Not the return Will Harris would have hoped for as FC Halifax Town gained a crucial second 3-points of the season after a well-fought-off victory over Hartlepool United.
Town began the game well, creating the first opportunity of the game, but Hugle fired over from the edge of the 18-yard box inside the first minute.
Hartlepool answered back quickly with a blocked shot from the edge of the box by Jack Nolan and a headed effort just wide from the captain, Reiss McNally, both inside the first 2 minutes.
Pools’ main man Will Harris was the first to trouble True Grant inside six minutes, but the Town goalkeeper met his centred effort with ease.
The Shaymen continued to push for an opener as no team took a real grasp of the game in the first 15 minutes, with a few quick efforts from Morgan Amari Smith and Hugill, but both were blocked.
The first yellow card of the game was awarded to the Town captain, Cody Johnson, at the 18-minute mark for a pull-back on Jack Nolan.
The end-to-end nature of the game continued into the 25-minute mark as a long ball from the Shaymen left Connor Carty offside
Town later created a great opportunity in the 28th minute as Carty bore down on goal following a Gilsenan through ball but was unable to convert past the out-rushing Hartlepool goalkeeper.
Connor Carty then, a few minutes later, had another great opportunity, but was once again unable to beat the out-rushing Max Merrick.
Nearly a catastrophe for the Shaymen in the 37th minute as a poor touch from Cody Johnson was latched onto by the Hartlepool forward, which led to a smashing off the crossbar from Pools’ centre forward Will Harris. A real let-off for the Shaymen!!!
The second caution of the game goes Hartlepool’s way with number 27 Liam Gibson finding his way in the referee’s book just after the 38th minute mark.
Hartlepool then created a decent opportunity just before the halftime whistle, but True Grant met the tame effort from Jack Nolan.
The referee then blew for the halftime break after an end-to-end, scrappy first 45 from both sides, with the main talking point being a lack of finishing ability from both centre forwards.
Town had the first opportunity in the second half, but Gilsenan was unable to generate any power behind his effort, which left a simple save for the Hartlepool number 1.
Hartlepool then worked a few nice passes around the edge of the box before a blocked effort from Brooklyn Ilunga just after the 50th minute mark.
The Shaymen opened the scoring in the 53rd minute after Gilsenan latched onto a loose ball before playing in Will Hugill, who found the top right corner from just inside the box. 1-0 to the Shaymen!
Hartlepool created a decent opportunity in the 63rd minute with a well-hit shot from Ilunga, but it was blocked by his own man, Will Harris.
The Shaymen made their first substitution in the 69th minute with David Kawa entering the field for Amari Morgan Smith.
Good chance for former Shayman Jay Benn in the 75th, after a good first touch, but a tame effort on his weaker foot was met simply by True Grant. Town looked to see out the final 15 minutes, but Hartlepool looked to change that outcome.
A shot blazed over the crossbar from Raheem Conte from the edge of the box in the 83rd after an uneventful 8 minutes.
Hartlepool tried to push for an equaliser, but the Shaymen sat deep and held on well in the first half of the final 10 minutes.
The fourth official put up 7 minutes, which left the town crowd nervous with Pool coming closer to an equaliser.
Town came the closest in extra time with Mick Merrick making 2 vital saves following shots from David Kawa and Will Hugill.
Full time: Halifax Town 1-0 Hartlepool
Onto Saturday for the Shaymen with a tough away game against Aldershot, 12.30pm kick-off
FC Halifax Town
33 True Grant, 2 Max Bardell, 8 Will Flint, 5 Shaun Hobson, 3 Raheem Conte, 4 Will Hugill, 30 Cody Johnson (c), 20 Tayt Trusty, 10 Zak Gilsenan (23 Dylan Crowe 87), 14 Amari Morgan-Smith (22 David Kawa) , 9 Conor Carty (17 Ben Tollitt 89)
Subs: 1 Sam Johnson, 7 Owen Bray, 16 Deniche Hill, 27 Cruz Allen
Hartlepool United
1 Max Merrick, 2 Jay Benn, 3 Cameron John (4 Jack Hunter 50), 6 Reiss McNally (c), 7 Brooklyn Ilunga, 8 Jamie Miley, 9 Jordan Hugill (30 Terry Bondo 60), 10 Will Harris, 14 Nathan Sheron, 17 Jack Nolan, 27 Liam Gibson (21 Charlie Thornton 70)
Subs: 32 Nathan Fisher, 15 Charlie Penman, 19 Chris Popov, , 24 Jacob Penprase
Referee: Andrew Miller
Goals: W Hugill 53
Yellow Cards C Johnson 18, Gibson 38, Trusty 39, Bondo 80, McNally 90, W Hugill 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance 1814 (650 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Hartlepool United 0
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