Wealdstone 2 -1 FC Halifax Town

FC Halifax Town were defeated 2-1 away at Wealdstone to make it two defeats in the opening two games.

Town boss Adam Lakeland made two changes from the opening day defeat with Sean Tarima and debutant Jevon Mills into the starting XI for Dylan Crowe and Adam Adetoro.

The first half was eventful and it looked promising in the 4th minute, Town were awarded a penalty when Josh Hmami was brought down in the box. Jamie Cooke stepped up, but his penalty was saved by Stones goalkeeper Dante Baptiste and then he was on hand to save the rebound too. Town’s second penalty of the season saved following Will Harris miss last weekened.

The game changed in the 14th minute when Will Harris looked to win the ball in midfield but the Town striker was shown a straight red for what was adjudged to have been a high boot in midfield which looked very harsh.

The home side took advantage of their extra man just four minutes later, a long ball for Sean Adarkwa and he took it away from the defender and fired past Town goalkeeper Sam Johnson for the opening goal of the game

Lakeladd made a sub in the 25th minute with David Kawa on for Owen Bray and it was the substitute that levelled the game for Town in the 35th minute. Cody Johnson’s freekick was headed down into the path of the substitute Kawa and his shot went into the bottom left-hand corner for his first goal for the Club.

Into injury time, a cross into the box was headed behind by Cody Johnson but Town were able to defend the corner at the near post.

A freekick into the box looked to bounce but excellent defending saw Town clear before a late chance for Obiero and he poked the ball wide of the target

Town started the second half brightly and were awarded a freekick on the left-hand side, Josh Hmami’s ball into the box was headed over the bar

A freekick was taken quickly and Thierry Latty Fairweather got down the left-hand side, his ball into the box was cleared to Will Hugill but his effort was well blocked at the edge of the box by Jack Cook.

Wealdstone went back ahead in the 54th minute with a rocket of an effort from 25 yards past Sam Johnson into the top corner by captain Jack Cook

Adarkwa shot a couple of minutes later was blocked as Wealdstone looked for a quick third goal

A Hugill foul gave the Stones another freekick, the ball into the box dropped and was able to be cleared.

Woodman foul saw him go into the book, freekick was awarded on the right-hand side for Town. Hmami’s ball into the box was flicked on and then deflected over the bar by Adarkwa for a corner but Town were unable to make anything of it.

Johnson had to be on hand as the clock ticked 90 minutes with to chances for Wealdstone but both efforts were straight at him

A high foot in injury time by former Town striker Nkrumah, the Town players wanted a red card as it appeared similar to Harris’ red in the first half but a yellow card was the decision by referee Peter Wright

Town couldn’t find an equaliser and will now head back north before a trip to Boston United on Tuesday night for the third away game of the season.

Wealdstone

1 Dante Baptiste, 2 Jack Cook ©, 3 Anthony Georgiou, 4 Omar Mussa, 5 Deon Woodman, 7 Enzio Boldewijn, 8 Dylan Kadji (25 Alfie Massey 46), 14 Micah Obiero (19 Daniel Nkrumah 83), 20 Nathan Tsikuna (10 Max Kretzschmar 58), 27 Sean Adarkwa (17 Dominic Hutchison 83), 29 Junior Tiensia (15 Phillip Chinedu)

Subs: 28 Lucas, 11 Sakariya Hassan,

FC Halifax Town

1 Sam Johnson ©, 4 Will Hugill (20 Jack Jenkins 79), 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Josh Hmami, 9 Will Harris, 10 Jamie Cooke (25 Tom Pugh 79), 16 Jevon Mills, 17 Owen Bray (22 David Kawa 25), 29 Sean Tarima, (11 Angelo Cappello 78) 30 Cody Johnson, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather

Subs: 12 Nat Ford, 3 Adam Adetoro , 14 Harvey Sutcliffe

Referee: Peter Wright

Goals: Adarkwa 18, Kawa 35, Cook 54

Yellow Cards: Boldewijn 35, Tiensia 57, Kawa 69, Hugill 72, Woodman 77, Nkrumah 90, C Johnson 90

Red Cards: Harris 14

Attendance: 1134

Wealdstone 2 FC Halifax Town 1

FC Halifax Town

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