Shaymen record impressive pre-season victory at League Two Rochdale

After Conor Carty won the ball back high up the pitch, Town won a free-kick to the left of the box, and Zak Gilsenan curled a terrific strike across goal for a fantastic start.

And two minutes later, The Shaymen's trialist winger on the right produced a first time finish after an excellent cross from the left.

It was difficult to tell which set of fans were more surprised.

Luke Hannant should have pulled one back for Dale after a long ball from the keeper, but he dragged his shot wide.

As did Carty after Town again forced a mistake by Rochdale inside their own half, something that was happening far too often for the home fans' liking.

Rochdale were slack on the ball and slow in their build-up, but Town were slick and quick moving up the pitch, showing some nice touches.

Veteran Ian Henderson had a simple finish to halve Town's lead when a cross from the left found its way to him at close range.

20 minutes after taking a two-goal lead, it was nearly wiped out when Hannant's header was kept out by True Grant before the same player smashed an effort off the bar.

Will Hugill then sent a shot just wide from the edge of the box.

This was less a pre-season friendly and more a belting FA Cup tie.

30 minutes after going 2-0 down, Rochdale were level when Hannant finally got the goal he'd been threatening all half with a back post header from another left-wing cross.

It had been fast and furious stuff for a warm-up game, with plenty of positives going forward from Halifax, but improvements to be made at the back.

Just like the first-half, Town started the second brilliantly, with a geat pass by Cody Johnson out to the right, from where a cross was poked goalwards by Arian Allen, and after Sam Waller kept it out, the ball trickled in off a Rochdale defender.

To carry on the cup-tie feel, Hannant and Town's trialist left-back were both sent-off shortly afterwards for grappling each other round the head before a huge melee broke out.

Carty should have at least hit the target after an hour from a lovely through ball by Max Bardell rather than dragging his shot wide.

Chances dried up and the tempo reduced after the red cards, with Halifax controlling most of the play and adapting better to having a man less.

Substitute David Kawa should have sealed it late on but headed straight at the keeper before Harvey Gilmour dragged a shot wide from the left of the box.

Rochdale: Waller, Moss, Edwards (Adebayo-Rowling 65), Sherring (Ebanks-Landell 46), Francis (Hayes 65), Pettit, East (Gilmour 65), Hannant, Jenkins (Rodney 46), Henderson (Dieseruvwe 65), Silcott-Duberry (Beckwith 65, Bradley 90). Subs not used: Spaven, Pither.

Scorers: Henderson (26), Hannant (37)

Attempts on target: 6

Attempts off target: 7

Corners: 2

Halifax: Grant, Bardell, Flint, Hobson (Crowe 46), Trialist, C Johnson (Trialist 80), Hugill, Trialist (Trialist 61), Gilsenan (Bray 71), Allen (Trusty 71), Carty (Kawa 71). Subs not used: S Johnson, Trialist, Warburton, Trialist.

Scorers: Gilsenan (5), Trialist (7), own goal (48)

Attempts on target: 5

Attempts off target: 4

Corners: 0

Referee: Simon Mather

Attendance: 1,322