History boys are at it again as Town make record start
FC Halifax Town battled to the best start in the club’s history with an action-packed 3-2 win over Lincoln at the Shay.
A bumper crowd of 2,369 were treated to a richly-entertaining contest as Town recorded an unprecedented fifth straight win at the start of a season.
It’s not the first time the record books have had to be rewritten under Neil Aspin, who has also overseen the most consecutive clean sheets and away league games unbeaten.
Marc Roberts and Steve Williams helped Town take some Tipp-Ex to the history books with a goal each, while Scott Boden notched his second in two games.
But that was only half the story as Hamza Bencherif and Ben Tomlinson scored for Lincoln, who played their part in a breathless game that featured more twists and turns than a Formula One race track.
Lincoln’s opener left the Shay in shock such was its unorthodox nature as Roberts’ clearance hit Bencherif and looped over Matt Glennon.
Williams and James Bolton forced fine saves by Nick Townsend but Lincoln proved resolute, with their array of six-foot-plus players matching Town’s physical prowess; must be all those jelly babies they’re eating.
But from Paul Marshall’s free-kick, Townsend punched the ball against his own post before Roberts stroked in.
For arguably the first time this season, Town had been posed a question and their answer was pretty emphatic.
From the last attack of the half, Pearson’s cross was blocked, according to referee Ross Joyce, by Tony Diagne’s arm andBoden’s penalty put Town into a deserved lead.
The second- half nearly started as the first had ended but Townsend saved well after Boden had raced clear.
Minutes later, Lincoln were level after James Bolton’s foul on Ben Tomlinson, who sent his penalty into the same corner Boden had.
It could have been worse had Jordan Burrows’ shot not hit the bar shortly afterwards; if Town’s reaction to falling behind was commendable, then so was Lincoln’s.
Bencherif’s dismissal for a second booking tipped the scales in Town’s favour again and Williams capitalised on an error by Townsend when he spilled a corner.
Boden curled a shot just wide from 25 yards before, typically for such an engrossing contest, Lincoln then went up the other end and hit the post.
Jackson could have sealed it after winning possession high up the pitch but Townsend saved well before Tomlinson raced clear for one last heart-stopping moment but dragged his shot wide. Halifax: Glennon, Bolton, M Roberts, Williams, McManus, Smith (Schofield 54), Maynard, Marshall (Jackson 68), Pearson, Peniket, Boden. Subs not used: Senior, Ainge, K Roberts. Scorers: Roberts (29), Boden (45), Williams (76) Shots on target: 8 Shots off target: 7 Corners: 7 Lincoln: Townsend, Newton, Bencherif, Diagne, Brown, Power (Ledsham 78), Mendy, Nolan (Marshall 78), Caprice, Tomlinson, Burrow (Kabba 84). Subs not used: Farman, Robinson. Scorers: Bencherif (10), Tomlinson (50) Shots on target: 3 Shots off target: 7 Corners: 2 Attendance: 2,369 Town man of the match: Steve Williams