Battling display sees Halifax beat Hartlepool at The Shay

Town were well off it in the first-half at Altrincham on Friday, but this was much more like it.

The Shaymen gave it their all, playing with pride and passion and were deserving of the win against Hartlepool and a certain Will Harris.

Halifax lined-up in a 4-2-2-2 system, switching to a more conventional 4-4-2 out of possession, hoping to overload Hartlepool in central midfield, like Altrincham had done to Town on Friday.

Town certainly weren't outnumbered in the middle, but did seem to miss having natural wide players high up the pitch at times.

But it worked.

There was certainly more bite and fight about The Shaymen than the first-half at Altrincham, with John McGrath getting the response he wanted.

Harris got the response he must have expected, being booed every time he touched the ball.

He had a shot saved after six minutes - as close as he got all evening - and then set-up Brooklyn Ilunga, who drove an effort across goal and wide shortly afterwards.

Hugill had a shot deflected wide as Town started to get on top the more the opening half went on.

Zak Gilsenan had got into some good areas and not made the most of them, but half-an-hour in he played a delightful through ball for Conor Carty, but his shot was tipped behind by the on-rushing Max Merrick.

Three minutes later, Carty had an even better chance from another Gilsenan pass, but Merrick again diverted his effort behind.

Hartlepool hadn't created much, but were nearly gifted a goal when True Grant played Cody Johnson into trouble 25 yards out, and moments later, Jordan Hugill smashed a shot off the bar.

Merrick was then nearly caught out at the other end when Gilsenan went for goal at a free-kick everyone was expecting to be crossed into the box, but the Hartlepool keeper just about got across in time.

The endeavour and effort Town had been showing all evening came to fruition eight minutes after the restart when Gilsenan nicked the ball from Liam Gibson high on the right before finding the unmarked Hugill near the penalty spot, who found the back of the net.

After that, it became a bit more of a containing job for Town.

Substitute Terry Bondo should have done better with a free header with 20 minutes remaining, as the game entered nervy territory with a worryingly long time left.

Ex-Town man Jay Benn could only shoot tamely at Grant near the corner of the six-yard box under pressure from Hugill.

Grant then produced an excellent save from Jack Nolan's thunderous effort as the tension cranked up.

Ben Tollitt and Hugill should have ended the nerves a minute early but both somehow failed to find the net deep in added time.

Halifax: Grant, Bardell, Flint, Hobson, Conte, C Johnson, Hugill, Trusty, Gilsenan (Crowe 87), Morgan-Smith (Kawa 69), Carty (Tollitt 89). Subs not used: Johnson, Bray, Hill, C Allen.

Scorer: Hugill (53)

Attempts on target: 7

Attempts off target: 9

Corners: 7

Hartlepool: Merrick, Benn, Gibson (Thornton 69), McNally, John (Hunter 49), Sheron, Miley, Ilunga, Nolan, Hugill (Bondo 60), Harris. Subs not used: Fisher, Penman, Penprase, Popov.

Attempts on target: 5

Attempts off target: 9

Corners: 7

Referee: Andrew Miller

Attendance: 1,814 (650 away)