FC Halifax Town maintained their winning momentum with a 4-2 victory over Stoke City U21s in the National League Cup Group Stage on Tuesday. The six-goal encounter at The Shay saw goals from Tommy McDermott, Amari Morgan-Smith, Connor Douglas and a late Ben Tollitt strike seal the points.
McDermott opened the scoring for The Shaymen in the 16th minute, finishing off a move he started with a pass to Amari Morgan-Smith before receiving the ball back to slot home. Morgan-Smith then doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, turning provider for the opener before getting his own goal. Stoke’s Tyler Martin pulled one back almost immediately, but Connor Douglas restored the two-goal cushion in the 69th minute with a low drive. Elliot Fearn netted for the visitors a minute later, but substitute Ben Tollitt made sure of the win in the fourth minute of added time.
Key moments and substitutions
The match saw several notable changes, including Owen Bray coming on at half-time for his 100th appearance for the club. Will Hugill, who was booked in the 21st minute, made way for the milestone appearance. Stoke City U21s made a triple substitution in the 66th minute in an attempt to change the game's flow.
Discipline was an issue, with five yellow cards shown in total. Hugill’s early booking was followed by cards for Stoke’s Anas Iddrisa and later Raphael Otegbayo. Shaun Hobson and Cruz Allen were also cautioned for Halifax in a frantic finale.
The win lifts Halifax’s goal tally in the competition to 13 and extends their current winning run to three matches across all competitions. It also provides a positive build-up to their next match, an FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at home to South Shields this Saturday. Currently sitting 10th in the National League with 20 points from 13 games, the team's form is a solid platform for the challenges ahead. The next league assignment is a tough trip to third-placed Southend on 24 October, a game you can preview in our standings.
Tuesday's attendance was 238, with admission priced at £5 for adults. The referee for the match was Gareth Thomas.
The club has confirmed ticket prices for Saturday's FA Cup tie against South Shields. Adult admission is £20, with concessions at £15, 12-17s at £10 and under-12s at £4, the club stated. Referee Richard Eley will officiate the 4th Qualifying Round match. Halifax, currently 10th in the National League, are on a three-game winning run.
The club confirmed on Friday that manager John McGrath joined FC Halifax Town from Buxton in May. McGrath's former club, now managed by Jordan Broadbent, sits on 16 points from 11 games in National League North. Halifax, 10th in the National League with 20 points, are on a three-game winning run.
