A composed performance from the Shaymen saw them edge past Sky Bet League Two side Chesterfield with a dramatic late winner in their final home pre-season fixture.
The first chance of the afternoon fell to the hosts when a floated cross into the penalty area found a trialist. His first-time effort was well saved by Ryan Boot, who palmed the ball safely away.
The Shaymen continued to threaten and came close again just before the 20-minute mark. Zak Gilsenan’s clever flick allowed him to surge towards the edge of the box before Connor Douglas saw his effort deflected into the path of Conor Carty, whose first-time strike drifted narrowly wide.
The breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute. Will Hugill dispossessed Tom Naylor in the centre of the park before the loose ball fell kindly to Douglas. The winger drove towards goal and calmly slotted past Boot to give Town a deserved lead.
Halifax looked for a second before the interval, with Dylan Crowe delivering a dangerous low cross into the six-yard box, but no blue shirt was able to apply the finishing touch.
The hosts doubled their advantage four minutes into the second half.
Trialist C burst forward and saw a goal-bound effort tipped onto the crossbar by Boot, but Trialist D reacted quickest to convert the rebound and make it 2-0.
The game settled into a quieter spell, although Town continued to create opportunities. Trialist D almost grabbed his second after breaking clear, but Boot was once again equal to the effort.
Chesterfield mounted a dramatic late comeback, scoring twice in quick succession. Ruel Sotiriou reduced the deficit in the 89th minute after weaving through the Halifax defence before firing into the top-left corner. Moments later, Josh Koroma completed the comeback, finishing confidently after another swift Spireites attack.
However, there was still time for one final twist. Deep into stoppage time, Josh Hmami latched onto a perfectly weighted pass inside the penalty area and coolly fired home a dramatic winner to seal victory for the Shaymen.
Halifax now turn their attention to Saturday’s trip to Avro FC as preparations for the new season continue.
FC Halifax Town: Trialist A, Crowe, Maltby, Hobson, Trialist B, Hugill, Johnson, Trialist C, Gilsenan, Douglas, Carty.
Substitutes: Johnson, Kawa, Warburton, Hmami, Latty-Fairweather, Trusty, Trialist D, Trialist E, Trialist F, Trialist G.
Goals: Douglas 22′, Trialist D 49′, Hmami 90+1′.
Chesterfield FC: Boot, Trialist A, Dunkley, Naylor, Whitney, Butterfield, Trialist B, Wozniczka, Mandeville, Trialist C, Elliott.
Substitutes: Hemming, Sissons, Simpson, Stork, Bonis, Pond, Sotiriou, Gordan, McEachran, Macanday, Eccleston, Koroma, Cook, Trialist D, Trialist E.
Goals: Sotiriou 89′, Koroma 90′.
Attendance: 352 (including 80 away supporters)
Full Time: FC Halifax Town 3-2 Chesterfield FC.
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