FC Halifax Town became just the second team to take points from the league leaders, Barnet, at their own ground this season. It was the dream start for Halifax as Billy Waters gave them the lead before Mark Shelton equalised for the Bees.
Town boss Chris Millington named an unchanged lineup after last time out against Aldershot Town. Scott High also returned to the squad following his return to the club, on loan from Huddersfield Town.
The Bees started the game very brightly with a series of corners; however, these were to no avail as Halifax looked to get a foot in the game.
The first ten minutes were a cagey display from both sides; however, it was Halifax who struck first. A looping ball from Adam Adetoro was picked up centrally by Florent Hoti; he shimmied before playing a wonderfully weighted through ball into the path of Jamie Cooke. Cooke played the ball across the face of goal, which Billy Waters tapped home for his 6th goal of the season and second in as many games.
Oluwabori then went close for the Shaymen; he picked up the ball inside his own half before running the entire length of the pitch, but ultimately his effort fell just wide. Barnet then went up the other end in search of an equaliser, and an equaliser they found. A nice passage of play from the home side ended with a Mark Shelton strike from the edge of the area, which bobbled into the pitch before beating Sam Johnson. Just like Waters, this goal marked his 6th of the season.
Almost immediately from kick-off, Barnet nearly had their second. A scramble in the box gave Mark Shelton the chance to flick the ball towards goal, but a Christmas miracle saw the game remain level as the officials ruled that the ball did not cross the line.
The league leaders really started to apply pressure as the half progressed. A surging Ryan Glover run down the left-hand side was followed by a teasing ball across the box that was missed by everyone and resultantly fell into the feet of Danny Collinge, who blazed over from 15 yards.
Glover found space once more just before the halftime whistle; his run was found as Zak Brunt sprayed the ball towards the left flank. Glover then cut inside before trying to reverse the ball back into the near post; his effort was off target.
The Shaymen hadn’t seen much of Barnet’s goal since the early stages, but Johnson’s long kick forward played in Cooke over the Barnet defence; his snatched effort was well saved by Nick Hayes.
This was the last of the first half action.
There were a host of changes at the break; Halifax introduced Scott High and Ryan Galvin, whilst Barnet sent on Callum Stead.
The second half started much like the first; both sides had moments of promise; however, neither team could cause too much danger to their opponents. Max Wright was introduced on the hour mark in place of Oluwabori.
Halifax had a golden chance to take the lead via the head of Adetoro, Scott High’s whipped delivery was flicked goalwards by Adetoro, but it fell narrowly wide of the right post. Chris Millington then turned to the bench once more as Tom Pugh came on, with Billy Waters making way for him.
Ten minutes from time, Hoti put in a delightful delivery, which Barnet could only clear to the edge of the box; substitute Max Wright was on hand to turn it goalwards, but his effort rose narrowly over. Towns last change saw Zak Emmerson enter the fray.
It was a second half much different to the first, with very few clear-cut chances at either end. Halifax battled well in the end to earn a well-deserved point against the league leaders at the Hive.
Match Stats
Barnet
1 Nick Hayes, 4 Danny Collinge, 8 Rhys Browne (10 Callum Stead 46), 9 Nicke Kabamba, 15 Ryan Glover (11 Idris Kanu 72), 17 Zak Blunt, 18 Anthony Hartigan, 19 Mark Shelton, 22 Adebola Oluwo, 25 Nik Tavares, 26 Myles Kenlock
40 Giosue Bellagambi, 3 Ben Coker, 21 Billy Clifford, 23 Joe Grimwood, 32 Jordan Cropper
Subs: 1 Sam Johnson ©, 5 Adam Senior, 27 Adam Adetoro, 15 Will Smith, 11 Angelo Cappello (3 Ryan Galvin 46) 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins (30 Scott High 46), 18 Florent Hoti (21 Zam Emmerson 89), 22 Andrew Oluwabori (7 Max Wright 60), 10 Jamie Cooke, 29 Billy Waters (23 Tom Pugh 69)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 2 Jo Cummings
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Goals: Waters 11, Shelton 24
Yellow Cards: Hoti 29, Wright 77
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1854
Barnet 1 FC Halifax Town 1
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