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Photos: Oliver Todd
Halifax claimed their first win of the season thanks to a brace from defender Tom Patrickson as they scraped past an in-form Vanbrugh side.
The win moves Halifax off the bottom of the table to join Alcuin and Goodricke on four points, while Vanbrugh slip to third, now five points behind leaders Derwent.
Vanbrugh took an early lead through Adam Lewis’ close-range finish, but Patrickson drilled in a low effort after half an hour. Then Patrickson’s bullet header from a corner gave Halifax the lead which they managed to preserve in a feisty second half.
Vanbrugh were unbeaten in their previous three games and were prolific in front of goal, netting ten times. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise they were setting the pace early on and their endeavours were rewarded after only five minutes.
A neat passing move on the right hand side, combined with several half-hearted tackles from Halifax, allowed Elliot Rous-Ross acres of space in the penalty area. His cutback was finished with ease by Lewis, striking the ball above goalkeeper Jonny Sim from six yards.
And Vanbrugh continued to created chances at will. A couple of minutes later, Rory Sharkey struck a fierce shot from outside the area which ricocheted around the six yard box and fell to Lewis, whose shot was saved by Sim.
Halifax eventually woke up and gradually got Ash Daly spraying passes in midfield. Hamish Denham’s long throw-ins also caused occasional panic for Vanbrugh’s defenders and winger Dan Jones ended a mazy run with a wild finish over the crossbar.
But Halifax had Sim to thank again on 24 minutes after his terrific one-handed save prevented what would have been an incredible goal from Ross-Rous, who somehow danced his way past three defenders.
Eight minutes later, a Denham long throw-in created Halifax’s equaliser. It found an unmarked Conor Meckin whose knock-down was lashed into the far corner by Patrickson, a finish of surprising quality from the big centre-back.
Then, Halifax snatched the lead on the stroke of half time. Matt Darling’s whipped in corner was met with a near post header by Patrickson who somehow eluded a clutch of Vanbrugh defenders.
The second half was a story of attack versus defence as Halifax were content to sit back, soak up the pressure and create chances on the counter-attack.
Vanbrugh’s John Gill wasted a headed opportunity from a Stanier corner and Lewis couldn’t apply the finishing touch to Sharkey’s inviting low cross following some excellent Vanbrugh passing moves.
But Halifax had the best chance on 73 minutes when Wilson saved well from Denham’s strike and Daly’s follow-up shot was cleared off the line by Chris Wignall.
Vanbrugh’s golden chance came with six minutes remaining when an unmarked Rous-Ross mistimed his header inside the six-yard box from another Stanier cross, the ball hitting his arm and giving a relieved Halifax a free kick.
The dying minutes saw Halifax hang on to claim an important win and get their season under way.
Vision MOTM: Tom Patrickson