Clinical finishing was the difference in this evening’s showdown between Tamworth and FC Halifax Town. Zak Emmerson’s header gave the Shaymen the lead early in the second half before Scott High’s composed finish was enough to wrap up the three points for the away side despite a late Tamworth penalty.
It was three changes for Halifax tonight after the midweek loss to AFC Fylde. Zak Emmerson, Jo Cummings, and Owen Bray came into the side.
Despite a slow start to the game, it was the Shaymen who struck first in this game with their first attack. The move started through Jamie Cooke, who found Angelo Cappello on the left flanks. Cappello took a few touches before finding Zak Emmerson in the box, who superbly guided the ball into the bottom right corner for his second goal in the league and third overall this campaign.
It was nearly the dream restart for the home side; Tom McGlinchey’s effort was deflected, but Sam Johnson was alert to it and got down smartly to his right to deny the instant equaliser.
Halfway through the first half,, Tamworth had a golden chance to get a footholdback in this game; the lively Beck-Ray Enoru picked the ball up and dinked the ball to the edge of the six-yard box, where Callum Cockerill Mollett was waiting to convert, but his header fell into the clutches of Johnson.
Seconds later the Lambs had perhaps an even better chance; Jordan Ponticelli’s effort struck the post and fell kindly to the feet of George Morrison, who somehow failed to hit the target from 8 yards out.
Once again it was Tamworth looking the most likely at this point in the game; Ponticelli had the chance to poke home from close range after a scramble in the box,, but once again the home side could only find the hands of Johnson.
After a half in which Halifax had very little of the ball, they still found themselves one up at the break
Early into the second half,, Halifax was forced into a change as Jo Cummings had to be stretchered off with Adam Adetoro replacing him. Max Wright replaced Owen Bray shortly after, with Scott High also picking up a booking in this time.
The second half never really got going, with Tamworth once again having more of the ball, but the chances were proving hard to come by for the home side.
Tamworth’s first changes of the night came in the form of a double substitution with Nathan Tshikuna and Ronan Maher entering the fray.
Fifteen minutes from time, Ponticelli yet again had another opportunity to level; he raced through on goal, but ultimately his shot was wide of the mark.
Shortly after this, the Shaymen raced up to the other end and doubled their advantage; some good work by Cooke on the edge of the box resulted in him laying the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box where Scott High was waiting. High composed himself before smashing the ball high into the right side of the Tamworth net. Scott High will be feeling a sense of déjà vu after his goal this evening; his only other league goal for the Shaymen this season was in the reverse fixture. Following the goal, Will Smith picked up Halifax’s second card of the game.
With ten minutes added at the end of the game, Halifax looked to the bench once more to sure up the game. Jenkins and Pugh were introduced for Tiwn
After 100 minutes of football played, Tamworth pulled one back after receiving their first penalty of the season. Tshikuna stepped up and buried the ball into the left corner to halve the deficit.
The referee blew for full time briefly after the restart, and resultantly Halifax continued their excellent away record with another three points.
Match Stats
Tamworth: 1 Jas Singh, 2 Matt Curley, 3 Callum Cockerill-Mollett, 5 Kennedy Digie, 6 Alex Fletcher (20 Nathan Tshikuna 70) 8 Ben Milnes (37 Arjan Raikhy 82), 15 George Morrison (4 Tom Tonks 89), 19 Tom McGlinghey (31 Ronan Maher 70) 22 Beck Ray-Enoru (7 Kyle Finn 90 + 4) 26 Haydn Hollis, 34 Jordan Ponticelli
Subs: 28 Munashe Sundire, 33 Ben Crompton
1 Sam Johnson ©, 5 Adam Senior, 2 Jo Cummings (27 Adam Adetoro 52), 15 Will Smith, 3 Ryan Galvin, 11 Angelo Cappello (9 Luca Thomas 81), 30 Scott High (20 Jack Jenkins 90), 6 Jack Evans, 26 Owen Bray (7 Max Wright 57), 10 Jamie Cooke, 21 Zak Emmerson (23 Tom Pugh 90 + 8)
Subs: 12 Nathan Ford, 14 Harvey Sutcliffe
Referee: Andrew Miller
Goals: Emmerson 8, High 80, Tshikuna 90 + 11 (pen)
Yellow Cards: High 55, Milnes 62, Smith 82, Emmerson 90 + 2
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1074 (211 away)
Tamworth 1 FC Halifax Town 2
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