FC Halifax Town 3 - 0Prescot Cables
By Tom Snee at The Shay
Saturday, 6th March 2010
FC Halifax Town added another victory to their superb home record with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Prescot Cables at The Shay
Prescot, who defeated the Shaymen at Valerie Park earlier in the season, were far from overwhelmed by The Shay experience and had the better of the possession in the first twenty minutes.The Halifax defence stayed firm however, as the visitors were restricted to long range efforts and dead-ball opportunities as opposed to clear cut chances.
With neither side taking the initiative, the game seemed to be in dire need of a goal and, after a clever quick free-kick won the Shaymen a corner,Harry Winter was on hand to oblige. When the ball was cleared out to the midfielder at the edge of the box, Winter had no hesitation in taking the ball first time, firing an Exocet volley past Andy Paxton to give Town the lead.
The visitors were keen not to go the same was as Ossett Albion went in midweek, attacking at every opportunity and winning plenty of free-kicks, with Tom Spearritt bringing the first save out of the largely unneeded Jonathan Hedge as the first half reached injury time.
The Shaymen came out for the second half early and looked keen to attack straight from the restart, and could well have doubled their lead when Nick Gray went through one-on-one with Paxton, but an unfortunate bobble sent the ball away from the advancing forward and out for a goal kick.
Winter has looked a class apart over the last couple of weeks, and had a 20-yard effort strike the post on 56 minutes before Richard Marshall scored the second goal the Shaymen's play had deserved.
A quick counter attacking move caught the Prescot defence unaware, and Gray's early pass sent Marshall through, blocking the goalkeeper's clearance to finish calmly into the bottom corner.
The game soon turned sour, however, as Town were reduced to 10 men.With the ball bobbling around, Tom Baker went in late and high on Rob McIntosh, leaving Mr. Thorley no option but to show the midfielder a straight red card.
With only ten men, you could have forgiven Halifax for sitting back to defend their lead, but Neil Aspin kept faith with his formation and personnel, and was nearly rewarded as the ubiquitous Gray beat Lee Smith to the ball, but could only strike limply with his unfavoured left foot.
The numbers were then evened up, as Paul Lundon reacted foolishly to a free-kick given his team - throwing the ball away earning the defender his second yellow card.
James Dean had an excellent chance to score Town's third after Marshall sprung him through, but the prolific striker found the South Stand rather then the back of the net with an 83rd minute lunging effort.With both sides down to ten men, the Shaymen never looked like conceding even a consolation goal, with efforts from Phil Cooney and Spearitt flying high over the bar.
With the game well into the eight minutes of injury time, Town capped a fine second half as Dean drove forward, sucking in the Prescot backline and laying off to Danny Lowe, who slid the ball under Paxton to round off an impressive Town performance.
The Shaymen will now travel to Warrington on Tuesday night in buoyant mood, hoping to take their imperious home form on the road to Lancashire.
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