FC Halifax Town fell to a 2-1 defeat in our final pre-season friendly against Radcliffe.
Goals from Matt Sargent and Luca Navarro were too much for Town despite a goal from 6 Trialist just after the break.
Radcliffe netted the opening goal after just 25 minutes. Having come close a few minutes before, Sargent was able to drive into the box before firing his shot past Tom Scott in the Town net.
Neither side were able to create anything clear cut for the remainder of the first half but Town struck back just after the restart. A cross was whipped into the back post and it found the head of 6 Triallist who headed beyond the Radcliffe keeper to equalise.
Radcliffe with another dangerous attack just before the hour mark as Jordan Hulme made his way into the box. The Radcliffe striker was able to beat his man but his curling effort bounced narrowly wide of the far post.
Oluwabori came close to putting Town ahead just past the hour mark. Receiving the ball 30 yards out, the Town wide man cut inside before firing a shot goalward that went just over the bar.
Radcliffe retook the lead in the 64th minute. Some good hold up play from Hulme who played a perfect ball for Navarro to run onto and the finish in the end was a simple one from eight yards out.
With just over 10 minutes left and Radcliffe really should have been 3-1 up. Radcliffe with some efforts from point blank range but a combination of blocks from Scott, the trialist defenders and the post meant the score stayed 2-1.
Town with a dangerous attack just five minutes from time. The ball worked out to Oluwabori on the right hand side, but his effort from a tight angle was well saved by Hewelt.
Into the final few moments and again, Radcliffe came close. A long ball over the top found their man through on goal, but his looping effort went over the bar.
Up next for the Shaymen is the opening day of the Vanarama National League season as Bromley visit the Shay on Saturday 5th August, 15:00 kick-off.
Radcliffe FC: 1 Mateusz Hewelt; 2 Scott Duxbury; 3 Olly Thornley; 4 Lois Maynard; 5 Rick Smith; 6 Matt Sargent; 7 Brad Jackson; 8 Nicky Adams (C); 9 Jordan Hulme; 10 Josh Hancock; 11 Jude Oyibo
Substitutes: 12 Jamie Morgan; 13 Trialist; 14 David Fitzpatrick; 15 Luca Navarro; 16 Anthony Dudley; 17 Gareth Evans; 18 George Mercer; 19 Trialist
FC Halifax Town: 1 Tom Scott; 4 Ted Lavelle; 5 Trialist; 6 Trialist; 7 Frankie Sinfield; 8 Trialist; 9 Aaron Cosgrave; 10 Andrew Oluwabori; 11 Angelo Cappello; 14 Trialist; 16 Trialist
Substitutes: 17 Milli Alli; 19 Rob Harker; Trialist; Trialist
Goals: Sargent 25’, 6 Trialist 51’, Navarro 64’
Attendance: 551
Radcliffe 2 FC Halifax Town 1
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