FC Halifax Town vs Luton Town FC (29th Mar 2014)

Hatters lose for just the fourth time this season

Halifax 2** **Roberts 18, Gregory 68 Town 0

The Hatters lost away from home in the Skrill Premier for the first time since September as they were comfortable beaten by Play-Off chasing Halifax at the Shay.

A first half header from Marc Roberts got the Shaymen on their way before top goalscorer Lee Gregory doubled the hosts’ advantage midway through the second half.

It was a result that enhanced the home side’s chances of a top five finish but one that kept the Hatters, despite just their fourth defeat of the season, top of the league and, with Cambridge drawing with Barnet, remain 13 points clear at the top.

The Town started unchanged following Tuesday night’s win at Grimsby against a Halifax side top of the form table after five wins in six.

And the home side signalled their intent to extend that run from the off when former Hatter Simon Ainge headed straight at Marl Tyler in the second minute.

The home side were putting the Town under pressure in a good opening spell and Roberts first displayed his huge long throw on six minutes that the Hatters dealt with well.

The Hatters pieced together their first chance of the match on 14 minutes when Alex Lawless’ shot from just inside the penalty area was charged down bravely by Ainge.

However, back the hosts and after forcing a succession of corners they scored from one to open the scoring on 18 minutes. The right-wing corner was met by the head of Roberts and despite the best efforts of Pelly Ruddock on the line, the Shaymen celebrated.

Hurt, the Hatters responded. Andre Gray failed to produce a shot when found at the back-post following Lawless’ cross on 21 minutes before Halifax broke once more and Matty Pearson’s drive from 20 yards flew over the crossbar.

In truth neither goalkeeper had been tested, with Tyler again picking out a long throw from Pearson on the half-hour.

Home striker Lee Gregory and joint top league goalscorer with Gray on 26 goals, had been quiet in the opening 30 minutes but he almost made it 2-0 37 minutes. The frontman showed terrific control to weave past Steve McNulty but Fraser Franks’ last-ditch block prevented the shot from travelling goalwards.

Three minutes later, Ruddock lost possession in his own half that eventually led to Ryan Crowther curling a fine effort inches wide of the target with Tyler beaten.

Those near misses sparked the Hatters into action as half-time approached. Paul Benson reacted first to his own throughball being blocked to stride through on goal but he could only poke a shot over the crossbar from 12 yards.

As the Town pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Halifax looked a danger on the break. Adam Smith’s trickery down the right was dealt with by Franks before an identical header to the goal from Roberts this time was clawed away by Tyler.

Gray then fired over for the Hatters on 44 minutes before he almost fashioned a chance for Benson in first half stoppage time only to see his final pass bobble past his strike partner.

The game restarted in the same vein after the break with both sides poured forward. Tyler punched clear with Gregory sniffing for a chance on 50 minutes before the Town broke with pace two minutes later with Gray and Ruddock but the former’s pass couldn’t’ pick out Benson.

All of a sudden the Hatters were looking a real threat going forward and the Town thought they should have had a penalty on 54 minutes when Gray went down in the box under Ainge’s challenge but referee Evans waved the appeal away.

Back came Halifax; Gregory could only find the side-netting on 57 minutes after rounding Tyler and then, three minutes later on the hour, Smith flashed a pass across the face of goal that no home player on hand to convert.

As the Town continued to probe for a leveller, John Still introduced Mark Cullen for Ruddock with a quarter of the game remaining.

However, a minute later, on 68 minutes, the Hatters fell further behind leaving them an almighty uphill task to take a point. It was that man Gregory with the goal, striding through having been played onside and he finished well past Tyler for his 27th goal of the season.

The Hatters almost reduced the deficit on 72 minutes when Gray fired over but that proved to be the Town striker’s final action as he was replaced by Luke Rooney.

Two goals behind the Town continued to look for a way back into the game and Halifax came closer themselves in adding to their tally. Scott Griffiths blocked several times in a goalmouth scramble on 76 minutes before Tyler acrobatically stopped Pearson’s piledriver from distance three minutes later.

As time ticked down, Cullen saw a header three minutes from time deflected behind but that was the best the Hatters could muster and in the end the hosts were left to celebrate victory.

TOWN: Tyler; Henry, Griffiths, McNulty, Franks; McGeehan, Robinson, Ruddock (sub Cullen 67); Lawless, Gray (sub Rooney 72), Benson. Subs not used: Charles, Shaw, Justham.

