FC Halifax Town 0 Charlton Athletic 4

 

A fairly typical FA cup first round 'non league vs league' scenario at the Shay, where Halifax spent large parts of the match more than matching Charlton who are 3 divisions above them, but ultimately a difference in quality finishing and slightly better fitness lead to a ruthless late flurry of Charlton goals. The scoreline suggesting an easy win, but before the 80^th minute this wasn’t the case.

The game was scrappy for large parts of the first half – a fairly constant drizzle leading up to and during the game a big reason. Some might have wondered if the surface may have been given a bonus watering beforehand - the slippery surface acted as a bit of a leveller, Charlton struggling to put together the passing moves they were attempting.

Halifax spent the first couple of minutes running at Charlton which seemed to take them by surprise, but after that they were restricted to concentrating on putting in crosses from wide for most of the half, and when most of the time there was one player to cross to against Charlton’s fairly tall defenders, it was likely to be a fruitless exercise. Also from corners and set pieces they just weren’t looking likely to beat the Charlton defenders to the ball.

Charlton themselves weren’t having a lot of joy either, but there were signs that they would have opportunities – Halifax’s defence were showing some nerves, with some risky and sometimes wayward early passes drawing audible gasps from the home fans.

The one difference in an even first half was that Charlton were able to get on the end of some of their crosses. The early warnings came from a header from Taylor well saved by Halifax keeper Eastwood, and then Morrison having a goal disallowed, albeit him only getting to it after a fairly blatant push in the back of his marker.

Matt Taylor was again on the end of a cross in the 40^th minute and this time the keeper was given no chance, a looping header from the right went far above him and dipped perfectly into the left corner, a quality finish.

To their credit though Halifax responded immediately, a super effort from Tom Baker from 30 yards clipping the top of the bar just a minute later. They weren’t able to create something else for the rest of the half and they went in with the score 0-1.

Halifax manager Neil Aspin must have said something fairly rousing at half time as Halifax again began the half with a forward surge, and Jamie Rainford connected with a volley from the edge of the penalty area which Charlton’s keeper Sullivan parried away.

They continued to try to push forward but again they were mainly restricted to hopeful crosses from wide. But then Jason St. Juste came on in the 62^nd minute and his pace did seem to start causing problems for the otherwise resolute Charlton defence, and he got behind them a couple of times but was narrowly unable to get the ball to the onrushing Halifax attackers.

Really Charlton seemed to be creating nothing of their own and focusing on stopping Halifax from scoring, when out of the blue in the 80^th minute they ventured forward, and Johnnie Jackson’s left footed deflected effort found the net, and just like that the tie was finished.

Cue ruthlessness from Charlton, as late on they showed the difference in fitness of league teams. Danny Hollands made it 3-0 in the 83^rd minute, a close range finish after a goalmouth scramble.

A tiring Halifax were left with even more running to do as Danny Lowe was sent off a minute later, a late lunge on Wagstaff a sign of the frustration for a Halifax team who’s hard work didn’t deserve such a heavy defeat.

Whilst Wagstaff received treatment a streaker decided that'd be a good time to run onto the pitch. Unlike many streakers he was wearing a t-shirt.. unfortunately nothing else, not a pretty sight!!

The nightmare ending to the game for Halifax was completed in the 90th minute as Bradley Pritchard nutmegged the keeper with his finish. 4-0 to Charlton it finished, and whilst the national publicity is over for Halifax who will now hope to resurrect a promotion push in the Blue Square North, Charlton's next step in the FA Cup is a home game against Carlisle United in the 2nd round.