On Saturday 21 August, prior to Town's first game of the season against Buxton, supporters' team, AFC Halifax took on Inter Blades, fans' team of Sheffield United on a warm but breezy morning at Roils Head, in what was their second game in the IFA League. Two weeks earlier, AFC's threadbare squad (made up of the requisite eleven players) had played out a disappointing 1-1 draw with Grimsby Town Supporters, but seeking their first win, they went into the game with a fifteen-man squad, although it has to be said, three of these were goalkeepers!
AFC played up the slope in the first half, but nevertheless created the best of the opportunities, notably when Andy Hemblys got goal-side, only to run the ball out of play. Young Matty Thompson, son of coach Dave, was a constant threat down the left flank, whilst complementing him on the right was Ben Fawkes, who had one of his best games for AFC. Yet for all their possession in the first half, AFC found the Blades a lively bunch and dangerous on the counter-attack. A couple of their efforts caused some concern, particularly when an angled drive bounced off the far post, but over the first forty-five minutes the keepers on both sides didn't have a save to make in anger.
Which, as it turned out, was the mood the AFC players found coach Thommo at half-time. Mostly born out of frustration because AFC just hadn't been doings things they were best at. But his interval rant did have some effect. Hemblys' audacious lobbed effort early in the second half had the Blades keeper in trouble, and he managed to get a hand to the ball and push it onto the bar and over. Fawkes swung over the resulting corner and there was Johnny Meynell at the near post to help the ball on with his head - and into the net.
It wasn't as if this goal galvanised AFC into total domination, however. Within ten minutes the Blades were level, courtesy of the trusty long punt downfield. The quicksilver forward was onto it having outstripped the AFC back four and he walked the ball into the net after Rick Parker's initial save saw it fall kindly for him. His goal completed an amazing transformation, for only three minutes into the game it appeared the young lad had dislocated his shoulder and was only playing on because the Blades had no subs.
But the home fans, who ran into double figures, were soon smiling again. A short corner routine was played to right-back Matt Blackburn, whose cross, whipped in, was headed powerfully home by his full-back partner Stewart Heaton from close range. And after IFA League debutant Johnny Kavanagh, a prolific local league striker twenty-odd plus years ago, had flashed a powerful header just wide, it was Blackburn again who provided the cross from which Hemblys gave AFC some daylight, a header from eighteen yards which looped over the keeper.
The game looked safe for AFC, although there was still time for a couple of near misses by both sides. The Blades missed a penalty which, had it been converted, may have made for a nervy last couple of minutes. Awarded rather harshly for handball against Adam Ramsden, newly appointed vice-captain while Ashley Addy tries his luck with Brighouse Town, justice was seen to be done when the powerfully built Blades central midfielder Quinny put his spot kick against the post. And minutes from time a raid down the right flank saw Hemblys put in a low dangerous cross which beat the keeper and just needed a touch at the far post by the supporting player. But the speed of delivery, the ball arriving not quite at the right height, the narrowness of the angle the supporting player found himself were perhaps just two of the reasons why he missed the ball completely. I know. I was that soldier. But credit the lad for getting in the position in the first place.
Not a vintage AFC Halifax performance by any means, but a welcome three points nevertheless. Result; AFC Halifax 3 Inter Blades 1.
Team: Walker; Blackburn, Barker, Ramsden, Heaton; Fawkes, Meynell, Bishop, M. Thompson; Barnes, Hemblys. Subs; Parker, Lumb, Wigglesworth, Kavanagh.
