Southwell’s late strike sinks rivals Harrogate

HARROGATE TOWN 1 FC HALIFAX TOWN 2

DAYLE SOUTHWELL’S goal handed FC Halifax Town a late, dramatic victory at Harrogate.

Callum Howe had put the hosts ahead during a strong firsthalf for the hosts, but Nathan Clarke levelled before Southwell’s winner for a much-improved Halifax after the restart.

A Halifax win didn’t look on the cards at half-time, but The Shaymen rallied and produced a stirring second-half display to register their first away league win since the opening day of the season, and inflict Harrogate’s first home league defeat in three months.

Howe and striker Dominic Knowles had early chances for the hosts before Michael Woods almost capped a flowing, intricate move with a low shot across goal that produced a fingertip save from Sam Johnson.

At the other end, Southwell squandered a glorious chance after an incisive counter-attack started by Jordan Preston.

That miss looked even worse when centre-back Howe volleyed into the roof of the net from six yards for his seventh goal of the campaign.

It was much better from Halifax after half-time, however, with Preston’s neat lay-off to Southwell forcing Belshaw into a smart save.

From the resulting corner by half-time substitute Ben Tomlinson, Clarke headed in the equaliser at the far post.

In the 88th minute, Southwell completed the gleeful turnaround for the Halifax fans inside Wetherby Road with a drilled shot low across goal.

Harrogate Town: Belshaw, Howe, Kitching, Falkingham, Fallowfield, Burrell, Kerry, Woods (Beck 61), Leesley, Knowles (Williams 85), Muldoon (Emmett 80). Unused substitutes:

Cracknell, Thomson.

FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Maher, Duckworth, Sellers, Clarke, Brown, Ferry, Kosylo, Southwell, Odelusi (Tomlinson 46), Preston. Unused substitutes: Rowley,Staunton, Jonathan Edwards, Leacock-McLeod. Referee: Daniel Middleton (Derbyshire).