FC Halifax Town have drawn 1-1 with high-flying Gateshead after an entertaining affair at the Shay Stadium tonight.
It was the Shaymen who started the better; the lively Andrew Oluwabori fired a low ball across the box, which found Tom Pugh, who scuffed his shot wide.
Minutes later, Oluawabori had a chance of his own as he took aim from the edge of the box before dragging his shot past the right-sided post.
After a lively opening 5 minutes, Gateshead got hold of the ball and found their usual passing rhythm, knocking the ball about nicely without really testing the Town defence.
The next real chance for either side came for Halifax around the half-hour mark. Jamie Cooke found himself behind the Gateshead defence before unleashing a powerful strike, which Brooks parried away at his near post.
5 minutes from the break came the best chance of the game so far, a dangerous ball in from Regan Booty met the head of Louis Storey, whose flicked effort could only find the gloves of Sam Johnson, who got enough on the ball to see it round the post for a Gateshead corner.
At halftime, the teams entered the tunnel level after an even fairly contested first 45.
It took less than a minute into the second half for the opening to come. A mixup at the back allowed Oseni to pick up the loose ball and fire home into an empty net for his second of the season.
However, just 2 minutes later, the Shaymen found a leveller. Will Smith managed to flick on from a Angelo Cappello cross to the back post, where Adam Senior composed himself before firing the ball into the far corner.
In a frantic start to the second half, Gateshead went up the other end, looking to pull in front once more. A nice run from Oseni down the line gave him the chance to get a shot away, which Johnson managed to parry away at the near post.
But then it was Halifax’s turn to have a go. Town countered through Jack Evans, who looked to square to Cooke for a tap-in, but Booty was there to deny the 22-year-old.
Oseni once again managed to work his way down the left wing on the 60th minute mark before shooting towards Johnson’s near post, where the experienced keeper made himself big to deny the Gateshead forward.
With 15 minutes to go, Johnson had to make another crucial save to keep the score line level. The agile Tom Whelan turned on the edge of the box before firing down low to Johnson’s right, which required a fingertip save to keep out.
A flurry of Gateshead changes helped them control the game once more, and this time the chances were flowing. Halifax were made to work hard defensively in the latter stages against a very technical Gateshead side, who came into this game top of the table following two wins out of two.
Five minutes were added on at the end of the ninety, and the game was still wide open as both teams looked for a winner.
Eventually, however, the referee put an end to this entertaining evening clash at the Shay. Both teams will feel as though they could have won the game; however, a draw seemed a fair result considering the chances at either end.
Next up for Halifax is a trip to Dagenham and Redbridge on Friday night, 7.45pm kick-off
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Adam Senior, 15 Will Smith, 27 Adam Adetoro, 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins (26 Owen Bray 84), 11 Angelo Cappello, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (18 Florent Hoti 83), 10 Jamie Cooke, 23 Tom Pugh, 19 Adan George (9 Aaron Cosgrave 80)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 4 Festus Arthur, 21 Zak Emmerson, 24 Frankie Sinfield
Gateshead
1 Tiernan Brooks, 14 Jean Belehouan, 6 Louis Storey, 5 Kenton Richardson, 11 Ben Worman, 12 Kain Adom, 8 Regan Booty, 10 Callum Whelan (39 Oliver Thompson 90), 4 Jacob Butterfield (7 Tom Allan 70) 24 Will McGowan (3 Brandon Haunstrup 70), 9 Owen Oseni (17 Mark Beck 77)
Subs: 40 Harry Moss, 34 Charlie Colkett
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Goals: Oseni 46, Senior 48
Yellow Cards: Smith 76, Booty 81, Storey 84
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1379 (128 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Gateshead 1
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