Nuneaton Town 1 - 2 FC Halifax Town

[dutchman]

[dutchman]

Match report: Nuneaton Town 1 Halifax 2



THE old saying goes if it is not broke then don't fix it – how much will Boro boss Liam Daish be ruing those words tonight.

Fresh from a seven game unbeaten run – one that saw them win twice in the last week alone – Nuneaton Town were flying going into this game.

But, Daish tinkered with that flying machine, bringing in West Ham loanee Jaanai Gordon for Andy Brown – a decision that may be costly.

Daish defended the move after the game saying Brown needed resting after a hard slog during recent weeks.

But, tired or not, Brown shone when he came on in the second half, almost single handedly bringing the Boro into the game, grabbing one goal and almost netting another near the end.

It was not all about Brown, though, as starting or not the other ten players did not get going in the first half.

The Boro were undone by the first chance Halifax created as they fell behind in just the third minute.

A flick-on from Scot Boden found Jack Muldoon in the box, he showed composure as he got a shot away quickly, leaving Dan Lincoln no chance as it rocketed into the back of the net from close range.

A problem with the tannoy system, led to We are the Champions blaring out not long after that, the Boro were playing far from champions football, though, as they were just flat and showing none of the drive that had led them to going seven games unbeaten.

The closest they came to getting level was a long range shot from Adam Walker, but Matty Glennon was more than equal to the effort, diving full length to push it to safety.

At the other end it took a last-gasp diving clearance from Gaz Dean – right under the crossbar – to stop the visitors from doubling their lead, Dean showing an amazing fleet of foot to get himself to James Bolton's header.

It was always going to be hard for the Boro to get any momentum going in the first half, what with the wind working against them, the goal they conceded 16 minutes into the second half, though, would have been a tough one to accept.

The Boro had the weather working in their favour at this stage, but despite that it was still Halifax who struck next as a ball across the box from Scott Boden found Muldoon in the middle, the Shayman star given the easy task of tapping home his second from close range once again.

Just before that goal went in Boro boss Liam Daish went all out attack as he brought on forwards Brown and Onome Sodje from the bench.

The duo were powerless to stop the goal going in at the one end, but Brown at least showed what he could do in an attacking sense as not long after he rose highest in the box to head home a corner from the right hand side to halve the deficit.

Brown obviously had a point to prove after being demoted to the bench for the start of the game and he was proving in some style as he nearly drew them level five minutes later.

His shot on the turn deserved to find the back of the net, and it would have, if not for Glennon who got down to his left and palmed it to safety.

The Boro were very much knocking on the door at this stage and only a series of last-ditch tackles, coupled with some well timed blocks, stopped them from completing the comeback.

With Alfreton getting a last minute goal at home to Barnet to earn a point in their game, the Boro would have been hoping to follow their lead here, but it was not to be as Halfiax proved all good things come to an end as they shattered the seven game run for Nuneaton.