SINNOTT HITS KIDDY BID AND FIGHT ON! HALIFAX
JORDAN SINNOTT all but ended Kidderminster Harriers’ faint title hopes and strengthened FC Halifax Town’s play-off position with a late winner at Aggborough.
The midfielder kept his cool from the penalty spot with six minutes left to give the Shaymen a vital three points in their bid for the top five after James McQuilkin had earlier missed from 12 yards for the hosts.
For Kiddy, the draw brought an end to their 13match winning streak at home – a post-war club record – and AFC Fylde’s 4-1 success against Darlington effectively ended their hopes of automatic promotion, with the Coasters moving nine points clear.
Harriers and Halifax will likely have to navigate the play-offs if they are to claim an instant return to NonLeague’s top tier, with the Shaymen delivering an early psychological blow.
“We were so far adrift of Kidderminster in the first half-hour it was frightening,” Halifax boss Billy Heath said.
“We just didn’t play at all but the main thing was that we stayed in the game. The penalty miss just before half time was key.
“The effort and determination from the boys in the second half against a fulltime team was magnificent.”
Harriers, full of confi- dence after four consecutive victories, dominated the early proceedings and it was no surprise when they took an 11th-minute lead.
Halifax keeper Sam Johnson tried to come for a McQuilkin corner but was blocked by the mass of players in the six-yard box and striker Joe Ironside headed into an empty net for his third goal since joining for a five-figure fee from Nuneaton two weeks ago.
Giant striker Tom Denton was unplayable at times and he got the visitors back on level terms on the half-hour with his 16th goal of the season, nodding skipper Kevin Roberts’ right-wing cross past Sam Hornby from one of his side’s first attacks.
Kiddy still should have gone into the break in front but McQuilkin fired his stoppage-time penalty well wide after Sinnott was adjudged to have impeded Ryan Croasdale following a corner.
Johnson made up for his earlier error with good stops
to deny Daniel Nti and McQuilkin early in the second half and Heath’s men took full advantage after Denton had hit the bar.
Cliff Moyo was brought down inside the penalty area by Croasdale seconds after coming on as an 82nd-minute substitute and Sinnott stepped up to secure victory.
Despite the late disappointment, Kiddy boss John Eustace said: “I thought the lads played really well and didn’t deserve to lose.
“Halifax are a good, experienced team but on another day we could have scored a few more goals.”