Men’s 2nds slip to second straight defeat

Huddersfield Dragons 3rds 2 Halifax 2nds 0

Halifax slipped to their second consecutive league defeat in a closely fought local derby. There were many positives to emerge from the game with most players producing improved performances from the previous week.

The game started calamitously for the visitors with skipper Dave Manning having to go off injured within the first minute having turned his ankle under a challenge. Sub Paul Mayes deputized and once again gave a committed contribution.

The game was very even and most of the play was contested between the 22 metre areas. Ryan Dransfield gave the visitors penetration on the right wing and Paul Wheatley and Peter Balmforth strove to provide inspiration from midfield. Chances were few and far between and throughout the whole match only four short corners were gained by both teams. Not only were there a dearth of short corners, neither keeper really had a shot to save throughout the encounter.

The players largely responsible for this lack of goalmouth action at the visitors end was due to the effectiveness of Bryn Hans, Nick Barker, Trevor Love and particularly Stephen Fawkes. The latter had an immaculate game and not only timed his tackles to perfection, but also distributed the ball with aplomb.

In such a tight game it was a disappointment when the first goal arrived courtesy of a misdirected strike from a short corner. The unsighted Fred Owens was unable to deal with a shot that was under hit rather than struck cleanly.

Halifax took the setback on the chin and competed well through out the match. Sub Cameron Hellowell combined sweetly with Dransfield to carve open a goal chance only from the home stopper to spread himself and save. This miss was costly as shortly before full time Dragons extended the lead, again from a set play. A cute deflection in front of Owens gave the keeper no chance to seal the victory for the Lockwood Park outfit.

The return of vice captain David Willis and stalwart Simon Arch along with the overall performance give the side optimism for next week’s vital home game against Airedale.