REDSHAW’S SPOT ON TO HEAP MORE SHERI WOE
FC HALIFAX Town capped off a dominant performance with a deserved victory over a Chesterfield side still in deep relegation trouble.
A Jack Redshaw penalty midway through the second half was enough to give the hosts the win, though it would have been a larger margin of victory but for an impressive performance from visiting goalkeeper Shwan Jalal, who made a number of top saves.
It proved the perfect response to the 5-1 thumping at Stockport County on Thursday and boss Pete Wild was mightily relieved.
“[I’m] really, really pleased,” Wild said. “I asked for a reaction and I clearly got one. We dominated for the majority of the game and fully deserved the win.”
Wild responded to the Stockport Christmas stuffing by implementing a fresh 3-5-2 formation, and the Shaymen were the first to go close.
On 18 minutes, Redshaw whipped in a corner, and Chesterfield cleared despite claims of handball. Halifax got the ball back in but Redshaw saw his shot tipped wide by Jalal.
Chesterfield, though, plugged away and they went closest to finding the first goal on 25th minutes. A long ball into the box from Gevaro Nepomuceno found the head of Mike Fondop-Talom but he could not get his effort on target.
Just before half-time Halifax had another great chance to go in front. Redshaw picked up the ball from deep and ran at the defence. After holding off a few players, he let a shot fly but put it narrowly over the bar.
Halifax’s control continued into the second half with a number of chances failing to hit the target.
Nathan Clarke, in particular, rose highest from a Redshaw corner but his header drifted narrowly wide
Chesterfield created a good chance of their own, however, in the 57th minute. A good attack found Gevaro on the right wing and he managed to put a low ball into the box. Jack McKay had the shot but scuffed it and Sam Johnson watched it go harmlessly wide.
It took 65 minutes for the deadlock to be broken. A great run from Redshaw saw him beat two men before being brought down in the box. Referee Garreth Rhodes had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Redshaw stepped up to send Jalal the wrong way.
Man-of-the-match Josh Staunton almost capped a fine individual display with a second late on but Jalal denied him with another fine save, tipping the effort wide of the upright.
The result sees Chesterfield rooted in the relegation places and manager John Sheridan said: “I’m extremely disappointed with both the result and the performance. We wasted every chance we had and didn’t look like winning.”