FC Halifax Town were victorious against league leaders Chesterfield with a brilliant 4-2 victory at The Shay.
The hosts started positively with Andrew Oluwabori with a long-range effort which forced keeper Harry Tyrer at full stretch.
Florent Hoti combined well with Jack Hunter in midfield with Oluwabori playing a brilliant through ball for Kane Thompson-Sommers but was denied by a strong stop and a clearance off the line.
Rob Harker also had his eye on goal, but his left-footed effort was just wide off the far post.
Tylor Golden was booked in the 29th minute after a challenge on Ryan Colclough.
The league leaders took the lead in the 31st minute through Will Grigg scoring a rebound off the post.
The Shaymen responded immediately from kick-off with Hunter playing it out wide to Aaron Cosgrave and he played a brilliant cross for Harker to strike home. His 6th goal of the season and the forward took his chance brilliantly.
Hoti turns past Ollie Banks in midfield and plays a brilliant through ball for Harker to lift it over Tyrer to grab a brace and take the lead for Town in the 39th minute. He becomes Town’s joint top scorer this season.
Ryan Galvin showed great defending on Town’s end and played in Oluwabori with yet another brilliant through ball and slotted it past Tyrer. His 4th goal of the season puts the Shaymen 3-1 in added time.
Chesterfield made their first change of the evening with James Berry replacing Colclough in the 59th minute. Jack Evans also replaced Hoti at the same time for Town.
Grigg wasted a big chance to get the league leaders back into the game and was punished on the other end. Oluwabori played in Harker who squared it for Cosgrave for a 4th goal on the night in the 66th minute. His 4th goal of the season and his first since February by being in the right place at the right in the penalty area.
Oluwabori was the second change for Town as he was replaced by Luke Summerfield in the 69th minute.
Sam Johnson made a brilliant save one-on-one with Rigg and that was another chance wasted from their top scorer.
Substitute Berry gave Chesterfield a lifeline in the 78th minute slotting it past Johnson into the bottom left corner.
Town made their final change with Max Wright replacing Aaron Cosgrave in the 82nd minute.
Adam Senior was booked in the 84th minute for a backpass for Johnson.
Harker was also added to the book in the 89th minute for time wasting after being caught offside.
The 4th official indicated 6 minutes of added time to set up a tense finish at The Shay.
Johnson stepped up once again between the sticks confidently catch the header at goal from a corner.
Despite a late push from Chesterfield in the closing stages, The Shaymen held on to score a huge win. An incredible performance pushes Town into the top 6 and delays the title celebrations.
Town will be back in action this Saturday against Ebbsfleet United at The Shay with a 3pm kickoff.
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 6 Jamie Stott, 5 Adam Senior, 3 Ryan Galvin, 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers. 8 Jack Hunter, 18 Florent Hoti (12 Jack Evans 59), 9 Rob Harker, 19 Aaron Cosgrave (17 Max Wright 80), 22 Andrew Oluwabori (4 Luke Summerfield 69)
Subs: 31 Tom Scott, 28 Jack Jenkins
Chesterfield
1 Harry Tyrer, 4 Tom Naylor, 5 Jamie Grimes ©, 7 Liam Mandeville, 9 Will Grigg, 11 Ryan Colclough (18 James Berry 59) 12 Tyrone Williams (21 Ash Palmer 76). 15 Bailey Hobson (27 Joe Quigley 83), 17 Armando Dobra, 28 Ollie Banks, 33 Bailey Clements
Subs 10 Michael Jacobs, 35 Mike Jones
Referee: Ben Wyatt
Goals Grigg 31, Harker 33, 39, Oluwabori 45 + 2, Cosgrave 66, Berry 78
Yellow Cards: Golden 28, Dobra 50, Senior 85, Harker 89, Grigg 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 4127 (2304 away)
FC Halifax Town 4 Chesterfield 2
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