Points shared for Men's 1s

Halifax took on relegation struggling Rotherham at home.

Halifax knew it would be a close tight game and were familiar with their opponents having played against them last season in Division 1.

Halifax started the game brightly and soon settled into a good early rhythm. Tom Love was dominating early in midfield with some solid tackling and passing. Without top goalscorer Matthew Graham, Josh Barron was moved to striker and partner Jake Bamforth up front.

The pair were linking well and their off the ball movement was causing problems for the Rotherham defence. Halifax capitalised this with the best possible start and an early goal after 10mins. Good work down the right from Love fed the ball into the middle Gabe Coleman. The ball back to Love allowed him to then find the run of Bamforth in behind the Rotherham defence. Bamforth drew out the keeper and slide the ball through for Barron to score unmarked at the back post.

Rotherham bounced straight back and a few minutes later a flowing move of their own saw their winger go on a mazy run down the right and cut across the baseline, avoiding several challenges and somehow squeezing the ball home from a tight angle.

Buoyed by the goal and desperately in need of the points in their relegation battle, Rotherham continued to apply the pressure. The defence was holding firm however, Rotherham won a couple of short corners in succession and scored their second with a powerful strike from the top of the D.

Halifax 2-1 down, were then reduced to 10men after some very dubious umpiring decisions saw Michael Jones receive a yellow card and a 10min sin bin.

During this spell however, Halifax continued to play some good hockey and the pace and movement upfront was causing a lot of problems. Another fine passing move from left to right involving Josh Foreman, Coleman, Love and Bamforth again saw Barron in the right place to poach his second of the game (and his 4th against Rotherham having scored 2 in the game earlier in the season)

2-2 halftime.

The call at halftime was to keep tight in defence and keep a clean sheet for the half and let the attacking players enjoy the freedom they were creating.

It was a tight second half and the defence kept the Rotherham team at bay despite some sustained periods of pressure as Rotherham searched for the win they desperately needed.

As the half wore on Halifax started to dominate and create chance after chance. MOM Tom Love was dominating the midfield and playing some excellent balls through to the forwards but that final killer pass or goal wouldn’t come. In the final 5 minutes and with Halifax pressing high, they won a series of short corners, but Michael Jones was unable to find the net and the Rotherham keeper made a couple of fine saves to see the game out for a draw.

A good game and a fair result on the day.