A game of few chances was edged by the Shaymen as they travelled to fellow play-off chasers Hartlepool. Will Harris was the difference maker once more, his powerful long-range effort proving worthy of all three points.
Will Smith and new signing Ash Palmer came into the side, with Owen Bray and Jevon Mills dropping out of the starting eleven. Jack Hunter and Jay Benn, both former Halifax men, started for the home side.
There was an early scare for the Shaymen when a loose back pass almost set Adam Campbell through on goal, but Johnson did well to intercept. The first real chance fell to Halifax, in their changed neon away strip, as Jay Turner-Cooke tested Nick Hayes with a well-struck effort.
The home side delivered plenty of crosses into the box in the opening stages as Hartlepool looked to find Tyrese Sinclair, but his headed effort was wayward. Minutes later, Sinclair looked to meet a corner on the volley, though once again he posed little danger to Johnson.
Just past the half-hour mark, Hartlepool fashioned a pair of chances in quick succession. First, Palmer looked to shoot on the turn, but Sam Johnson got down well to deny him. York loanee Sinclair then rattled the bar from a 25-yard free kick.
Sinclair, who was involved in almost everything going forward for the hosts, glanced a header just wide of the post before the teams headed in at the break. Palmer had looked bright for Halifax in the first period, winning many of his aerial battles in a half largely controlled by Hartlepool.
Sinclair showed no signs of slowing down after the restart, latching onto the end of former Town man Benn’s cross though, fortunately for the Shaymen, he blazed well over.
The second half was largely devoid of clear-cut chances, with Hartlepool controlling possession without doing enough with it. Halifax had their moments, however, with Palmer firing one from distance that forced Hayes into a parry.
Lakeland made his first changes as the clock struck 70, with David Kawa and Owen Bray replacing Tommy Lavery and Will Hugill. The substitutions marked a noticeable shift in momentum, with the Shaymen beginning to take the game to Hartlepool. Smart interplay between Cody Johnson, Will Harris and Josh Hmami saw the latter strike from distance, but his effort fell narrowly wide. Harris also saw a delicate chip cleared off the line by Benn.
Moments later, the Shaymen took the lead through who else but Will Harris. The number nine picked up the ball after Cody Johnson found him centrally, took a touch, and then drilled it into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards. The 222 travelling fans celebrated with the 25-year-old as he claimed his 22nd goal of the season.
Goalscorer Harris was then withdrawn, with Billy Waters coming on in his place to help see the game out. With two minutes of the 90 remaining, Sinclair tried his luck from range, only for Johnson to save well.
Waters had the chance to kill the game with a minute of the additional four to play but lost his footing as he raced through on goal, and his effort sailed harmlessly over. Dylan Crowe replaced Turner-Cooke as Halifax looked to see out the win.
It was hearts in mouths in the closing seconds as Hartlepool were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Jamie Miley, brother of Newcastle’s Lewis Miley, stepped up, his curling effort narrowly evading the crossbar. That was the last meaningful action, as full time brought three precious points back to Yorkshire.
Hartlepool United
23 Hayes, 2 Benn, 3 John, 4 Parkes (c) (39 Okike 46), 5 Kouogun, 10 Campbell (18 Miley 65), 14 Sheron (17 Folarin 76), 15 Hunter, 28 Daly, 35 Caton (19 Reid 65), 37 Sinclair (27 Oliver 90)
Subs: 40 Smith, 8 Ferguson
FC Halifax Town
1 Johnson (c), 24 Palmer, 5 Hobson, 15 Smith, 19 Warburton, 33 Lavery (17 Bray 71), 30 Johnson, 27 Turner-Cooke (23 Crowe 90 + 3), 8 Hmami, 4 Hugill (22 Kawa 70) 9 Harris (26 Waters 86)
Subs: 12 Ford, 3 Adetoro, 18 Hoti
Referee: Richie Watkins
Goals: Harris 81
Yellow Cards: Parkes 44, Reid 90+1, Hunter 90 + 4
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 4534 (222 away)
Hartlepool 0 FC Halifax Town 1
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