FC Halifax Town started their season off at The Shay with a strong performance as they beat Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 thanks to a great penalty from Luke Summerfield and a great finish from Jack Earing.
The Shaymen had six new debutants starting. Sam Johnson started in between the sticks with captain Nathan Clarke and two debutants Neil Byrne and Tom Bradbury in a back three. With a midfield of Jeff King, Jack Earing, Danny Williams and debutants Luke Summerfield and Martin Woods. With the attack being debutants Gevaro Nepomuceno and Gold Omotayo.
Halifax started the game strong from the get go. Town put Dagenham straight onto the back foot by looking dangerous from set pieces.
The first shot of the game came in the fifteenth minute from Town, debutant Gevano Nepomuceno’s driven shot was deflected and was saved by Dagenham goalkeeper Elliot Justham. The away sides first shot didn’t come much after, midfielder Angelo Balanta found space in the box to get a shot away but was comfortably saved by Halifax keeper Sam Johnson.
Omotayo almost put the home side in front but his shot narrowly went over after an excellent pass from midfielder Danny Williams. The chances kept falling Halifax’s way as midfielder Jeff King’s effort hit the post in the twenty-third minute.
Dagenham midfielder Dean Rance was the first player to be booked for a strong challenge on Town midfielder Jack Earing.
Johnson was needed to make a good save in the forty-second minute after a scramble in the box to keep the score level.
On the stroke of half time Jeff King won a penalty after being brought down in the box. Debutant Luke Summerfield calmly scored from the spot to score his first goal for the club and put the Shaymen in front at half time. Summerfield sent Justham the wrong way as he slotted his penalty in the bottom right corner.
Dagenham started the second half with a sub, bringing on defender Luke Croll for midfielder Matthew Robinson.
Omotayo came close to a Town second in the fifty-sixth minute with a glancing header after King put a good cross in. Nepomuceno had a good solo effort but was unable to keep his shot down in the sixtieth minute.
Halifax after sixty-one minutes made two changes with two of the debutants Martin Woods and Gevaro Nepomuceno coming off for debutant midfielder Kieran Green and striker Jamie Allen.
The Shaymen got their deserved second goal in the sixty-sixth minute thanks to midfielder Jack Earing’s superb curling shot straight into the bottom corner.
Dagenham made their second change in the sixty-eighth minute bringing midfielder Sam Deering on for striker Darren McQueen
Dagenham came close to scoring in the seventy-first minute after a dangerous cross found striker Paul McCallum but Johnson was able to make a comfortable save. Only two minutes after Summerfield delivered a dangerous cross the other end but Town’s header went narrowly wide.
With only fifteen minutes to go Dagenham bring midfielder Adrian Clifton on for Mitch Brundle.
Midfielder Danny Williams went down with an injury in the seventy-eighth minute but fortunately for the Shaymen was able to continue.
Despite being two goals up Halifax continued to pressure Dagenham with a long ball from Summerfield in an attempt to play sub Jamie Allen through on goal.
The away side had a free kick effort from McCallum go high and wide late on.
Jack Earing also came close to a third for Town to put the game out of sight.
Halifax made their final sub with a few minutes to go with scorer Jack Earing coming off for Jay Benn.
Despite late pressure from Dagenham, Halifax managed to secure the three points and a bonus with keeping a clean sheet.
This win will be a big boost for the Shaymen and is a great start to the season before an away trip to Stockport on Tuesday, where Town will want to continue their winning start.
Next Game: Stockport vs Halifax Town – Tuesday 6th October 7:45pm kick-off
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