A physical affair at The Shay saw both Halifax Town and Woking leave with a point, as each side coolly converted from the penalty spot in Yorkshire.
The Shaymen remained unchanged heading into the midweek clash, but it was Woking who carved out the first clear chance. Sam Ashford made progress down the left before delivering for the experienced Harry Beautyman, though the midfielder’s header flew over the bar.
Halifax grew into the contest, with Cody Johnson driving forward after a sliding challenge from Jay Turner-Cooke had freed him in midfield. Johnson’s low strike from the edge of the box forced a comfortable stop from Tom Norcott, while Josh Hmami also went close from a set piece but dragged his effort wide.
At the other end, Woking again threatened from the air, a looping header tipped over well by Sam Johnson. Thierry Latty-Fairweather provided a regular outlet for Town on the right flank, linking with Jamie Cooke before surging into the area, though his shot failed to trouble Norcott.
The visitors squandered the best chance of the first half when Jamie Andrews nodded the ball across goal, leaving Ashford free just yards out. However, the forward mistimed his header and the chance went begging.
Halifax finished the half strongly, with Will Hugill’s pass towards David Kawa eventually falling to Cooke, whose first-time strike was kept out by the Reading loanee between the Woking posts.
Adam Lakeland introduced Angelo Cappello and Will Harris shortly before the hour mark, but the second half remained cagey until the deadlock was broken. From a free-kick situation, the referee penalised a Halifax man for pulling in the area, allowing Beautyman to step up and slot home confidently down the middle to give Woking the lead.
The Shaymen responded late, with drama unfolding in the final minute of normal time. Hmami was dragged down in the box before taking responsibility himself, mirroring Beautyman’s earlier effort with a composed penalty into the centre of the net for his second of the season.
With nine minutes of added time, the contest opened up. Halifax piled on late pressure, and Tom Pugh’s long throw forced a pair of corners deep into stoppage time. From the second delivery, defender Adam Adetoro rose highest and saw his header thunder against the crossbar, agonisingly close to a winner, before the referee brought the contest to an end.
FC Halifax Town
1 S Johnson (GK) 3 Adetoro, 4 Hugill, 8 Hmami, 10 Cooke (25 Pugh 88), 17 Bray (9 Harris 58), 22 Kawa, 27 Turner-Cooke, 29 Tarima (26 Griffin 73), 30 C Johnson, 36 Latty-Fairweather (11 Cappello 57)
Subs: 12 Ford, 14 Sutcliffe, 20 Jenkins
Woking
31 Norcott, 2 Drewe, 3 Richards, 5 Odusina, 6 Andrews, 7 Beautyman © (12 Osude 90), 14 Hinds, 16 Akinola, 18 Turner (4 Okoli 90), 20 Ashford (Kelly 60), 25 Forster-Caskey (23 Akinola 78)
Subs: 13 Ross, 11 Ward
Referee: Aaron Jackson
Goals: Beautyman 69 pen, Hmami (pen) 90
Yellow Cards: Griffin 84, Odusina 84, Hmami 90, Adetoro 90, Akinola 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 1125 (46 away)
FC Halifax Town 1 Woking 1
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