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FC Halifax Town 0 Silsden 0: Town fail to take chances



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Published Date: 01 September 2008
THESE are troubling times for fans of FC Halifax Town.
For the third successive home game the team failed to find the back of the net.
And as a result they must travel to Cougar Park on Wednesday to replay this FA Cup preliminary round clash.
Town had chances, but their deficiencies in the final third were all too apparent again.
Perhaps the most telling moment of the game came just past the midway point in the second period.
Assistant manager Nigel Jemson, on the field as a substitute, clearly told his troubled teammates to relax.
They do not need to look for the killer pass, nor do they need to snatch at the ball in the opposition area - and the vastly experienced frontman knows it.
Although the crowd remains largely supportive of the new team, the pressure is clearly building on the players to perform.
And they need to turn round their fortunes at the first available opportunity.
Saturday's game appeared to be the chance they were looking for to do just that.
But as the old Halifax Town found out all too often, games against teams from a lower division seldom go according to plan.
In terms of territory this one did, with Jim Vince's side enjoying plenty of the ball.
But Silsden battled all the way to earn a second chance on home soil.
Junior Brown had an early shot blocked but it was not until the 16th minute that Town carved out a clear chance, Jonathan Smith and Adam Morning combining down the left before the ball was played in for Ashley Stott who headed over.
Silsden responded within a minute, John Nettleton's cross going over Jon Kennedy's head before being put behind by Tom Harban.
And former Halifax Town trainee Craig Smith cut in from the left before firing a shot across the face of the Halifax goal and wide soon after.
Brown curled an effort wide, following neat work by Peter Moore and Stott, before Stott and Brown combined to create an opening for Smith, who was denied first by a defender then by Silsden keeper Martin Foulger.
Kennedy had to be at his best in the 27th minute to tip a Smith shot over the bar but Town had the chance to break the deadlock nine minutes before the break from a Justin Walker corner.
Foulger punched as far as Morning, whose shot was saved, and when Lincoln Woods thrashed in the rebound it struck a defender, with Town appealing for a penalty.
The first half ended with Moore slicing a shot from Walker's cross wide of the target.
But the second opened with Silsden on the attack, Danny McNulty and Packer combining before Andy King fired over from 20 yards.
After that, Silsden were restricted to chances on the break, Aaron Hollindrake heading off target and Mark Bentham firing wide.
Stott headed wide under pressure at the far post from a Morning cross in the 50th minute and there was a glorious chance on the hour after Jemson had found Kris King.
The former Wigan man whipped the ball into the danger area where defender McNulty failed to deal with it but, in trying to lift it over Foulger, Brown could only send his shot over the bar.
Jemson swapped passes with Stott before having an effort deflected over the top and when Jemson flicked on Brown's corner a defender managed to get back and head clear, although he did so from well inside his own goal.
Smith had a shot turned behind before Jemson headed Moore's cross straight into Foulger's arms as Town continued to dominate without reward.
And Steve Payne could not get his header from another Moore cross on target soon after.
Adams did well to get a touch on a ball intended for substitute Daniel Moriarty in a rare Silsden attack.
But it was back at the other end where moist of the action was, Payne heading over from a Walker free kick, Jemson denied by a Smith block and Foulger producing the save of the game with minutes remaining to repel Smith's well struck shot after Brown's cross had only been half cleared.
With Silsden keeper Foulger twice having received treatment for injuries, there were five minutes of stoppage time.
And there was a chance for each side in the remaining minutes, Brown thrashing a shot across goal from the left at one end and Smith firing at Kennedy at the other.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Harban, King, Payne, Adams, Morning (Jemson 54), Moore, Walker, Brown, Smith, Stott (Ross 80). Subs (not used): Hinsley, Senior, Barras.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Silsden: Foulger, Nettleton, McNulty, Bentham, Bland, Airey (Thompsopn 80), Smith, King, Reilly (Moriarty 71), Hollindrake (Holden 90), Packer. Subs (not used): Parnham, Barker, Chattoe.
Booked: Bentham (foul 39), Airey (foul 65).
Sent-off: None
Goals: None

Attendance: 833

Referee: Paul Brabin

STAR SHAYMAN
It was a curious display from FC Halifax Town; they enjoyed plenty of possession, but did little with it.
In the first half, playing up front alongside Ashley Stott, Jonathan Smith looked completely at home with some nice flicks and passes.
And late in the game, when pushing further forward again, he caused the Silsden defence problems.
In midfield, Peter Moore showed his value from box to box.
One moment he was on the edge of the Silsden area, the next he was popping up on his own 18-yard line.
And his crossing was as good as anything produced by any player from either side.
Junior Brown continued to show why he will become a firm favourite with the Shay fans - if he isn't already.
If only he had been able to convert that chance on the hour there would have been no need for a replay.
Smith takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Moore taking two and Brown one.

PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 7, Jonathan Smith 7, Paul Moore 4, Steve Payne 3, Lincoln Adams 3, Nigel Jemson 2, Craig Smith 2, Ashley Stott 1, Phil Senior 1.



The full article contains 1046 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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  • Last Updated: 02 September 2008 11:34 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
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jigsaw,

Halifax 01/09/2008 09:20:28
Gosh, what an exciting match report!

I wish I`d been there instead of watching F.C Halifax Town V Silsden down The Shay on Saturday, which was as boring a game I`ve seen there in 40-odd years of going down.

