Report by Oliver Parkin
FC Halifax Town’s FA Cup campaign came to an end at the EV Charger Points Stadium as Cheltenham Town secured a 2-0 victory to progress to the Second Round.
John McGrath’s side made a bright start, forcing two corners inside the opening minute as they looked to impose themselves early on.
The first clear chance of the contest fell to the hosts after 10 minutes when Kirsten Otchere raced through one-on-one with True Grant, only to drag his effort narrowly wide of the far post.
Cheltenham continued to apply pressure and found the breakthrough in the 16th minute. Otchere produced an excellent cross from the right that found Jake Evans inside the penalty area, and the forward curled a superb finish into the top corner beyond the reach of Grant.
The Shaymen looked to respond five minutes later when Connor Douglas found space on the right-hand side of the box, but his first-time effort sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
Town continued to search for a way back into the contest and created another opportunity in the 28th minute. Tayt Trusty worked space on the edge of the area before laying the ball into the path of Ben Tollitt, whose first-time strike was comfortably gathered by Cheltenham goalkeeper Wylliam Stanway.
Otchere remained a constant threat at the other end and almost added a second in the 37th minute. The striker surged beyond Lucas Houghton and drove into the penalty area before sending his effort narrowly wide of the target.
The Robins continued to create the clearer openings before the break as Shaun McWilliams burst through midfield and teed up Otchere, who was unable to convert from a promising position.
Town’s best opening of the first half came shortly before the interval when captain Cody Johnson unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box that flew narrowly over the crossbar.
The visitors emerged for the second half with renewed intent and nearly drew level within a minute of the restart. Conor Carty drove down the left flank and delivered a dangerous low cross across the face of goal, but no Halifax player could apply the finishing touch.
Five minutes later, Tollitt cut inside and tried his luck from distance, although his effort cleared the bar without troubling Stanway.
Tempers briefly flared just after the hour mark when Jake Evans and Raheem Conte became involved in an altercation, resulting in both players receiving yellow cards from the referee.
Town thought they had found an equaliser in the 62nd minute following an excellent move. Johnson’s pass released Tollitt down the left, and the winger delivered a superb low cross into the six-yard box. Carty swept the ball home first time, but celebrations were cut short as the assistant referee’s flag ruled the striker offside.
McGrath made his first change in the 75th minute, introducing Amari Morgan-Smith in place of Douglas as Halifax continued their search for a leveller. Cheltenham responded with changes of their own, sending on Freddie Wilcox and Robbie Cundy for Otchere and Ben Stevenson.
Cruz Allen was then introduced for Trusty as Town pushed bodies forward in the closing stages.
Conte nearly produced a moment of inspiration three minutes from time, driving forward from halfway before testing Stanway with a long-range effort that lacked the power needed to trouble the Cheltenham goalkeeper.
Both sides made further changes late on, but it was the hosts who put the tie beyond doubt in stoppage time. Charlie McCann’s cross found substitute George Miller unmarked inside the penalty area, and the striker powered a header past Grant with his first touch of the game to seal the victory.
Moments later, the full-time whistle confirmed Cheltenham’s progression to the Second Round and brought Halifax’s FA Cup journey to an end.
Attention now turns back to National League action, with the Shaymen travelling to Kidderminster Harriers next Saturday, 3pm kick-off.
Match Stats:
Cheltenham Town
23 Wyll Stanway, 3 Jonathan Tomkinson, 6 James Wilson, 7 Ben Stevenson (33 Freddy Wilcox 81), 8 Charlie McCann, 9 Kirsten Otchere (5 Robbie Cundy 81), 17 Shaun McWIlliams, 18 Andreas Weinmann, 19 Jake Evans (19 George Miller 88), 25 Pierce Sweeney, 26 Jordan Shipley (21 George Nurse 88)
Subs: 1 Joe Day, 11 Jake Bickerstaff, 14 Ryan Broom, 20 Favour Onukwuli, 31 Mamadou Diallo
FC Halifax Town
33 True Grant, 3 Raheem Conte, 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Will Flint, 9 Conor Carty, (22 David Kawa 90) 10 Zak Gilsenan, 11 Connor Douglas (14 Amari Morgan-Smith 75), 17 Ben Tollitt (7 Owen Bray 90), 20 Tayt Trusty (27 Cruz Allen 84), 30 Cody Johnson ©, 31 Lucas Houghton
Subs: 13 Kobe Mathers, 4 Will Hugill, 6 Mackenzie Maltby, 16 Deniche Hill, 24 Tommy McDermott
Referee: Ollie Yates
Goals: Evans 17, Miller 90
Yellow Cards: Conte 60, Evans 60 Gilsenan 87
Red Cards: None
Attendance 2961 (339 away)
Cheltenham Town 2 FC Halifax Town 0
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