Jake Sagare got his first start for Town’s LDV Vans Trophy 1^st Round tie versus league opposition in the form of York City on a cold, dry and breezy night. However York’s Parkin and the Referee made the second half turn out to be very controversial.

First Half

The Shaymen had the better of the opening exchanges, at times there was some sweet flowing movement. It took half an hour to crack open the York safe, after Sagare and Elam combined well on the left, Elam’s shot was parried, the ball broke loose to Mallon with time inside the box to drill his shot in the bottom left of Ovendale’s net.

Just before the half time whistle Quinn was booked for an incident 25 yards from play. The Referee duly awarded York a free kick taken by Dunning, which found Wise who headed just wide of Cartwright’s left angle of post and bar.

Second Half

York came out guns a blazing, with central defender Parkin, now causing the previously untroubled Town defence a few headaches, by switching to centre forward.

Four minutes into the half Quinn got caught in possession on half way, a quick pass by a York player let in Parkin for a shot, that produced a full length diving catch by Cartwright.

Ten minutes later Elam and Sagare combined on the left showing good passing momentum, passed to a Town player (Mallon ?) who’s shot was saved by Ovendale.

On 68 minutes questions had to be asked about the ability of the referee, Dudgeon challenged Parkin just inside the penalty area, won the ball clean as a whisker, Parkin fell over Dudgeon, the blew, pointed to the spot and gave Dudgeon his marching orders. Dunning stood up to take the kick and scored striking the ball to Cartwright’s bottom left. This was followed by a series of Yellow cards for first Town players and then York players, when a good verbal would have sufficed.

At 78 minutes Merris axed down a town player on the right, No card shown for the worst foul of the game. Tozer stepped in to take the free kick, to the far post, straight on Quinn’s head, a good header found the back of the York net for Quinn’s first ever senior goal.

Halifax Town 2 (Mallon 32, Quinn 78)

Cartwright, Hockenhull, Sandwith, Bushell, Mallon, Killeen (Senior 83), Elam (Midgley 83), Quinn, Hudson. Sagare (Tozer 75), Dudgeon.

Unused Subs: Heinemann, Toulson.

Red Card: Dudgeon

Yellow Cards: Hockenhull, Killeen, Quinn.

York City 1 (Dunning pen 69)

Ovendale, Cooper, Smith, Wise, Hope (Merris 67), Dove (George 65), Brackstone, Dunning, Downes, Wilford (Nogan) 83), Parkin.

Unused Subs: Porter, Wood.

Yellow Cards: Hope, Brackstone, Parkin.