FC Halifax Town 1
Southend United 1
Southend United drew for the first time this season with Blues playing out a 1-1 draw with ten men FC Halifax Town.
After a quiet opening period the visitors came out after half time the stronger side, and got their reward six minutes after the restart thanks to a Wesley Fonguck goal after Blues recycled a corner.
Five minutes after this Kevin Maher's side then had a man advantage as well, with the experienced Luke Summerfield being sent off following an altercation with the referee.
Despite this, Halifax were able to dig out an equaliser 15 minutes from time with Adam Senior sliding home a Jack Stott cross at the far post.
Blues made one change from the side that beat Kidderminster Harriers last Saturday. The match winner Callum Powell earnt himself a start with Dan Mooney dropping to the bench.
As for Halifax, the Shaymen made two changes from their side that won at Rochdale. Jack Evans dropped to the bench with Jack Hunter taking his place, and winger Angelo Cappello was on international duty with Belize so had to be replaced with Ryan Galvin.
Kick-Off
It was a quiet first half in Yorkshire with Southend being the only side to threaten an opening. Gus Scott-Morriss and Harry Cardwell both headed off target from Noor Husin deliveries, prior to a looping Scott-Morriss header from a Nathan Ralph cross being tipped over by Sam Johnson.
Blues went closest to scoring three minutes into first half stoppage time with Johnson again being called into action. Cardwell was able to wriggle away from Galvin and break into the box, dragging the ball back to Powell whose low drive was kept out by the Halifax skipper.
Half Time: FC Halifax Town 0-0 Southend United
The visitors began the second half how they had ended the first, on top, and after 51 minutes they broke the deadlock. A deep Harry Taylor cross was headed away by the hosts but only as far as Jack Bridge. The 27-year-old skilfully set-up Fonguck who curled the ball through a sea of bodies and into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later things went from bad to worse for Chris Millington's outfit. When raising his arm to indicate a throw-in referee Paul Marsden unintentionally struck Summerfield in the face. The 35-year-old midfielder then appeared to retaliate resulting in the former AFC Bournemouth midfielder seeing red. It seemed a harsh decision but Southend were unable to take advantage of it.
As the game neared its final quarter the hosts began to push more for a leveller. Millenic Alli won a corner when his long range strike forced Collin Andeng-Ndi to turn behind, and from the resulting set piece the Shaymen scored.
Alli's delivery broke for Stott at the near post who drilled the ball across the face of goal to the far post where Senior was on hand to slide home for his second goal this campaign.
Blues frantically searched for an equaliser but it all came to no evail with Powell and Dan Mooney both sending efforts off target.
Full Time: FC Halifax Town 1-1 Southend United
A fourth draw in five games for Halifax sees them rise up one place to fourth in the table with the Shaymen now six games unbeaten.
A share of the spoils for Blues means they miss out on becoming the first team to win at the Shay this season. Southend also haven't won at Halifax since 2000. A draw for Blues leaves them just one point behind York City in 23rd who they travel to next Saturday, knowing that a win could move them up to 21st and to within a point of 20th place Eastleigh.
FC Halifax Town: Johnson, Golden (Cosgrave 73'), Galvin, Summerfield, Senior, Stott, Hunter, Harker (Chikukwa 90+4'), Alli, Oluwabori (Evans 58'), Cummings
Subs not used: Wilson, Keane
Southend United: Andeng-Ndi, Scott-Morriss, Ralph (Demetriou 70'), Kensdale, Bridge, Husin, Cardwell, Powell (Wood 85'), Taylor, Miley, Fonguck (Mooney 76')
Sub not used: Coker
Goals
Shaymen: Senior 74'
Blues: Fonguck 51'
Yellow Cards
Shaymen: Hunter 35', Cosgrave 90+3'
Blues: Miley 31', Ralph 62'
Red Cards
Shaymen: Summerfield 56'
Blues: None
ATT: 2,103 (316 Away fans)
By Nathan Williams
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