FC Halifax Town travelled to Darlington FC in their third pre-season friendly. Goals from Adam Campbell for the home side before Tobi Sho-Silva, and Harry Freedman gave Town a 2-1 win.
It took just five minutes for Darlington to take the lead as Justin Danawa picked up an excellent ball. Cut it back to Campbell who made no mistake in slotting it past Sam Johnson.
On 11 minutes Town won a corner. Trialist lofted the ball in but failed to find a Shaymen head as Darlington won a goal kick.
Another ball over the top found Danawa, but his cross failed to find a teammate as the move broke down.
A good attack from the Shaymen as King’s ball landed perfectly for Tobi Sho-Silva, however his shot deflected just wide for a corner. A poor delivery made it easy for Chris Elliott to collect in goal.
Darlington continued to look dangerous as a through ball from Will Hatfield narrowly evaded Thompson to go through to Johnson.
Town levelled on 24 minutes as an excellent ball landed at the feet of Sho-Silva. He looked up and calmly dispatched into the near post leaving Elliott with no chance.
Darlington won a free kick in dangerous position as Hatfield was pulled down by a trialist. Taken by Thompson went low but took a wicked deflection which took it narrowly over the bar for a corner. Sho-Silva rose highest to clear the corner away.
Nervy moment from Johnson as a good run from Danawa got him into the box where his shot was spilled by Johnson. Campbell tried to follow up, but Johnson was back up to block it at his near post before Staunton chested it back for Johnson to catch.
Despite a slow start to the second half, Darlington created the first chance. A dangerous ball across the box was at the back post but the effort was blazed over the bar.
Just moments later and the Darlington fans thought they’d retaken the lead as Campbell latched onto a through ball. His forced the ball on target and only the palm of Johnson denied the Quakers from going 2-1 up.
Sho-Silva with another great chance. The forward did well to beat his man before blasting his shot onto the cross bar.
Just 12 minutes into the half and Town with a corner. Trialist played a nice one-two with King before sending a cross in. Darlington cleared out to Trialist who fired a shot just wide of the post.
With 20 minutes to go, Darlington again thought they had taken the lead. A great effort from distance smacked the cross bar and bounced clear.
With just a minute left on the clock Town took the lead. Freedman getting his senior goal for the Shaymen. Freedman picking up on a rebound to smash it past Elliott who could do nothing to stop it.
Town face Salford City in their final preseason friendly.
Darlington FC: 1 Chris Elliott; 2 Luke Trotman; 3 Michael Liddle; 4 David Atkinson; 5 Louis Laing; 6 Jordan Watson; 7 Justin Danawa; 8 Will Hatfield; 9 Adam Campbell; 10 Stephen Thompson ©; 11 Tyrone O’Neill
Substitutes: 12 Omar Holness; 14 Osagi Bascome; 15 Lucas Bell; 16 Cedwyn Scott; 17 Reece Armstrong
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson; 2 Jacob Hanson (Duckworth 71); 3 Trialist; 4 Josh Staunton; 5 Matty Brown; 6 Trialist; 7 Trialist (Maher 62); 8 Jamie Allen (Sho-Silva 71); 9 Tobi Sho-Silva (Freedman 62); 10 Cameron King (Earing 62); 11 Trialist
Substitutes: 12 Harry Freedman; 13 Will Appleyard; 15 Michael Duckworth; 16 Jack Earing; 17 Nathan Clarke; 18 Niall Maher
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