FC Halifax Town 2 – 0 Wealdstone

FC Halifax Town

National League

2 - 0

Wealdstone

KO: 15:00 | Sat 2nd Apr ’22

Wealdstone slipped to a 2-0 defeat away to high-flying FC Halifax Town at The Shay, with sub Billy Waters grabbing both the hosts goals.

Shaymen’s top scorer Waters grabbed his first within five minutes of coming onto the pitch and then a second 15 minutes from time.

Stuart Maynard made three changes for the sides trip to Yorkshire, with Josh Umerah returning up front, Alex Dyer replacing the injured Charlie Cooper in midfield and Nikola Tavares returning in defence.

On a chilly but sunny afternoon at The Shay it was the hosts who almost took an early lead when Matty Warburton struck the post from his low 20-yard just five minutes in.

George Wickens had to be alert twice in quick succession to deny Gerry McDonagh with two fantastic low saves on 35 minutes.

The Stones had a couple of first half, half chances through Rhys Browne but that was all they could do to trouble Sam Johnson in the Shaymen’s goal, with the keeper having no saves of note to make throughout the match.

The introduction of Waters on 56 minutes, a surprise omission from Pete Wild’s much changed side saw the game change.

It took the hosts top scorer just four minutes to open his account for the afternoon capitalising on a cross Wickens could only punch clear before skipping past Connor McAvoy to slot home.

There was almost an instant response from the Stones when Aaron Henry played Charles Clayden in down the left but his low cross was poked wide by Umerah.

If there was an air of fortune about Waters’ first there certainly wasn’t for his brace. He brought the ball down on the edge of the box following a Stones clearance, feigned a shot that took two defenders out of the game before smashing a low effort past Wickens into the corner.

Wealdstone couldn’t rally a reply and the best chance for another came at the end for the visitors when Harvey Gilmour beat Wickens but only to see his effort hit the side-netting.

The visitors will now lick their wounds and look to Tuesday evening when Maidenhead United visit Grosvenor Vale for a 7:45PM kick-off.

WEALDSTONE: Wickens, McAvoy (Mundle-Smith 70), Cook, Okimo (c), Tavares, Henry, Dyer (Charles 74), Ferguson, Clayden, Browne (Jackson 80), Umerah. Subs not used: Sesay, Mascoll.

Report by Chris Woods

Stuart Maynard post match interview HERE

Adam Williams Match pics HERE

Jon Taffel Match pics HERE