Mens 1s rue missed chances

After taking the positives despite defeat last week, Halifax were determined to put in another good display against a team they comfortably beat 3-1 earlier in the season. A bright fast start was discussed pre game and that was exactly how they started.

Due to player unavailability, there was another shuffle of the player positions that saw Michael Jones yet again switch position to striker, and this time partner Tom Love. From the beginning they put the Leeds defence under pressure causing a number of mistakes and allowing Halifax to dominate possession. With this platform to build on the midfield and defence settled and were soon playing passes and utilising the full width of the pitch to stretch Leeds.

Matthew Graham was asserting his influence in midfield, and Josh Foreman was able to advance the play down the left side with some smart link up play with Graham and left midfielder Casey Marshall.

The pressure told, when Jones was able to fire home a thunderous shot from the top of D midway through the half. A ball out of defence from David Wheatley down the right, released returning midfielder Josh Barron into space behind the Leeds defence. The Leeds defence was scrambling to get back allowing Barron to fire the ball across the D, where Love was able to slip the ball through to Jones who had a lot to do with his with his back to goal, but he skilfully created the space he needed, moving away from goal to fire the strike on the turn catching the keeper off guard.

Halifax buoyed by the goal maintained the possession and the pressure but couldn’t get the clear cut chances they needed and were frustrated by the Leeds defence. Love was then sent through by a precise through ball from Graham. With only the keeper to beat Love’s shot was poor and straight at the keeper giving an easy clearance.

Half time and 1-0 up and the message was more of the same and to continue the pressure.

The second half started however, with Leeds coming out of the blocks the quickest and putting Halifax on the back foot. This was to set the tone for the 2nd half.

Leeds were now the team playing the ball through the midfield and pressing the Halifax defence back into their own D. Halifax were struggling to break out and maintain possession with some sloppy passing giving possession away cheaply. This was eventually punished by Leeds who picked up a loose ball and advanced down the right. Switching the ball through midfield they were able to create an opportunity on the edge of the D and strike a reverse stick shot into the bottom corner 1-1.

Halifax tried to rally and had a brief spell of pressure. Again, poor finishing was to cost Halifax as chances went wide or were cleared easily. Then Love picked up the ball and easily beat his man and burst into the D but another poor finish saw his tame shot go straight at the keeper yet again and saved comfortably.

The pendulum swung back in Leeds favour and they applied continuous pressure for most of the remaining part of the half.

Under the pressure the Halifax defence were conceding short corner after short corner and it was beginning to look like “when” not “if” Leeds would score again.

Keeper Matthew Metcalfe pulled of a stunning save tipping a drag flick that was arrowing into the top corner onto the bar, and the defence were doing everything they could to block and clear the corners but it was no surprise when finally Leeds were able to work a routine that saw a shot nicely deflected high into the net.

Halifax were able to carve out one further decent opportunity as Graham and Barron again managed to get Love free in the D. However, the strikers lack of self-confidence was visible as he scuffed his weak shot wide when Jones was free for a tap in had Love played a simple pass though.

Leeds continued to press and in the final minutes were able to score their 3rd and seal the game, with a move down the Halifax left, and the goal scorer was allowed to run unchallenged across the D and put a bobbled shot into the corner beyond the keeper.

Halifax have a tough run of fixtures to come after the cancellations due to bad weather, and face the first of 2 consecutive “double header weekends” with high flying Sheffield Hallam at home on Saturday and Sheffield Uni Bankers away on Sunday that should prove to be a vital game.