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Radcliffe Borough 1 FC Halifax Town 4: Shaymen are back on top
TOWN rediscovered their scoring touch as they stormed back to the top of the Unibond One North table.
Click here to see the latest league table on the Town fixtures and results page
The goals came in an 18-minute purple patch either side of half time after the home side had taken a shock lead.
Once Jim Vince's side had got their noses in front before the break there was never any danger of anything other than a Halifax victory.
And the fact that Lancaster lost, Ossett Albion drew and Bamber Bridge's game was called off means the Shaymen will be number one at Christmas.
The difference between this performance and the previous four, in which Town had failed to register a win, was that they finally took their chances.
Two of the strikes - volleys from Tom Baker and Paul Gedman - would have graced any game anywhere in the country.
Ashley Stott took his goal tally for the season to 16 from the penalty spot and Paul Collins opened his account for the Shaymen with a cool finish to put them 2-1 in front on the stroke of half time.
It appeared that the recent trend of domination without reward was going to unfold in the opening quarter of the game as Town created and failed to convert several good chances.
Cavell Coo saw plenty of the ball down the right hand side as the Shaymen pushed forward and they should have had a penalty when Stott was pulled to the ground by Craig Dawson.
Gedman's header from a Damien Allen cross was cleared and Stott had a shot blocked moments later as Town continued to have the upper hand.
But from their first foray downfield Radcliffe took the lead when, in the 23rd minute, Adam Roscoe fired home after his initial effort had been charged down.
Town responded positively, Ritchie Sutton swapping passes with Stott before taking one touch too many inside the Borough box and Danny Meadowcroft heading against a defender from a Nigel Jemson free kick.
Town eventually got back into the game four minutes before the break - and the goal was out of the top drawer.
Coo's cross from the right was only cleared as far as Baker on the edge of the area and he struck a first time volley that dipped under the bar.
Three minutes later Stott fed the ball to the right for Gedman whose cross reached Collins at the far post. The defender took his time before beating a challenge and rolling the ball inside the post.
The game had been turned on its head as far as the scoreline was concerned, but it was no less than Halifax deserved.
Allen had an effort blocked as the Shaymen continued to push forward at the start of the second half and they increased their lead in the 57th minute with a penalty.
Collins sent Allen racing into the area and when he cut inside Lee Unsworth he was sent to the floor by the defender.
Stott made no mistake from the spot and then played a big part in Town's fourth goal two minutes later.
He was picked out by Baker on the left hand side and played a one-two with Gedman before getting to the line and sending over the cross.
Gedman was waiting eight yards from goal and sent a side footed volleyed beyond the static keeper.
Home keeper Phil Priestley saved well from a Coo cross soon after but with such a commanding lead there was no real need for Town to maintain the pressure and that allowed Radcliffe to create a few chances of their own in the final quarter.
Jon Kennedy saved well from an Ian Fitzpatrick free kick that bounced awkwardly in the area and from Scott Howson's shot on the turn.
From the resulting corner, Stott broke with Sutton in support but the centre back blazed his shot over the bar.
Ex-Town man Fitzpatrick curled a free kick wide of the target after 77 minutes and Borough had a great chance to pull one back with nine minutes remaining after Jemson had been judged to have fouled Howson in the area.
The referee gave the spot kick but Kennedy, diving to his right, turned Howson's effort away brilliantly.
Tom Brooks also had a good chance in stoppage time but fired high over the bar from no more than 10 yards out.
Radcliffe Borough: Priestley, Unsworth, Brockley, Kelly, Drew (Howson 61), Dawson, G Jones (Oates 46), M Jones, Roscoe, Fitzpatrick, Forrest (Manning 70). Sub (not used): Manning.
Booked: Drew (foul 37), Dawson (foul 70)
Sent-off: None
Goal: Roscoe 23
FC Halifax Town: Kennedy, Coo (Hinsley 82), Collins, Sutton, Meadowcroft, Jemson, Baker, Phelan, Allen (Smith 62), Stott, Gedman. Subs (not used): Adams, King, Brown.
Booked: Allen (unsporting behaviour 10), Stott (foul 60)
Sent-off: None
Goals: Baker 41, Collins 44, Stott 57, Gedman 59.
Attendance: 480
Referee: S Durbin.
STAR SHAYMAN
Tom Baker is fast becoming the first name the manager puts down on his matchday teamsheet.
He was highly influential again on Saturday despite a stuttering start in the centre of midfield.
There was a spell before the break when every pass he attempted seemed to land at a Radcliffe player's feet.
But he worked through it and came up with the goal that inspired Town's comeback, a stunning volley from the edge of the area.
Paul Collins had another impressive afternoon in a blue shirt and his goal showed a really cool head for a left back.
He took his time when he latched onto Paul Gedman's cross but never panicked and the ball ended up exactly where he wanted it to - in the back of the bet.
Ashley Stott has been the subject of criticism from the Town fans, but he made a major contribution at Stainton Park.
He had a hand in the second goal, scored the third and crossed for striker partner Gedman to make it 4-1.
Baker takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Collins getting two and Stott one.
PLAYER POINTS
Junior Brown 25, Tom Baker 17, Jonathan Smith 16, Scott Phelan 16, Paul Gedman 11, Colin Daniel 10, Peter Moore 10, Ashley Stott 10, Jon Kennedy 9, Cavell Coo 5, Damien Allen 4, Adam Morning 4, Lincoln Adams 4, Paul Collins 4, Steve Payne 3, Nigel Jemson 2, Craig Smith 2, Justin Walker 2, Luke Hinsley 2, Danny Ellis 1, Phil Senior 1.
YOU SAY
Excellent for 20 mins either side of half time. Collins & Baker class. Still badly need a quality striker. Excellent following again - JRA.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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