FC Halifax Town recorded their first victory of year against Dorking Wanderers
A Max Wright brace and a maiden goal for Andrew Oluwabori helped Town overcome The Wanderers 3-1.
Back in September Dorking clutched a 1-0 win at the Shay Stadium courtesy of a Tony Craig header. Dorking fans would have been delighted that their captain Craig was back from injury going into the reverse fixture.
FC Halifax Town were in flying form back then, but they’ve have struggled of late. They made the trip south to Meadowbank with the worst form in the league and still yet to register their first win of 2024.
Dorking began the day in 19th due to inconsistent performances, winning two and losing two of their last four games. They suffered a 3-1 defeat to A.F.C Fylde last Saturday and had their midweek fixture away at Altrincham postponed.
With the first chance of the game, Andrew Oluwabori scored his first goal for Town. Max Wright hooked a hopeful ball over the top that Jamie Cooke chased down and then squared to Oluwabori for a simple tap-in making it 1-0 inside four minutes.
The away team continued to apply pressure, as Ryan Galvin drifted past his man and laid it off for Oluwabori whose shot was deflected for a corner 11 minutes in.
In the 24th minute, Dorking equalised with their first major opportunity as Charlie Carter turned in a miss-kick which fell to him just in front of the six-yard box.
Tom Blair came inches away from making it 2-1 just two minutes later as Carter got on the end of a Jason Prior flick-on, rounded the keeper Sam Johnson and pulled it back to Blair who scuffed his chance.
Just inside 40 minutes, Jack Jenkins on his first start for Halifax carried the ball from the half-way line to the edge of the box unimpeded, he released a shot which Dorking captain Craig blocked.
With little time left in the first-half, Wright feinted inside onto his weaker foot and wrapped his shot into the corner of the Dorking goal putting the Shayman ahead, 2-1.
The Shayman carried that one goal lead into the break but began the second-half by conceding an early corner. George Francomb played a one-two with Carter who fed the ball to Josh Taylor. Taylor floated in a dangerous ball but an offside came to the aid of the Shayman.
Jordan Keane made a heroic goal-line clearance for Town in the 49th minute as Carter slipped Blair in on goal, his shot would have made it level had it not been for the centre-half.
Galvin’s game came to a premature end when he went down injured after another venturing run down the left flank. Jack Evans replaced the left-back in the 54th minute and Jack Hunter also came on in place of the January signing Jenkins.
Four minutes after coming on, substitute Evans made a loose pass which Taylor intercepted, then drove into the box and went down pleading for a penalty. Golden was alert to the danger, making a last-ditch challenge as the ball fell to Blair only yards from goal.
Marc White made his second change of the day in the 64th minute with Francomb making way for Luke Moore. He followed this up with his final change, bringing Matt Briggs on for Jimmy Muitt.
Dorking had a great opportunity with a free kick on the edge of the box in the 75th minute. Blair whipped the set piece just wide of the far post leaving Johnson stranded.
Town’s last change of the day was a defensive one, Adam Senior came on for the goal scorer Oluwabori, a change with the aim of the away side seeing out the game.
Wright sealed the win for his side as he scored his second goal of the game and put the Shaymen 3-1 up in the 82nd minute.
After an extended period of Wanderer’s possession, Adan George pinned his man, flicking the ball into Cooke who took it in his stride and found the winger Wright. Wright calmly slotted the ball past Harrison Male for his fifth goal of the season.
3-1 was how the game ended, Chris Millington’s men will have been feeling relieved having picked up three points for the first time since Boxing Day.
The Shayman’s next challenge comes on Tuesday at home against Maidenhead United.
Dorking Wanderers
1 Harrison Male, 4 Dan Pybus (20 Daniel Gallagher 36), 5 Tony Craig ©, 6 Niall McManus, 7 Jimmy Muitt (8 Matt Briggs 68), 9 Jason Prior, 16 Charlie Carter, 17 Josh Taylor, 20 Haydn Hollis, 29 Tom Blair, 37 George Francomb (18 Luke Moore 64)
Subs: 3 Bobby-Joe Taylor, 15 Joe Cook
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 3 Ryan Galvin (12 Jack Evans 55), 6 Jamie Stott, 16 Jordan Keane, 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers, 28 Jack Jenkins (8 Jack Hunter 55), 22 Andrew Oluwabori (5 Adam Senior 78), 17 Max Wright, 10 Jamie Cooke, 27 Adan George
Subs: 19 Aaron Cosgrave 21 Tom Wilson
Referee: Elliott Swallow
Goals: Oluwabori 4, Carter 24, Wright 45 + 1, 82
Yellow Cards: Pybus 35, Prior 58, Golden 72, Gallagher 77
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1604
Dorking Wanderers 1 FC Halifax Town 3
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