Liam Dickinson’s late penalty condemned FC Halifax Town to another defeat away from home, as Guiseley came from behind to nick a 2-1 win over The Shaymen.
Town played probably their best 45 minutes of the season in the first half, and got their rewards for that with CJ Hamilton firing past Steve Drench after just nine minutes. But ex Town man Will Hatfield grabbed the equaliser from the edge of the box, before Dickinson converted a penalty in the final 10 minutes after a foul by Matty Brown.
Neil Aspin made changes to the side that started the 1-1 draw at home to Kidderminster on Saturday. Danny Hattersley was ruled out after injury, whilst Hamza Bencherif also went out of the side with debutant Julian Banton and Jake Hibbs coming into the eleven.
The Guiseley side had a few familiar faces for Town, Will Hatfield, Rob Atkinson, Ryan Toulson and Danny Lowe all lining up against their former side. With a good number of Shaymen supporters making the relatively short journey. They almost saw Neil Aspin’s side take the lead on three occasions in the opening four minutes. Scott McManus fired a header over from six yards, whilst Hamilton had a goalbound effort deflected over after earlier playing in David Brooks.
But Hamilton didn’t have long to wait until scoring his third goal as a Town player, and what a goal it was. The on loan Sheffield United man slotted the ball through the legs of a defender after breaking free, and from the corner of the box hammered a superb effort past the near post of Drench for a deserved early lead.
Town continued that early momentum and saw Jordan Burrow fire narrowly wide from the angle, whilst Hibbs saw a 30 yard piledriver flash past Drench’s left hand post. The three on loan Sheffield United men all looked especially dominant, with Banton break forward a number of times to help the Town attack.
The home side really should have pulled level through Hatfield. Tom Craddock worked his way past two Town defenders before centering, but the former Town midfielder slid his effort wide from just six yards out. But he made no mistake on 26 minutes. After good play down the right by Liam Dickinson, Hatfield had time to pick his spot from the edge of the box before slotting beyond Matt Glennon, cutting Halifax back after a superb opening 20 minutes.
The Shaymen controlled most of the half even after that goal though, with Burrow flashing a header across the face of goal as the side searched for a way back in front before the break. All good things for Town were coming via Hamilton, who time and time again broke clear of the hosts back line. He almost put through Burrow, only for a superb last ditch challenge denied the top scorer. Kevin Roberts had the last real effort of the half, but his left footed effort didn’t trouble Drench as the sides went in all square.
Jake Lawlor almost fired the hosts into the lead five minutes into the second half when Toulson’s cross fell into his path, but the midfielder blazed over from the edge of the box with Guiseley starting the half well. Neil Aspin’s side struggled to replicate the intensity of the first 45 in the opening 15 minutes of the second period, with former Derby County forward Dickinson seeing far more of the ball.
Town grew into the half though, with Kingsley James having a low effort blocked as the visitors forced a number of corners in front of the travelling fans. The midfielder then had to be at his best at the other end to stop Guiseley taking the lead, as he nodded away Lowe’s header from 12 yards. But the hosts had the perfect opportunity to take the lead after a foul inside the box.
Brown was left lunging as Adam Boyes sprinted past him, and he could only catch the man, allowing Dickinson to slot into the bottom left hand corner as the hosts snatched the lead. Town spent most of the remaining time camped in the opposition half searching for an equaliser, with the introduction of Connor Hughes giving more width on the left. But the hosts saw out the remaining minutes well and ensured Town are still searching for their first points away from home this season.
Guiseley v FC Halifax Town
Guiseley: Drench, Toulson, Parker, Lowe, Lawlor, D Boshell (N Boshell 83), Craddock (Boyes 68), Hatfield, Dickinson, Thompson (Brooksby 46), Atkinson
Subs: Lockwood, Atkinson
Goals: Hatfield (26) Dickinson (81)
Halifax: Glennon, Roberts (MacDonald 65), Banton, McManus, Brown, Bolton, James (Hughes 83), Hibbs, Brooks, Hamilton, Burrow
Subs: Porter, Bencherif, Racchi
Goals: Hamilton (9)
Bookings: Bolton (24)
Referee: Ian Hussin
Officials: Alan Bennett, Ian Gittens
Attendance: 1184
Official Website Man of the Match: CJ Hamilton
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