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FC Halifax Town 1 Northwich Victoria 1: Town have to settle for point
TOWN had enough chances to have won two games at the Shay last night, but had to settle for a point as Northwich hit back after the break.
It was almost non stop attack from the Shaymen against a Vics side that arrived as league leaders.
And they could have been more than one-up - thanks to a Danny Holland goal - at the break.
But they were unable to add to their tally and Wayne Riley's goal after 65 minutes proved enough for the visitors to claim a share of the spoils.
The Shaymen continued to press and almost claimed a dramatic win with a Jamie Vardy shot that went wide off a post in injury time.
Vardy showed his pace as early as the second minute when Vics defender Matthew Brown was forced to drag him to the floor.
Simon Garner's free-kick that followed was headed behind by John Disney, but the Town man was unable to make anything of the corner.
Town threatened again after 10 minutes when Holland flicked on for Vardy who played it forward, but he was not able to get on the end of a Richard Marshall cross.
Two minutes later Northwich had the chance to break the deadlock when Adam Sumner swung the ball in from the left and John McAliskey headed goalwards, but Phil Senior dived to his left to save.
But it was the Shaymen who drew first blood in the 14th minute when Richard Marshall fed a Liam Hogan pass through to Vardy on the left.
He bided his time before sending in the perfect low cross for Holland to blast home from eight yards.
Moments later Vardy worked some space for himself on the edge of the area, but his well struck shot was deflected over.
Ollie Ryan sliced horribly wide from the edge of the area for the visitors before Town went close again.
Hogan's defensive clearance was helped on by Holland to Vardy whose low effort was saved at full stretch by James Spencer.
Brown headed a Riley free kick wide just past the midway point in the half than Vardy headed a Winter cross against the bar only to be brought back for offside.
The Shaymen continued to enjoy the better of the contest and Holland crossed deep from the right, but Simon Garner was unable to get the connection he would have liked on his far post volley.
And when Garner crossed from the right following a half cleared corner, Mark Bower failed to get the touch on the ball that would surely have taken it past the keeper.
Town might have doubled their advantage in first half stoppage time when Vardy crossed low from the left and Holland slid in to send it goalwards, but Spencer saved superbly from point blank range.
The game continued in similar fashion after the break with Baker finding Winter on the right hand corner of the area in the 51st minute, but his well struck shot was beaten away by Spencer.
At the other end, James Riley did well to stick his head in and deny Ryan as he looked to attack the Town goal on the break.
Ryan was fortunate to stay on the pitch just past the hour mark after a two-footed lunge on Matthew Plummer, the referee, who was poor all night, deciding a yellow card was sufficient punishment.
Northwich forced their way back into the game after 65 minutes, Riley volleying home from close range after the Shaymen had failed to deal with a free kick.
Substitute Nicky Gray sent Winter away down the right but Holland's shot from the edge of the area was blocked by a defender.
And moments later Scott Metcalfe, another of the second half replacements, crossed low for Holland who laid the ball off for Winter but he fired well over.
Metcalfe got away from his marker on the left with seven minutes remaining but his shot from distance flew wide.
Spencer spilled Plummer's long range thunderbolt with five minutes remaining, but the Vics managed to scramble the ball behind for a corner.
Town continued to press forward, but a defender got back to turn a Plummer cross behind for a corner with Gray lurking at the far post and Baker sent a rasping drive over the bar.
As the game went into added time Holland floated the ball across for Vardy, but a defender got back to head behind.
And Vardy almost pulled it out of the bag with a great piece of skill on the edge of the area, but his shot grazed the outside of the post.
MATCH FACTS
FC Halifax Town: Senior, Plummer, Bower, Hogan, Riley, Winter, Baker, Holland, Vardy, Marshall (Metcalfe 70), Garner (Gray 70). Subs (not used): Hedge, Phelan, Dean.
Goals: Holland 14
Booked: Plummer (foul 24)
Sent-off: None
Northwich Victoria: Spencer, Disney, Sumner, Fodor, Brown, Henry (Sorvel 57), Riley, Connor (O'Brien 78), McAliskey, Ryan, Crane (Fowler 57). Subs (not used): Wiliams, Barrett.
Goals: Riley 65
Booked: Connor (foul 31), Ryan (foul 62)
Sent-off: None
Attendance: 1,166
Referee: C Grundy
STAR PLAYER
The sign of a good player is one who has time on the ball no matter what the situation.
And Liam Hogan had plenty of time as he gave an another assured performance in the heart of the defence.
He did not miss a header all night, stepped in to prevent Northwich attacks developing and used the ball well.
Hogan claims the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Jamie Vardy taking two after another electric performance.
His pace continues to frighten all who face him and he laid on the goal for Danny Holland with a burst down the left. A fine piece of skill late on almost brought the reward he and his teammates deserved.
Matthew Plummer has not taken too many headlines since coming in to replace Aaron Hardy. But he did well on the right and, as he continued to grow in confidence, began to pose an attacking threat. He claims the final point.
PLAYER POINTS
Jamie Vardy 11, Tom Baker 5, Richard Marshall 5, Liam Hogan 4, Aaron Hardy 3, Danny Holland 3, Nathan Taylor 1, Harry Winter 1, Matthew Plummer 1
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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