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FC Halifax Town 1 Radcliffe Borough 1: Point no real use to Town



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Published Date: 10 January 2009
FC Halifax Town may have moved four points clear at the top of Unibond One North after this draw, but it was a result that further diminished their chances of automatic promotion.

  • Click here to see the latest league table on the Halifax Town fixtures and results page



With none of their rivals able to beat the big freeze, the Shay groundstaff's magnificent efforts gave Town the chance to apply some pressure.
But the players failed to respond and while they had the chances to win the game they could just as easily have gone down as they lost their way in the second half.
The pitch passed a 12.45pm inspection from the match referee, but neither side looked particularly comfortable on it.
Sadly, the Shaymen looked more uncomfortable than Borough whose simple style frustrated the Halifax attack and caused problems at the other end.
It is almost impossible to explain how a side that won seven league games in a row in October and November to go top has won just twice in the eight games since.
The confidence certainly appears to be draining quickly and the response on the final whistle from the 1,100-plus crowd left Jim Vince and his squad in no doubt that this was not good enough.
Yet they could - and possibly should - have opened the scoring after just four minutes following good work from Junior Brown and Ajay Leitch-Smith down the right.
The Crewe man pulled the ball back for Damien Allen 10 yards from goal, but he could not beat Radcliffe keeper Phil Priestley with a left foot shot.
And when Leitch-Smith and Allen combined again soon after they created a chance for Nigel Jemson, but his right-foot effort lacked the power to beat the keeper.
Radcliffe had created nothing before the 19th minute when they should have taken the lead.
Steve Brockley's free kick was cleared as far as Mark Jones who crossed the ball back in for Steve Howson but he could only head over from six yards.
Apart from long-range efforts from Lee Connell and Simon Kelly, that was the visitors' only real opportunity before the break.
At the other end, Brown had an effort blocked after 25 minute and was denied by a superb sliding tackle from Connell as he latched onto a Leitch-Smith pass six minutes later.
And from the resulting corner the Shaymen finally took the lead with Jemson heading the ball back towards the edge of the six-yard box and Lincoln Adams stretching out his leg to force it home.
Town did not build on their slender advantage as the opening period meandered tamely to a close.
But they did show signs of life after the break with Cavell Coo feeding Brown, whose shot was turned round the post by Priestley.
The keeper also denied Michael Barnes on his debut as he tried to capitalise on Allen's pass.
Having survived, Radcliffe started to commit more players forward with Owen Roberts down the left causing particular problems.
And it was a cross from that flank that led to the equaliser in the 67th minute as Jon Kennedy, under pressure, failed to hold on to a Gary Sampson cross.
The ball bounced to Howson who slid it home, although it took an age to finally end up in the back of the net.
Town's response was to replace their Jemson/Leitch-Smith strikeforce with Paul Gedman and Ashley Stott.
And Gedman almost made an immediate impact when he ran down the ball on the right and whipped in a cross, but there was no one there to capitalise.
Radcliffe almost snatched the lead with nine minutes remaining when goalscorer Howson floated the ball in from the right.
Kennedy seemed certain that it was going wide and was partially correct as it rebounded back into play off the far post.
Town's opportunity to win it came three minutes later when Adams flicked on Tom Baker's free kick, but Priestley leaped to his right to claw the goalbound effort away.
Radcliffe refused to lie down and it took a fine challenge in the area from Cavell Coo to deny substitute Michael Oates a shooting opportunity in the final minute of stoppage time.
And Stott might have snatched the points for the Shaymen as the game entered time added on but his attempt to lift the ball over the Borough keeper failed.

MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town:
Kennedy, Coo, Adams, Sutton, Meadowcroft, Brown (Ross 83), Allen, Baker, Barnes, Letch-Smith (Gedman 70), Jemson (Stott 70). Subs (not used): Hinsley, Barras.
Booked: Sutton (foul 90)
Sent off: None
Goal: Adams 32

Radcliffe Borough: Priestley, Unsworth, Roberts, Kelly, Dawson, Brockley, Connell, Jones, Howson (Oates 87), Fitzpatrick (Roscoe 81), Sampson. Subs (not used): Drew, Fletcher, Jones.
Booked: None
Sent off: None
Goal: Howson 67

Attendance: 1,172
Referee: S Rowntree

STAR SHAYMAN
It has not been a particularly good few weeks for the Town players who are clearly struggling to rediscover the form they showed earlier in the campaign.
Saturday's game was a perfect example of how they have been playing, with glimpses of what they can do accompanied by anti climax.
There is no doubt that the players are putting everything in - they are just not quite getting enough out.
Junior Brown did as much as anyone to try to get the Shaymen going, working hard and getting into decent positions on a couple of occasions, notably when he was denied by Radcliffe keeper Phil Priestley forcing a corner that led to the Town goal.
That was scored by Lincoln Adams who strained every muscle to get on the end of Nigel Jemson's knock down.
He might also have bagged a winner with a late header from Tom Baker's free kick but was also denied by Priestley.
Cavell Coo also coped well with switching from right to left and was a threat on more than one occasion.
Brown claims the three points on offer in our season long competition with Adams taking two and Coo one.

PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 29, Tom Baker 25, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Ashley Stott 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Nigel Jemson 9, Cavell Coo 6, Lincoln Adams 6, Damien Allen 5, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Steve Payne 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Luke Hinsley 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.

YOU SAY
It's getting worse every week. When are you going to come up with fresh ideas for us to actually win a game? A new striker is a must before next weekend. Over 1100 people there today! Once again let down by another woeful performance - 100 per center

Should have played the 3-5-2 system that took us to the top. Playing lads in unfamiliar roles does not work and neither does playing people who only signed the day before and haven't trained with the team - Angry Andy

Kennedy costs points again. Time for a new no1 please Jim - Town fan

The full article contains 1193 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 12 January 2009 11:49 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
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Fat Abbott,

10/01/2009 17:57:22
we r bad
2

David in Malta,

10/01/2009 20:08:34
Looking at the Courier site to find the match result/report I note that the headline is for half time and the match report is for full time.

"Thanks" to to man at the Shay for providing the correct info on their website even if it was no joy to the dedicated follower in distant lands.

Come on Vince keep them on their toes we don't want the bad habits coming down the A58 from Leeds do we, Points must be won...Happy New Year to you all from Malta
3

Brigantes,

10/01/2009 21:38:01
David,have you seen Shaytrev? he lives in Malta.
4

Shaydan,

Halifax 10/01/2009 23:33:56
There was more movement on the terraces today than from the Town team - long suffering supporters shivering in the cold. Poor performance from a poor team.
5

Hellfire's ghost,

The Shay 11/01/2009 08:35:32
Shaymennnnn!
6

Farang,

12/01/2009 09:47:35
One point is two points lost especially at home!!
7

Hillman Imp,

12/01/2009 09:55:06
"Midget Stuss", "Flangella Mirth","BrunoShayman", "Big Jim", "Micky Bullock" I've been looking for your comments on the wonderfull team, but can't seem to find them ?
8

Town Fan,

Halifax 12/01/2009 10:20:25
I have just read what Vince has said on the website and he says he is unhappy with the crowd booing the players. I think they were booing at him. He doesn't have a clue at the present time.

The other teams want it more than we do and we can forget getting out of this league with the way they are playing.

He says that if the players don’t perform he will bring in new ones; can we say that about the Manager???

Start winning Vince or Town will get someone new!!!!!!!!!!
9

Midget Stuss,

12/01/2009 10:47:03
Up the town!!!
10

Mickey Bullock,

12/01/2009 10:50:35
Orite hillman imp here goes...

personally i'm keeping stum as i dont want to give negative comments or stand and boo like some supporters do.

Very upset with present performances as the mighty Shaymen have been in my blood since the late 60's and the rugby league team since mid 70's!- we should really be taking this league by the scruff of the neck but seem to lack the hunger so necessary to be successful.

I'll cut it short there but could go on and on and on and on and on but won't

PS Hillman imps were great rally and hill climb cars - i used to go watch them up Scammonden dam on a Sunday!
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