FC Halifax Town eased to 2-0 victory against Oxford City in the Vanarama National League.
The Shayman continues their ‘best in the league’ form thanks to first half strikes from Rob Harker and Andrew Oluwabori.
Town made the trip South to Oxford knowing that a win would take them within one point of returning to the play-off positions. They returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory against Boreham Wood at the Shay Stadium last Saturday before the midweek fixture against Oldham Athletic was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Oxford City, on the other hand, sit at rock bottom of the Vanarama National League, 15 points away from safety. A 2-0 defeat to top-of-the-league Chesterfield on Tuesday followed a 2-2 away draw against Rochdale at the weekend, the only point taken from their last five games.
The Shayman’s in-form midfielder Florent Hoti had a promising opportunity in the 16th minute, taking a touch past an Oxford defender before his low-driven shot was tipped wide by goalkeeper Marcin Brzozowski.
Town went 1-0 up in the 22nd minute as Rob Harker capitalized on a miscommunication between Brzozoski and Tafari Moore, striking the ball into an open net.
Only a minute later Andrew Oluwabori doubled Halifax’s lead, as a Sam Johnson kick long fell to the winger on the edge of the Hoops box, who shifted the ball out of his feet, shot across goal and into the bottom corner for 2-0.
Max Wright could’ve made it a third for the visitors, Oluwabori fed Wright through in behind, but Oxford’s keeper made himself big to block the shot on goal.
Johnson was forced to make a stop in the 43rd minute as Josh Parker pinned his man in the box and then set the ball to Harvey Greenslade, whose shot didn’t quite have enough power to get a goal back for Oxford City.
Ryan Galvin made his return from injury in the 56th minute, as he replaced Wright which meant Jack Evans made the switch from full-back to left-winger.
Galvin made an impact instantly, driving inward from the left-hand side and rifling a shot on goal. Brzozoski pushed the ball away and into the path of Oluwabori but then play was unfortunately halted for the Shay as a flare was thrown onto the pitch.
Aaron Cosgrave came on for the scorer of the second goal, Oluwabori in the 70th minute.
Jamie Stott came close to bundling a third goal in from a Luke Summerfield corner, the whipped ball missed everyone at the front post and surprised Stott but Brzozoski was there to make a simple save.
Chris Millington made his final change of the day 83 minutes in, replacing Evans with Jack Jenkins.
Tylor Golden had a one-on-one chance in the 87th minute when Jenkins picked out his run in behind, but Brzozoski was there to make a great save with his feet. Oxford’s keeper repeated the feat a minute or so later, denying Thompson-Sommers from scoring from a cut-back.
This would be the last major chance of the game as FC Halifax Town would leave the RAW Charging Stadium with all three points making it six wins in seven.
The routine nature of the win will give Shayman fans confidence going into the business end of the season. Town are now one point off the play-off spots with their next game coming at home on Wednesday to league leaders Chesterfield.
Oxford City
13 Marcin Brzozowski, 2 Andre Burley (6 Jacob Roddy 77), 3 Giles Phillips, 4 Josh Ashby, 5 Nya Kirby (8 Reece Fleet 65), 7 Lewis Coyle, 11 Harvey Greenslade, 14 Josh Parker ©, 20 Latrell Humphrey-Ewers, 22 Tafari Moore (27 Levi Lumeka 82), 29 Charlie O’Connell
Subs: 15 Renny Smith, 18 Aaron Williams-Bushell
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson ©, 2 Tylor Golden, 5 Adam Senior, 6 Jamie Stott, 12 Jack Evans (28 Jack Jenkins 83), 4 Luke Summerfield, 14 Kane Thompson-Sommers, 18 Florent Hoti, 17 Max Wright (3 Ryan Galvin 56), 9 Rob Harker, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (19 Aaron Cosgrave 69)
Subs: 31 Tom Scott, 8 Jack Hunter
Referee: Dale Baines
Goals: Harker 22, Oluwabori 24
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1312
Oxford City 0 FC Halifax Town 2
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