box, turned Thompson-Sommers in the box and his effort was narrowly over the bar.
A corner into the box for Town saw Florent Hoti go down but despite the appeals from the players/fans, no penalty was given by referee Michael Barlow.
Tylor Golden’s 33rd minute corner was to the far post and found Harker, but his header was wide of the target again.
Cropper was the first man to go into the book on 37 minutes as he stopped a Town counterattack and brought down Max Wright on the right-hand side. Golden’s ball into the box was met by Adam Senior but he couldn’t head the ball goalwards and out for a goal kick.
A ball down the line for Evans and he was able to get a cross to the far post, Wright’s effort went across goal, but Barnet was able to clear.
Hoti cross into the box, Town fans behind the goal appealed for handball. Again, nothing given by the referee.
With seven minutes of injury time was signalled at the end of the first half. There was still time for another effort. Jack Evans cross was headed over their bar for a corner. Taken short and into the box, Harker’s effort was wide of the effort.
At the start of the second half, Keeley’s clearance only to Harker, he looked for a teammate, but Barnet was able to clear when Town probably should have done better.
Town had the chance to pull one back 5 minutes into the second half. Cooke into the box, looked for Thompson-Sommers into the path of Hoti which forced the save from Keeley, but the play was stopped for handball in the box.
Town had an excellent opportunity to pull one back. Max Wright was put through, but Keeley did well to hold him up and the ball fell to Hunter, but his effort again was saved by Keeley and Barnet cleared for a corner.
It was Wright’s last contribution of the game as he was replaced by Adan George on 61 minutes.
The play was stopped due to an injury to referee Michael Barlow who was replaced by the fourth official.
A ball played through for Harker saw him shoot straight at Keeley, but the offside flag was up against the Town man.
George at the edge of the box, his effort was blocked as he looked to get Town a goal back.
Cooke was booked for a challenge with 5 minutes of the game to go.
Barnet nearly made it three, Jamie Stott gave the ball way to Zak Brunt and his effort was saved by Johnson, he got onto the rebound but Town able to clear for a corner.
The resulting corner was short, the cross into the box looked for Collinge but Town defended well at the far post and Barnet won a corner on the opposite side but couldn’t make anything of it.
Eight minutes of injury time at the end of the game, Idris Kanu was booked for a challenge, which gave Town an opportunity with a set piece. Golden’s freekick looked for Senior but came off him for a goal kick.
Jamie Cooke went down in the box with seconds remaining but again no penalty was given for the Shaymen.
Town will be back at the Wham Stadium on Tuesday night when Ebbsfleet United will the visitors, 7.45pm kick-off.
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 6 Jamie Stott, 5 Adam Senior, 3 Ryan Galvin (12 Jack Evans 19) 8 Jack Hunter, 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers, 18 Florent Hoti (28 Jack Jenkins 74), 17 Max Wright (27 Adan George 61), 9 Rob Harker, 10 Jamie Cooke
Subs: 4 Luke Summerfield, 19 Aaron Cosgrave
Barnet
25 Josh Keeley, 3 Ben Coker (20 Connor Stevens 90), 4 Danny Collinge, 6 Jerome Okimo, 8 Dale Gorman ©, 9 Nicke Kabamba, 10 Callum Stead (11 Idris Kanu 42), 18 Anthony Hartigan, 19 Gatlin O’Donkor (12 Luke Freeman 62) 32 Jordan Cropper, 33 Zak Brunt
Subs: 2 Reece Hall-Johnson, 15 Jordan Maguire-Drew
Referee: Michael Barlow
Goals: Collinge 10, Stead 13
Yellow Cards: Cropper 37, Cooke 85, Kanu 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1446 (118 away)
FC Halifax Town 0 Barnet 2
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