FC Halifax Town Claimed an impressive Away Win in Difficult Conditions at Gateshead International Stadium
FC Halifax Town recorded their third National Enterprise League victory and their second win away from home with a battling 2-1 triumph over Gateshead in torrential rain at the Gateshead International Stadium.
The contest began in stop–start fashion as Gateshead’s Kenton Richardson required early treatment for a head injury. When play resumed, the hosts created the first chance through Fenton John, but his effort from distance was comfortably saved by Sam Johnson.
Halifax went up the other end with a move that started from that save. David Kawa burst down the left and was brought down inside the area, giving the visitors an early penalty. Josh Hmami stepped up, but Tiernan Brooks guessed correctly to push his effort away and deny the Shaymen the lead.
That moment lifted Town, with Owen Bray proving lively on the right and linking well with Angelo Cappello. Owen Devonport’s hold-up play soon created another opportunity for Cappello, but Brooks was again equal to the strike.
Gateshead responded, and Johnson had to be alert to make a sharp stop after Fenton John cut inside and shot from the right. The home side then went ahead midway through the half when Shaun Hobson was penalised following a corner, allowing Kain James Kodi Adom to fire home his sixth goal of the season from the spot.
Halifax almost levelled instantly. Cappello surged down the left and delivered for Hmami, whose cushioned volley rattled the crossbar before Devonport fired over the rebound. Their pressure told before half-time when Devonport was pulled down inside the area. On this occasion, Jay Turner-Cooke, returning to Tyneside after time in both Newcastle United’s and Sunderland’s academies, calmly slotted home his second goal of the campaign to bring the score to 1-1.
The rain grew heavier after the restart, making conditions more and more difficult as the ball began to hold up on the surface. Halifax adapted quickest and took the lead just before the hour. Kawa pressed high to rob Connor Pani of possession, strode forward unchallenged and drove into the box before finishing low through Brooks’ legs for his third goal of the season, all of them scored away from home.
Adam Lakeland then turned to his bench, introducing Will Hugill for Bray on 63 minutes. Cappello almost picked him out with a floated cross, before Turner-Cooke curled narrowly wide after another spell of high pressing forced a mistake at the back. In the 83rd minute, former Gateshead striker Will Harris replaced Devonport, while Jack Jenkins came on for Cody Johnson and Thierry Latty-Fairweather entered for Kawa, who left the pitch to warm applause from the travelling Shaymen.
The fresh legs helped Town see out the game, as they defended strongly in worsening conditions to secure a deserved 2-1 victory. It was a performance full of determination and discipline, and one that underlined Halifax’s growing resilience.
Gateshead
1 Brooks, 3 Ferguson (10 Butterfield 85), 17 Home (14 Nouble 69), 5 Richardson, 26 Pani (6 Flint 86), 20 John (35 Bone 81), 21 Hurst, 31 Chapman (16 Lowery 69), 18 Grayson, 22 Edwards, 7 Adom
Subs: 13 Leech, 31 Williams
FC Halifax Town
1 Johnson, 11 Cappello, 16 Mills, 5 Hobson, 23 Crowe (10 Cooke 19), 30 Johnson (20 Jenkins 81), 8 Hmami, 22 Kawa (36 Latty-Fairweather 80), 17 Bray, 27 Turner-Cooke, 31 Devonport (9 Harris 80)
Subs: 12 Ford, 3 Adetoro
Referee: James Westgate
Goals Adom 33 (pen), Turner-Cooke 37 (pen), Kawa 60
Yellow Cards: Richardson 11, Hobson 31, Mills 40, John 57
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 828
Gateshead 1 FC Halifax Town 2
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