Boston United: Match report – FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town took all three points after a fighting away performance.

Adan George was the only change for Town as they faced Boston United in the Vanarama National League.

It took less than a minute for the only goal of the game to come, and it was for the Shaymen. Andrew Oluwabori drove along the left side; He got around his man and then hit back before firing a shot towards goal, but it deflected on its way through the goal. This was his second goal of the season, having scored against Dagenham and Redbridge in August.

Actually, everything should have been clear just a few minutes later. A shot from Cameron Green landed at the back post for Michael Bostwick, whose diving header narrowly missed the target. Scott High then had two shots on goal that were brilliantly blocked, meaning Halifax didn’t have a second chance.

A defensive blunder gave Sam Osborne the chance to attack the goal; He rounded Sam Johnson but the ball ran out of the pitch, much to the relief of the Town defense.

A corner from Halifax provided the next chance of the game; Boston keeper Aidan Stone missed a shot. Adam Senior tried to take advantage of this, but his header flew over the woodwork.

Scott High received the game’s first yellow card for kicking the ball away after half an hour. A few moments later, Oluwabori launched a wonderful, free-flowing counter-attack that gave High the chance to attack, but his attempt went wide.

Just before halftime, Boston received its first yellow card of the game when Finley Welch, making his debut, saw his name added to the tally for a foul on Senior.

Oluwabori once again found himself free on the left, which had been a lucrative source of joy for Halifax in the first half; This time, however, his shot at goal was high and wide.

Osborne had two good chances to equalize for the home team shortly after the restart; The first came after a good run down the right, but a brilliant block from Jo Cummings prevented an inevitable goal. Osborne then had space again, but his shot went just wide of Johnson’s goal.

Coates then beat Johnson with a loose ball, leaving the goal gaping, but a brilliant goal-line clearance from Will Smith kept the game in Halifax’s favour. The resulting corner then gave Bostwick the chance to score, but his header missed the target.

For the second time in the game, Town received a yellow card for kicking the ball away; This time Adan George was the suspect.

Both teams made the first changes of the game after an hour: Owen Bray replaced Scott High for the visitors and Jai Rowe came on for Kieran Coates for Boston. Then Jamie Cooke was called for a foul on Welch.

With twenty minutes to go, Welch opted for Keaton Ward, whose tame effort was confidently collected by Johnson.

Both teams then made another switch to the bench as Halifax substituted Florent Hoti and Adam Adetoto in place of Jamie Cooke and Oluwabori. Boston brought in wingers Oluwalopemiwa Aderoju and Frankie Maguire. This was Adetoro’s first game back since Maidenhead United in September.

Boston had a huge chance to equalize late through Rowe; He had plenty of space at the back post but his attempt was blocked. Seconds later, Welch took aim, but his shot bounced off the post.

Halifax had to play three minutes of added time with just ten men as Adan George received a second yellow card for dissent. Despite this, the Shaymen defended brilliantly to survive the game and earn their sixth win of the season.

Game statistics

Boston United

39 Aidan Stone, 2 Kieran Coates (12 Jai Rowe 62), 3 Cameron Green 5 Michael Bostwick ©, 7 Keaton Ward, 9 Jacob Hazel, 14 Finley Welch (22 Frankie Maguire 82), 19 Jordan Richards, 21 Sam Osborne (17 Remi Aderoju 74), 23 Zak Mills, 24 Dylan Hill

Substitutes: 6 Tom Leak, 10 Adam Marriott, Jude Frostick, 25 Ellis Craven

Halifax Town FC

1 Sam Johnson ©, 3 Ryan Galvin, 5 Adam Senior, 15 Will Smith, 2 Jo Cummings, 6 Jack Evans, 30 Scott High (26 Owen Bray 63), 10 Jamie Cooke (18 Florent Hoti 72) 29 Billy Waters, 19 Adan George, 22 Andrew Oluwabori (27 Adam Adetori 82)

Subs: 12 Nathaniel Ford, 14 Harvey Sutcliffe, 20 Jack Jenkins, 23 Tom Pugh

Referee: Paul Cooper

Goals: Oluwabori 1

Yellow cards 29, Welch 43, George 60, Mills 63, Cooke 68, Ward 71, Bostwick 75, George 90

Red cards: George 90

Number of visitors: 1720 (188 away)

Boston United 0 FC Halifax Town 1

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