Battling performance in vain as Shaymen lose 3-1 at Wrexham

Mani Dierseruvwe's penalty had given Town a half-time lead, but second-half goals from Ben Tozer, substitute Jordan Davies and Aaron Hayden saw The Shaymen leave with nothing.

Town lost here 3-1 last season, but the manner of this defeat was vastly different.

The result was scant reward for a battling, committed performance from Halifax, but ultimately Wrexham just had too much quality.

Town weren't intimidated or overawed like in previous visits here and started positively, with Kian Spence's shot on the break after ten minutes indicative of that.

Halifax were bright, sharp and energetic, and took the lead when Dierseruvwe won and converted a penalty.

The award of the penalty didn't enamour Michael Barlow, who controversially sent-off Jack Senior at Notts County last season, to the home fans, and neither did turning down a possible Wrexham spot kick for a pull in the box, as well as his perceived leniency to the excellent Tylor Golden for a series of fouls.

Town were fairly comfortable in open play; it was restarts where Wrexham offered the biggest threat.

The latest of several long throws by Ben Tozer led to a chance for Ollie Palmer.

But The Shaymen were diligent, disciplined and well organised, Jamie Cooke working hard down the right, soo too Spence alongside him to disrupt the hosts high up the pitch.

The best Wrexham created in a poor first half-an-hour was a bicycle kick from Elliot Lee from the edge of the box.

Time and again hopeful balls forward from Wrexham turned out to be hopeless.

The second series of Welcome To Wrexham was being filmed during the game, with co-owner Rob McElhenney in attendance among the 10,000-plus, but most of it was presumably ending up on the cutting room floor.

After all the controversy over Paul Mullin's boots, he was barely getting a kick.

But Callum McFadzean's header off the bar heralded the start of some momentum being built by the home side, which grew further when a slip by Festus Arthur let in Palmer, whose shot was saved by Sam Johnson before Lee curled the ball wide.

Palmer then headed over from another Tozer long throw. It was getting relentless.

Only Manchester City had scored as many home league goals as Wrexham before the game this season - Wrexham lacked the style and finesse of the Premier League champions but were effective in what they did best, getting the ball wide and crossing into the box.

Town managed to keep the hosts at arm's length after the restart, pressing exceptionally well once it came over halfway, hunting the ball with zeal.

Wrexham wanted to get the ball forward as fast as possible, which was sometimes to their detriment when it was rushed, but it ensured most of the game was being played in the Halifax half, with the visitors barely seeing any sustained spell of possession and being harried into giving the ball back.

Johnson saved brilliantly from Palmer just before the hour mark, with momentum hugely in Wrexham's favour.

Barlow's night wasn't getting any better, he gave Town a corner despite Cooke's shot clearly bouncing off a Wrexham defender and then back off the Halifax man.

Tozer looked like he could have set-up a goal with his long-throws, but scored himself when Anthony Forde's cross was cleared to him, and his floated shot with the outside of his right foot went in off the underside of the bar.

Town needed some composure, to retain possession.

Jack Senior broke brilliantly but substitute Milli Alli's shot was blocked. That was an exception though.

Only heroics from Johnson kept Wrexham out, diving low to keep out a shot from the edge of the box before reacting superbly to paw it behind before the follow up could be converted by Aaron Hayden.

There were two more big saves from Johnson as Wrexham just kept on coming; Town's energy-sapping work-rate was taking its toll, as were Wrexham's incessant balls into the box, which were defended repeatedly by Arthur and Jesse Debrah. There was just no let up.

And eventually the pressure told, as Davies produced a lovely finish into the top corner across goal.

It had been a commendable effort from The Shaymen, but their tiring legs and Wrexham's momentum proved too much.

Hayden made sure of the result with a bullet header from a corner as the clock struck 90.

Wrexham: Howard, Hayden, Tozer, Tunnicliffe (Davies 62), Forde, Jones, Young, McFadzean, Lee (Dalby 78), Mullin, Palmer. Subs not used: Watson, Cleworth, McAlinden.

Scorers: Tozer (63), Davies (83), Hayden (90)

Shots on target: 10

Shots off target: 7

Corners: 12

Halifax: Johnson, Golden, Debrah, Arthur, Senior, Hunter (Alli 65), Summerfield, Spence, Slew, Cooke (Gilmour 81), Dierseruvwe. Subs not used: Harker, Clarke, Capello.

Scorer: Dierseruvwe (14)

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 4

Corners: 2

Attendance: 10,039 (197 away)

Referee: Michael Barlow

Town man of the match: Half a dozen contenders, including all the back four, but I'll give it to Sam Johnson for some excellent saves.