Unbeaten run continues as Bracewell's men battle back

Early strike is blow to Town

Halifax Town 1 Exeter City 1.

Saturday 18 August 2001.

With 'Courier' football writer Dave Fletcher.

HAVING won away on day one, a point from the visit of Exeter has to be looked on as disappointing. 

And that disappointment will have been compounded in the Halifax changing room after the game by the fact that the Shaymen dominated the game for long spells Town did themselves few favours by conceding so early - Dylan Kerr's free- kick that put the Grecians ahead was timed at 55 seconds. They battled back and might have scored three or four before the break with a little more luck in front of goal but ultimately had to settle for one. It came midway through the first half from an unlikely source - Steve Swales. He has been far from prolific through- out his career yet struck his 25-yard shot beautifully and it mattered little that it was helped beyond the grasp of Arjan Van Heusden.

The frustrating part of the afternoon came in the second half when the Shaymen failed to build on the promise of the first. They created far fewer chances and the game petered out to a draw. Preston referee Graham Salisbury had the final word brandishing a red card at Exeter defender Whitworth, who, having been booked for a foul 19 minutes from the end, committed a sec- ond on Mark Jules and saw red. On the plus side, Paul Harsley's caused plenty of problems for the City defence, Steve Kerrigan did well in the air and Jamie Wood looked strong as the spearhead of the attack. But it could hardly have started any worse for the Shaymen as they conceded within a minute of the start. And the manner of the goal as as dis- appointing as the fact that Exeter were able to grab such an early advantage. Andy Woodward slipped as he retreated with Jay Richardson and was penalised for a little tug on the former Chelsea man's shirt 25 yards from goal. Kerr, whose left foot dominated all that was good about the visitors' attacking play in the opening period, stroked home the free-kick. From then on in the first half, Exeter's threat was, at best, sporadic as Halifax dominated possession. And they created plenty of decent openings with little luck in front of goal. Kerrigan must have thought he had opened his account for the season in the ninth minute wen he blasted a shot goalwards from a Wood cross, but the effort flew wide off the keeper's legs. There was too much long ball from midfield to cause Exeter too many moments of panic although when Town got it down and played they looked dangerous. And they were level in the 21st minute from a corner that resulted from a Redfearn shot that was deflect- ed wide. Harsley's corner from the right was only cleared as far as Swales whose shot flew through a crowd of players past the stranded keeper. It looked like Kerrigan had put Halifax ahead three minutes later as he headed home a Harsley cross, but the striker was denied by the lines- man's flag. Neil Redfearn saw another shot blocked by he keeper and Chris Clarke should have done better with a close range header from Harsley's subsequent corner. At the other end, a Clarke slip allowed Sean McCarthy a shot on goal. Fortunately for the Town defender, McCarthy looped it over the bar. From then to half-time, it was all Town, but Craig Midgley headed a well worked free kick wide and Redfearn saw yet another effort blocked. In between the Shaymen had clear penalty appeals dismissed by the referee, despite an obvious push by Chris Curran on Stoneman. A Harsley free-kick and Wood shot after cutting in from the right suggested that it would be same again in the second half. But Town were unable to go on and claim the winner. Redfearn failed to get hold of a left foot shot inside the area Midgley's shot from distance was dealt with comfortably by Van Heusden and the delivery from corners and free kicks was patchy. In fact it was from one corner in the 73rd minute that Exeter almost snatched back the lead.
They cleared downfield and sub Christian Roberts cut in from the right before shooting narrowly wide. That gave the visitors a lift and Stoneman led the charge to block a Kwame Ampadu shot soon after before Martin Barlow flashed a shot over. Redfearn's 20-yard free kick forced the keeper to save to his right but that was the end of the chances. And the only remaining action was Whitworth's red as he clumsily brought down Jules deep into time added on at the end.

Match Facts 

Halifax Town

1 Lee Butler
2 Paul Harsley
12 Mark Jules
4 Andrew Woodward
5 Chris Clarke
14 Steve Swales
8 Neil Redfearn
6 Paul Stoneman
21 Jamie Wood
9 Steve Kerrigan
11 Craig Midgley
Subs
15 Graham Mitchell (not used)
10 Gary Jones (for Wood 79)
 7 Craig Middleton (not used) 
22 Peter Crookes (not used)
23 Peter Wright (for Midgley 75)

Goals: Swales 21

Bookings:
Swales (foul, 40), Redfearn (foul 66)

Sent-off: None

Exeter City

1 Arjan Van Heusden
26 Gary Birch
23 Jamie Campbell
19 Dylan Kerr
18 Alex Watson
10 Martin Barlow
9 Sean McCarthy
7 Jay Richardson
5 Chris Curran
3 Graeme Power
2 Neil Whitworth
Subs:
25 Andrew Walker (not used) 
28 Christian Roberts (for Birch 55)
17 Graeme Tomlinson (not used)
14 Steve Flack (for McCarthy 77)
8 Kwame Ampadu (for Power 74)

Goals: Kerr 1

Bookings:
Whitworth (foul 71), Kerr (foul 87)

Sent-off: Whitworth (second book- able offence, 90)

Attendance 1,937
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Preston)