A goal inside a minute gave FC Halifax Town the perfect platform to build on as they saw out a comfortable three-nil victory on the road at Gander Green Lane.
The Shaymen opted for an unchanged eleven for today’s clash away at Sutton United.
It was the dream start for Halifax Town, with less than a minute played Zak Emmerson headed home for his second goal in three games, bringing his tally up to 5 for the season. It was great work from Jack Evans, who managed to swing in a delightful ball, which the young striker converted. It was a familiar story three weeks on from the York game, with the Shaymen taking an early lead away from home.
With five minutes on the clock, Harvey Sutcliffe picked up a yellow card for a late challenge on a Sutton United man.
After twenty minutes played, another header doubled the Halifax lead. Florent Hoti’s set piece sailed towards the back post, where Adam Senior ghosted in over the shoulder of his marker to calmly nod home. This was Senior’s fifth of the season after scoring in Town’s last away trip to York City.
Following his assist, Hoti may have felt he had scored himself to make it 3-0 to Halifax; however, the linesman was quick to raise his flag to deny him.
Aside from the two goals, the first period consisted mostly of half chances. Sutton had shown glimpses of promise but failed to really test Sam Johnson in any real capacity.
Following the restart, the U’s made a triple change with Eduino Vaz, Josh Coley, and Ashley Nadesan coming on. Halifax also introduced Josh Emmanuel for his second appearance in a town shirt.
The first chance of the half came when Lewis Simper found space centrally, but he dragged his effort wide of the post.
Luca Thomas and Zak Emmerson have combined well ever since the two have been regulars in the team, and it was nearly their linkup again that nearly gave the Shaymen their third of the game;
Thomas’s flick saw Emmerson clean through; however, his effort was tipped onto the post by Jack Sims.
Minutes later it was three for the away side; Hoti drove through the middle of the park before finding the corner from 20 yards out. Just like Senior, this was his fifth of the season. This goal prompted Morrison to make his fourth change of the day as Nana Boateng came on for Henry Sandat.
Moments later Lewis Leigh entered the fray and nearly had an immediate impact; it was Thomas again whose flick gave Shaymen an opening, but Leigh’s shot was saved well by Sims.
Halifax’s next changes saw Tom Pugh and Jamie Cooke replace Angelo Cappello and Luca Thomas.
Will Davies was trying to get his side back into the game, but it was proving difficult; he wriggled past two Halifax men before firing towards goal, but it rose high above Johnson’s goal.
Halifax’s final substitution saw Owen Bray replace Ryan Galvin.
Ashley Nadesan found space on the right flank before firing the ball back into the path of Nana Boateng, but his effort was excellently blocked by Adam Senior.
With four minutes indicated for added time, Lewis Simper’s free kick forced Johnson into a smart stop down to his right-hand side. This was the final chance of the game as Halifax saw out a comprehensive win on the road.
Match Stats
Sutton United
1 Jack Sims, 4 Tyler French ©, 6 Siju Odelusi (12 Eduino Vaz 46), 8 Lewis Simper, 9 Will Davies, 14 Finley Barbrook, 15 Hayden Muller (7 Josh Coley 46), 16 Jack Taylor, 20 Jack Wadham (24 Ashley Nadesan 46), 33 Besart Topallaj, 38 Henry Sandat (17 Nana Boateng 57)
Subs: 25 Steve Arnold, 5 Harry Ransom, 22 Ryan Jackson
FC Halifax Town
1 Sam Johnson, 5 Adam Senior, 4 Festus Arthur, 3 Ryan Galvin (26 Owen Bray 84), 11 Angelo Cappello (23 Tom Pugh 70), 14 Harvey Sutcliffe (16 Josh Emmanuel 46), 6 Jack Evans, 20 Jack Jenkins, 18 Florent Hoti (28 Lewis Leigh 65), 9 Luca Thomas (10 Jamie Cooke 75), 21 Zak Emmerson
Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 27 Adam Adetoro
Referee: Aaron Jackson
Goals: Emmerson 1, Senior 21, Hoti 56
Yellow Cards: Sutcliffe 5
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 2292 (92 away)
Sutton United 0 FC Halifax Town 3
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