FC Halifax Town Extend their Winning Run with a Home Victory against Brackley Town FC
Adam Lakeland’s side made it five league wins on the bounce as Halifax overcame Brackley Town with a disciplined and clinical display at The Shay.
The Shaymen started brightly, moving the ball well through Josh Hmami, Owen Devonport and Will Hugill, who combined neatly before Hugill dragged an early left-footed effort just wide. Jamie Cooke was heavily involved in the opening exchanges, linking with Devonport and Cappello to create dangerous moments, while Cappello also produced a vital block at the back post to deny Justin Donawa what looked like a certain goal.
Halifax’s best chance of the first half came midway through when Cooke delivered one of several excellent crosses, picking out Devonport, and the forward powered a header goalwards that Jon Maxted saved sharply. At the other end, Brackley nearly capitalised from a set piece, but a mix-up between Kyle Morrison and Will Armitage let Town off the hook. The visitors later struck the post through Daniel Waldron on the counter, before Hugill made a crucial block on the line to keep the score level.
After the restart, Town wasted no time in making the breakthrough. Cooke, again the architect, swung in a deep cross that was helped on by Devonport and finished from close range by David Kawa. It was Kawa’s fourth league goal of the season and his first at The Shay.
Brackley pushed hard to respond, forcing Halifax to dig deep at the back, while both sides made a string of changes to freshen things up. Connor Hall came closest for the visitors in the second half, but his effort from inside the box was straight at Sam Johnson, who gathered comfortably.
Then, deep into injury time, Halifax struck the decisive blow. Thierry Latty-Fairweather surged through a series of challenges before slipping the ball to Owen Bray. The substitute drove into the box, shaped to pass to Jack Jenkins on the overlap, but instead fired on his weaker right foot. A deflection helped the ball nestle into the far corner, sparking jubilation around The Shay as Bray sealed the points with his fourth of the season.
In front of 1,175 fans, including 32 from Brackley, the Shaymen dominated the game, defending solidly and creating the better chances throughout. Bray’s injury-time finish sealed the points and secured a fifth league win in a row.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 4 Will Hugill, 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Josh Hmami (20 Jack Jenkins 75) 10 Jamie Cooke, 11 Angelo Cappello, 16 Jevon Mills, 22 David Kawa (36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather 75), 27 Jay Turner-Cooke (3 Adam Adetoro 87), 29 Sean Tarima (17 Owen Bray 46), 31 Owen Devonport (9 Will Harris 75)
Subs: 12 Nat Ford, 19 AJ Warburton
Brackley Town
1 Jon Maxted, 4 Jack Price, 5 Kyle Morrison, 6 Gareth Dean ©, 7 Scott Pollock, 10 Morgan Roberts, 11 Matt Lowe (27 Connor Hall 82), 14 Daniel Waldron (9 Miracle Okafor 82) 17 Justin Donawa (2 Tyler Lyttle 75), 18 Will Armitage (15 Bailey Hobson 68), 37 Ryan Haynes (3 Riccardo Calder 75)
Subs: 21 Cameron Gregory, 12 Michael Nottingham
Referee: Dean Watson
Goals: Kawa 47, Bray 90 + 2
Yellow Cards: Armitage 23, Pollock 55, Roberts 87
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1175 (32 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Brackley Town 0
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