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Wakefield 2 FC Halifax Town 1: Town perish in the cold - Stott strike not enough
THERE will probably be few tears shed among Town fans over their exit from the West Riding County Cup.
Mind you, if there were any from the eyes of the loyal supporters who made the trip to College Grove last night, they most likely froze before they reached the floor so bitterly cold was the evening.
But though the competition is low in the Shaymen's list of priorities and their early exit was a minor blow in the general scheme of things, there was still a tinge of disappointment that a sizzling little run which has seen them carry all before them in the last two or three weeks should shudder to a halt against a combative but limited Wakefield outfit.
In truth, it was difficult to argue against the view that the home side deserved their victory, because for most of the game they outfought a reshuffled Town side by showing a striking level of commitment, and indeed they outplayed the visitors for long periods.
Wakefield threw themselves into the contest and peppered beleaguered keeper Craig Ellison's goal, and though Town broke upfield crisply at times with Colin Daniel looking a class above the opposition at times, they created few chances of their own.
And after going in at the interval a goal down thanks to Chris Howarth's 28th minute strike, they failed to wrestle the initiative from the home side after the break and rarely looked capable of levelling even before Delroy Ferguson's strike five minutes from time finally killed them off, with Ashley Stott's injury time goal a mere consolation.
There was precious little for the travelling fans to cheer all night, though the Shaymen had started brightly enough once they were jolted into life when Jay Sobers's speculative 35 yard chip almost dipped under Ellison's bar in the second minute.
But they were hassled out of their stride by an aggressive Wakefield side, with Stott and Jonathan Smith both feeling the weight of crunching challenges in that opening period.
And the home side took advantage, pressing Town back down the slope and finally making it pay when a corner caused havoc in the visitors' box and after a desperate block momentarily saved Halifax, the ball was cleared only as far as Howarth who calmly passed the ball into the corner of the net from 12 yards.
The visitors had their opportunities to level as the first half drew to a close, Smith breaking well into the area only for his cross to be cleared, then Stott making a great run only for his shot to be blocked and scrambled away before Junior Brown could apply the finishing touch.
But hopes that they would build on those encouraging signs after the break proved unfounded.
Stott's shot straight at the keeper on 52 minutes was the closest they came as Wakefield regained the upper hand and again had the lion's share of the chances.
They knew another goal would kill off a still below par Town and it almost came on 84 minutes when substitute Graham Marchant rattled the bar with a fizzing drive.
But it was a temporary reprieve for the visitors and the home fans in a sparse but enthusiastic crowd did not have to wait too much longer as a minute and a half later, yet another scramble in the visitors' box led to Ferguson blasting home from close range.
To be fair to Town, they kept on battling and pulled one back in injury time when Smith made a forceful run and after his shot was parried, Stott netted the rebound from point blank range, but it was too late to pull it out of the fire.
MATCH FACTS
Wakefield: Andy Woods, Steve Nicholson, Caldon Henson, Adam Jones, Wes Milnes, Craig Laight, Matthew Sparkes, Jay Sobers, Wayne Shooter, Chris Howarth, Delroy Ferguson.
Subs: Graham Marchant (for Shooter, 73), Dominic Noteman (for Ferguson, 88). Subs not used: Aidan Morris, Andy McManus.
Goals: Howarth 28, Ferguson 85.
FC Halifax Town: Craig Ellison, Kris King, Nigel Jemson, Danny Meadowcroft, Lincoln Adams, Jonathan Smith, Junior Brown, Scott Phelan, Ashley Stott, Colin Daniel, Luke Hinsley.
Sub: Tony Barrass (for Brown, 73). Subs not used: Jon Kennedy, Danny Ellis, Damien Allen, Justin Walker.
Goal: Stott 92
Referee: Christopher Akers.
Attendance: 140.
They knew another goal would kill off a still below par Town and it almost came on 84 minutes when substitute Graham Marchant rattled the bar with a fizzing drive.
But it was a temporary reprieve for the visitors and the home fans in a sparse but enthusiastic crowd did not have to wait too much longer as a minute and a half later, yet another scramble in the visitors' box led to Ferguson blasting home from close range.
To be fair to Town, they kept on battling and pulled one back in injury time when Smith made a forceful run and after his shot was parried, Stott netted the rebound from point blank range, but it was too late to pull it out of the fire.
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Weather for Halifax
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
