Wasted chances cost Men's 1s

Halifax were determined to improve on the performance from last week and ensure concentration levels and focus was there from the start. They got off to the start they wanted and soon settled into their game and were passing the ball neatly and applying pressure to the Leeds defence.

Tom Love and Henry Shelton were winning a lot of possession in midfield and Michael Jones up front was finding good positions from which to run with the ball at Leeds. Defensively central defenders Andrew Marsland and David Wheatley were restricting the Leeds forwards time and space

The goal they desired soon came for Halifax as good work down the right from Ben Greenwood and Josh Barron allowed Barron to fire the ball to Jones in the D who faked to shoot before drawing the foul. Marsland stepped up from the back and coolly slotted home the penalty corner with a nice drag flick beyond the keepers left hand.

Halifax deservedly 1-0 up and looked to continue to press and get the second goal.

Jones and Barron were linking well up front and Josh Sutcliffe was working tirelessly to create the chances they needed. Love was put through on goal and wasted a glorious chance as he opted for the reverse shot that was saved when Jones was better placed had Love played the simple sideways pass. A great move then released Barron and after drawing the keeper he slipped the ball to Jones but he was driven wide and his reverse shot wasn't strong enough to beat the recovering defender. Jones then set up Barron but his shot was saved by the diving keeper.

As the half wore on, Leeds carved out a couple of half chances, and forced the Halifax defence into conceding a number of penalty corners. Against the run of play Leeds scored the equaliser, firing in a penalty corner that went through the legs of Connor Sutcliffe on the post.

With minutes to go to half time Halifax tried to respond and more good work from Josh Sutcliffe saw the ball fall to Connor Sutcliffe and his first time reverse strike went narrowly wide.

A good half for Halifax and having beaten this Leeds team earlier in the season were positive going into the second half to push on for the win

After 10mins of the second half it looked like the all too familiar story for Halifax this season, wasted chances and opportunities

Josh Sutcliffe created further chances for Jones, Love and Barron, but Halifax couldn't get that breakthrough.

Leeds we're getting more of a hold in the game, and despite the defence limiting their shots from open play, the number of penalty corners were mounting up.

Where Halifax weren't clinical, Leeds were, as two converted Penalty Corners saw them take a 3-1 lead. The first Keeper Matthew Breton could have done better with and will have been disappointed not to have made the save. The second was another that went through the legs of the man on the post

Josh Sutcliffe was earning his man of the match with his energy in midfield as along with Shelton and the returning Gabe Coleman they tried to inject some urgency into the game.

It was yet again to be a case of rueing the array of missed chances in each half as the Leeds defence held firm and with Halifax pressing high, they were reverting to counter attacking and nearly extended their lead further. Halifax found themselves caught on a couple of occasions as first Wheatley and then Marsland dashed back to prevent chances with last ditch tackles and then Wheatley cleared a shot off the line after the striker lobbed the ball over keeper Breton as he slid out for a save

With pretty much the last attack of the game and with Halifax committing players to attack, Leeds squeezed in their 4th to wrap up the victory.

Halifax look to next week and an away trip to Sheffield Uni Bankers which is looking like a must win game ahead of two home games against two of the bottom three sides Ben Rhydding and York University