Men's 1s edged out again

Boston Spa 1s 2 – 1 Halifax 1s

Halifax put their previous poor starts behind them and started brightly against Boston. Tom Love, Henry Shelton and Josh Sutcliffe were dominating the midfield and were looking to get through balls to the strikers as soon as possible to allow Josh Barron to use his pace in behind the defence. Halifax were also welcoming Leigh Walker back into the team after a period out as well as Martin Boyle for his first appearance in 3years. The game was turning into a very even match up with Barron and Love having chances matched by Boston going close with a few in return.

Boston took the lead midway through the half converting a short corner. It was a very soft goal for Halifax to concede, the ball popping up from a blocked shot on goal and weakly looping over keeper Matthew Breton. Despite getting a hand to the ball, Breton couldn’t stop it flopping in.

Halifax responded, Boyle was creating several chances down the right and Walker’s movement up front was stretching the Boston defence. Love went close with a strike from a short corner and Sutcliffe fired a reverse stick shot just passed the post. The equaliser then came. David Wheatley played a through ball from defence to Shelton who sent Boyle clear. Boyle’s excellent cross found Barron you finished neatly from close range. Boston in turn fought back. Keeper Breton was having an excellent game and made some good saves. However, through another short corner Boston scrambled another goal as a shot that was going wide was attempted to be controlled by an attacker, his mis-control of the ball in the air could have gone anywhere and it agonisingly dropped over the line

2-1 put playing well Halifax finished the half strongly. Right on halftime this paid off when an Andy Kaye strike from a short corner was blocked on the line by a defender’s foot. Sutcliffe stepped up to take the penalty flick but hit it straight down the middle and the keeper saved it.

In the second half man of the match Breton kept Halifax in it with some top quality saves. One in particular that the Boston striker hit sweetly and was destined for the top corner, only for Breton to deflect away at full stretch. The half was nip and tuck for both sides and evenly matched. Boston couldn’t find a way through the Halifax defence and when they did Breton was determined not to be beaten again. At the other end, not converting chances was haunting Halifax again. Barron had two missed 1 on 1’s and Ben Greenwood appeared to have been fouled by the keeper when through on goal but nothing was given. As frustrations mounted as the equaliser didn’t come and decisions were going against Halifax, Love picked up two separate yellow cards during the half and a total of 10mins in the sin bin.

Final score 2-1 to Boston, but Halifax whilst disappointed not to get anything from the game can take some positives in the performance and something to build on over the next few tough games.