Match Report: Town v Barnet
Chris Millington’s men kicked off the season with a win against promotion favourites, Barnet, against the odds (and somewhat dodgy officiating…). Read Sammy’s take on the events below.
FC Halifax Town are, once again, proof that preseason results don’t foretell the season ahead, as the Shaymen’s goal drought became a thing of the past this afternoon. Jamie Cooke and Adam Alimi-Adetoro netted one apiece to defeat Barnet by 2 goals to 1.
It was Town who had the brighter start, with two successive early corners resulting in the first chance of the game, but Andew Oluwabori’s shot from outside the box sailed over the crossbar.
Barnet’s first chance occurred a few minutes later through an Anthony Hargin free-kick, but the Town defence was able to clear it away with ease.
After starting well, Town’s momentum dropped slightly, as Barnet had a spell of possession and a couple of chances through Zak Brunt and Idris Kanu, but they were no problem for the Shaymen, as they were wide and cleared respectively.
Town managed to see out the rest of the first half, with both teams going without a goal into the break.
The desire to break the deadlock was much more apparent in the early moments of the second half, with Oluwabori skipping through Barnet’s midfield, but his through-ball to Jamie Cooke was just a touch too heavy, so was easily collected by Nick Hayes.
Minutes later, it was Adan George’s run that resulted in a goal, as he pulled it back from the byline for Jamie Cooke to, this time, meet and find the back of the net. Some felt the ball had gone out of play, but there were no protests from the Barnet contingent, nor the linesman, so we are to be thankful for the National League’s lack of VAR!
Barnet’s response was more or less instantaneous, despite Sam Johnson’s best efforts, as Callum Stead’s shot was saved, but only to find Ben Coker, who was able to poke home to level the score.
However, Town weren’t quiet for long, as Jack Jenkins’ ball in found Adam Alimi-Adetoro, via Will Smith, and the lead was restored.
Alimi-Adetoro was called into action at the other end of the pitch moments later, as he cleared away a dangerous ball in from a Barnet corner.
An excruciating eight minutes of injury time ensued, and Barnet very nearly grabbed a late equaliser once more through Joe Kizzi, but he could only head wide, much to the relief of the Shaymen supporters, who could not have predicted this scoreline before kick-off.
Much like last season’s opening-day win over Bromley, Town had a dream start to the season taking 3 points off one of the league’s big guns. We return to the Shay next Saturday, this time with Aldershot Town the visitors.
FC Halifax Town: 1 Johnson (C), 5 Senior, 15 Smith, 27 Alimi-Adetoro🟨, 6 Evans, 20 Jenkins🟨 (↔ 26 Bray🟨 ‘62), 11 Cappello (↔ 21 Emmerson ‘82), 22 Oluwabori (↔ 4 Arthur ‘90), 10 Cooke, 23 Pugh, 19 George (↔ 9 Cosgrave ‘87)
Unused subs: 12 Ford, 24 Sinfield, 17 Chikukwa
Barnet: 1 Hayes, 3 Coker, 4 Collinge (C) (↔ 30 Kizzi ‘61), 9 Kabamba, 10 Stead, 11 Kanu🟨 (↔ 20 Wilkinson ‘88), 17 Brunt🟨 (↔ 12 Chapman ‘72), 18 Hartigan, 21 Clifford (↔ 7 Francis ‘90) 22 Oluwo, 26 Kenlock
Unused subs: 13 Gilmore, 5 Rye, 6 Okimo
Referee: Paul Marsden
Attendance: 1,634 (179 Barnet)
Sammy’s Man of the Match: Jamie Cooke