FC Halifax Town earnt a 0-0 draw with fellow promotion chasing Rochdale at the Shay tonight.
Town looked certain to have taken an early lead when Angelo Cappello played a sublime ball over the top to Zac Emmerson, which played the striker through on goal. Emmerson’s effort was intervened by Dale keeper, Sam Waller, who commanded his area well and denied The Shaymen an almost-perfect start.
A dangerous attack came for the visitors at the hands of Tarryn Allarakhia, after the game had levelled out, following the tenacious start to the game. The winger was played through down the left, getting the better of Adam Senior, and worked his way into the box.
Allarakhia weaved past the Town defenders and played a ball into the box, but his pass was intercepted by Adam Adetoro and cleared out of danger by Senior.
Dale continued to cause damage down the left-hand side, with Allarakhia being joined by Sam Beckwith on this occasion. The winger played a ball into Beckwith and received it back after running towards the edge of the box. Allarakhia had a chance from distance but his effort exceeded well over the bar.
Taking advantage of their positive spells in possession, Rochdale continued to cause problems for the home side. The Town kept attackers down the right-hand side at bay, but
once the ball had been played back to Ryan East, the midfielder sent a sweeping ball into the box, as Kairo Mitchell waited patiently. The striker attempted to attack the ball and looked destined to get an effort away, but just fell short of the cross.
Rochdale were the first off the mark in the second half and caused early problems for the Shaymen. Harvey Gilmour played a ball into the feet of Beckwith who was surrounded by a
number of Town defenders in the box. The midfielder managed to get a shot on target but was saved by Sam Johnson.
A change for the visitors came in the 63rd minute when Connor McBride made way for Devante Rodney. The substitute made an instant impact after he beat Adetoro down the
right-hand side, and crossed a ball into the box. Leon Ayinde darted towards the back post to meet the ball, but his run proved to be just short of the cross, leaving play to go out for a throw in.
An attacking effort came for the Town, as the home side conducted a spirited counterattack. Scott High passed a ball to Senior, who picked out substitute Florent Hoti in the box
and crossed a looping ball into the area. Hoti, despite all efforts, failed to meet the ball with enough balance, and his headed effort was directed wayward.
Tom Pugh, who was substituted on for Max Wright, made a remarkable run down the right hand side, with Beckwith closely following the substitute winger. After cutting inside, into
the box, Pugh was taken down by Beckwith, who struggled to get the ball, and Town were awarded a late penalty.
Hoti stepped up for the penalty, and unfortunately for the home side, Waller dived to his right and saved the attackers penalty kick, to deny Halifax a crucial attempt at taking a late lead.
Following from their denied penalty, Town looked to have been given a new lease of life, and were causing many problems for the visitors. One which forced a save out of Waller
was a chance taken by Jack Evans. Ryan Galvin tried to play Evans in the box but was intercepted by a Dale defender, which Evans picked up and ran towards goal. The midfielder shot from the keeper’s near post and managed to guide the shot on target but Waller had it covered.
A late scare for Halifax came just on the stroke of the final whistle. The home sides box was congested with Town and Dale players, but it was Jili Bayabu who managed to get a shot on target, but Adetoro heroically denied the visitors of any hope of running away with the game in the last play, resulting in the game ending in a draw.
The Town are next in action at the LNER Stadium against York City, this Saturday
Town Stats:
1 Sam Johnson ©, 5 Adam Senior, 15 Will Smith, 27 Adam Adetoro, 3 Ryan Galvin, 30 Scott High, 6 Jack Evans, 21 Zak Emmerson, 10 Jamie Cooke [Florent Hoti 71] , 7 Max Wright [Tom Pugh 66],, 11 Angelo Cappello [Luca Thomas 88]
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 4 Festus Arthur, 14 Harvey Sutcliffe, 20 Jack Jenkins
Rochdale: Jimmy McNulty
13 Sam Wallker, 2 Kyron Gordon ©, 4 Ryan East, 7 Tarryn Allarakhia, 8 Harvey Gilmour, 9 Mitchell Kairo [Ian Henderson 86] , 14 Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, 15 Leon Ayinde [Aidan Barlow 77], 21 Connor McBride [Devante Rodney 63], 26 Liam Hogan, 33 Sam Beckwith
Subs: 16 Kyle Ferguson, 28 Jack Kindgdon, 30 Jili Buyabu, 31 Charlie Weston
Referee: James Bancroft
Goals:
Yellow cards: Hogan 43, East 84
Red Cards:
Attendance: 2682 [904]
FC Halifax Town 0 Rochdal
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