A hard fought three points against high flying Forest Green sees the Shaymen continue their push for the playoffs.
An early Zak Emmerson strike was levelled out after an hour played when Kyle Mcallister scored his second against the Shaymen this season. However less than ten minutes later Florent Hoti composedly put the Town back ahead.
The Shaymen made a host of changes for tonight’s game against Forest Green Rovers, Jack Jenkins and Festus Arthur came into the side for the injured Scott High and Will Smith. Elsewhere Zak Emmerson, Max Wright and Angelo Cappello all made the eleven.
There was a chance for the home side inside the opening thirty seconds, Cappello’s whipped ball fell to Max Wright on the edge of the area, but his effort was comfortable for Fabian Mrozek.
It was a particularly fast start for the Shaymen, some nice interplay involving jack Jenkins, Florent Hoti and Zak Emmerson accumulated in the latter striking but his effort was well blocked.
Minutes later Wright found acres of space on the right flank which he utilised before cutting the ball back to Emmerson who took a touch before smashing the ball home via the underside of the bar for his first league goal at the Shay.
Much Like the York game it was a blistering start from the Shaymen, in an effort to stop Halifax racing forward to a second Harvey Bunker chopped down Luca Thomas as he tried to break forcing the referee Richard Aspinall into his first yellow card of the night.
Forest Green Rovers first sign of any attacking threat didn’t come until the 40th minute, an in-swinging corner was met on the volley by the experienced Joe Quigley, but the bar was there to save the day for the Shaymen.
The final doings of the half came in the form of a second card for Forest Green as Jordan Garrick chopped down his man.
Five minutes into the second half it was Halifax applying the pressure once more, Luca Thomas picked out Emmerson beautifully in the middle of the box, but he was tackled, the ball then fell to Hoti who drilled the ball low at the near post, but Mrozek saved well with his legs.
Forest Green did slowly grow into the affair and much of their attacking threat came down the left-hand side, Jamie Robson picked out Quigley in the box, but his header was easily caught by Sam Johnson.
With an hour played the away side equalised, a lovely ball by Charlie McCann gave Kyle McAllister the chance to swivel and shoot and that he did. The ball found the bottom right corner beyond the reach of Johnson and McAllister wheeled away to celebrate his tenth league goal of the season. This was the second time Mcallister had scored against the Shaymen this season after he opened the scoring in the reverse fixture.
A break in play gave Chris Millington the chance to make a double substitution in which saw the introduction of Jamie Cooke and Adam Adetoro, moments later Max Wright went down injured and on came Harvey Sutcliffe for his first league appearance of the campaign.
It didn’t take long for the Shaymen to get their noses back in front, some good battling work from Cooke and Emmerson meant Jack Evans could claim possession of the ball, he poked the ball into the path of Florent Hoti who calmly slotted home into the bottom right corner. This is his first goal of 2025 after last scoring in November against Yeovil.
Steve Cotterill made his first subs with fifteen minutes to play, Harry Cardwell and Christian Doidge came into the action.
This was then followed by another change for both sides, Florent Hoti made way for Owen Bray and Liam Sercombe was introduced in place of Charlie McCann for the away outfit.
Both sides’ final changes came with just a few moments left of the ninety minutes as Tom Pugh replaced the ever-reliable Jack Evans for Town and Brandon Fleming came on for goal scorer Kyle Mcallister.
One minute into the five added of injury time Adetoro made a brilliant block to deny Liam Sercombe as he took aim from the edge of the area.
Brandon Fleming and Jamie Robson were both booked after an off the ball incident which ended up being the last notable incident of the game.
Halifax were deserving of the three points on the night and carry on their good run as they look to finish in the playoff places.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 5 Adam Senior, 4 Festus Arthur, 3 Ryan Galvin, 11 Angelo Cappello (27 Adam Adetoro 65), 7 Max Wright (14 Harvey Sutcliffe), 6 Jack Evans (23 Tom Pugh), 20 Jack Jenkins, 18 Florent Hoti (26 Owen Bray 80), 9 Luca Thomas (10 Jamie Cooke 65), 21 Zak Emmerson
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 28 Lewis Leigh
Forest Green Rovers
1 Fabian Mrozek 5 Ryan Innis [C] 6 Emmanuel Osadebe 7 Kyle McAllister (27 Brandon Fleming 88) 8 Charlie McCann (10 Liam Sercombe 79) 16 Harvey Bunker (23 Harry Cardwell 73) 17 Jamie Robson 19 Adam May 22 Joe Quigley (9 Christian Doidge 77) 24 Jordon Garrick 26 Cian Harries
Sus: 3 Sean Long 4 Ben Tozer 25 Luke McCormick
Referee: Richard Aspinall
Goals: Emmerson 12, McAllister 62, Hoti 69
Yellow Cards: Bunker 20, Garrick 45, Fleming 90, Robson 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance:1143 (62 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Forest Green Rovers 1
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