Shaymen spurn chances in consecutive stalemates
FC Halifax Town spurned several good chances as they were held to two goalless draws in four days.
The Shaymen failed to claim the win their performance merited in Saturday’s goalless draw at Dorking Wanderers.
It was an encouraging display by Town, who can take lots of positives, but it's been an all-too-familiar theme this season of chances being wasted, and it reared its head again.
Dan Gallagher headed over from a long throw in the first two minutes, but the first-half belonged to Halifax.
Harvey Gilmour should have scored after making a good interception high up the pitch and then getting the ball back from Fidel O’Rourke, but keeper Dan Lincoln diverted the low shot behind.
A flurry of chances should have seen Town take a deserved lead midway through the half, with a low shot by the impressive Milli Alli parried away by Lincoln, Adam Senior's shot tipped over from Alli's cross and then Jesse Debrah almost scoring with a header from one of five corners in the first 25 minutes for The Shaymen.
Alli had another good chance shortly after the restart after being found by Gilmour's excellent through
ball, but he produced an unconvincing finish after cutting in on his right foot.
Another loose pass at the back by Dorking gifted the ball to Alli, who played in O’Rourke, but his low shot was kept out by the latest in a strong of saves by Lincoln.
It was a similar story on Tuesday evening when Halifax drew 0-0 at Gateshead.
Gateshead hadn't kept a clean sheet at home all season, in 18 games, but have now.
Town did at least extend their unbeaten run to three
games for the first time this year and have now kept three clean sheets in a row for the first time since October 2021.
But they should have won it.
Gateshead had started better and brighter, moving the ball smoothly going forward, with Halifax too passive.
Like at Dorking, Town were winning the ball high up the pitch on occasion, but failed to take advantage, while at the back, Gateshead were finding it too easy to cut through them.
But after the hosts' initial attacking forays, their threat disappeared, with Halifax growing into the half.
A free-kick was glanced wide by Milli Alli, who also had a fierce shot on the turn parried behind from an angle after a short corner.
The best chance yet then fell to Adam Senior - one of two in yellow unmarked from a left-wing cross - but his header was kept out by Filip Marshall. Either side of him and Town would have led.
Senior again went close with a header a few minutes after the restart when his effort was cleared off the line.
Town substitute Mani Dieseruvwe and Gateshead's Adam Campbell had efforts off target, but a goal remained about as remote a possibility as the temperatures reaching double figures.
Halifax then wasted two more big chances when Dieseruvwe's header was saved by the keeper's legs before Alli fired over from near the penalty spot.
Shots by Callum Whelan and Alli both went wide in the final five minutes.