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FC Halifax Town 0 Silsden 0: Town fail to take chances
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.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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