Full marks to the Courier for talking the game up, but as entertainment it was dire, and I`m struggling to justify paying to watch such dross. Unless its sorted soon, there won`t be 500 down for the next game.
2

part-time fan,

01/09/2008 09:29:50
I know Jigsaw.

Can't believe they haven't won the Champions League by now either.
3

PrincessFiona,

01/09/2008 10:59:07
you are too impatient there will be another time.
4

part-time fan,

01/09/2008 11:16:13
"but as entertainment it was dire"

If you want to be entertained, go to the theatre. Football isn't show businesses, and your duty as a fan is to support the team through thick and thin. And "Support" doesn't just mean paying your money and being there.

Obviously, there is room for improvement. But if you've watched the beautiful game for 40 plus years, you must be intelligent enough to realise that a team that is barely 6 weeks old isn't going to set the world on fire.

Points to note is that we haven't yet come up against any opposition side who are mugs, and they've all given us a good game. Jim Vince has puleld off some good signings, but a lot of his targets are likely to have secured themselves at other clubs during pre-season, before FC Halifax Town existed.

Some supporters are just clueless - this level of expectation they carry is unbelievable. This isn't the Halifax Town that you've always followed and the team doesn't contain the higher standard players that the old club had last season.

In 2007-2008, we had the worst run club, with the worst fanbase, and the worse level of media friendliness known to man. Now we've eradicated 2 of them, we just need to fans to obtain a bit of common sense.

FC Halifax Town - Unibond Div1 Nth Champions 2010.
5

Mr V,

01/09/2008 11:59:52
Correct Part Timer
6

jigsaw,

Halifax 01/09/2008 13:19:14
I haven`t "watched the beautiful game" for 40+ years - I`ve been going down The Shay. And whilst during that time I have witnessed far more dross than good games, Saturday was the first time I can recall wanting the game to end early (with the possible exception of the narrow 8 - 0 defeat by Fulham) so I could go to the pub.
I don`t expect us to win every game, and a new team takes time to gel, but that doesn`t excuse lack of effort.
I hope Mr Vince is capable of getting us out of this league, and he obviously has the ears of supporters, but there is also some bullcrap to get out of the way, such as his request to have the pitch watered on Saturday so we could play fast, flowing football(???).

We are a good way off getting the basics right and blind loyalty wont change that. There is also the question to be answered as to why players such as Ross (not the only one) have come to the Shay from supposedly "better" teams in higher leagues, yet are failing to perform at all.
My "duty as a fan" is also not to be led like a sheep.
Football is a business, and in order to get paying customers has to provide something which the paying public want, and F.C. Halifax Town can`t live off residual goodwill for ever.
Saturdays performance was weak and disjointed, a fact acknowledged by the utterly silent `south stand` which was noticeably sparce. They are undying reasons why that may be, but it doesn`t detract from the fact that it was.
7

part-time fan,

01/09/2008 14:16:42
Well, regarding lack of effort – I will say that when turning defence in to attack on Saturday, the midfield seemed only to want to trott up the field to support the front men.

But go through the team sheet of Saturday, and there was only one of the players, who was in the starting line up, who didn’t pull their weight and should be given a rest now. It’s not fair to tar the team and management with this.

Loyalty DOES get you rewards – but again, there’s more to being loyal than just turning up. Your first comment I haven`t "watched the beautiful game" for 40+ years - I`ve been going down The Shay” epitomises the shay fans as a whole. As soon as they get through that turnstile, the gloom sets in, the pessimism takes hold and you’ve got the biggest set of grumpy people Calderdale can produce in one place, waiting for failure, and only making noises when that failure comes to light.

There should be no expectations from this season but to consolidate ourselves as a football team, and see a commercial side of the club start to take off. The gelling of these players will take longer than it ever did in the conference or above, as they’re part time and only train together 2 evenings a week (I’m led to believe).

Jigsaw – you’ve just totally dismissed the fact that the club has been together for 4 games by saying they can’t live off goodwill forever. The season is ONLY 2 weeks old. Are you saying that goodwill should now be redundant as everyone has had their chances?

Old school footy fans are the worst….shame that the club couldn’t shake these off when they shook off all the “dross” that were assosciated with the old Halifax Town club.
8

LFCRED,

01/09/2008 16:49:24
My son went down on Saturday as a ball boy and I would like to thank the manager and ALL the players for giving up some of their time after the game to talk to him when I am sure after the poor performance they would have rather all just trotted off home.

Another supporter is born.
9

porky brazil,

ripponden 01/09/2008 20:46:49
Get rid of all dross as you put it part-timefan there would hardly be anyone left to watch us while I agree you have to give the team a chance lets not kid our selfs the likes of Woodley Sports were sunday league teams only a few years ago and while a season lasts 42 games and not 4 anything less than the playoffs will be failure.
10

part-time fan,

01/09/2008 21:28:13
No porky - they're the vocal minority. All they've ever done is get the team and the atmosphere to all time low ebbs...

Your other point though, mid table will not be a failure - we're a NEW club - DONT confuse it with Halifax Town AFC 1911....ther is no Jon Shaw in this side, no Danny Forrest or Lewis Killeen.

This is the kind of thing I'm on about...you think we've got a divine right to sail back up. We haven't - never mind Woodley Sports - we weren't even a sunday club 2 years ago, we've existed for 6 weeks and by starting the club up in July, we missed the boat signing "whoever we wanted" when players started signing elsewhere for other clubs.

As i said before, yes we need to improve, but to think we were once a different club so therefore we should automatically find it easier to get to the heights of conference footy is lunacy.
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