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Newcastle Blue Star 3 FC Halifax Town 0: Town no match for Blue Star
TOWN suffered back to back league defeats for the first time this season as they failed to build on a solid first half display at Kingston Park.
The Shaymen were much improved from the previous week's debacle at home to Woodley Sports, they simply had to be.
But in the end Newcastle were still too good for Jim Vince's side who slipped to fifth in Unibond One North.
Nathan Joynes made a promising return in attack, Andrew Villerman impressed on the left of defence and the midfield duo of Paul Evans and Tom Baker worked hard.
But the sad fact is that Newcastle were just too good for Town after the break as they climbed to second and maintained their challenge to north east rivals Durham City at the top of the table.
Joynes and Villerman combined well to force the opening corner of the game after four minutes but no one could get on the end of Evans's delivery.
And it was Newcastle who went closest to breaking the deadlock with two good chances inside a minute.
Both went to Paul Brayson, the first being cleared off the line by Villerman after the striker had lifted the ball over Jon Kennedy and the second - a well struck shot - bounced back off a post.
Town responded positively to the double scare with Tony Barras stooping to head an Evans corner just over the bar in the 13th minute.
Mark Peers had a shot blocked and when David Brown was released down the left he did well to pull the ball back to the penalty spot but no one was there to capitalise.
Steve Bowey fired a left foot shot across goal before Town returned to the attack with Evans collecting a Junior Brown pass, only to fail to get enough power into his shot on the turn from the edge of the area.
And when Evans delivered the ball again from a free kick Steve Baker was fortunate to see his sliced attempted clearance fly over the Blue Star bar.
David Brown got free again in the 37th minute, this time on the right, and sent over a low hard cross that Sam Lowson managed to push away from goal before a defender cleared.
Lincoln Adams then did well at the other end, sliding in to block a Brayson shot with the home striker well placed.
Town almost broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half after Adams's ball forward had reached Joynes.
He slipped on the edge of the area but still managed to lay it off for Baker whose beautifully struck shot was saved at full stretch by Lowson diving to his right.
Town failed to make anything of the resulting corner and within 60 seconds of almost taking the lead they found themselves trailing as Newcastle struck on the break.
The home side swept down field and David McTinnion lifted the ball into the box for the league's leading scorer Grayson, who crashed home his 35th goal of the season.
Town tried to get back on terms with Junior Brown heading a Peers cross straight at the keeper.
But Town lacked the threat that Newcastle had and the home side doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute after another well-worked, one-touch move.
Jon Webb crossed the ball in from the right, Brayson provided the touch back for Chris Emms and he struck a low shot beyond the reach of Kennedy.
The goal prompted Vince to replace Barras and Villerman with Mark Hotte at the back and Ashley Stott, who joined Joynes and David Brown in a three man attack.
And for a brief spell the Shaymen looked as though they might create something with Stott winning a free kick then a corner.
They could make nothing of the former and when Peers's corner was cleared to the edge of the area Evans's low shot was comfortably saved by the keeper.
David Brown's shot from the edge of the area, after he had latched onto a Peers pass, went wide of the target and that was it as far as Town chances went.
Newcastle were never really in danger of surrendering the lead, but they made sure there was no late drama as they finished the game on top.
Evans did well to block Brayson when he was well placed to add to his tally and, with four minutes remaining, the hosts bagged a third goal, Brayson crossing for Michael Tait to nod back to Matthew Tymon, who had the simplest of tasks to head home.
MATCH FACTS
Newcastle Blue Star: Lowson, Webb, Talbot, Tait, Baker, Craddock, McTiernan, Bowey, Brayson, Emms, Wright (Tymon 49). Subs (not used): Snowden, Carr, Southerm.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: Brayson 52, Emms 63, Tymon 86
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Villerman (Hotte 63), Adams, Sutton, Barras (Stott 63), Baker, Evans, Peers, J Brown (Allen 80), D Brown, Joynes. Subs (not used): Senior, Barnes.
Booked: None
Sent-off: None
Goals: None
Attendance: 512
STAR SHAYMAN
Restored to the starting line up, Paul Evans showed why he should always be in the Town side as he controlled things in the middle of the park.
He tackles hard, producing one excellent block in the second half to deny Paul Brayson, passes well and his delivery from set pieces is something the Shaymen would do well to capitalise on.
He sent one first half corner curling right along the Newcastle six yard area but no one was there to take advantage.
Alongside him in the middle, Tom Baker looked back to something like his best after an off day against Woodley Sports.
The idea that he and Evans cannot play together is a hot topic of conversation on the terraces, but they showed they can.
And Baker is always likely to pop up with a thunderous shot like the one that almost gave Town the lead a minute before Blue Star struck.
Nathan Joynes was thrown straight into action after his signing on Friday and he looked impressive.
He linked up the play well and could be just the man wither Ashley Stott or David Brown need to work alongside in the crucial run in to the play offs.
Evans takes the three points on offer in our season long competition with Baker taking two and Joynes one
PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 32, Tom Baker 32, Ashley Stott 19, Scott Phelan 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Nigel Jemson 11, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Lincoln Adams 8, Cavell Coo 7, Damien Allen 7, Michael Barnes 6, Paul Evans 6, Mark Peers 5, Ritchie Sutton 4, Adam Morning 4, Paul Collins 4, Luke Hinsley 3, Steve Payne 3, Neil Ross 3, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Craig Ellison 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1, Nathan Joynes 1.
YOU SAY
what did vince say at half time because it clearly didnt work - angry andy
Enough is enough. Mr Vince. You are simply not good enough to manage this football club.Good bye - JRA.
A question to the chairman. Would you sack a salesman that couldnt sell cars? - Shay fan
Time to go vince.Why delay the inevitable til the end of the season?Get someone else in now and give us a chance of salvaging something - Seedy
No surprise - i have just about lost faith with Vince's constant change in players - poor team selection - wrong formation's and bad substitution's. Nightmare - Bri
We've got used to jim's teams losing to pub sides. Now they thrash us! - incenced Town fan.
Rome wasn't built in a day but at least they laid the foundations.time to go - Mary J and Anna
still in with a shout shaymen-keep going-unlucky jim again bring your ear plugs tues night - The Taxman
if only we had 11 Tom Bakers out there battling like he does we may be in a diff position. Baker u are class and a leader - Mark Harrop
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Friday 10 February 2012
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