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Radcliffe Borough 3 FC Halifax Town 2: Town squander two-goal lead at Radcliffe
QUITE how Town managed to throw this one away was beyond the comprehension of the majority of the 566 crowd inside Stainton Park.
But throw it away they did after going 2-0 up in the 55th minute and dominating the opening hour.
Goals from midfielders Scott Phelan and Harry Winter had put the Shaymen in a seemingly unassailable position.
But, to their credit, Radcliffe refused to buckle and - helped by some distinctly average defending - they scored three times in 22 minutes to condemn Halifax to a remarkable defeat - their second in the league this season.
It was a major blow to their title hopes with Lancaster winning, as expected, against Harrogate Railway.
And they cannot afford too many more if they are to pip their Roses rivals.
Town passed the ball round well in the opening stages, pulling Radcliffe men out of position to create gaps.
But they struggled to carve out any clear cut opportunities, Andrew Lee missing the target with a couple of free kicks and Nicky Gray, on the stretch, sending an effort into the keeper's arms.
Lloyd Rigby was eventually tested properly after 18 minutes, James Dean surging into the area on the left and forcing the keeper to gather at the second attempt.
And three minutes later Tom Baker's well struck free kick had Rigby scrambling to his right to turn the ball round the post.
It was a gradual build up of pressure and it paid dividends in the 24th minute when Dean rose to meet a long ball but was beaten in the air on the edge of the area.
The ball fell at Scott Phelan's feet and he kept his cool with a first time shot that lobbed the keeper and bounced into the empty net.
Conceding a goal jolted Radcliffe into life and twice Town were indebted to Jonathan Hedge.
He raced out of his area in the 28th minute to clear as Tom Brooks went clear and three minutes later he stuck out a right arm to tip Ben Wharton's shot from the edge of the area over the bar.
Town finished the first half on top, though as Phelan fired a 20-yarder narrowly wide of the target and Gray was denied by a great challenge from Ben Manning as he threatened to get on the end of a Dean cross.
It was more of the same in the early stages of the second half with Ryan Crossley heading wide from a Baker corner and Rigby saving with his legs from Dean, although the keeper did not know much about it.
Town doubled their advantage in the 55th minute after Dean had done well on the right.
His first effort was blocked and when he sent the ball across goal it fell for Winter who fired home from close range.
Moments later Dean found Gray who sent a deep cross from the right beyond the far post, but Lee's header went into the keeper's arms.
Town were pegged back in the 63rd minute when Shaun Connor crossed from the right, Brooks flicked on and Wharton fired home from the edge of the area.
There was nothing at that stage to suggest Town might collapse, but four minutes later it was all square from an Eddie Stanford corner, with Connor rising to head home.
Town almost regained the initiative with nine minutes remaining after Aaron Hardy's well judged cross field pass for Danny Lowe.
The left back controlled the ball well and sent in a cross that Phelan met perfectly only to be denied by Rigby.
Phelan also had a shot blocked by Mike Jones as the Shaymen continued to press.
But they paid for switching off at the back with five minutes remaining when Wharton was allowed far too much space on the edge of the area and drilled his shot beyond Hedge.
Even in stoppage time Town had the chance to salvage a point from the game as Hardy lifted the ball into the area.
Dean did well to work an opening but his shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Hedge went up and the ball landed at his feet, but he lifted his shot over the bar just before the final whistle went.
Aspin down in the dumps
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MATCH FACTS
There was nothing at that stage to suggest Town might collapse, but four minutes later it was all square from an Eddie Stanford corner, with Connor rising to head home.
Town almost regained the initiative with nine minutes remaining after Aaron Hardy’s well judged cross field pass for Danny Lowe.
The left back controlled the ball well and sent in a cross that Phelan met perfectly only to be denied by Rigby.
Phelan also had a shot blocked by Mike Jones as the Shaymen continued to press.
But they paid for switching off at the back with five minutes remaining when Wharton was allowed far too much space on the edge of the area and drilled his shot beyond Hedge.
Even in stoppage time Town had the chance to salvage a point from the game as Hardy lifted the ball into the area.
Dean did well to work an opening but his shot was blocked behind for a corner.
Hedge went up and the ball landed at his feet, but he lifted his shot over the bar just before the final whistle went.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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