Wild’s joy as Sho goes on for Shaymen

HALIFAX booked their place in the last 16 with a performance manager Peter Wild hailed as “a resolute display”.

Second half goals from Toby Sho-Silva and Josh Staunton gave the Shaymen a two-goal cushion before Connor Lemonheigh-Evans struck with a consolation for the Gulls.

“It was a resolute display from us which is something that has been missing in recent weeks,” said Wild.

Meanwhile, Gulls boss Gary Johnson focused on the positives. “I know people will be disappointed, but I’ve got to see the bigger picture and that’s the best that we’ve played for a long time,” said Johnson.

Straight from the kick-off, United skipper Asa Hall tested Halifax keeper Sam Johnson with a strike from the halfway line, which Johnson gathoff ered comfortably.

And United continued to probe whenLemonheigh-Evans threaded through to Jamie Reid, but United’s leading scorer scuffed his shot wide.

Two minutes later, a corner from Lemonheigh-Evans picked out Kyle Cameron, who then saw his headed effort turned behind by Johnson.

The Shaymen took the lead against the run of play on 54 minutes when Jack Redshaw’s cross was tapped home by Sho-Silva.

United responded positively as debutant Gary Warren saw an overhead kick cleared the line on the hour and then Aaron Nemane had a shot from distance deflected wide.

The Shaymen doubled their lead on 67 minutes when Staunton scored with a deflected effort from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by Sho-Silva.

Five minutes later, Lemonheigh-Evans pulled a goal back for United after going on a solo run and before cutting inside to fire past Johnson, who later denied Reid and sub Jake Andrews in a late Gulls onslaught.