
Clare scored from the spot for his sixth goal of the season
Town dropped home points for the only the second time this season with a 2 v 2 draw against Crawley Town this afternoon.
Playing against a team out to impress a new Manager is never easy, as Town found to their cost at Scarborough last weekend. Today they found Crawley an enthusiastic side and a tough nut to crack, with the visitors eager to impress the recently appointed John Hollins. Chris Wilder was forced into 3 changes with Matt Doughty replacing the departed Jake Wright at left back and Peter Atherton / Brenton Leister coming in for the injured duo of Denny Ingram and Tyrone Thompson.
Following a cagey opening in which neither side created much in the way of chances the visitors took the lead after 12 minutes. A town attack broke down and a long ball caught out Adam Quinn and released Steve Burton. As Quinn challenged Burton in the area the Crawley player was adjudged to have been fouled and Daryl Clare gave Adam Legzdins no chance with the penalty.
The Shaymen struggled to find their usual cohesion in attack and it wasn't until the half hour mark that they looked threatening as firstly Danny Forrest then Peter Atherton tried their luck at goal. Atherton's shot was deflected for a corner that was headed over by John Grant.
Wayne Jacobs came on for Leister at half time as Wilder sought the midfield domination his side are capable of, however the first chance of the half fell to Crawley's Paul Armstrong who shot over from 18 yards.
A Town corner on 52 minutes almost resulted in the visitors extending their lead. Phil Smith in the visitors goal punched the ball clear and it landed at the feet of the dangerous Antony Scully who was given room to run into the area, skip an Atherton challenge but fortunately for Town he pulled his right foot shot just wide of the post.
The Shaymen were now getting a foothold in the game with the dangerous Danny Forrest behind most of the good work and the equaliser wasn't long in coming. The hard working John Grant was fouled 30 yards from goal and from the resulting Martin Foster free kick Danny Forest popped up on the back post to head his 3rd goal of the season.

Scully tormented Town on the right hand side.
The second goal wasn't long in arriving as Town played their best football of the afternoon. A never say die attitude from Danny Forrest say him win the ball on the bye-line and his pass was hammered home by John Grant.
Town were now in rampant form with Lewis Killeen close to extending the lead before Forrest rattled the crossbar with a right footed drive after more good work from Grant. Wayne Jacobs also had a couple of left footed efforts go narrowly wide.
Crawley were dangerous on the break and a poor Legzdins clearance saw Scully cross from the right but Daryl Clare was offside. Town had what appeared to be a stroke of luck on 77 minutes when Foster looked to have handled a cross in the penalty area.
Craig Midgley had replaced Rory Prendergast before Chris Wilder made his final change of the afternoon with Forrest replaced by Grey Young. Within a minute Crawley were level when a through ball was gathered by Tristram Whitman who rounded Legzdins to score.
Town's final chance to secure a victory came in the final minute of injury time when Doughty's cross found Steve Haslam on the right and his cross shot was narrowly over.
What are your thoughts on today's game. Let us know on the official Halifax Town messageboard
| 21 | Adam Legzdins | : | Phil Smith | 1 | ||||
| 2 | Steven Haslam | : | Ben Judge | 2 | ||||
| 5 | Adam Quinn | : | 69 | ![]() |
Paul Armstrong | 8 | ||
| 19 | Peter Atherton | : | David Woozley | 12 | ||||
| 3 | Matthew Doughty | : | 75 | ![]() |
Sasha Opinel | 17 | ||
| 14 | Brenton Leister | ![]() |
46 | : | Tony Scully | 18 | ||
| 8 | Martin Foster | : | Daniel Brown | 4 | ||||
| 27 | Rory Prendergast | ![]() |
66 | : | Ian Simpemba | 5 | ||
| 20 | John Grant | : | Chris Giles | 26 | ||||
| 26 | Danny Forrest | ![]() |
81 | : | Daryl Clare | 30 | ||
| 10 | Lewis Killeen | : | Steve Burton | 10 | ||||
| 15 | Chris Senior | : | Scott Ward | 14 | ||||
| 16 | Greg Young | ![]() |
81 | : | 69 | ![]() |
Tristram Whitman | 24 |
| 23 | Justin Bowler | : | Joe Keehan | 28 | ||||
| 7 | Craig Midgley | ![]() |
66 | : | 75 | ![]() |
Lee Blackburn | 23 |
| 17 | Wayne Jacobs | ![]() |
46 | : | Leo Mendy | 6 | ||
| Goal Attempts | 4 | : | 3 | Goal Attempts |
| On Target | 1 | : | 1 | On Target |
| Crosses | 4 | : | 1 | Crosses |
| Corners | 5 | : | 2 | Corners |
| Offside | 2 | : | 3 | Offside |
| Fouls | 5 | : | 8 | Fouls |
| Free kicks | 11 | : | 6 | Free kicks |
| - | : | 2 | Yellow cards | |
| - | : | - | Red cards | |
| % Possession | 56 | : | 44 | Possession % |




















