Harris hat-trick gets Shaymen back on track with 3-0 win over Chris Milington's Solihull Moors

After the low of Sutton, The Shaymen were rejuvenated and ended their wretched runs of defeats and no goals, winning in the league for the first time since October 4.

The returns of Harris and Josh Hmami helped massively, as did the return to form of Cody Johnson and Will Hugill in central midfield.

On Millington's return to the Shay, it was Harris who ended up taking centre stage by doing what no player managed under the former Halifax manager's reign and netting a hat-trick.

Town ended their goal drought, after just over seven hours without one, when Adam Adetoro - one of five changes from Sutton - headed a corner goalwards and it was poked in at close range by Harris.

But that was nearly wiped out as Solihull created, but wasted, some clear chances.

It had been a fairly dull affair up to the goal, with The Shaymen at least enjoying some control over the contest after having none during the opening 45 a week ago.

But Harris' goal seemed to perk Solihull up, and a sloppy pass by Shaun Hobson gifted the visitors a chance to counter through Tyrese Sinclair but his pass to Conor Wilkinson at the vital moment was mercifully overhit.

Wilkinson then curled a shot just wide from 20 yards before Sinclair sent the ball just wide after a lovely move sliced through the Town back four, which had three new faces since last week, including a first league start for AJ Warburton.

While Town weren't quite back to their six-in-a-row best, they were certainly playing with renewed tenacity and hunger, and didn't buckle under the pressure.

They could, and should, have doubled their lead before half-time, first after an excellent counter culminated with Harris' lay-off for Hmami, whose shot was tipped behind by Laurie Walker.

The 36-year-old Solihull keeper then produced a magnificent save to keep out Hmami's header after more good play got Thierry Latty-Fairweather in down the left; Harris was then somehow unable to convert the follow-up.

The first-half was getting more and more watchable, and ended dramatically when Solihull left-back Bradley Nicholson was sent-off for a foul on Hugill, who was clean through after another devastating Halifax counter-attack.

Millington hadn't been happy with more than one of referee Emily Heaslip's decisions on what was her first game in charge at The Shay, but there looked to be little argument about that one.

Any lingering nerves about Halifax's atrocious recent record against ten-men were dispelled when Harris produced a delightful flicked finish to divert Jamie Cooke's cross in.

After waiting so long for a goal, they were practically flooding in.

Harris was denied a hat-trick when his header was tipped onto the post, with confidence now coursing through The Shaymen.

Hugill should have got the goal his performance merited but inexplicably headed over unmarked from Owen Bray's cross.

From Solihull's first corner of the game came their first effort on target, in the 68th minute, when substitute Angelo Cappelo cleared off the line.

There was no denying Harris with 20 minutes left though when he low shot was driven across goal and into the bottom corner.

Anything Owen Devonport can do.

After waiting eight seaons for a hat-trick, now there's two in the same campaign.

Cooke should have made it four but his shot from the corner of the six-yard box was blocked, before he was sent-off for a foul on James Clarke, who had earlier been booked for a foul on him.

Holding onto only their third league clean sheet of the season ensured that, other than scoring a penalty, the afternoon went just about as well as it could have.

Halifax: Johnson, Warburton, Hobson, Adetoro, Latty-Fairweather (Cappello 64), Hugill, C Johnson, Bray (Smith 84), Hmami (Jenkins 76), Cooke, Harris (Devonport 76). Subs not used: Ford, Mills, Tarima.

Scorer: Harris (22, 54, 70)

Shots on target: 10

Shots off target: 6

Corners: 9

Solihull: Walker, Clarke, Whitmore, Nicholson, French, Osborne (Lipsuic 46), High, Sinclair (Rutherford 81), Wakeling (Sbarra 40), Worman (Green 46), Wilkinson (Sonupe 58). Subs not used: Flahavan, Bowen.

Shots on target: 1

Shots off target: 7

Corners: 2

Attendance: 1,294 (74 away)

Referee: Emily Heaslip

Town man of the match: Cody Johnson. Looked back to his best alongside Will Hugill, who was also excellent. Obviously special mention to Harris too!