FC Halifax Town 4 - 2 Mossley

By Tom Snee at The Shay

Saturday, 20th February 2010

FC Halifax Town maintained their unbeaten home record with an impressive 4-2 victory over Mossley at The Shay.

The Shaymen had the ball in the net after just four minutes, but Aaron Hardy's blocked through ball to Nick Gray was adjudged to be offside, nullifying the forward's cross to Richard Marshall before nestled in the net.

Town continued to make the early running, as Jonathan Hedge launched a rapid counter attach following an inch perfect Hardy tackle.Harry Winter sprung Marshall down the left, but the striker's shot was saved by the legs of Peter Collinge.

As first half progressed, Mossley were largely anonymous as the Shaymen dominated in the final third.A Jordan Goodeve foul gave Tom Baker an opportunity to test Collinge from 25 yards, but the keeper saved well despite facing into a difficult low sun.

It seemed only a matter of time before the deadlock was broken, and Scott Phelan provided a flash of brilliance for Town to open the scoring.

The midfielder provided an inch perfect cross for Marshall, who drew a fantastic save from Collinge, but the keeper could do little about the follow up from Ryan Crossley, who drove the ball home to give the Shaymen a well deserved lead.

Mossley struggled to keep the Town midfield trio of Baker, Phelan and Winter in check, often resorting to tactics that bordered on roughhouse.However, after a quick breakaway won them a corner, the Lancashire men found themselves level.

Town's set piece defending has been good all year, but this time Chris McDonagh slipped through the cracks and headed powerfully past Jonathan Hedge to level the scores.

The way the Shaymen were playing it seemed unlikely the scores would be level for long, and retook the lead as the game reached first half stoppage time.

James Dean's strength saw him shrug off the challenge of Andy Russell and play an exquisite through ball for Marshall, who slid the ball past Collinge with aplomb to give the Shaymen a 2-1 half time lead.

The second half began with both sides playing a little safe, seemingly aware that the next goal would be immensely important in the outcome of the game.

Chances were limited for both sides, but the Shaymen maintained an element of control throughout, and some excellent interplay in the midfield gave Town the third goal they deserved.

After Nick Gray drove forward on the left, Winters held the ball up long enough for Gray to get in a shooting position, and his turn and snap-shot left Collinge motionless as it curled into the bottom corner to give the Shaymen a seemingly-unassailable 3-1 lead.

Mossley rarely threatened after the third goal, with Nick Allen the only player who looked troublesome at times, forcing a good save out of Hedge shortly after Gray's strike.

The Shaymen continued to pile forward in search of a fourth - Scott Phelan's long-range shot bringing the best out of Collinge after some fantastic build up play by Dean - but Mossley held firm in the face of the Shaymen's marauding midfield.

As the game approached the final ten minutes, both sides seemed content to let the game drift toward a conclusion.Mossley attempted in vain to breach Town's defence for the second time, throwing men forward for corners and throw-ins in particular.

This left them exposed at the back, however, and a quick counter from the Shaymen saw them score a fourth.

Nick Gray's pressure won a corner on the right, which was only cleared as far as the impressive Winter, who took a touch before burying the ball from 20 yards to extend the Shaymen's lead

Much to the anger of Neil Aspin, the Shaymen switched off from another set-piece late in the day, and were duly punished as Andy Watson rose high above the Town defence to score his team's second - the first time Town have conceded more than one at home this season.

After four added minutes, Mr Lawrence blew the final whistle to confirm the three points for Halifax.The Shaymen's next game is on Tuesday night, when they entertain Rossendale United at the Shay.