But with results paramount they will have been delighted with all three as they extended their home record in the league to a perfect seven from seven.

• See the latest Unibond North Division One table

They bossed the game for long periods and it looked like plain sailing as they eased into a 2-0 half time lead with goals from James Dean - his 22nd of the season - and Richard Marshall.

But a Danny Queeley strike early in the second half seemed to knock the Shaymen out of their stride, although they still had enough possession and chances to have won at a canter.

The goal apart - and that was gifted to them by an uncharacteristic error from skipper Steve Payne - Woodley did not have a single shot on target.

At the other end, Ben Connett made a couple of decent saves and with a little more composure in the visitors' box Town could have had more goals.

But the fact they did not add to their first half tally made for a nervy final few minutes although in the end they were always comfortable.

Town might have broken the deadlock inside the opening minute when Nicky Gray crossed from the right but the ball flew just over Dan Codman's head.

Woodley responded with the first corner of the game from which Queeley sliced wide.

But that was their only chance of note in the opening 45 minutes as the Shaymen dominated.

Gray sent a header from a Tom Baker free corner wide of the target from 10 yards and Jamie Smith fired over from 25 yards after good work from Danny Lowe and Dean.

Aaron Hardy's cross was cleared as far as Scott Phelan whose shot from distance was poor.

But Town got the breakthrough they sought in the 17th minute after Smith had sprung the Woodley offside trap.

He fed it on to Gray wide on the right and Dean took it off him, turned superbly and lifted his shot beyond Connett's grasp.

The Shaymen continued to press forward, Lowe's cross field pass picking out Gray on the right and when he pulled back for Smith only a block from Matt Cotton prevented a second goal.

Dean fired wide and Codman's flick from a Baker free kick was put behind by Liam Hogan.

Codman headed over from a Hardy cross before Town doubled their advantage with two minutes of the half remaining.

Payne's ball forward was missed by both Dean and his marker, but Marshall was alert, raced into the box and slid it home.

A two goal lead should have become three within two minutes of the start of the second half, but Dean was denied by Connett.

And within seven minutes the visitors were back in the game as Payne's attempted clearance landed at Antoni Sarcevic's feet and he squared for Queeley who made no mistake.

Three minutes later a Mark Haslam free kick from the right went right across Town's six yard box, missing everyone.

Town were never the same force again after that, although they did manage to create chances.

Marshall almost capitalised on a defensive error with a shot that was beaten away by Connett.

And he should have had a penalty when he was hauled down in the area by Cotton, but the referee waved away Town's appeals.

Baker's free kick, after Marshall had been wrestled to the floor by Gary Gee, thudded into the wall.

And Phelan went close to making the game completely safe when he surged forward from halfway and, after a touch from Gray, fired agonisingly wide from the edge of the area.

Neil Aspin's frustrations, following a challenge by Dean on Connett that was harshly penalised, were met by a stern word from the referee.

And the game remained in the balance - on the scoreboard at least - until the very end after a Mark Peers run that ended with a well struck shot rolling across the face of goal.

There were a couple of alarming moments in the dying seconds but both Phelan and Baker did well to clear the potential danger.

Star Shayman
Richard Marshall only joined the action because of an injury to Jamie Smith - but made a real impact.
He bagged the goal that proved to be Town's winner with some quick thinking.
And he might have had a second goal himself with a thunderous shot that was beaten away by Woodley keeper Ben Connett.
He proved to be a real handful for the visitors' defence and takes the three points on offer in our season long competition.
James Riley has, by his own admission, had a couple of patchy games in recent weeks.,
But he was solid as a rock in the heart of the defence and won every header he went for.
He also made a couple of timely interventions on the floor on the odd occasion that Woodley managed to attack.
He takes two points with the final one going to Danny Lowe who was impressive as one of three central defenders.
That showed the versatility of the player who normally plays on the left and his display gives Neil Aspin real options at the back.

Match facts
FC Halifax Town: Hedge, Hardy, Codman (Peers 63), Riley, Payne, Lowe, Gray, Phelan, Baker, Smith (Marshall 37), Dean. Subs (not used): Senior, Hotte, Sanasy.
Goals: Dean 17, Marshall 43
Booked: None
Sent-off: None

Woodley Sports: Connett, Hogan, Furnival, Cotton, Parsonage, Sarcevic (Browne 77), Haslam, Gee, Dennis (Salmon 23), Clarke (Blacker 46), Queeley. Subs (not used): Jarratt, Ahmed.
Goals: Queeley 54
Booked: Gee (foul 70), Cotton (foul 90)
Sent-off: None

Attendance: 1,249
Referee: C Grundy

Player points
Gray 24, Marshall 23, Payne 19, Dean 18, Crossley 15, Baker 12, Riley 12, Hedge 10, Phelan 7, Hotte 7, Codman 7, Hardy 6, Lowe 5, Harrison 2, Peers 2, Richardson 2.

You say
Very poor performance but a vital win. We need other options in central midfield to protect baker(phelan(gray from burnout. andy g
Class finish Deano - but the 2nd half was'nt impressive at all - Stay focused Shaymen. Bri W7
just get rid of the hated boarding at the back of the shed i wont come down till they fall and thats where the club will go if others boycot home games get rid of the idiot who authorised it today waz dead as it showed in the performance! a fan for 43 years
dull ! and all those silly tin pot cup games we have dropped to the level those games are played at and all for what ? is the title still important then i wonder? realist