A Millenic Alli brace helped The Shaymen to a 2-1 victory against Kidderminster Harriers at the Shay Stadium.
Town manager Chris Millington made 3 changes to the side following last weekend’s defeat to Marine AFC with Florent Hoti, Millenic Alli and Jordan Keane coming in for Tylor Golden, Luke Summerfield and Andrew Owulabori.
Kidderminster also made 3 changes from their FA Cup tie, their captain Krystian Pearce returning after being away for international duty with Barbados. They came into the game on the back of 3 wins in their last 3.
A chip into the box from Amari Morgan-Smith was headed on goal straight at Sam Johnson in the 3rd minute for the first shot of the game.
Kidderminster Right back Sammy Robinson picked-up the first yellow card of the game in the 11th minute for arguing with the referee as the game got off to a slow start.
In the 26th minute, Ashley Hemmings whipped a vicious ball into the back post with Kidderminster’s Pearce heading goalward forcing a great save out of Johnson.
Millenic Alli in his 50th game for Halifax made it 1-0 inside 28 minutes. His third goal of the season came courtesy of a superb, floated ball from wing-back Ryan Galvin.
Only 3 minutes later Kidderminster equalised through their top-scorer Morgan-Smith. The Harriers went short to Hemmings from a corner, his cross was headed into the bar with the striker following up ahead of everyone else for a tap in making it 1-1.
Halifax centre-back Adam Senior made a superb block in the 43rd as the Harriers counter attacked with Hemmings and Zak Brown. Winger Brown’s shot would’ve found the net if it wasn’t for the challenge.
In the second half, 52 minutes in the Shaymen made it 2-1, again thanks to Alli. Galvin charged down the left flank to the byline and passed it across to Aaron Cosgrave. Cosgrave pinned the defender well and laid it off to Alli for his second of the game.
Kidderminster goal-scorer Morgan-Smith then went down injured in the 60th. This followed a coming together with Halifax’s Jordan Keane leaving Morgan-Smith clutching his back in pain. The striker came off 10 minutes later alongside the booked Robinson for Kieran Phillips and Reiss McNally.
Bailey Hobson was the second Harriers play to pick up a yellow in the 69th minute shortly followed by Shaymen midfielder Kane Thompson-Sommers for mis-timed tackles.
Johnson made a superb save in the 74th minute as Kidderminster’s Brown curled a shot across goal from the left-hand side of the box.
Max Wright’s deep cross in the 77th minute was met by Cosgrave whose header hit the post. This was by far the home team’s best chance since the Alli goal.
In the 80th minute the away side made their third change, bringing Kai Lissimore on for Barry Maguire to find an equaliser.
Kidderminster came extremely close to equalising in added time as Pearce’s header from long ball was caught by Johnson. This proved to be the final action of the game as Halifax saw out the win for the 3rd time in a row in the league.
Town’s next opponent are Hartlepool United on Tuesday night at 7:45pm. Chris Millington’s side will be hoping to continue their good run of form in the Vanarama National League.
FC Halifax Town:
1 Sam Johnson ©, 16 Jordan Keane, 3 Ryan Galvin, 5 Adam Senior, 6 Jamie Stott, 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers, 8 Jack Hunter, 19 Aaron Cosgrave, 18 Florent Hoti (12 Jack Evans 57), 11 Millenic Alli, 17 Max Wright (22 Andrew Oluwabori 84)
Subs: 20 Jimiel Chikukwa, 21 Tom Wilson, 26 Justin Iwobi
Kidderminster Harriers:
21 Christian Dibble, 2 Alex Penny, 3 Caleb Richards, 5 Krystian Pearce ©, 9 Amari Morgan-Smith (7 Kieran Phillips 71), 10 Ashley Hemmings, 12 Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, 14 Zak Brown, 20 Sammy Robinson (6 Reiss McNally 71), 22 Barry Maguire (18 Kai Lissimore 80), 24 Bailey Hobson
Subs: 1 Tom Palmer, 28 Kobe Hall
Referee: Garreth Rhodes
Goals: Alli 28, 52 Morgan-Smith 33
Yellow Cards: Robinson 11, Hobson 69, Thompson-Sommers 70
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2037 (150 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Kidderminster Harriers 1
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