FC HALIFAX TN?0, ALDERSHOT TN 2

ALDERSHOT Town picked up where they left off last season with a fine opening-day victory which owed as much to tenacity as ability.

FC Halifax – promoted from National League North in May – could so easily have embarrassed lesser opposition, but Gary Waddock’s side rarely gave the Shaymen opportunity to build a head of steam amongst the heavy industry of West Yorkshire.

The goalless first half led the manager to describe his slightly disjointed side of being ‘too nice’ and his criticism had the desired effect as the Shots strode to a deserved victory.

All four of Waddock’s debutants – Will de Havilland, James Rowe, Bobby-Joe Taylor and Shaun Okojie – made impressive and telling impacts, but it was Shamir Fenelon, perhaps only in the starting line-up due to Bernard Mensah’s injury, who sparked the resurgence with an excellent finish.

“It was a tough fixture for us, on the back of Halifax gaining promotion, but I thought in the second half we stepped up a level and thoroughly deserved the victory,” said Waddock. “The first half was a typical first game of the season, with everybody feeling their way into it, but we got our rewards in the end.”

Halifax started apace, but for all of their early pressure failed to bring a save from Jake Cole. Connor Oliver and Matty Kosylo briefly threatened with attempts which flew wide of goal, but steadily the visitors grew into the game and soon wrested a degree of control as Nick Arnold and Taylor went close with free-kicks.

Five minutes after the break, Cole did well to parry Oliver’s rising drive. Aldershot responded with a cross-shot from Arnold that was tipped round the post by Sam Johnson and, on 59 minutes, the Shots had the lead.

Scott Rendell turned in midfield and played a pass which looked set to be intercepted until winger Fenelon nipped in and set off towards goal. Johnson ill-advisedly raced off his line and Fenelon was able to glide round the goalkeeper and tap the ball into the empty net.

“The goal gave us added belief and confidence and something to hold onto,” said Waddock later. And Fenelon nearly doubled the lead with a shot which was well saved amidst a goalmouth scramble.

Dion Charles and Scott Garner spurned half-chances for Halifax, but Rowe’s cultured influence increased in the closing stages. He had already set up Jim Kellermann when another deft pass through the home defence sent Okojie bearing down on goal. As he shaped to shoot, Matty Brown’s tackle appeared strong but fair, only for referee Joe Johnson to award a penalty.

Rowe sent his kick into the top left corner, far beyond the goalkeeper’s reach, to spark jubilation amongst the sizeable away support and clinch a second successive 2-0 victory for Aldershot at The Shay.

FC Halifax: Johnson, Wilde, Garner, Brown, Kosylo, Hotte, Denton, Oliver, Tomlinson (Charles 64), MacDonald (Clarke 67), Duckworth. Subs (not used): Riley, McManus, Nicholson.

Aldershot: Cole; Alexander, de Havilland, Reynolds, Arnold; Oyeleke; Taylor (Kellermann 74), Gallagher, Rowe, Fenelon; Rendell (Okojie 81). Subs (not used): Smith, McClure, Lyons-Foster. Booked: Rendell, Rowe, Oyeleke, Gallagher.

Referee: Joe Johnson.

Attendance: 2,108 (298 away).