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Photos: Kathy Burke
Despite dominating the game, Halifax squandered many gilt-edged opportunities and threw away a two goal lead at 2-2 with less than ten minutes to go. However, Luke Stevenson then came to their rescue, volleying the ball sweetly into the top right corner from the edge of the box with just over five minutes left on the clock.
It was Halifax who made the brighter start both Jake Mundy and Jamie Dorricott striking the woodwork in the opening ten minutes.
Soon, they were 1-0 up, Oliver Degerstedt heading a Craig Dean cross into his own net.
Dave Lewis then almost immediately extended their lead after flinging himself at a Mundy cross-shot, but the ball was struck too powerfully for him to make any meaningful contact.
After twenty minutes, Alcuin had their first opportunity on goal but Jacob Scholz struck his effort straight at ‘Fax keeper and captain Dean Hanson.
Dave Lewis then had another chance to extend the Halifax advantage but his powerful strike from the edge of the box was tipped over the bar by Alcuin ‘keeper Ben Bugeja.
However, Halifax went 2-0 up from the resultant corner; Matt Darling’s teasing delivery being netted at the far post by Tom Patrickson.
Yet, Alcuin hit back almost immediately, some lax ‘Fax defending being capitalised upon by Scholz who slotted the ball past Hanson into the bottom right corner.
Halifax looked determined to put the game to bed after the break and came out all guns blazing, Alcuin’s Ben Carver preventing a certain goal, heading the ball away for a corner after a flick on at the near post.
However, Alcuin then almost hit Halifax on the break once again, Scholz firing a shot just wide of the left post after supporting play from Chris Houlgate and Stratos Skrimizeas down the right flank.
After this miss, Halifax put Alcuin under a torrent a pressure: Dave Lewis’ free-kick being held by Bugeja at the second attempt, Fraser Moyle heading over the bar from a Hamish Denham long throw and Stevenson blasting a volley out of the JLD from the edge of the area.
Yet, Alcuin was to weather this storm and make it 2-2 with just over ten minutes to play; Scholz smashing the ball past Hanson at the near post after a driving run by Chris Boyd down the right wing.
Halifax then went on the rampage once more in a furious attempt to regain their lead; Patrickson heading over from a Darling corner and Denham only finding the side netting after twisting Boyd this way and that at the edge of the area.
With just over five minutes to go, a Denham long throw broke to Stevenson at the edge of the area. He struck a beautiful volley into the top corner leaving the net rippling to make it 3-2 to Halifax.
Alcuin then almost equalised for a third time with just over a minute to go, but Carver was just beaten to the ball in the six yard box by a brave Hanson.
Post match, Alcuin Captain Harry Billimore commented he was: “disappointed to lose it at the end” but was “happy to get two goals after having very few opportuinities”.
Dean Hanson stated that “it was not a very good performance but it was pleasing to get three goals. We’ll move on for our next game.”