FC Halifax Town’s fantastic away record continues after Andrew Oluwabori and Owen Bray score for the Town against Solihull Moors.
Halifax opened the scoring in the dawning minutes of the game after Andrew Oluwabori found the back of the net and fired his team into the ascendency with a bottom-corner finish. The attacker awaited in the box for an Owen Bray cross, which ultimately saw the Shaymen take an early lead.
Oluwabori’s goal makes it his 7th goal in all competitions this season and is now Halifax’s leading goal scorer. Town’s 3-1 win against Gateshead, earlier this month, also saw the attacker score, with the Town not having lost any of the six previous away games where Oluwabori has scored.
Town enjoyed a dominant and lively start to the game, following on from their early lead. A wake-up call came in the 29th minute for the away side, after Solihull attacker Brad Stevenson crossed a dangerous ball into the box for Fletcher Holman. A poor effort accompanied by Will Smith’s defensive pressure saw the chance leap over the crossbar.
A chance for Halifax followed shortly after, with Scott High having his effort from range stopped by keeper Killian Barrett, who was forced into making a diving save. A fantastic run from Ryan Galvin saw the fullback carry the ball from his own half to Solihull’s box. Zak Emmerson picked up the ball, after it ricocheted off Galvin’s leg, and played it along the box to High, whose shot almost doubled the lead for Town.
At the other end of the pitch, Town captain Sam Johnson was faced with two close range shots to deal with. A counter attack for Solihull saw Stevenson play the ball into the path of Marcel Oakley, who ran onto the ball and shot from close proximity. Adetoro fortunately blocked the effort, but his deflection played into the path of Stevenson, who struck the ball straight towards Johnson, who dismissed the attack with a well-handled save.
Half-time saw Luca Thomas and Jamie Cooke join the field, with Emmerson and first half goalscorer Oluwabori make way for the substitute attackers.
The first few moments in the second half saw three yellow cards handed to Solihull’s Jamey Osborne, Oliver Tipton, and to Halifax’s Jack Evans. Tipton and Evans both received their 4th card of the season, whereas Osborne’s card this afternoon made it his third yellow card in three games
A bright first ten minutes saw Town manage to double their lead. Owen Bray made it his second in two games, after substitute and debutant Luca Thomas played Bray through on the turn. Bray’s chance came from outside the box and was fired into the bottom right corner.
Thomas joined Town earlier this month on loan from Leeds United, after being previously on loan at York City earlier this campaign, which saw the youngster score on his debut against Ebbsfleet United.
In response to their deficit doubling, Solihull had close chances in quick succession at the other end of the pitch. A sweeping freekick by Osborne found Alex Whitmore at the back post, who nodded the ball to the feet of Holman, whose effort exceeded the crossbar. Their second chance saw a volleyed effort from Tipton, followed after a defensive clearance by a Town defender fell at the defenders feet. Tipton’s volley was attempted at the edge of the box and was smashed against the crossbar, and cleared of danger.
Adetoro returned the favour with a close headed chance towards Solihull’s goal. The defender rose above everyone in the box after a great delivery from a free-kick by Adam Senior. Adetoro’s header looked as if it was going to loop over Barrett’s head but just sailed over the bar.
Ex-Town player, Matt Warburton had a chance against his former club; The substitute was brought on in the 70th minute for Sam Bowen. The midfielder ran towards the Halifax goal in the 83rd minute, down the left-hand side but was stopped in his tracks by a very good defensive intervention by Jack Evans.
A late effort on target came from substitute Tom Pugh in injury time. The midfielder managed to keep balance despite pressure from Solihull’s defenders and got a shot off from outside the area, but his chance was handled easily by Barrett.
Halifax’s win this afternoon takes them to 8th place in the National League, with the Shaymen overtaking Solihull in the league. The Town sit one point above The Moors with two games in hand. Both teams will look to next week, where Halifax will be hosting Sunderland in the National League Cup on Tuesday, whereas Solihull will be looking to next Saturday, where they will be on the road to Wealdstone.
Match Stats
Solihull Moors
33 Killian Barrett, 2 James Clarke, 3 Joe Newton, 4 Jamey Osborne © (15 John Bostock 81), 5 Alex Whitmore, 7 Jack Stevens, 8 Sam Bowen (11 Matt Warburton 70), 12 Marcel Oakley, 14 Bradley Stevenson, 17 Oliver Tipton, 20 Fletcher Holman (6 Kyle Morrison 62)
Subs: 1 Laurie Walker, 32 Billy Corns, , 36 Tyler Bruck, 28 Ackeme Francis-Burrell
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson (c), 5 Adam Senior, 27 Adam Adetoro, 15 Will Smith, 3 Ryan Galvin, 6 Jack Evans (20 Jack Jenkins 86), 30 Scott High, 26 Owen Bray (23 Tom Pugh 66), 21 Zak Emmerson (9 Luca Thomas 46), 7 Max Wright (11 Angelo Cappello 84), 22 Andrew Oluwabori (10 Jamie Cooke 46)
Subs 12 Nathaniel Ford, 2 Jo Cummings
Referee Paul Marsden
Goals: Oluwabori 4, Bray 55
Yellow Cards: Osborne 48, Evans 51, Tipton 52
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1316 (147 away)
Solihull Moors 0 FC Halifax Town 2
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