County v FC Halifax: COWS Friendly Match Report (18/07/2015)
Jul 19, 2015 14:00:35 GMT
gazz and nonleaguereview like this
Post by hatter_in_macc on Jul 19, 2015 14:00:35 GMT
Afternoon, all.
After a later-than-anticipated night out for the Maccs, here is the slightly-delayed report for COWS on yesterday's proceedings!
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COUNTY v FC HALIFAX TOWN (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (18/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
No Shame In Holding The Shaymen
A fresh pitch, smart new home shirts, and even some intermittent sunshine were all on show for County’s first pre-season appearance at Edgeley Park. And the football provided a reason to be cheerful, too, as the Hatters turned in a solid performance - comprising a healthy mix of competitiveness and well-drilled moves - to match their National League opponents from one Pyramid-level above.
The County faithful had a first opportunity to view new striker, Kayode Odejayi, who featured in the starting line-up. One of his future partners up top, Sefton Gonzales, whose signing from Clitheroe had been announced earlier in the day, was not, however, eligible to play - pending completion of the requisite transfer paperwork.
Gareth Roberts was again named as Captain in the absence of the injured Sean O’Hanlon. His colleagues in defence included a trialist, Ryan Ellison, formerly of Oldham Athletic, who had made a brief appearance as a substitute in County’s defeat at Airbus UK Broughton four days earlier.
The Halifax squad included two popular ex-Hatters: Matty Glennon, donning the ‘keeper’s gloves; and Danny Hattersley, who was named among the visiting substitutes. The County bench, for its part, included a former Shayman in Kevin Holsgrove.
The Hatters looked to be the more lively side as proceedings began. Micah Evans was the first to create a chance, as the winger set off on a mazy run into the Halifax box before shooting and forcing Glennon to deflect the ball behind. And the lively Odejayi was also through on goal shortly afterwards, after latching onto a defence-splitting pass from Mark Lees - only to be ruled offside.
Glennon’s rather distant County goalkeeping descendant, Danny Hurst, was called into action when the Shaymen launched their first attack of note. A through-ball from James Bolton into the home area found the onrushing Elliott Whitehouse, but Hurst was equal to the challenge - blocking with his feet at point-blank range. The same visiting midfielder was, a little later, the architect of his team’s other principal first-half opportunity - firing just wide of the left upright from outside the box.
For the remaining spell before half-time, however, it was a Hatter - and, specifically, one Hatter in the form of Joe Garvin - who looked the man most likely to break the deadlock, as he and Glennon engaged in a one-to-one shooting and stopping session of their own. Garvin’s first attempt, with his left foot of sweet renown, was a half-volley - executed following a knock-down by Glenn Rule - that the former County ‘keeper did well to save.
Glennon’s next test was rather less arduous, and he was no doubt grateful to be presented with a straightforward, looping catch after Garvin mis-timed his connection to a free kick delivery. But any sense of security into which Glennon might have been lulled was clearly shown to be false, when Garvin first shot sharply from the edge of the box and, subsequently, following a neat one-two move, fired goal-wards at close range - in each case forcing the visiting Number One to dive and parry the efforts ahead of, what was for Glennon, in particular, a welcome and well-earned break.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Halifax 0.
The early stages of the second half witnessed County’s first yellow card of the pre-season - with Ellison being penalized for a foul and push on visiting Captain, Scott McManus, who was also booked for his part in the ensuing tussle.
While County had enjoyed the majority of attempts on goal during the first half, the period after the break witnessed a more even distribution of chances. The first of these, for Halifax, was the most bizarre, as it saw a cross by Bolton from the right transformed in flight to become goal-bound - requiring Hurst to palm the effort over his crossbar. Shortly afterwards, another Shayman, Sam Walker, was to try his luck - firing an attempt wide of the right post from outside the County area.
