SHAYMEN’S HOME PARTY IS SPOILED BY MIKAEL
FC Halifax Town’s uber slim hopes of stealing the National League title were ended by an 86th-minute equaliser from Aldershot’s Mikael Ndjoli at the Shay Stadium.
Substitute Martin Woods put the Shaymen ahead on 59 minutes with a longrange strike that even the inspired Ryan Hall couldn’t keep out.
At the time, that took Halifax up to second in the table – two points behind leaders Stockport – and still mathematically in with a shot of winning the title.
But those hopes were dashed when Ndjoli struck to rescue a point for the fourth-bottom Shots.
“We had lots of chances,” said Town boss Pete Wild with his side now fourth in the table and already assured of a play-off spot.
“It was a game of missed opportunities. We opened them up well and we haven’t capitalised on them.”
For much of the game, it was one way traffic, but the Shots did conjure up the first chance when a freekick from the right was cleared by Matt Warburton to Alfie Saunders, but his effort never really troubled the Town goal.
Warburton saw a shot deflected wide for a corner before Kian Spence let fly from 35 yards out with a shot which just flew narrowly wide.
Halifax, though, found young keeper Hall in spired form. First, he turned an effort from Warburton round the post and then denied Jordan Slew just after the half hour with a fantastic save from Javid Swaby-Neavin’s cross.
Town were on the front foot for start of the second start too with Jesse Debrah and Spence bith going close with efforts from set-pieces.
But they weren’t to be denied on 57 minutes when substitute Martin Woods managed to squeeze a shot from the edge of the box past Hall and into the net.
The home side kept creating chances but Hall continued to make save after save. Warburton and Woods went close before Warburton’s teasing cross just eluded the out-stretched Harvey Gilmour.
As long as the score was 1-0, however, Aldershot were always in the game and the visitors were screaming for a penalty on 80 minutes when Harry Panayioutou went down in the box under a challenge from Pierce Bird but referee Paul Marsden waved away their frantic appeals.
But the brave Shots weren’t be be denied and with four minutes left, they stunned the hosts with an equaliser – Ndjoli’s low shot beating Sam Johnson at his near post to send the travelling 249 away fans home happy.
Shots boss Mark Molesley said: “It was a creditable result, they are a fantastic side with a top manager. Halifax tested us and the game was very exciting. I am really pleased with a great point.”