Hartlepool’s Reyes Cleary scored his third goal in five consecutive games to deal the Shaymen another disappointing loss.
The early stages of the game saw neither side take serious control of the game, with there being no clear-cut chances within the first ten minutes.
The visitors were the first team to have a chance at taking the lead. Their attack found it’s traction from a darting run down the right-hand side by Louis Stephenson, whose cross was swept into the box and was aimed towards Gary Madine. The cross was intervened by Adam Senior, but his clearance was kicked into the body of Tom Pugh, which saw the ball ricochet back towards the feet of Madine. Commanding his box tremendously, Toby Savin stopped the attacker in his tracks and diffused the attacking situation. Savin started in his first home start today since joining from on Shrewsbury Town, having made his debut earlier in the week against Woking.
Town began to enjoy a great spell of football approaching the twenty-minute mark and seized this opportunity to try catch Hartlepool with a well-built attack. Ryan Galvin carried the ball into the attacking third and played a dangerous ball into the box, which was out of reach for the opposing defenders. His sweeping ball was just too powerful for Jamie Cooke and Florent Hoti, who aimed to get onto the end of the ball and give the Shaymen the lead.
A chance for Hartlepool came from a free kick in a wide position, taken by Jamie Miley. The young midfielder’s set piece was directed straight towards Savin, with the keeper parrying the ball away, and the Halifax defence clearing the danger.
Town were forced into an early change, with Owen Bray being substituted off for Angelo Cappello as a precaution regarding an injury. Cappello joins back with the Shaymen after being away for the international break with Belize where he featured in both games against Costa Rica.
On the stroke of the 40th minute, Hartlepool found the lead after a David Ferguson freekick was launched into the box and found Tom Parkes at the back post. The defender took control of the ball and played a loose pass out to the edge of the box, which saw Reyes Cleary run onto the ball and take an ambitious effort from outside the box, which saw the away side take the ascendancy.
The goal was Cleary’s fourth goal of the season, and his third in five games.
Half time saw Town make their second change of the day, as Harvey Sutcliffe made way for Leeds United loanee, Luca Thomas.
A great opportunity arose for the Shaymen when Cooke played Josh Emmanuel down the right as the winger overlapped the striker. Emmanuel crossed the ball into the box,
directed towards Thomas, but Billy Sass-Davies managed to put the attacker off by jockeying the young player.
A deep ball over the top from Senior found Emmanuel down the right-hand side, who managed to cross the ball into a dangerous area. Cappello found himself on the end of the cross, with his header setting Hoti up for a promising chance. Despite the brilliant build up, Hoti’s effort just rolled wide of the keeper’s far post.
The Shaymen’s third substitution of the afternoon saw new signing Sean Tarima make his debut and join the action for Tom Pugh. The twenty-year-old defender joined Town earlier this month after his departure from Premier League side, West Ham.
A Lewis Leigh free kick, from the left, saw a Hartlepool defender attempt to head the ball out of danger, but instead set up Hoti for a chance. The unmarked winger saw the opportunity to have an overhead kick, but his attempt was just fired over the bar.
Another home debut came for Dubem Eze, as he was brought on for Cooke in the 77th minute. Eze made his debut against Woking, earlier in the week, after joining the Shaymen from Bolton Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the season.
Eze made instant impact, as the attacker produced a great pass to Thomas, who found space on the edge of the box. The striker laid the ball off for Cappello, who’s shot from distance just sailed past the woodwork.
Despite the late attacking efforts, Hartlepool took all three points at The Shay this afternoon, with the Shaymen now looking towards their next game against Eastleigh.
Match Stats
31 Toby Savin, 16 Josh Emmanuel, 5 Adam Senior ©, 27 Adam Adetoro, 3 Ryan Galvin, 23 Tom Pugh (29 Sean Tarima 61), 28 Lewis Leigh (8 Daniel Nkrumah 81), 18 Florent Hoti, 10 Jamie Cooke (22 Dubem Eze 77), 26 Owen Bray (11 Angelo Cappello 32), 14 Harvey Sutcliffe (9 Luca Thomas 46)
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford,20 Jack Jenkins
Hartlepool United – Anthony Limbrick
40 Adam Smith,
21 Louis Stephenson, 17 Billy Sass-Davies, 4 Tom Parkes, 3 David Ferguson, 19 Reyes Cleary (27 Sam Folarin 85), 14 Nathan Sheron, 18 Jamie Miley (7 Jack Hunter 86), 12 Joe Grey (16 Nicky Featherstone 64) 9 Gary Madine (11 Luke Charman 75), 20 Mani Dieseruvwe
Subs: 28 Darryl Ombang, 5 Luke Waterfall, 10 Adam Campbell
Referee: James Westgate
Goals: Cleary 40
Yellow Cards: Sutcliffe 30, Hoti 37, Adetoro 40, Parkes 70, Dieseruvwe 76
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2202 (514 away)
FC Halifax Town 0 Hartlepool United 1
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