FC Halifax Town were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Oxford City this afternoon at the Shay Stadium.
Town applied pressure in the opening minutes with Harker’s effort deflected in the Oxford box and Adam Senior’s header just missing the face of goal.
Oxford applied their own pressure with Oxford’s Nya Kirby forcing Sam Johnstone into a save at full stretch.
Jamie Cooke had the best chance to break the deadlock with a left footed effort which struck the woodwork after a fine stop from keeper Chris Haigh.
The most controversial moment was after the 20-minute mark with Ryan Galvin being taken down inside the Oxford box only to win a free kick just outside the penalty area. A questionable call from referee David Mcnamara.
The moment would eventually arrive for Town with Cooke beautifully heading the ball past the Oxford defence to set up Rob Harker for a calm and collected finish. His second goal of the season to take a well-deserved lead for the Shaymen in the 33rd minute.
The first half was over with Halifax Town comfortably the better team and would be eager to build on this momentum in the second half.
The second half kicked off and Oxford started off positively with Fleet’s volley over the bar and once again not troubling the Town keeper.
Josh Parker was released with a great ball in midfield and squared to Pierre Fonkeu for a routine finish to equalise for Oxford in the 53rd minute.
Both sides made substitutions just after the hour mark with Alfie Potter being subbed on for Fonkeu for Oxford in the 62nd minute and Max Wright being subbed on for Cooke in the 65th minute.
Oxford made their second with Joe Wilson being subbed on for Aaron Williams-Bushell in the 67th minute.
Aaron Cosgrave was subbed on for Taylor Golden in the 76th minute.
In the 82nd minute, Josh Parker received a great ball from midfield, but his effort was skewed wide of the far post.
Oxford won a corner late on but ended up winning a late corner for Oxford. At the same time, the fourth official indicated 7 minutes of added time to heighten the tension.
During added time, Jamie Stott’s cross met substitute Cosgrave and Jack Hunter who tapped the ball in but it was ruled out by a foul on the Oxford keeper.
The final whistle blew in The Shay and both sides couldn’t find the breakthrough and it ended 1-1. The Shaymen were strong in the first half but failed to replicate the same performance in the latter stages of the game.
Town will face Solihull Moors away from home next Friday with kick off at 7:45pm.
Match Stats:
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson © 2 Tylor Golden (19 Aaron Cosgrave 76), 3 Ryan Galvin, 6 Jamie Stott, 16 Jordan Keane, 5 Adam Senior, 8 Jack Hunter, 12 Jack Evans (4 Luke Summerfield 84), 22 Andrew Oluwabori, 10 Jamie Cooke (17 Max Wright 65), 9 Ryan Cooke
Subs: 7 Angelo Cappello, 23 Jo Cummings
Oxford City
1 Chris Haigh, 2 Andre Burley, 3 Lewis Miccio, 4 Josh Ashby, 5 Nya Kirby (20 Latrell Humphry-Ewers 83), 7 Lewis Coyle, 8 Reece Fleet, 14 Josh Parker, 17 Pierre Fonkeu (26 Alfie Potter 62), 18 Aaron Williams-Bushell (21 Joe Wilson 67) , 19 Canice Carroll
Subs: 6 Tom Harrison, 22 Tafari Moore
Referee: David Mcnamara
Goals: Harker 32, Fonkeu 54
Yellow Cards: Evans 52, Oluwabori 82, Burley 88, Ashby 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1597 (25 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Oxford City 1
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