December 13th by Highroadwellian

Super Sub Sagare’s wonder goal steals the points for the Shaymen. Midgley makes sure with a penalty five minutes after arriving on the field. Exeter should have won the game, with the number of chances created. However the Shaymen produced a little something extra to steal the points. 

First Half commences 5-3-2

First half commenced with Sandwith, Dudgeon and new boy Colley forming as three centre-backs.

08 Sandwith heads Sheldon’s cross off the goal line.

10 Exeter’s Lee booked for a nasty foul on Hudson.

12 Devine spotted Cartwright off his goal line, his lobbed thirty yard shot just clears the bar.

14 Weak shot from Mallon easy save by Bittner.

19-21 Two minutes of Town pressure, good movement and possession, two good crosses from Sandwith and McAuley, but to be fair Exeter failed to harry for the ball.

27 Shot wide right from Owen after McAuley free kick.

37 Exeter’s Lee heads on to and over Cartwright’s crossbar from an Exeter free-kick.

42 Good cross from Yates eludes Town’s Lee in the box.

45+1 The diminutive Coppinger unmarked in the box has a free header, fails to convert an easy chance by heading it wide and left.

Second Half commences 4-3-3

Sandwith reverts to left back, Sagare and Farrell join Mallon up front to liven the attack.

48 1-0 GOAL. Sandwith plays a long ball down the left wing to Sagare, who takes the ball four paces, to the edge of the area, unleashes an exocet of a shot into the top left hand corner of Bittner’s goal. Certainly the best goal seen at the Shay this season.

53 Save by Cartwright from Sheldon poked behind for a corner. Exeter are now pressing hard, having all the possession and a series of corners ensue.

54 Exeter’s Lee again heads onto the bar from Jeannin’s corner, the ball bounces back and is cleared away.

61 Devine heads over from six yards, during a series of Exeter corners.

62 Double stop from Cartwright, fails to hold first Sheldon’s shot, he parries ball into Devine’s feet. Devine should have scored but Cartwright makes a good save.

65 Shot by Sheldon wide and left.

81 2-0 GOAL. Substitute Midgley is bundled over by Afful inside the box, before he can connect with a cross. With no hesitation the referee awards the penalty. Midgley calmly steps up and fires the ball home bottom right. His sixth penalty this season.

89 Afful produces another good point blank save from Cartwright.

Halifax Town 2 (Sagare 48, Midgley pen 82)

Cartwright, Sandwith, Bushell, Mallon, Lee (Sagare45), Owen, Colley, Hudson (Midgley 76), Dudgeon, McAuley (Farrell 45), Yates.

Unused Subs: Killeen, Allan.

Yellow Cards: Yates (15), Bushell (36), Hudson (40).

Exeter City 0

Bittner, Hiley (Flack 80), Jeannin, Gaia, Todd, Coppinger, Ampadu (Taylor 83), Devine, Sheldon, McConnell (Afful 78), Lee.

Unused Subs: Rice, Moxey.

Yellow Cards: Lee (10), Jeannin (86)