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FC Halifax Town 0 Droylsden 0: Town more than match Droylsden
Boss Neil Aspin wanted a tougher workout for his side in their first friendly at the Shay - and got it.
But Town were more than a match for last season's Conference North play off semi-finalists.
Once they realised they were as good as the opposition after around 20 minutes without seeing the ball - the Shaymen played some good stuff.
And while the keepers were rarely tested and there was a certain inevitability about the final scoreline it was a good second step on the road to Buxton at home on August 21.
There were certainly plenty of pluses.
The pace of Nathan Taylor, the guile of Harry Winter, the industry of Tom Baker and Jamie Vardy and the coolness under pressure of Liam Hogan were just a few.
The game was also played with some feeling, Danny Holland and Nat Kerr squaring up at one point and Aaron Hardy confronting Luke Holden on another.
And with plenty of time still to work on his side, the manager was, quite rightly, pleased.
Droylsden worked the first opening of the game after eight minutes when Alex Brown found Graham Kilheemey down the right and his cross was flicked on by former Shayman Lewis Killeen for Phil Doran.
But when Killeen rose to meet Doran's mis-hit shot, the linesman's flag was quickly raised.
Three minutes later Liam Brownhill did well on the left, getting past Tom Baker and Aaron Hardy only to send his attempted cross land in the South Stand.
And Mark Bower had to throw himself in front of Killeen as he sent an effort goalwards, with Jonathan Hedge claiming Brownhill's overhead kick from the rebound.
It was not until the 16th minute that Town threatened, and Scott Metcalfe was only able to send a free kick - given for a Nat Kerr foul on Danny Holland - straight into Droylsden keeper Paul Philip's hands.
The Bloods went straight down the other end, with Brownhill forcing Hedge to save down to his right.
Town started to get a foothold in the game after the mid point of the first half.
Winter and Vardy combined well but the ball narrowly failed to find Holland.
And when Holland battled for possession on halfway he sent Gray clear on the right, but the winger's cross was cleared into the main stand.
Simon Garner picked out Scott Metcalfe on half way just past the half hour and the winger turned well before delivering a cross that was scrambled clear by the visitors.
And a minute later Winter found Gray on the opposite flank, but his cross was pushed to safety by the keeper.
The Shaymen almost broke the deadlock 11 minutes before the break after Winter won the ball with a robust challenge in Droylsden's half.
He also managed to get it wide for Metcalfe who crossed deep from the left and Gray sent his far post header back across the face of goal and narrowly wide.
Droylsden almost broke through at the start of the second half when David McNiven played it through for Killheemey but his shot with the outside of the right boot rolled wide.
At the other end, Liam Hogan found Nathan Taylor, whose cross was cleared and when Hogan's long diagonal ball found Winter, he crossed and Taylor headed wide.
Taylor collected a Matt Plummer pass soon after and crossed, but Winter was unable to work an opening eight yards out.
And the Bloods came back into it for a spell after that with Frazer Ablett firing wide and Brown having an effort from a half cleared corner blocked by Hogan.
Town almost scored in the most extraordinary fashion in the 66th minute when James Vaughan's attempted clearance was charged down by Scott Phelan.
The ball looped over keeper Phillip and back off the bar and when it was worked to Richard Marshall he sent his effort from the right over.
Marshall should have scored with 14 minutes remaining after Phelan had won it on halfway and played a great ball forward, but the keeper smothered.
And he had another opportunity a minute later, heading over from a Garner free kick.
Droylsden could have snatched it with three minutes remaining when Holden got on the end of a ball over the top, but he failed to lift his shot over the head of Senior.
FC Halifax Town: Hedge, Hardy, Garner, Winter, Bower, Hogan, Gray, Baker, Holland, Vardy, Metcalfe. Subs: Senior, Phelan. Marshall, Taylor, Plummer, Riley.
Droylsden: Phillip, Roche, Brownhill, Byron, Kerr, Barnes, Brown, Doran, Kilheemey, McNiven, Killeen. Subs: Vaughan, McGuirr, Holden, Cryan, Jackson, Smith, Booth, Ablett, Whalley, Sorvel.
Referee: Mick Denton
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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