FC Halifax Town 2 - 0Rossendale United By Tom Snee at The Shay Tuesday, 23rd February 2010
FC Halifax Town huffed, puffed and eventually blew Rossendale's defence down on a sometimes frustrating night at a snowbound Shay Stadium
The Shaymen continued where they left off on Saturday, with the midfield trio keeping possession well in the early stages, and it was Harry Winter's never-say-die attitude that should have seen Town in front after 12 minutes.
The young midfielder scrapped the ball back from Keith Wedge on the left edge of the 18-yard box and put in a cross for Richard Marshall.
Given the forward's current goal scoring form, you would have put your EuroMillions winnings on Marshall to find the back of the net, but his strike was met by a fantastic save from Tom Broklehurst, who then doubled his efforts by blocking the rebound shot from Scott Phelan.
The snow continued to swirl during the first forty-five, but there were few chances to show for the Shaymen's clear dominance.Town continually bombarded Broklehurst with long balls in, hoping the adverse weather would cause a fumble, but, despite numerous Tom Baker corners, couldn't find the breakthrough before the half time interval.
The start of the second half saw the introduction of a fluorescent greenball as the conditions worsened.It didn't appear affect the Shaymen however, who continued in much the same vein as in the first half.James Dean - goalless in his last two outings - started the second period with vigour, drawing a fine one-on-one save from Brocklehurst.
In an attempt to find the cutting edge that would give his side the lead, manager Neil Aspin introduced wide men Mark Peers and Andy Lee, but the visitors continued to defend solidly and deny any opportunities to get the opening goal.
As the second half progressed it became increasingly likely that the deadlock would be broken, and the Shaymen were given that opportunity from the penalty spot after Nick Gray was brought down by Harry Bockarie.James Dean steppedup to take the spot-kick and banished those memories of the Stocksbridge pre-season debacle, firmly placing the ball into the bottom corner.
Rossendale's players became increasingly wound up by their inability to compete with the Shaymen, with Bockarie extremely lucky to avoid a caution for both the foul that gave away the penalty and his subsequent gesticulating towards the match officials.
Town's dominance was finally beginning to tell, and they doubled their lead through substitute Peers.After Brocklehurst continued his fine shot stopping by denying both Lee and Dean finishing in the area, he was powerless to stop Peers from smashing the ball past three Rossendale defenders and into the net.
The Shaymen then got the opportunity for a third goal after Gray was again felled in the box, but he was unable to convert the resulting spot-kick, with Broklehurst pulling off a fine save.The miss was irrelevant however, as the 2-0 win extends Town's unbeaten league run to 14 games, a record they defend this Saturday away at Radcliffe.
