FC Halifax Town recorded a comfortable 2-0 win over Ebbsfleet United at the Kuflink Stadium.
Town boss Chris Millington named an unchanged side from the win against Woking in midweek, with Luke Summerfield returned to the bench.
Adam Senior headed home a Florent Hoti freekick and Aaron Cosgrave tapped home for his first goal for the Club to make two victories away from home this week.
It didn’t start well for the Shaymen with Town having to make an early change, Angelo Cappello went down injured in the 3rd minute and following treatment he was unable to continue and was replaced by striker Aaron Cosgrave
The first corner of the game came on 10th minute, Tylor Golden played the ball to Florent Hoti at the edge of the box but as he went to shoot, he was closed down.
Good play saw the ball worked into the feet of Andrew Oluwabori and his shot deflected wide for another corner. Golden’s ball into the box was claimed by home goalkeeper Mark Cousins
A long run from Hayden White from his own half was tracked by Millenic Alli and he was fouled near the corner flag. The ball into the near post saw Johnson look to punch the ball and went out for a corner but the resulting ball in landed on the top of the net.
Ebbsfleet down the right-hand side with Nathan Odokonyero, played the ball into the box but a good challenge on Ben Chapman prevented him getting a shot in.
A foul on Tylor Golden on 23 minutes gave the Shaymen a freekick. Florent Hoti into the box headed in by Adam Senior for the opening goal of the game.
Town tried to double the lead within a minute, but Alli’s long range effort was well over the bar.
A quick freekick saw Ebbsfleet play the ball into the box it was cleared only to Luke O’Neill, but his shot curled past the outside of the post for a goal kick.
Chris Solly became the first man in the book for a foul on Ryan Galvin on the edge of the box, Florent Hoti’s effort was over the ball but easy for Cousins to save.
A good run from Ryan Galvin and shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide for a corner.
The home side had a final opportunity at the end of the first half following a foul on Darren McQueen 25 yards from goal. Ben Chapman curled his effort over the bar and the half time whistle was blown.
Ebbsfleet made a change at the start of the second half with Omari Sterling-James on for Haydn Hollis.
Hoti and Cosgrave combined and won Town a corner. Golden to the edge of the box, Hoti played the ball back to him but the offside flag up against him. A long ball for Nathan Odokonyero saw him go 1-1 with Sam Johnson from a tight angle was saved by Johnson.
A throw in looked for Amari-James who went down in the box, but nothing given by referee Michael Crusham.
Town made it 2-0 in the 57th minute, Oluwabori played the ball across the six-yard box and substitute Aaron Cosgrave turned the ball home from close range for his first goal of the season.
Town looked to have made it three Ryan Galvin’s effort was saved by Cousins came out to Alli and his effort was cleared off the line by Hayden White for a corner.
Golden picked the ball up and into the middle, Hoti shot was deflected into the air and saved by Cousins.
Ebbsfleet’s first shot at goal came from a counterattack, Amari Sterling-James found David Amoo, but his shot was parried away by Johnson.
The Shaymen had another fine chance to make it three with Golden down the right-hand side, pulled the ball back for Oluwabori but his first-time shot was the wrong side of the post.
Oluwabori had the goal in his sights again a minute later, but his effort was straight at Cousins from the edge of the box.
Adam Senior charged up field and got to the edge of the box, but his effort wasn’t troubling the home goal.
Six minutes of injury time was given at the end of normal time Oluwabori went through on goal and shot wide of the target, but the play was pulled back for a foul.
Neither side were able to find a late goal and the Shaymen return north with all three points.
Town are back in action next weekend with a home tie against Marine in the FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, 3pm kick-off.
Match Stats:
Ebbsfleet United
1 Mark Cousins, 2 Luke O’Neill, 4 Josh Wright, 10 Craig Tanner (17 Toby Edser 58), 11 Darren McQueen, 16 Franklin Domi, 20 Chris Solly, 21 Nathan Odokonyero (24 David Amoo 69), 22 Ben Chapman, 23 Hayden White, 26 Haydn Hollis (7 Omari Sterling-James 46)
Subs: 8 Ousseynou Cisse, 25 Shaquile Coulthirst
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 5 Adam Senior, 6 Jamie Stott, 3 Ryan Galvin, 16 Jordan Keane, 8 Jack Hunter, 18 Florent Hoti (14 Kane Thompson-Sommers 69), 11 Millenic Alli (4 Luke Summerfield 83), 7 Angelo Cappello (19 Aaron Cosgrave 5), 22 Andrew Oluwabori
Subs: 12 Jack Evans, 17 Max Wright
Referee: Michael Crusham
Goals: Senior 23, Cosgrave 57,
Yellow Cards: Solly 30, Kutrieb (manager) 40, Stott 42, Hoti 60, Domi 76
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1559 (56 away)
Ebbsfleet United 0 FC Halifax Town 2
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