The pace and trickery of Abs Baggie had been posing a threat to Halifax for much of the afternoon, and the Sierra Leonean enjoyed a purple patch of wizardry midway through the second half. He first unleashed a dangerous, low cross from the right that, fortunately for the visitors, found the outstretched leg of Hamza Bencherif before deflecting into the arms of a relieved Glennon. Baggie’s next act on the right flank took him on a run to and along the by-line, culminating in a shot into the side-netting. Then, by way of an encore with a fuller cast, he initiated a move, involving Danny Morton and Rule, that led to a cross by Rule from the right and only evaded Lamin Colley, awaiting at the far post, by a whisker.
The contest’s final twenty minutes consisted of further opportunities for each side - albeit ones that, for the most part, ended up far too high or wide of goal. Kevin Monteiro, a substitute on trial for the Hatters, fired several rows up into the Cheadle End from outside the box, before a visiting trialist, Buxton’s Sean Tuton, shot outside County’s left upright from close range. Bolton gave a neat three-player move for Halifax the ending it did not deserve by blasting over, and the Cheadle End’s Lower Tier became further acquainted with the ball as attempts by Charlie Russell and Morton went airborne.
There were, late on, two exceptions to the wayward rule. Halifax did manage to hit the target, courtesy of a well-executed finish past Hurst by Josh MacDonald - but, with the flag already up, was never going to trouble the scoreboard. And Colley went close in the final minute - unleashing a sweet shot from the edge of the box that flew narrowly over.
In as much, however, as such things matter when it comes to friendlies, the draw was not an unfair result. More importantly, three pre-season matches in, the Hatters will have taken heart from another useful workout that continues their good preparatory work.
FULL-TIME: County 0, Halifax 0.
Team: Hurst, Morton, Roberts, Ellison, Lees, Garvin (Holsgrove, 58), Baggie, Rule, Odejayi (Russell, 69), Evans (Monteiro, 58), Ledsham (Colley, 58).
Unused Subs: Tyson, Churchman, Duxbury, Lofthouse.
Booked: Ellison, Baggie.
Attendance: 1,053.
After a later-than-anticipated night out for the Maccs, here is the slightly-delayed report for COWS on yesterday's proceedings!
*****************************************************************************************************
COUNTY v FC HALIFAX TOWN (PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY): MATCH REPORT (18/07/2015)
By Hatter in Macc
No Shame In Holding The Shaymen
A fresh pitch, smart new home shirts, and even some intermittent sunshine were all on show for County’s first pre-season appearance at Edgeley Park. And the football provided a reason to be cheerful, too, as the Hatters turned in a solid performance - comprising a healthy mix of competitiveness and well-drilled moves - to match their National League opponents from one Pyramid-level above.
The County faithful had a first opportunity to view new striker, Kayode Odejayi, who featured in the starting line-up. One of his future partners up top, Sefton Gonzales, whose signing from Clitheroe had been announced earlier in the day, was not, however, eligible to play - pending completion of the requisite transfer paperwork.
Gareth Roberts was again named as Captain in the absence of the injured Sean O’Hanlon. His colleagues in defence included a trialist, Ryan Ellison, formerly of Oldham Athletic, who had made a brief appearance as a substitute in County’s defeat at Airbus UK Broughton four days earlier.
The Halifax squad included two popular ex-Hatters: Matty Glennon, donning the ‘keeper’s gloves; and Danny Hattersley, who was named among the visiting substitutes. The County bench, for its part, included a former Shayman in Kevin Holsgrove.
The Hatters looked to be the more lively side as proceedings began. Micah Evans was the first to create a chance, as the winger set off on a mazy run into the Halifax box before shooting and forcing Glennon to deflect the ball behind. And the lively Odejayi was also through on goal shortly afterwards, after latching onto a defence-splitting pass from Mark Lees - only to be ruled offside.
