Nuneaton Town 0 - 1 FC Halifax Town

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Halifax Town leave play-off dream in shatters for Boro

THE play-off dream is all but dead for Nuneaton after a 1-0 defeat to Halifax this afternoon.#

Both sides were obviously aware of the magnitude of the game, as they both started as if it was their very own cup final.

After a couple of half chances for the Boro, a Louis Moult free-kick and an Andy Brown header, it was the visitors who came closest to breaking the deadlock.

The game was only 16 minutes old when Lee Gregory turned smartly in the box and smashed an effort from 10-yards out that cannoned back off the bar and rocketed to safety for the home side.

It was a vicious effort from the Shayman marksman and one that deserved a goal after the quality of the turn in the box.

The Boro were not afraid to let their guests have a sight at goal as they knew that attack – and not defence – would be the key to keeping their play-off dream alive.

At the other end they were nearly rewarded for that renewed attacking intent when a cross-cum-shot from Louis Moult sailed over the head of Matty Glennon in the visitors goal, but bounced back off the bar.

Despite the change from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3, and despite Halifax boasting one of the leagues most feared forwards in Lee Gregory, the chances were rare after those two opportunities.

In the 15 minutes before the break, and the 15 minutes after it, neither side were able to make the opposition keeper work, as nerves and frustration began to replace the passing and passion from earlier in the game.

In the 66th minute the first clear chance of the half came from a set-piece as Andy Brown rose superbly to meet Danny Sleath’s set-piece, only being stopped from celebrating by a wonderful save from Glennon in the Town goal.

His opposite number – Boro’s own James Belshaw, had to be equally alert to stop a fine effort from Gregory just minutes later as the tempo of the game started to creep up once again.

In the 78th minute the Shaymen thought they had scored the goal that both sides craved, but Scott Spencer headed into an empty net after Belshaw had been dumped to the ground by a charging tackle by Gregory.

Halifax were starting to look the more likely to score and with six minutes of the game left they did just that.

Former Tamworth man Chris Smith, making his debut for Halifax, rose highest at the far post from a left hand corner and delivered a bullet of a header that Belshaw had no chance with.~

NUNEATON: Belshaw, Cranston, Dean, Cowan, Streete, Trainer, Sleath (Walker 68), Armson, Moult (York 68), Hibbert, Brown.

Subs not used: Gordon, Adams, Pearson.

HALIFAX TOWN: Glennon, Bolton, McManus, Lowe, Smith, Pearson, Maynard, Marshall (Wilson HT), Crowther, Jackson (Spencer 64), Gregory.

Subs not used: Senior, McReadie, Worthington.

ATTENDANCE: 1,041