FC Halifax Town took on 15th place Eastleigh on a rainy day at the Shay in front of 1917 fans. Eastleigh were coming off a 1-0 loss away at Bromley on Tuesday, whilst Town were hoping for a win after the 0-0 draw against Dagenham on Tuesday.
It was a quick start from Town; Less than a minute in, there were already claims for a penalty for Town as Max Wright went down in the box, but no penalty was given.
Town won their first corner in the tenth minute, but the ball was over the heads of everyone. Moments later, Florent Hoti was given a yellow card for throwing the ball away after a throw in was given.
Former Town player Scott Quigley had Town’s first scare, with a shot on target that was saved by Sam Johnson. Eastleigh nearly had another shot from Quigley soon after.
Eastleigh were awarded a penalty in the seventeenth minute, after Tylor Golden brought down Paul McCallum at the end of the box. The fans in the Shay were fuming at the decision, as it looked to potentially be right on the edge of the box rather than in the box. Chris Maguire took a short run up, and converted the penalty, placing the ball past Johnson into the bottom left corner.
Cappello had a good left footed shot from the left side of the box saved by Joe McDonnell for Town’s third corner. Tom Wilson’s headed effort for Town was over the bar, however.
In the 29th minute, Quigley had another decent effort just wide of the bottom left corner. McCallum also had a headed effort saved by Johnson, after a good ball crossed in from the left side of the box.
Florent Hoti had one of Town’s best chances of the game so far in the 37th minute. A great run from Ryan Galvin into the box was laid off to Hoti for a shot inside the box, saved by McDonnell. Milli Alli also had a decent shot on goal with a left footed shot just wide of the post.
Solomon Nwabuokei had a good chance for Eastleigh after he was found open on the left near the box. He had an open man in the box but opted to shoot, with his left footed shot being saved by Johnson.
Max Wright had another good chance for Town, with a close-range effort in the box after a ball from Hoti.
Just before half time, Trent Rendall brought down Capello with a risky tackle that many of the Town fans thought should have been a red card.
Soon after the second half begun, Milli Alli managed to find himself alone in the box, able to win a corner. After the corner, McCallum headed the ball away for another home corner.
Hotti had a great left footed effort from outside the box saved, winning Town another corner. Evans’ corner nearly found the head of Wilson but was just wide. Milli Alli also had a chance that was wide.
Town were creating some good chances at the start of this half, but Eastleigh managed to find themselves on the counter in the 53rd minute, finding McCallum in the box for an easy finish, scoring Eastleigh’s second goal and making it 2-0.
Eastleigh had another chance in the 57th minute but it ended up being offside. On the counter Town managed to find a good cross into the box, but there was nobody in the box to try convert the chance.
Town made their first substitution in the 64th minute, with Kane Thompson-Sommers replacing Jack Evans.
Jamie Stott had a decent effort for Town just outside the box, which was just over the bar. Town weren’t struggling for chances in this second half, but just couldn’t seem to convert any frustrating for the Town fans.
Max Wright went down in the box, with arguments for a penalty. As Town took the following corner, he appeared to be brought down again, however there was no penalty for Town.
In the 72nd minute, McCallum was found alone in the box, converting Eastleigh’s third goal, with a right footed shot inside the box for his second.
After the goal Town made two substitutions, with Jordan Keane replacing Tom Wilson and Oluwabori replacing Max Wright.
Eastleigh also made their first substitution in the 76th minute, with Rutherford replacing Boldewijn.
Town managed to pull one back in the 78th minute, Milli Alli squaring a ball in the box for Florent Hoti for an easy right footed finish.
McCallum nearly scored a third in the 80th minute, with his header just over the bar.
Eastleigh’s Chris Maguire received a yellow card in the 82nd minute after a bad challenge on Hoti.
Tylor Golden took a corner in the 86th minute drifting in a great ball that was volleyed in by Jordan Keane in the box to bring the score back to 3-2, bringing on a potential comeback for Town.
It was a nervy last few minutes for Town, with some decent chances for Eastleigh and some chances for Town. There were 6 mins added time for Town to find a potential equaliser.
Town went on a good counter in the 92nd minute, but Eastleigh managed to win the ball back and win themselves a corner after a chance from Quigley. Town had one last chance of the second half, but the ball was just a bit too much ahead of Alli and was recovered by the keeper.
Town will travel to Woking on Tuesday night, 7.45pm kick-off.
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 3 Ryan Galvin, 7 Angelo Cappello, 21 Tom Wilson (16 Jordan Keane 74), 6 Jamie Stott, 8 Jack Hunter, 12 Jack Evans (14 Kane Thompson-Sommers 64), 18 Florent Hoti, 11 Millenic Alli, 17 Max Wright (22 Andrew Oluwabori 74)
Subs: 31 Tom Scott, 26 Justin Iwobi
Eastleigh
1 Joe McDonnell, 4 Nigel Atangana, 6 Ludwig Francillette, 9 Paul McCallum, 11 Enzio Boldewijn (21 Oscar Rutherford 77), 12 George Langston, 15 Trent Rendall, 16 Soloman Nwabuokei, 17 Chris Maguire, 18 Bailey Clements, 20 Scott Quigley
Subs: 10 Aidan Barlow, 13 Tommy Scott, 26 Luka Chalwell, 27 Sueng-Woo Yang
Referee: Paul Cooper
Goals: Maguire 19 (pen), McCallum 54, 72, Hoti 79, Keane 86
Yellow Cards: Hoti 11, Rendall 45, Maguire 82
Red Cards: None
Attendance 1917 (36 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Eastleigh 3
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