FC Halifax Town were defeated in the first game of the season with a 2-1 loss to Maidenhead United.
A goal from Billy Waters in the 27th minute was cancelled out by Sam Barratt and Kane Ferdinand in the second half for the visitors to take home all three points.
The players walked out to a warm reception from the fans as the 2021/22 National League season got underway.
The home side started with a high tempo to claim the first chance of the game. Jack Senior’s burst down the left found the feet of Jordan Slew but he fell victim to the offside flag.
Remy Clerima had the first attack of the game for the visitors. Sam Johnson got down low to his right to keep Maidenhead at bay.
Town came close to finding the opening just after the fifteen-minute mark when Harvey Gilmour fired his shot just wide of the goal.
Matty Warburton went into the book in the twenty-third minute after bringing down Jack Senga of Maidenhead United.
The deadlock was broken in the twenty-seventh as Halifax Town took the lead. Jay Benn went on an energetic run down the right-hand side of the field. He squared a low ball to Waters who fired the ball into the back of the net.
Gilmour almost doubled Town’s lead just before the break as his shot from the edge of the box fired just wide of the top right of the net.
The second half got off to a lively start. Maidenhead’s Nathan Blissett found himself with the ball, he found Josh Kelly in the box. Kelly’s powerful strike was saved by Johnson who got down low to parry the ball away from danger for Town.
Slew broke away past the visiting defence. His powerful shot took a deflection and earned Town a corner. Warburton’s subsequent shot fired over the bar.
Johnson made two great saves to keep Town ahead but Maidenhead United brought themselves back level on sixty minutes as Barratt found the back of the net to take the score line to one all.
Town made the first change of the game as Slew was replaced by Jamie Allen. A Maidenhead change followed as Senga made way for Ferdinand.
Town applied pressure to regain their lead with Jack Senior breaking into the visitor’s defence in a series of attacks for Town.
A double substitution was made with fifteen minutes to go for Town with Kieran Green and Gerry McDonagh coming on for Gilmour and Warburton. Kelly made way for Emile Acquah for the visitors.
Clerima had a chance to give the visitors the lead, but Johnson got his body behind the ball and fought off the danger. Town quickly countered and earned themselves a corner, but Maidenhead cleared the danger once again.
Maidenhead made their final change with Blissett coming off for Reece Smith with just over five minutes left on the clock.
A free kick just 25-yards away from goal was taken by Luke Summerfield. His shot curled into the hands of James Holden to keep the scores level.
Against the run of play, Ferdinand found the back of the net in the final minute of normal time to give Maidenhead the lead and all three points.
Town will look to bounce back next Saturday when we travel to Woking.
FC Halifax Town XI: 1 Sam Johnson (GK), 2 Jay Benn, 3 Jack Senior, 4 Luke Summerfield, 6 Tom Bradbury, 10 Matty Warburton (75’ Kieran Green), 11 Billy Waters, 20 Harvey Gilmour (75’ Gerry McDonagh), 25 Jordan Slew (62’ Jamie Allen), 26 Martin Woods, 31 Niall Maher ©.
Subs not used: Jesse Debrah, Dom Tear
Maidenhead United XI: 26 James Holden (GK), 3 George Wells, 4 Will De Havilland, 6 Remy Clerima, 9 Nathan Blissett (84’ Reece Smith), 14 Jack Senga (63’ Kane Ferdinand), 16 Ryheem Sheckleford, 22 Josh Kelly (75’ Emile Acquah), 24 Alan Massey ©, 25 Sam Barratt, 27 Charlee Adams.
Subs not used: Manny Parry, Dylan Asonganyi.
Attendance: 1,547 (47 away)
Cards: Matty Warburton (Yellow)
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