The Shay, home of FC Halifax Town based in West Yorkshire and play their trade in the National League… But will they be there next season!? They face Chesterfield in the Play-Off eliminator tonight! No guesses for who I want to win tonight… Match Days Joe will be here and so will Dan Bell! The first time the 3 of us have done a game since Club Thorne Colliery back in pre-season.
Nicknamed the “Shaymen” as they play at the Shay Stadium. My second visit to this ground after my first visit being my last ground before the very first lockdown in March 2020 resulting in a 1-0 loss to Ebbsfleet United. Let’s hope tonight is a better display! The trip over to Retford now from Shirebrook now to pick up Match Days Joe. 30 minutes later and here I am! Now for the trip up the A1 onto the M62 into Halifax with around 30 minutes to go before kick off.
Now for the walk down the road to the Shay and what lovely views this town has! Lovely Streets as well! Here we are at the Shay… I don’t like the look of that queue… Dan Bell is here though! The queue moves in good time and in we go! £21 to watch this Play-Off eliminator! Decent! The atmosphere is hotting up as we wait in line for food. HOT DOG! This is shaping up to be a good night this! Fingers crossed for Halifax of course! Out come the teams! The Halifax fans are in fantastic spirits here!
Kick Off! “Allez Allez Allez!” Halifax fans going for it tonight! 13 minutes in and Chesterfield come forward, Jeff King drives forward from the right, he gets to around 25 yards out and he goes for goal… Over!
18th minute and Halifax have a corner, in it comes… Back post header… Blocked and it comes for Matty Warburton and he shoots… Blocked again! It comes back to Martin Woods who volleys from 25 yards… Wide! 2 minutes later and Chesterfield have it on the left with Calvin Miller, he drives forward and gets into the box, he goes for goal… Deflected… Just wide! So close! Corner for Chesterfield, in it comes… Danny Rowe with the header at the near post… It’s there!! Chesterfield have the lead!! 0-1!! They’ve deserved it you have to say so far!
Chesterfield have set up for this game really well so far which I don’t like to say being a Stag and all… The travelling Spireites are in fine voice now… Anti-Mansfield chants coming out… Thanks lads… Halifax playing long balls forward but Chesterfield winning everything in the air. It’s looking like a very similar performance from what I saw 2 years ago when I first visited…
33 minutes on the clock and Halifax have a free kick in their own half, the keeper takes and he lumps it forward, it’s flicked on to Billy Waters in the box on the left and he goes for the volley… Wide!
1 minute later and some wild challenges going in from both teams now… Jack Senior has the ball in midfield… Oh no! Liam Mandeville goes in dangerously there! Tempers are flaring… The Referee goes over to his assistants now. What’s the decision going to be? “OFF! OFF!” Halifax fans know what they want… Yellow Card! Halifax fans not happy! Mandeville is a lucky boy in my opinion!
Into stoppage time in the first half now and Halifax have a free kick on the right in a good crossing position, in comes the cross… Niall Maher with the header… Brilliant save! The Offside flag goes up! It wouldn’t have counted anyway. Chesterfield continue to hold out well and they lead at half time. What do the pundits on BT think during half time?
Second half, 47th minute and Halifax have it down the right wing, it’s crossed in, Halifax header from the back post… It’s set up for Jack Senior to shoot… Blocked! It comes for him again… Wide! Better from Halifax!
“Town are going up! Going up! Town are going up!” Halifax fans still believe! 54th minute and Halifax win the ball back in the Chesterfield half and they drive forward, it’s played across to Matty Warburton to shoot first time… Oooooh! Just over!
63 minutes gone and Chesterfield play a chipped ball forward, it comes off a Halifax head and Liam Mandeville is free in the box, he shoots… Keeper saves! 3 minutes later and Chesterfield come forward again, it’s played out right to Jeff King who drives into the box on the right, he goes for goal… OH BRILLIANT!! What a strike!! Chesterfield double their lead!! Halifax have a mountain to climb… 0-2!!
2 minutes later and Halifax come forward, it’s worked out to the right, it’s played across low… YES!! Matthew Stenson is there to tap home and Halifax are back in it here!!! 1-2!!
Halifax continuing to play aimless long balls and Chesterfield are continuing to deal with them comfortably… Halifax haven’t learnt their lesson from the first half… Can they find that all important equaliser? Into stoppage time now, about 90+5 minutes on the clock and Halifax hit the ball long into the box, it’s fallen for Halifax to shoot… Blocked! It comes for Zak Dearnley in the box to shoot… Wide… That should be that… Chesterfield have it in the Halifax half… That’s it! Chesterfield are through… Halifax are in the National League for another season… A touch of class from the fans who applaud their team for their efforts for this season! A poor performance on the night for Halifax sadly…
FT: FC Halifax Town 1-2 Chesterfield
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 8/10 – Much better from the Halifax fans this time around! Chesterfield fans did themselves proud on the night too!
- The Ground: 9/10 – I was wrong to give it a 6 last time! So very wrong! I do much prefer it from behind the goal! Great view from there! This ground has a mixture of old and new features. The 2 stands behind each goal are very old school whereas the big main stand resembles a more modern stand. Very picturesque with the trees also! The Shay is a fantastic ground!!
- Expense: 7/10 – It was ok for £20 in the end! A good atmosphere to go with it too!
- Overall Experience: 7.5/10 – Great to see Match Days Joe as always and Dan Bell once again! A decent game in the end! Just a shame Chesterfield won…
31.5/40 – Much better than last time!