Photo by Tom Poole
FC Halifax and York City played out another thrilling game at the Shay with the tie ending one-a-piece.
Halifax had the first chance of the game from a set-piece. A cross in from the left was met by Shaun Hobson inside the box, who headed wide.
The hosts did take the lead in the 3rd minute. Owen Bray’s cross was headed on by Will Harris inside the box who buried his effort past Harrison Male.
York responded with a half-chance. Dan Batty with a shot on the half-volley saw his effort fly high over the bar.
The Shaymen almost made it two. Angelo Cappello’s cross from the left once again reaching Harris but his shot was saved at the near post by Male.
City’s first shot on goal came in the 16th minute. Alex Hunt’s shot from range was held by Sam Johnson.
Joe Grey put together some neat footwork before allowing himself room to shoot but he place his left-footed effort over the bar.
Hunt was again looking for goal when he hit a left-footed shot goalwards, this effort rolled wide of the mark.
Hunt had another effort in the 32nd minute. His shot on the half-volley clipping the right-hand post before rolling wide.
York were turning the screw and came close once more when a cross from the left fell to Joe Felix in the box but his shot went over the bar.
Joe Grey was next to try his luck from range. His shot rolled wide of the left-hand post.
Halifax had a golden chance to double the lead on the stroke of half time. Josh Hmani’s shot was saved by Male but only into the path of Jamie Cooke who blazed over from close range.
Ollie Pearce had the ball in the net in added time at the end of the first half but the linesman ruled the equaliser out for offside.
Joe Felix had the first chance of the second half. His left footed shot from inside the box was parried down low by Johnson.
City started the second half brightly and came close once more when Hunt intercepted the ball in the midfield before playing through Ollie Pearce who got a shot off but was met by a great recovery block.
Grey had another chance moments later but his shot from the edge of the box was well tipped behind by Johnson.
Fagan-Walcott made a return to the side and created a chance for himself when he went for an audacious bicycle kick. However his effort bounced wide of the mark.
Mark Kitching’s cross from the left was met by the towering Ollie Banks but his header could only find the stand behind the goal.
York City grabbed a deserved equaliser with 5 minutes to play. Sam Johnson dropping the ball from a corner before Ollie Pearce was there to latch onto the loose ball before slotting it home.
City thought they’d won it in the dying seconds, a cross from the right was met by Kitching at the back post who headed the ball into the net but again the flag was up.
FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Hugill, Hobson, Hmani, Harris, Cooke, Cappello, Mills, Bray, Turner-Cooke, Latty-Fairweather.
Subs: Ford, Adetoro, Warburton, Jenkins, Tarima, Devonport, Smith.
York City: Male, Fallowfield, Kitching, Howe, Hunt, Pearce, Grey, Batty, Boateng, Felix, Newby.
Subs: Sykes-Kenworthy, Fagan-Walcott, Stones, Nathaniel-George, Brookes, Olley, Banks.
Attendance: 3,708 (1,698 away)
