Town go down to a 2-0 defeat

Halifax Town return north disappointed after a 2-0 defeat to Conference newboys Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium in front of the 5785 crowd.

A controversial penalty from Robert Duffy and a wonderful goal from Andy Burgess settled the tie for Jim Smith's side.

Chris Wilder couldn't hide his disappointment after the game, he said, "We were robbed by a penalty that never was and a wonder goal from Burgess. My goalkeeper said he didn't touch him, he's an honest boy and would have told me if he had as I would look silly after the game otherwise.

It was a major blow to lose Lewis during the week, Shane Smeltz was going to play up top but had just a couple of days to be comfortable in new role."

Eddie Odhiambo-Anacelet went down the right hand side in the third minute, his cross across the six box was not anticipated by the Oxford strikeforce.

A minute later the impressive Matt Doughty crossed the ball from the left towards Ryan Sugden sandwiched in between two defenders, he went down in the box but referee Phil Gibbs waved away the appeal.

Doughty and Sugden combined down the left, a nice back heel from Sugden found Chris Senior whose cross was deflected for a corner. It was taken short and was cleared to the edge of the box which saw Martin Foster's shot over the bar.

On 8 minutes a good passing move saw Doughty and Senior combine with the fullback sending his cross towards Sugden and Smeltz but the linesman's flag was up for offside on the far side.

On loan signing Mark Roberts found Sugden, who layed the ball off for Smeltz a couple of minutes later saw the New Zealand International fire his shot straight at Billy Turley.

On 14 minutes, the home side went ahead after the referee awarded a penalty. The ball forward found Andy Burgess who went past Craig Mawson who was adjudged to have fouled him. Steve Haslam was booked for his protests. Robert Duffy fired the penalty into the left corner with Mawson going the wrong way

Sugden had an effort five minutes later from a tight angle but was never troubling Turley after Foster's pass to him.

On 29 minutes, a driving run from Tyrone Thompson towards the penalty box, his square ball found Smeltz and his shot went over the bar.

With ten minutes of the half left, Ancalet forced a corner. Andy Burgess found former Portsmouth defender Matty Day who headed over the bar from the penalty spot.

Chris Wilder sent the same side out in the second half and within a couple of minutes Matt Doughty was fouled in a dangerous place. However the freekick was from Foster was deflected out for a corner.

A clash in the middle of the field on 51 minutes saw Eddie Hutchinson and Ryan Sugden booked after a Foster foul.

Chris Senior was fouled 30 yards out. Doughty's effort was way over the bar.

Forrest who played the game on the right hand side beat his man and his cross was towards Sugden but Turley showed safe hands.

On 59 minutes, Town felt they should have had their own penalty. Matt Doughtys shot was handled in the box, players and officials appealed straight away but the referee waved away the claims. Doughty was booked for his protest.

Three minutes later another surging run by Thompson found Senior, his shot went over the bar again.

Andy Campbell who gained his international clearance at 4.55 last night and Stephen Torpey were sent on replacing Ryan Sugden and Chris Senior.

Campbell was fouled on 67 minutes, Torpey's freekick was cleared at the near post.

However disaster struck on 70 minutes when Oxford went 2-0 up, Torpey lost the ball, Andy Burgess took full advantage and launched his shot past Mawson into the bottom corner from 30 yards out.

Town carried on trying to find the net but Smeltz had an effort wide, Roberts headed wide from a Torpey corner and Forrest had a shot blocked.

Disappointing result for the Shaymen in the end, with a little more luck Town would have got something out of this game.

Town entertain Southport at the Shay on Tuesday night, kickoff is 7-45pm.

23	Billy Turley			:			Craig Mawson	1
21	Matt Day			:			Steven Haslam	2
4	Barry Quinn			:			Adam Quinn	5
6	Phil Gilchrist			:			Mark Roberts	16
2	Eddie Anaclet			:			Matthew Doughty	3
7	Carl Pettefer			:			Danny Forrest	7
15	John Dempster			:			Martin Foster	8
8	Eddie Hutchinson		61	:			Tyrone Thompson	18
3	Gavin Johnson			:	65		Chris Senior	15
11	Andrew Burgess		81	:	65		Ryan Sugden	11
14	Robert Duffy		71	:			Shane Smeltz	9
9	Steve Basham		71	:	65		Andy Campbell	21
10	Chris Hargreaves		81	:	65		Steve Torpey	20
12	Yemi Odubade		61	:			Wayne Jacobs	17
19	Josh Kennet			:			Jake Wright	14
1	Christopher Tardif			:			Lee Butler	24

Goal Attempts	4	:	9	Goal Attempts
On Target	2	:	2	On Target
Crosses	5	:	4	Crosses
Corners	5	:	6	Corners
Offside	1	:	3	Offside
Fouls	16	:	11	Fouls
Free kicks	13	:	17	Free kicks
Yellow cards	2	:	3	Yellow cards
Red cards	-	:	-	Red cards
% Possession	53	:	47	Possession %