The Shaymen made it 7 wins from their last 8 games in the Unibond League with a 2 v 0 home win over Mossley FC at the Shay tonight.And in doing so they catapulted themselves into 2nd place in the table after goals from Jonny Smith and Junior Brown settled the game.

Winning ugly is a good habit and FC Halifax Town proved they have this after a 2nd half rearguard kept the visitors at bay.On the other side of the coin thought Town could have been out of sight by half time had they managed to turn their first half dominance into goals.Mossley were indebted to keeper Ashley Connor who made a string of decent saves but after the break they mounted a challenge that Town were more than capable of repelling.

Town suffered a blow as early as the 4th minute when Damien Allen limped from the field with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Jonny Smith.The change failed to hamper Town as they dominated possession and pressed forward with Junior Brown having a shot deflected over the bar and Scott Phelan narrowly off target.Brown then forced Connor into a fine save when he switched the ball onto his right foot 20 yards from goal but the keeper's fingertips saved Mossley.

Paul Gedman, who was partnered in attack by Ashley Stott, headed straight at Connor then Town had a let off as Matty Berkley raced away from Tony Barras but pulled his shot across goal.

Cavell Coo was causing problems for the visitors every time he received the ball and he went down under a challenge on the edge of the area following another surging run.Referee Ledger immediately blew his whistle and pointed to the penalty spot and up stepped Jonny Smith to send Connor the wrong way and Town had a 38th minute lead.Connor saved again from Scott Phelan's 25 yarder and Town held a single goal advantage at the break.

Judging by the way Mossley started the 2nd half; Manager Chris Willcock must have rallied his troops at the interval.A couple of substitutions saw them swamp the midfield area that Scott Phelan, Tom Baker and Jonny Smith had controlled so impressively in the first half and Town struggled.

Resolute defending from Tony Barras, Lincoln Adams and Danny Meadowcroft restricted any clear cut opportunities but Jon Kennedy had to save well from Mike Fish.And the Town keeper made an even better save to deny winger Chris Hurst.

Adams and Meadowcroft received yellow cards in quick succession as the pressure mounted then substitute Ryan Cook missed a glorious chance to equalise when he found himself unmarked 12 yards from goal but his low shot skimmed the post on the way out for a goal kick.

With 3 minutes of injury time signalled Town made the game safe courtesy of Junior Brown's purple patch in from of goal.The winger headed home at the near post from Jonny Smith's cross and the 3 points were safe.Ashley Stott shot wide from 25 yards as Town searched for more goals but the had to settle for 2 on an evening where they were made to fight hard for their win and grind out the result.

Town now travel to Woodley Sports on Saturday looking for another victory.Read the match preview on Friday and the live updates will be available again on Saturday.

Attendence: 1124.

Town :- Kennedy, Coo, Adams, Meadowcroft, Barras, Phelan, Brown, Baker, Gedman, Stott, Allen (Smith). Subs not used: Ellison, Ellis, King, Walker.