FC Halifax Town battled hard to earn a well-deserved point away at Salford City, with Kevin Roberts heavily involved at both ends of the pitch.
He had an input in every single goal scored on the night which included conceding a penalty, an own goal and an emphatic equaliser in the dying seconds of the game. He managed to lift his shot over the Salford defence as it hit the bar and bounced in, sealing an impressive 2-2 draw against the league leaders.
A slow start at Moor Lane saw no real chances for either side in the opening exchanges. Josh Macdonald looked lively for the Shaymen down the right as he caused problem after problem for the Salford back four. His eventual cross in just couldn’t find an orange shirt in the box.
As for Salford, former Town player Sam Walker saw his free kick glance just wide of Steven Drench’s left post. That was the home side’s best chance of the opening fifteen minutes, as it took some time for them to put balls in the box.
As Macdonald shined for the Shaymen, Mike Phenix caused headaches for the Town defence as his many runs down the left looked destined to threaten Cliff Moyo, only for him to be stopped at the last minute.
Town’s first chance came through Richard Peniket as his header from Roberts’ cross flew just over the bar, an early warning sign of what was to come.
Just fifteen minutes later the Shaymen found themselves 1-0 up. Macdonald earned yet another free kick on the right with Roberts stepping up to take it. His delivery met the head of Scott Garner who directed the ball off the far post and in.
A heavy Salford onslaught followed as the Shaymen faced wave after wave of attack, with Phenix at the forefront yet again. Town luckily held on to remain as the dominant side going into the break.
However, Salford came out fighting in the second half as they earned themselves a penalty at the expense of Roberts. He appeared to dive with his hand out-stretched with referee Aaron Jackson in prime position to award the penalty. Walker stepped up to bury the spot kick against his former club.
It all went downhill after that for Town as Danny Hone saw red for a second bookable offence leaving the Shaymen light in defence. It took Salford less than ten minutes to capitalise as Roberts’ attempted clearance went behind him into his own net.
This came in the middle of a twenty minute period where Salford had the upper hand. Walker was ever present along with substitute James Poole who caused problems for Moyo down the right.
Salford should have sealed the win in the dying minutes as Denton saw the ball caught between his feet whilst attempting a clearance. Billy Priestley pounced but his shot from ten yards out was well over the bar.
Going into added time and the Shaymen made a final attempt to get a result, and they did. The hard work paid off as Roberts’ volley dipped over the wall of Salford bodies and dropped past Jay Lynch in the Salford net.
The Shaymen fans behind the goal erupted in noise as a point was safely put on the board, in a moment that felt like a victory.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist
;
