FC Halifax Town were defeated 2-0 at home by Southend United in the Vanarama National League
The Shaymen made two changes for todays afternoon clash against Southend who were winless in their last 5 coming into the tie.
The first big chance of the game came when Florent Hoti picked up the ball on the right flank before threading the ball into the path of Adan George, he then turned before unleashing a powerful strike towards the near post of Collin Ndi’s goal, however the Cameroonian was equal to it. Just moments later Adam Senior’s header was vitally deflected behind for a Town corner.
Southend did look dangerous when they broke forward in the early stages, George Moncur came the closest to creating anything for the away side in the opening 20 minutes, when his fizzing delivery was just out of reach of any of his teammates.
Halifax will certainly feel they should have been 1-0 up when Cooke’s ball found Billy Waters who had the goal at his mercy but somehow his shot rose high above the crossbar from six yards out.
Southend took the lead after 35 minutes, Florent Hoti’s loose touch gave Aribim Pepple the chance to run with the ball, and that he did. After he broke into the box he chopped inside onto his left foot before powerfully striking into the back of the net via a slight Jo Cummings deflection.
Jack Jenkins picked up the first booking of the game for a cynical challenge on Pepple as he broke free down the left.
Pepple really should have doubled his tally before the break, similarly to Waters chance at the other end the ball was flashed across the box but somehow once again it was turned over the bar from just six yards out. This was the last chance of the half as the ref brought things to a close.
The first highlight of the second period came in the form of a second booking for Town. Jamie Cooke entered the book for stopping Pepple in his tracks.
The first substitution of the game came just before the hour mark. Hoti made way for Andrew Oluwabori.
The away side had another chance to double the lead following a sustained period of possession, once again Pepple found himself in space before testing Johnson, the keeper stood tall to deny the twenty-one-year-old. Southend however did get their second following the resulting corner, Adam Crowther rose highest to nod the ball into the top right corner.
Following the goal another two Town players were introduced as Owen Bray and Adam Adetoro entered the fray. This was followed by a triple change for the away side as Macauley Bonne, Noor Husin and Danny Waldron came on for Kevin Maher’s side.
Goalkeeper Ndi was the first Southend man to go into the book as he delayed the restart whilst taking a goal kick.
Both sides then looked towards the bench once more as Keenan Appiah-Forsan and Zac Emmerson entered the pitch with ten minutes to go.
The referee added five minutes to the end of the affair, in that time one final substitution saw George Wind replace Jack Bridge.
Town weren’t able to find a way back into the game and will now look forward to Tuesday night’s National League Cup home game with Leeds United U21s 7pm kickoff
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town: 1 Sam Johnson ©, 5 Adam Senior, 11 Angelo Cappello, 15 Will Smith (21 Zak Emmerson 82), 2 Jo Cummings (27 Adam Adetoro), 19 Adan George, 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins (26 Owen Bray), 10 Jamie Cooke, 18 Florent Hoti (22 Andrew Oluwabori 59), 29 Billy Waters
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 23 Tom Pugh, 24 Frankie Sinfield
30 Collin Andeng-Ndi, 2 Gus Scott-Morriss, 3 Nathan Ralph © 5 Adam Crowther, 7 Jack Bridge (4 George Wind 90), 11 Josh Walker (8 Noor Husin 67), 16 Harry Taylor, 19 Aribim Pepple (9 Macauley Bonne 67), 20 George Moncur (10 Danny Waldron 67), 23 James Morton, 28 Oliver Coker
Subs: 1 Zach Jeacock, 14 Jack Wood, 22 Keenan Appiah-Forson
Referee: Aaron Jackson
Goals: Pepple 35, Crowther 61
Yellow Cards: Jenkins 44, Cooke 50, Andeng-Ndi 77
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1766 (348 away)
FC Halifax Town 0 Southend United 2
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