FC Halifax Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland U21s in the National League Cup at The Shay, before losing 5-3 on penalties. Town dominated large periods of the match and created the clearest chances, but Sunderland held firm and were more clinical in the shootout.
Halifax started brightly and went close early. Nat Ford played a long ball forward that found Owen Devonport, whose clever flick set Jamie Cooke free. Forced onto his left by Joe Anderson, Cooke still managed to get a shot away that rolled just past the near post.
Sunderland had a chance from a corner when Harrison Jones’ delivery was half-cleared by Devonport towards the far post. The loose ball fell to a Sunderland player, but his half-volley went wide.
Town eventually broke the deadlock with a well-worked move down the right. Will Smith threaded a precise pass into Owen Bray, who controlled it past Archie Lightfoot before playing it to through to the overlapping Sean Tarima. Tarima opened his body and fired powerfully past Adam Richardson for his first goal for the club.
Halifax continued to create chances. Cooke won the ball high and lofted it to Angelo Capello, whose first-time effort went over the bar. With around ten minutes remaining, Tarima delivered another cross that Jenson Jones headed on to Capello, who tried a near-post finish but leaned back and sent it over.
Sunderland improved after the break, linking up well around the edge of the area. They eventually drew level when Jenson Jones carried the ball forward and floated a pass to Abdullah Ba at the far post. Ba cut onto his right and drilled a fierce finish past Nat Ford.
The match went to penalties, and despite Halifax converting their first three, Zak Emerson missed the fourth spot-kick, allowing Sunderland to take the advantage. Sunderland held their nerve to win 5-3 from the spot, leaving Halifax to reflect on a strong performance that ultimately ended in disappointment.
Jo Cummings and Zak Emmerson returned from injury to get some valuable minutes off the bench, adding a positive note to the evening for Town.
FC Halifax Town
12 Nat Ford, 29 Sean Tarima, 16 Jevon Mills, 15 Will Smith (3 Adam Adetoro 66), 20 Jack Jenkins, 30 Cody Johnson (4 Will Hugill 46), 17 Owen Bray (19 AJ Warburton 66), 10 Jamie Cooke, 11 Angelo Cappello (21 Zak Emmerson 86), 31 Owen Devonport, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather (2 Jo Cummings 66)
Subs: 1 Sam Johnson, 9 Will Harris
Sunderland
1 Adam Richardson, 2 Jenson Jones, 3 Archie Lightfoot, 4 Harrison Jones, 5 Ben Kindon, 6 Joe Anderson (12 Finlay Holcroft 60), 7 Abdoullah Ba, 8 Jay Matete, 9 Jake Waters (17 Finn Geragusian 76), 10 Ben Middlemas ©, 11 Ethan Moore (14 Rhys Walsh 60)
Subs: 13 Ben Metcalf, 15 Felix Scott, 16 Jaydon Jones, 18 Liam Hunt
Referee: Paul Marsden
Goals: Tarima 17, Ba 62
Yellow Cards: LIightfoot 55
Red Cards: None
Attendance 201
FC Halifax Town 1 Sunderland 1
Penalties:
Sunderland: Jones GOAL 0-1
Halifax: Adetoro GOAL 1-1
Sunderland: Middlemas GOAL 1-2
Halifax: Hugill GOAL 2-2
Sunderland: Geragusian GOAL 2-3
Halifax: Mills GOAL 3-3
Sunderland: Jenson Jones 3-4
Halifax: Emmerson MISSED 3-4
Sunderland: GOAL 3-5
Read more posts by Luke Hofford
