MATCH VERDICT: FC Halifax Town 3-2 Altrincham

FC Halifax Town won their final game of the year 3-2 against Altrincham at The Shay to move up into the play-off places.
FC Halifax Town v AltrinchamFC Halifax Town v Altrincham
FC Halifax Town v Altrincham

Goals from Luke Summerfield, Billy Chadwick and Martin Woods were just about enough for Halifax, with Josh Hancock and substitute Dan Mooney netting for Altrincham, who pushed Town all the way.

Altrincham came into the game having not conceded on the road in nearly five hours, and having won four of their last five away matches, so beating them is no mean feat by The Shaymen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Town did enough to win it, but made hard work of it after twice having two-goal leads cut in half.

There were early shots by Chadwick and Danny Williams in what was an attractive, open contest.

Altrincham played some nice football, refusing to knock it long, trying to work opportunities and possessing good movement off the ball.

They played with the confidence of a side who had won six of their last eight games, but the visitors lacked Town's superior quality and quickness in the final third.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That penetration saw Town create more and better chances, with Jack Earing, one of three changes from Hartlepool along with Neill Byrne and Jeff King, blazing over after Chadwick's shot was saved following a delightful through ball from Kieran Green.

Chadwick again impressed with his movement, close control and running with the ball.

King and Williams were pushing high up on the flanks, with Town getting plenty of bodies in attacking areas and moving the ball well.

Earing and Green were effective in support of Chadwick, with Town a cohesive, hard working unit.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A handball from King's low cross then handed Town a penalty, which Summerfield blasted into the top right corner.

Chadwick then netted his third goal in four games with a perfectly-placed low right-footed shot across keeper Anthony Thompson.

Town were 2-0 up and deservedly so, with Altrincham conceding more than once for only the fifth game this season.

But great work from former Town winger Matty Kosylo on the right was capped off when Hancock converted his low cross.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It hadn't been one-way traffic, with Altrincham's left-winger Yusifu Ceesay catching the eye.

But by half-time, Town had registered nine shots to Altrincham's two, but were frustratingly only 2-1 ahead.

Woods put that right seconds after the interval though when he produced a superb left-footed strike across goal from Green's lay-off.

This time Town had learned their lesson and kept the back door closed, with the hosts sitting back more, content to try and hit Altrincham on the break.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Shortly after Woods had lashed a long-range shot just wide, half-time substitute Mooney, who had replaced Kosylo, met a cross from the left with a marvellous first time finish, taking advantage of being completely unmarked, to bring the visitors right back into the game again.

That was the shot-in-the-arm Altrincham needed, and it handed them the momentum, with Town starting to look leggy.

Substitute Jacob Blyth fired low across goal and wide from a tight angle as the away side pressed for an equaliser and Town started to hang on.

The Shaymen's attacking threat had all but disappeared, with Altrincham dominating play.

But Town held out to end 2020 on a high.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Maher, Bradbury, King, Williams, Summerfield, Woods, Green (Danns 67), Earing, Chadwick. Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Tear, Senior, Nepomuceno

Scorers: Summerfield (18), Chadwick (29), Woods (46)

Shots on target: 5

Shots off target: 9

Corners: 7

Altrincham: Thompson, Senior, Holgate, Hampson, Hannigan, Smith, Moult, Hancock, Ceesay (Colclough 73), Kosylo (Mooney 46), Peers (Blyth 60). Subs not used: Mooney, Densmore, Richman.

Scorers: Hancock (31) Mooney (72)

Shots on target: 5

Shots off target: 3

Corners: 2

Referee: Rebecca Welch

Town man of the match: Jeff King. Made a big difference down the right on his return to the team, offering energy, good close control and composure on the ball.

Related topics: