Halifax expected a tough day having drawn last seasons beaten finalists in the first round of the Conference Cup and entering this match with 4 first choice players missing. Jess-Jo Sheriffe had an excellent chance to open the scoring after just 5 minutes racing through onto a super pass from Jamie Douglas but the keeper pulled off a fine one on one save. Minutes later Sheriffe shot just wide after getting on the end of an excellent Fabian Evans free kick and the same player shot just wide again after attacking the centre half with a speedy run with the ball. Four or five further good chances fell the way of Halifax before half time with Dene Heppenstall just missing the target with a header after a good interchange of passing between Lee Coulthard and Jamie Douglas, Heppenstall driving a dangerous ball across the box from a short corner that was just begging someone to get on the end of , Jamie Douglas hitting the keeper with a shot on the turn from a Fabian Evans free kick and Coulthard and Sheriffe both testing the keeper with firm shots from the edge of the box. Goalless at half time with Stalybridge having created just 2 half chances up to this point. The second half continued in the same vein with Halifax playing controlled football and creating good chances. After some 60 minutes disaster almost struck for Halifax when a lapse of concentration by centre half Andy Spratt let the Stalybridge man and ball into the box but this excellent opportunity was wasted when the player blasted wide. The goal that Halifax had been threatening to produce for nearly all of the game finally arrived after 70 minutes when Sheriffe, who had tormented the opposition defence all afternoon, prodded home a goal after winning a 50/50 ball inside the box. 10 minutes later Gavin Jack passed to Sheriffe but his second goal was ruled marginally offside.

Management Opinion: A good performance with us in control for long periods of the match. We are increasingly at the stage where we can't wait for the next match. We feel that tactically and technically we are very strong and that psychologically and physically we are a match for any team any team at this level but as always in this game the players are aware that the hard work and learning process will go on at apace.

Team: Josh Proctor. David Wilson. Fabian Evans. James Machon. Andrew Spratt. Lee Coulthard. Dene Heppenstall. Jamie Douglas. Luke Holroyd. Jess-Jo Sheriffe. Gavin Jack.

Subs: Gerard Jones. Jameel Nawaz. Robert Cook.

HTAFC Scorer. Sheriffe.

HTAFC Goal Assist: Sheriffe.

Goal Chances: HTAFC 24. SBCW 5.

HTAFC MoM: Evans/Machon.