ATTENDANCE: 3,586, including a magnificent 1,179 backing the Town

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jslaxsyuxE

http://www.lutontown.co.uk/news/article/halifax-gallery-2903-1454294.aspx

https://www.flickr.com/photos/liam2010/sets/72157643152720863/

FC Halifax Town 2 Luton Town 0

Hatters suffed a jolt to their Skrill Premier title charge as they went down to a tame defeat at FC Halifax Town this afternoon, writes Mike Simmonds.

The hosts’ who boasted the division’s second best home record were good value for victory too, as they overpowered Luton at times, with the visitors never seriously threatening keeper Matt Glennon.

In a match that was billed as a shoot out between the league’s top goalscorers Andre Gray and Lee Gregory, it was the Shaymen’s front man who won the day, scoring his side’s second, with Gray replaced late on.

Town boss John Still named an unchanged side from the victory at Grimsby, but the hosts served notice of their danger from set-pieces early on, with Simon Ainge’s header easy for Mark Tyler.

Ainge then excelled at the other end as he bravely blocked Alex Lawless’ fierce drive after Paul Benson’s lovely flick inside.

Marc Roberts’ Rory Delap-esque throw looked like it would give Town plenty of difficulty, but it was the defender’s aerial prowess that led to the opener on 17 minutes.

A high corner was poorly defended allowing Roberts’ downward header to find the roof of the net despite the best efforts of Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

Undeterred by the opener, Hatters were quickly on the attack, forcing three corners and from the last, Gray missed his kick from close range, with the danger eventually cleared.

Gregory, who had been kept quiet up until 37 minutes, showed marvellous close control to beat Steve McNulty and it was only a terrific sliding challenge from Fraser Franks that stopped him making it 2-0.

Adam Smith put the rebound high over the bar as the Shaymen looked to have the physical edge over the visitors, particularly in the midfield area.

They showed that again when Ruddock Mpanzu was dispossessed just outside his area and Ryan Crowther’s curler flew inches wide.

Hatters’ front two had also been well marshalled, as Benson had a first real chance on 41 minutes, but finding a yard of space and at full stretch, he could only toe-poke over.

Halifax almost had a second as from another corner, Roberts rose highest yet again. This time Tyler got both hands to his header, but fumbled against the post and behind for another corner.

Back came Town as Gray escaped the attentions of the home defence, only to rather selfishly opt for the spectacular with options available, firing into the stands.

The Town striker then had another opening, showing his pace and strength to turn Franks’ hopeful hack forward into something, but his pass to Benson was overhit and the opportunity gone.

In the second period, Tyler came to Franks’ rescue when his header straight into the air was almost pounced upon by Gregory.

Shaymen stopper Glennon was then off his line just as quickly to dive at the feet of Benson.

With Hatters finally gaining some ascendancy, Gray had huge shouts for a penalty when his run into the box was halted by former housemate Ainge, but referee Karl Evans waved the appeals away to the despair of Town’s top scorer.

On 57 minutes, Luton had another let off as Tyler came speeding out of goal, was beaten to the ball by Gregory, but with the angle against him, could only fire behind the vacant goal.

The Town keeper then did time his charge right, as Crowther’s direct run and pass almost released Gregory once more.

Halifax’s time-wasting tactics finally wore the patience of the officials out on 66 minutes, with Smith shown yellow for delaying and delaying a free kick.

The hosts weathered Town’s pressure though and had a second on 69 minutes when Franks played Gregory onside and he advanced against the back-pedalling defender, sending Tyler the wrong way to coolly find the corner.

Gray proved it wasn’t going to be his day as he found some space but again hammered off target and was immediately replaced by Luke Rooney with 15 minutes to go.

Tyler’s insistence on racing out of his area almost cost him when he sprinted out, almost losing possession, before nervously hacking away for a throw.

The keeper showed good handling to claim Pearson’s long ranger late on, but the Shaymen ran the game down professional, pumping any sort of loose ball as far away from their goal possible.

Cambridge’s draw against Barnet though meant that despite Town suffering only a fourth defeat of the campaign, they remained a mighty 13 points clear at the top of the table.

Halifax: Matt Glennon, James Bolton, Scott McManus, Simon Ainge, Marc Roberts, Paul Marshall, Adam Smith (Josh Wilson 81), Matty Pearson, Lois Maynard, Ryan Crowther (Marlon Jackson 70), Lee Gregory (C).

Subs not used: Phil Senior, Chris Smith, Danny Lowe.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Ronnie Henry, Scott Griffiths, Steve McNulty, Fraser Franks, Cameron McGeehan, Matt Robinson, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu (Mark Cullen 67), Alex Lawless, Paul Benson, Andre Gray (Luke Rooney 74).

Subs not used: Anthony Charles, Elliott Justham, Jon Shaw.

Booked: Smith 66

Referee: Karl Evans.

Attendance: 3,586 (1,179 Luton).