Howz That!

Jumping in the car once i knew the game was on brought a wry smile after just hearing that two premiership clubs couldn't beat the freeze, well done Halifax! Covers on the pitch saved the day and viewing the pitch on arrival it was sprayed with sand but looked in good nick considering Rugby league is played here. The tenner entrance was questioned by fellow Boro followers and rightly so. The fund raising by the club is evident and they appeared to look proactive all afternoon with sponsors being hosted throughout. The ground will be a fantastic venue once finished, good luck to em. Success as to be paid for these days and most are happy to pay, the programme was not a patch on the boro one and a quid dearer! A crowd of 1172 greeted the sides and loudly too. Boro kicked off in the change of maroon kits, Gary Sampson returned to play out on the high left. A strong back line and a strong bench filled me with optimism for the 90 minutes ahead. Michael Barnes was making his debut for the Shaymen. Halifax explain their current league position as early as the 3rd minute when Leitch- Smith skins Owen Roberts on the Boro left before sending in a hard cross for Damien Allen who should of scored , Phil Priestley gets enough on it to hold. Within a minute Leitch- Smith is free again to cross but Priestley collects well in the air. Dawson settles early nerves by sending a good long cross field ball intended for Howson who collects but is shadowed closely by centre half Sutton. Fitzpatrick and Sampson playing high on the left press well. The team have settled and the shape looks good. Sampson looking lively sends a shot high and wide. Early yet but Roberts looks to have his hands full with Leitch - Smith. Halifax force a corner and play short before Boro defend well to clear. Boro have the next corner after good approach play with Mark Jones playing in a good pass to Howson to get to the bye line before is cross is deflected. The corner is good but is cleared although not convincingly. Nigel Jemson playing up front as a half chance but his shot is easy for Priestley. Boro after the first quarter look settled and get a great chance after Sampson wins a free kick centrally. Connell takes up the play feeding Mark Jones his floated cross sees Dawson rising to meet the ball contact is good but direction poor and the chance is gone. Boro press and close well leading to Halifax just not finding the passes their movement deserves. Roberts as now got the measure of his attacker and does well in his own box to avert danger.A flutter in Boro hearts as ex Crewe player Junior Brown starts to liven up and ask numerous questions of the Radcliffe back line. His first shot is blocked and second goes wide. Boro are happy to keep Fizty and Howson up top and with help from Jones look threatening. Priestley slices a clearance that lands for Brockley who slices his clearance for a throw. The throw is cleared up by Jones and the ball sent to find the target of Howson . The Yorkshiremen come again through Cavell Coo and Brown down the left flank , Dawson moves across and clears into the stands. Boro recover the ball to set a good break through the middle leaving Connell to shoot on target. Just on the half hour Brown breaks free into the box and as Priestley setting himself, just before he pulls the trigger Unsworth slides in with a timed tackle that is perfect. The saving of a certain goal. The next action is a certain goal when Boro play statues as the ball drops in the box for Lincoln Adams to sweep the ball past Priestley for the opener to the home side, Boro are left claiming a push on Dawson. The goal as settled Halifax and they find passes easier. Boro are still in the game and Kelly sets off on a great run through the middle , he chooses to shoot from distance with no conviction. The surface is making a lot of players lose footing especially on the touch lines but despite the conditions both sides keep it on the ground and are both playing well. A minute is added to the half before the sides head for the tunnel and for some a change of footwear.
No changes greet us for the second half. Halifax set about increasing the lead with Coo and Brown still a threat as they bring a save from Priestley. He saves again shortly afterwards fro debutant Barnes. Early second half pressure from Halifax, Priestley completely miss- judges a soft cross that bounces behind him before Kelly hooks clear, it could have been embarrassing.
Damien Allen looks a great player for Halifax and largely sets up most things for the home side. Boro settle back into a steady stride and are unlucky when Howson is close to latching on to a weak back header from the Halifax captain Meadowcroft. Priestley adds grey hairs to his defence when he slices another clearance for a corner that could have been worse. Roberts starts to shine and he thinks quickly to send Sampson in space down the left flank , his whipped cross evades the keeper and Howson. Boro are getting on top by using the route of Roberts talented left peg. The hour passes and the home crowd are starting to turn with Boro gaining momentum Roberts again sends in a great teasing cross that as everybody beat including the descending Connell who is inches away from converting with the goal at his mercy. Minutes later Roberts as his reward and his cross is simply not held by Kennedy , Howson is waiting and reacts first by looping the ball wide of the keeper for a deserved equaliser. 1-1! Halifax respond with two subs , Jemson & Leitch -Smith are off after having little joy against Brockley & Dawson. Gedman & Stott enter the field. Brockley as looked strong all game and even more so as he sees the winger Barnes into touch over the bye line. The locals don't like it and the moaning starts largely pointed at the ref as they start to see Boro as a real threat. Damien Allen remains impressive with good skill to set play at the edge of the box, Kelly remains defiant and sends him packing. Gedman on 75 shows his strength and finds space to release a good shot across the goal. Barnes sets off on a cross field run that sees Kelly hack him down , the ref plays advantage , Boro defend well to clear, Kelly is called over and is lucky not to go in the book. I would like to think the ref as considered the conditions. 80 minutes have gone and Howson with little to go at out wide on the Halifax left looks up and sees the keeper off his line he hits the ball true to loft it above him and hit the post before bouncing across goal and away to safety, a moment of brilliance that would have been a very worthy winner. Roscoe replaces Fitzpatrick Brown is swapped for Neil Ross from the Halifax bench.
Phil Priestley is often associated with pies by the opponents fans, this time he as them eating Pies of the humble variety when he pulls off two fantastic saves , the first from a wicked header from sub Ross that he shows natural agility to reach , the second after recovering quickly from the floor blocks Gedmans shot brilliantly. Priestley as had me looking to the skies this season with some howlers, but fair play he is the best shot stopper in the league , FACT Mr Benitez!
Boro look to win the game and it was great to see strikers replacing strikers , Howson left to my standing ovation i think he had his best game this season. Oats took up the task and came close but was beaten by a great tackle in the box. The ref adds two minutes and when the whistle went it felt like a victory, we played well, very well. Players looked comfortable and for the first time in a while, together. Roberts running from the left flank to the far corner of the field to celebrate with Howson and the rest of the team sprinting to get there to pile on top showed real team spirit.
Kevin promised changes during the supporters club meeting and stated that we will see an improvement, we did , long may it continue,

see you
p.s
Dont forget the race night , Boro Club Saturday 17th 7.30!