FC Halifax Town travelled to The New Lawn Stadium to take on Forest Green Rovers in the opening game of this year’s National League campaign.
The Shaymen got the game underway, with both sides making a slow start as they looked to settle into the contest. Forest Green created the first opportunity, winning a corner inside the opening minute, but True Grant came out to claim the ball and punched it clear.
The game was briefly stopped after Conor Carty received a blow to the nose, with Halifax continuing temporarily with 10 men.
Halifax then took the lead after nine minutes. The Shaymen won a free kick in a promising position, which Cody Johnson took short to Ben Tollitt on the wing. Tollitt played the ball back inside to Zak Gilsenan, who found Johnson making a run into the box. Johnson then slipped the ball across goal towards Max Bardell, but the ball was pushed back into the danger area by Rovers goalkeeper Luke McNicholas, allowing Will Flint to slot home and give Halifax a 1-0 lead.
Forest Green responded with pressure of their own, but Halifax’s defensive line remained strong.
The Rovers received the first booking of the game in the 12th minute, with Sid Agina shown a yellow card following a challenge on Raheem Conte.
Forest Green came close to an equaliser four minutes later when Kyle McAllister won a long ball near the Halifax box and attempted to deliver into the area. Cody Johnson cleared the danger for a corner, which Halifax defended well.
The hosts went even closer moments later when Kyle McAllister sent a long ball towards James Berry. The forward had time to shoot, but his effort struck the post. Halifax failed to clear the rebound, but once again defended the resulting corner.
The Shaymen won another free kick just outside the Rovers’ penalty area in the 20th minute, but Gilsenan’s effort flew over the bar.
Play was stopped again in the 25th minute after Forest Green’s Emeke Obi went down clutching his leg, with the game restarting five minutes later.
Halifax put the hosts under pressure following the restart and created several opportunities but could not find the final pass. Forest Green then enjoyed their own spell of pressure, but Grant remained strong in goal.
The Rovers made the first substitution of the game in the 36th minute, with Tate Campbell replacing Obi.
Halifax nearly gifted Forest Green an equaliser two minutes later when a loose back pass was intercepted by Omari Patrick, but Grant’s pace allowed him to reach the ball first.
The hosts continued to apply pressure towards the end of the half, but Halifax’s defence stood firm. The Shaymen won their first corner in the 41st minute, but the opportunity came to nothing.
Grant was tested for the first time in the 42nd minute when a long-range effort was comfortably saved.
Seven minutes of added time were played, with Ben Tollitt receiving Halifax’s first booking in the 49th minute.
Forest Green started the second half strongly and equalised in the 47th minute. Following a Halifax corner, Kyle McAllister returned the ball into the box, where Filozefe Mabete headed home to make it 1-1.
The Shaymen continued to attack but struggled to find the decisive final ball.
Forest Green made a triple substitution in the 54th minute before taking the lead four minutes later. Sean Etaluku received the ball and drove towards the edge of the Halifax box before firing a superb effort into the top-right corner, leaving Grant with no chance.
The Shaymen came under sustained pressure, but Grant continued to keep Halifax within one goal.
Halifax made two changes in the 63rd minute, with Arian Allen and Amari Morgan-Smith replacing Ben Tollitt and Conor Carty.
Dylan Crowe replaced Shaun Hobson in the 77th minute, while Forest Green also made a change, with Kyle Kelly replacing Oliver Ewing.
The hosts extended their lead in the 79th minute after a lapse in communication at the back allowed Forest Green to win possession on the edge of the box. Kyle McAllister placed his effort into the bottom-left corner to make it 3-1.
Halifax made two further changes in the 83rd minute, with Tayt Trusty replacing Cody Johnson and AJ Warburton coming on for Crowe.
The Shaymen were awarded a free kick just outside the Rovers’ penalty area in added time. Gilsenan stepped up and produced a stunning strike into the top-left corner, beating McNicholas and reducing the deficit to one.
Six minutes of added time were played, but Halifax could not find a late equaliser as Forest Green held on to secure a 3-2 victory.
Match Stats
Forest Green Rovers:
12 Luke McNicholas, 4 Jayden Clarke, 7 Kyle McAllister (c) 9 D’Mani Mellor (10 Ricard Rees 56), 11 James Berry (3 Neil Kengni 56), 14 Omari Patrick (Josh Osude 56), 17 Oliver Ewing (25 Kyle Kelly 78), 20 Sean Etaluku, 23 Emeka Obi (6 Tate Campbell 37), 24 Syd Agina, 26 Filozofe Mabete
Subs: 1 Ethan Ross, 8 Nick Haughton
FC Halifax Town
33 True Grant, 2 Max Bardell, 3 Raheem Conte, 4 Will Hugill, 5 Shaun Hobson (23 Dylan Crowe 77 / 19 AJ Warburton 83)), 8 Will Flint, 9 Conor Carty (14 Amari Morgan-Smith 63) 10 Zak Gilsenan, 11 Connor Douglas, 17 Ben Tollitt (18 Arian Allen 63), 30 Cody Johnson (c) (20 Tayt Trusty 83)
Subs: 1 Sam Johnson, 22 David Kawa
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Goals Flint 9, Mabete 48, Etaluku 59, McAllister 79, Gilsenan 90 + 5
Yellow Cards: Agina 12, Bardell 45, Tollitt 45
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1737 (128 away)
Forest Green Rovers 3 FC Halifax Town 2
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