Glennon’s rather distant County goalkeeping descendant, Danny Hurst, was called into action when the Shaymen launched their first attack of note. A through-ball from James Bolton into the home area found the onrushing Elliott Whitehouse, but Hurst was equal to the challenge - blocking with his feet at point-blank range. The same visiting midfielder was, a little later, the architect of his team’s other principal first-half opportunity - firing just wide of the left upright from outside the box.
For the remaining spell before half-time, however, it was a Hatter - and, specifically, one Hatter in the form of Joe Garvin - who looked the man most likely to break the deadlock, as he and Glennon engaged in a one-to-one shooting and stopping session of their own. Garvin’s first attempt, with his left foot of sweet renown, was a half-volley - executed following a knock-down by Glenn Rule - that the former County ‘keeper did well to save.
Glennon’s next test was rather less arduous, and he was no doubt grateful to be presented with a straightforward, looping catch after Garvin mis-timed his connection to a free kick delivery. But any sense of security into which Glennon might have been lulled was clearly shown to be false, when Garvin first shot sharply from the edge of the box and, subsequently, following a neat one-two move, fired goal-wards at close range - in each case forcing the visiting Number One to dive and parry the efforts ahead of, what was for Glennon, in particular, a welcome and well-earned break.
HALF-TIME: County 0, Halifax 0.
The early stages of the second half witnessed County’s first yellow card of the pre-season - with Ellison being penalized for a foul and push on visiting Captain, Scott McManus, who was also booked for his part in the ensuing tussle.
While County had enjoyed the majority of attempts on goal during the first half, the period after the break witnessed a more even distribution of chances. The first of these, for Halifax, was the most bizarre, as it saw a cross by Bolton from the right transformed in flight to become goal-bound - requiring Hurst to palm the effort over his crossbar. Shortly afterwards, another Shayman, Sam Walker, was to try his luck - firing an attempt wide of the right post from outside the County area.
The pace and trickery of Abs Baggie had been posing a threat to Halifax for much of the afternoon, and the Sierra Leonean enjoyed a purple patch of wizardry midway through the second half. He first unleashed a dangerous, low cross from the right that, fortunately for the visitors, found the outstretched leg of Hamza Bencherif before deflecting into the arms of a relieved Glennon. Baggie’s next act on the right flank took him on a run to and along the by-line, culminating in a shot into the side-netting. Then, by way of an encore with a fuller cast, he initiated a move, involving Danny Morton and Rule, that led to a cross by Rule from the right and only evaded Lamin Colley, awaiting at the far post, by a whisker.
The contest’s final twenty minutes consisted of further opportunities for each side - albeit ones that, for the most part, ended up far too high or wide of goal. Kevin Monteiro, a substitute on trial for the Hatters, fired several rows up into the Cheadle End from outside the box, before a visiting trialist, Buxton’s Sean Tuton, shot outside County’s left upright from close range. Bolton gave a neat three-player move for Halifax the ending it did not deserve by blasting over, and the Cheadle End’s Lower Tier became further acquainted with the ball as attempts by Charlie Russell and Morton went airborne.
There were, late on, two exceptions to the wayward rule. Halifax did manage to hit the target, courtesy of a well-executed finish past Hurst by Josh MacDonald - but, with the flag already up, was never going to trouble the scoreboard. And Colley went close in the final minute - unleashing a sweet shot from the edge of the box that flew narrowly over.
In as much, however, as such things matter when it comes to friendlies, the draw was not an unfair result. More importantly, three pre-season matches in, the Hatters will have taken heart from another useful workout that continues their good preparatory work.
FULL-TIME: County 0, Halifax 0.
Team: Hurst, Morton, Roberts, Ellison, Lees, Garvin (Holsgrove, 58), Baggie, Rule, Odejayi (Russell, 69), Evans (Monteiro, 58), Ledsham (Colley, 58).
Unused Subs: Tyson, Churchman, Duxbury, Lofthouse.
Booked: Ellison, Baggie.
Attendance: 1,053.
