FC Halifax Town welcomed Braintree Town to The Shay this afternoon. With both sides harbouring ambitions of consolidating their respective campaigns and it was a late Adam Senior header that sealed FC Halifax Town a playoff place.
The Shaymen named three changes coming into today’s affair with the suspended Lewis Leigh dropping out of the side along with Angelo Cappello and Tom Pugh. In came Owen Bray, Festus Arthur and Florent Hoti, who missed out of the squad on Easter Monday due to illness.
The first chance of the tie came in the away side’s favour, Tom Blackwell won the footrace with Festus Arthur before firing at the near post from close range, however Hoti got back well to block.
Town started the game playing some brilliant football, the best of the bunch was a move on the 20-minute mark involving Jack Jenkins, Daniel Nkrumah and then Luca Thomas in the middle of the park he then fed the ball into the path of Ryan Galvin whose cross narrowly evaded Nkrumah at the back post.
Moments later Nkrumah had a golden chance as he raced through one on one but a smart stop from Henry Gray denied him.
The Shaymen had a massive scare just after the half hour mark, a loose Florent Hoti back pass caused Arthur to enter another footrace, as he looked like he was about to get to the ball he pulled up with an injury, allowing Kyrell Lisbie to race through on goal, Toby Savin did brilliantly to get a hand to the ball as the 21 year old tried to go round him, the ball then fell back to the edge of the area where Lisbie had another bite of the cherry this time however Jenkins did well to get a block in.
As a consequence of Arthur pulling up, he was replaced shortly after by Angelo Cappello.
The last chance of the half fell to the irons, Florent Hoti tried a chest pass in the box but his attempted effort was picked up by Matt Robinson, he struck the ball on the half volley but his effort sailed wide.
A half time sub was in store for the Shaymen as Zak Emmerson replaced Nkrumah.
The start of the second half emulated the end of the second, Halifax dominated but could not find the breakthrough.
Sean Tarima and Tom Pugh were the next to enter the fray, Owen Bray and Jenkins were the men to be withdrawn.
With twenty minutes to go the away side had a flurry of big chances to go ahead, Lisbie caused havoc in the box as he struck towards goal but a big block by Adam Senior denied him, Lisbie then picked the ball back up before finding Robinson but his shot was well blocked to as it sailed towards goal.
Things started to get nervy in the closing stages as the Shaymen hunted for the elusive goal that would surely secure them a spot in the playoffs, with just seven minutes to go however nerves settled as up stepped captain Adam Senior, a fantastic cross from Tarima found the head of Senior, Henry Gray spilled back into the path of Senior who poked home to send the Shay into wild celebrations.
It was now a case of holding on for the Town, four minutes were added on, and they had to survive one late scare yet, a ball swung in by Alan Judge looked destined to be poked home, but no one managed to connect.
The full-time whistle led to Town’s playoff place was confirmed.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
31 Toby Savin, 5 Adam Senior ©, 4 Festus Arthur (11 Angelo Cappello 38), 16 Josh Emmanuel, 18 Florent Hoti, 20 Jack Jenkins (23 Tom Pugh 71), 3 Ryan Galvin, 10 Jamie Cooke, 26 Owen Bray (29 Sean Tarima 56) 8 Daniel Nkrumah (21 Zak Emmerson 46), 9 Luca Thomas (27 Adam Adetoro 86)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 22 Dubem Eze
Braintree Town
13 Henry Gray, 3 Ryan Clampin, 4 George Langston ©, 5 Louie Annesley, 20 Aidan Francis-Clarke, 10 Alan Judge, 12 Jamal Fyfield (21 Jacob Pinnington 76), 18 Matt Robinson, 7 Tom Blackwell, 11 Chay Cooper, 16 Kyrell Lisbie
Subs: 1 Philip Haxthausen-Nielsen, 23 Cameron McPherson
Referee: Scott Simpson
Goals: Senior 83
Yellow Cards: Annesley 40, Cappello 66, Robinson 68, Pinnington 82
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1631 (83 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Braintree Town 0
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