A new National League season got underway this afternoon as Braintree Town hosted FC Halifax Town at the Rare Bread Meat Co Stadium. The Shaymen’s starting lineup included seven new summer signings with old faces Owen Bray, Adam Adetoro, Jamie Cooke and Sam Johnson joining them to complete the eleven.
The 2025/26 campaign started in disappointing fashion for Halifax, as new signing Lewis Walker struck twice to help the hosts to a convincing opening-day win. Walker’s early header set the tone, and a second goal shortly before half-time left the Iron in control at the break. His second of the afternoon in the closing stages removed any doubt over the result, consigning Halifax to defeat in Essex.
The deadlock was broken inside three minutes when Elliot Thorpe delivered a teasing cross from the right, met by Walker, who guided a precise header beyond Johnson.
Halifax’s first meaningful effort arrived in the 25th minute as Luke Harris combined neatly with Josh Hmami on the edge of the box, but Hmami’s low strike was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper. Moments later, Francis Clark tried his luck from distance for Braintree, but his attempt drifted wide.
The Shaymen’s task became even harder in the 33rd minute. Walker, this time the provider, swung in a dangerous ball from the right towards Frankie Terry. The defender’s close-range attempt looped high, and as Johnson came to claim, Terry’s presence proved enough to unsettle the Halifax goalkeeper, with the ball dropping into an unguarded net.
Halifax began the second half with renewed purpose. A flowing move down the left released Owen Bray, whose wicked delivery found Will Harris at the far post, only for George Langston to produce a crucial block to deny a certain goal.
Cody Johnson unleashed a powerful strike on the hour mark which was blocked, with the loose ball fell to Hmami. The midfielder whipped it back across goal, where Cooke reacted sharply with an acrobatic attempt to keep the attack alive for Town, but the effort proved too difficult to direct on target.
Despite an upturn in performance and a spell of controlled possession, Halifax’s hopes were ended with 20 minutes remaining. A failed clearance from Adetoro led to a 50–50 aerial challenge inside the box, which Tommy Smith won. The loose ball fell to Walker, who lashed a powerful effort past Johnson to complete his brace and secure all three points for Braintree.
Seven minutes were added to the end of the 90, during this period Halifax looked to be clean through on goal after a misplaced Braintree pass, Tom Pugh latched onto the loose ball and looked to fire home from 40 yards but Terry got back well to save, Pugh then chased down the loose ball before going down under a challenge inside the area, a penalty was awarded but Harris was unable to convert.
This proved to be the last chance of the game, and the referee brought the first contest of the season to an end.
Match Stats
1 Mason Terry, 2 Aidan Francis-Clarke, 4 George Langston ©, 6 James Vennings (5 Manny Omrore 89), 8 Marley Marshall-Miranda, 9 Lewis Walker, 14 John Akinde (18 Sahid Kamara 62), 15 Tommy Smith, 20 Fletcher Hubbard (10 Alan Judge 71), 24 Frankie Terry, 39 Elliot Thorpe (Chay Cooper 89)
Subs: 17 Jacob George Pinnington, 19 Freddie Hockey
1 Sam Johnson, 3 Adam Adetoro, 4 Will Hugill (25 Tom Pugh 90), 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Josh Hmami, 9 Will Harris, 10 Jamie Cooke (20 Jack Jenkins 90), 17 Owen Bray (11 Angelo Cappello 68) 23 Dylan Crowe, 30 Cody Johnson, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather (22 David Kawa 81)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 16 Jevon Mills, 29 Sean Tarima
Referee: Isaac Searle
Goals: Walker 3, 68 Terry 33
Yellow Cards: Marshall-Miranda 57, Latty-Fairweather 57, Francis-Clarke 79, Smith 84, Hmami 85, Cooper 90, Crowe 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance 1011 (79 away)
Braintree Town 3 FC Halifax Town 0
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