FC Halifax Town picked up their first victory on the road of the season with a 2-1 away at local neighbours Oldham Athletic.
Town boss Chris Millington made two changes to the weekend’s defeat at Boreham Wood with Jamie Cooke and Andrew Oluwabori into the starting XI.
The Shaymen went ahead through a goal of the season contender from striker Rob Harker as he struck from 30 yards out leaving replacement goalkeeper Matt Hudson with no chance, but the home side equalised with a corner not dealt with and Mark Shelton was able to tap home. Adam Senior bundled home a Tylor Golden corner to win the game for Millington’s side.
The game was stopped in the 3rd minute, a Oluwabori clearance hit Joe Nuttall in the face and he needed treatment from the Oldham physio.
Town had a corner on 5 minutes after Tylor Golden cross was blocked by Mark Kitching. Ryan Galvin’s ball in was flicked on and out for another corner but were unable to get an effort in
Shortly afterwards, the ball was worked to Adam Senior in midfield, and he fired a shot goal bound but well over the target.
The home side found Mark Sheron and his effort was blocked, then down the left-hand side or Kitching and the pull back to Norwood was perfect but Johnson was equal to the shot and saved low down.
Harker had the goal in his sights and his shot from the right-hand side of the box was straight at Hudson before a mazy run from Oluwabori, an opportunity came for a shot at the edge of the box but over the bar again.
However, the Shaymen did take the lead on 31 minutes and what an opener for the game. Jamie Stott into Rob Harker in space, he picked the ball up from 30 yards out and fired a shot past Hudson for his first of the season to the loud cheers from the visiting fans.
Oldham looked to bounce straight back; Ben Tollitt’s cross was blocked for a corner on the near side. Johnson punched away.
A long ball looked for Jamie Cooke, he did well to beat the defender but curled the shot past the post and out for a goal kick.
The home side equalised with a set piece. The corner came in was missed by Sam Johnson, the touch from Charlie Raglan fell to Mark Shelton tapped home.
Adam Senior was shown a yellow card having been fouled but for his reaction to the assistant referee.
Oluwabori also saw yellow as the half time whistle went for his protests at not being awarded a freekick.
Freekick hits the two-man Town wall but fell to Brennan Dickenson and he fired narrowly over the bar.
Cooke won the ball and raced forward, he was tripped and the referee Steven Copeland booked the defender for the challenge. The ball into the box was headed out for a corner but the resulting ball in was too high for everyone and out for a goal kick.
Jamie Cooke picked up on a loose ball from the goalkeeper, he got into the box, but Hudson smothered the ball at the feet of Galvin and rescued his side.
Oluwabori found Harker on the left side of thebox, his shot was saved by the goalkeeper for a corner and Town took the lead through the resulting corner. Golden’s ball into the box was flicked on and Adam Senior bundled the ball home.
A good run from Oluwabori skipped past a couple of challenges to the edge of the box but he fired his shot at Hudson.
A foul by Oluwabori saw him warned with the home crowd baying for a card but he was given a final chance having been booked at the end of the first half.
The first change of the game saw Max Wright on for Jamie Cooke with 12 minutes remaining and he was narrowly wide from 35 yards out.
A late challenge from Mike Fondop saw him go into the book along with Jordan Keane and Jack Hunter for their reaction to the challenge.
Golden and Fondop challenged in the box, the home players and fans wanted a penalty but the referee deemed no foul and Kitching went into the book
For a second year in a row, the Shaymen have won at Boundary Park and return to West Yorkshire with all three points.
Match Stats
Oldham 13 Matt Hudson, 3 Mark Kitching, 4 Liam Hogan, 6 Mark Shelton, 10 Joe Nuttall (9 Mike Fondop-Talom 66), 14 Nathan Sheron, 16 Charlie Raglan, 18 Ben Tollitt (25 Alex Reid 81) 22 Brennan Dickenson, 23 Kieron Freeman, 30 James Norwood
Subs: 5 Shaun Hobson, 7 Kurt Willoughby, 19 Dan Gardner, 25 Alex Reid
Halifax 1 Sam Johnson, 2 Tylor Golden, 3 Ryan Galvin, 6 Jamie Stott, 16 Jordan Keane, 5 Adam Senior, 8 Jack Hunter, 12 Jack Evans, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (7 Angelo Cappello 89) 10 Jamie Cooke (17 Max Wright 78), 9 Rob Harker
Subs: 4 Luke Summerfield, 7 Angelo Cappello, 19 Aaron Cosgrave, 23 Jo Cummings
Referee: Steven Copeland
Goals: Harker 31, Shelton 39, Senior 66
Yellow Cards: Senior 41, Oluwabori 45, Shelton 55, Norwood 60, Keane 81, Hunter 81, Fondop 81, Kitching 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 7964 (808 away fans)
Oldham Athletic 1 FC Halifax Town 2
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