PLAY-OFF SPOT FOR SHAY ACES
FC HALIFAX TOWN clinched their play-off place after recording a 17th home win of the season, beating Yeovil Town thanks to Zak Dearnley’s late strike.
Town boss Pete Wild said: “It’s the best we have played in a long time, we were free-flowing and a threat going forward. We were patient with our play, and we deserved the goal.”
Yeovil boss Charlie Lee said: “A disappointing result in the end. We had a fair bit of defending to do in the first half, but we did well. We were a little unlucky not to nick a goal before the break, but we held our own for the majority of the game, which is why it’s so frustrating to come away with nothing.”
The Shaymen started brightly as
Matt Warburton’s effort was saved by the goalkeeper Grant Smith only to fall to the feet of Harvey Gilmour and his effort was turned over the bar for a corner.
Town then had another wonderful effort from Jack Senior, he caught the ball sweetly with his left boot, but Grant Smith was able to claim at the second attempt.
The Glovers had a couple of penalty shouts with Jordan Barnett going down under a challenge from Tyrell Warren and Pierce Bird’s challenge on Reuben Reid, but referee Michael Barlow waved away both appeals.
The best opportunity of the first half came from Jack Senior after Thomas Knowles missed an interception and the fullback was in plenty of space, his low cross found Billy Waters, but he lost his balance as he was about to shoot, and Yeovil were able to clear.
The crossbar prevented the Glovers going ahead through Josh Neufville’s long-range effort, it beat Sam Johnson but came off the bar and Town were able to clear.
As the second half started, Kian Spence’s shot was deflected wide for a corner, Matt Warburton’s corner to the edge of the area found Senior whose effort was always rising over the bar.
Waters found Spence and he was fouled just inside the box, but the referee deemed it to be just outside, Warburton’s freekick was blocked by Barnett who was booked for encroachment and the freekick was taken again but Smith saved from Warburton
The Shaymen continued to press, as Waters found Warburton, he played it wide for Slew and his low ball was turned goalwards by Waters but was cleared by Lawson D’Ath on the hour mark.
Spence’s cross from the right was met by Waters but his effort was into the side-netting, and it looked like it was going to be a frustrating day for the Shaymen
However, Town weren’t to be denied, as Tyrell Warren’s cross was met by Zak Dearnley and he turned the ball in for his first goal at the Shay. ★★★★★