FC Halifax Town secured a 4-2 victory over Stoke City after an entertaining six-goal encounter, with goals from Tommy McDermott, Amari Morgan-Smith, Connor Douglas and Ben Tollitt securing Town another win in the competition.
Town got the game underway, but it was Stoke who had most of the ball in the opening five minutes, testing Town’s back line. However, captain Shaun Hobson and debutant Mackenzie Maltby kept The Potters at bay.
The home side had their first chance after ten minutes. Cruz Allen played some wonderful football in the middle of the park, finding Deniche Hill in space. The defender spotted McDermott making a daring run and sent the ball forward. McDermott beat his man before attempting to find Morgan-Smith, but the forward couldn’t get a proper touch away.
The Shaymen took the lead in the 16th minute after Will Hugill picked up the ball and found Morgan-Smith, who comfortably beat his man before sending the ball across the face of goal.
McDermott was there to tap past Lucas Knight, grabbing his second goal for Town.
Hugill received the first booking of the game in the 21st minute following a shirt pull.
Town doubled their lead in the 31st minute after Allen delivered a perfect corner, with Morgan-Smith getting a slight touch to guide the ball into the back of the net.
The Potters responded almost instantly after Town lost possession following a possible foul on Hugill. The referee allowed play to continue, with Tristan Achu finding Tyler Martin, who slotted past Sam Johnson.
Anas Iddrisa also received a yellow card before the break.
The Shaymen made a half-time change, with Owen Bray replacing Hugill and making his 100th appearance for Town. Stoke also made a change, with Elliot Fearn replacing Martin.
Stoke got the second half underway, but play was paused shortly after as Morgan-Smith took a knock.
Maltby was replaced by Will Flint in the 53rd minute, with the debutant receiving a roar of applause from the crowd.
Dylan Crowe was booked in the 56th minute before Stoke’s Fearn received a yellow a minute later following a late challenge on Hill.
Town made two further changes in the 65th minute, with David Kawa and Max Bardell replacing Morgan-Smith and Crowe. Stoke responded with Lucas Connell and Thomas Midwood replacing Achu and Iddrisa.
The Shaymen grabbed their third in the 69th minute after a miskicked Stoke goal kick landed at Allen’s feet. Allen found Trusty, who danced past two players before finding Douglas, who placed the ball past Knight.
However, The Potters responded almost instantly. A long ball caught Town out following the restart, with Fearn making a run towards goal before striking first time past Johnson.
Stoke made another change in the 72nd minute, with Paul Makavore replacing Finley Nixon, before Town introduced Ben Tollitt for McDermott five minutes later.
Allen received a yellow card in the 86th minute following a late challenge. Raphael Olegbayo was also booked in added time, with Hobson receiving a yellow for dissent.
The Shaymen secured their fourth in the 90+4th minute after a deflected effort from Douglas fell to Tollitt, who managed to slide the ball home.
Tollitt’s late goal rounded off an entertaining evening for The Shaymen, who secured the 4-2 victory and took their tally to 13 goals in the competition so far.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 4 Will Hugill (7 Owen Bray), 5 Shaun Hobson, 6 Mackenzie Maltby (8 Will Flint 55), 11 Connor Douglas, 14 Amari Morgan-Smith (22 David Kawa 64), 16 Deniche Hill, 20 Tayt Trusty, 23 Dylan Crowe (2 Max Bardell), 24 Tommy McDermott (17 Ben Tollitt 77), 27 Cruz Allen
Subs: 33 True Grant, 21 Theo Wainman
Stoke City
1 Lucas Knight, 2 Anas Iddrisa )12 Lucas Connell 66), 3 Jonathan Whiteley, 4 Raphael Olegbayo, 5 Freddie Anderson, 6 Jaden Mears ©, 7 Tristan Achu (18 Thomas Midwood 66), 8 Evan Boulter, 9 Adriel Walker, 10 Finley Nixon (15 Paul Makavore), 11 Tyler Martin (14 Elliot Fearn 46)
Subs: 13 Oscar Hatton, 15 Paul Makavore, 16 Joshua McWilliams,19 Rocco Bardsley
Referee: Gareth Thomas
Goals: McDermott 16, Morgan-Smith 31, Martin 32, Douglas 69, Fearn 70, Tollitt 90
Yellow Cards: Hugill 21, Iddrisa 39, Crowe 56, Fearn 57, Allen 87, Olegbayo 90, Hobson 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 238
FC Halifax Town 4 Stoke City 2
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