A tense encounter at the Kuflink Stadium saw FC Halifax Town secure a crucial 1-0 victory against a struggling Ebbsfleet United, with Angelo Capello’s early strike proving the difference between the two sides.
Just three minutes into the match, Halifax silenced the home crowd. A swift attack culminated in Capello finding the back of the net, giving the visitors an early lead and setting the tone for a tightly contested affair. Ebbsfleet, visibly shaken by the early setback, struggled to gain a foothold in the game. Their attempts to create clear-cut opportunities were consistently thwarted by a resolute and well-organised Halifax defence.
Ebbsfleet manager Danny Searle made a triple substitution before the hour mark, introducing Ondo, Edser, and Domi for Cundle, Fonguck, and Kellerman respectively, in an attempt to revitalise his side’s attack. However, despite the injection of fresh legs, Ebbsfleet continued to find chances hard to come by. Halifax, content with their slender advantage, expertly absorbed the pressure and looked to exploit any opportunities on the counter-attack.
The match became increasingly fragmented in the latter stages, with a series of fouls disrupting the flow and leading to a flurry of yellow cards. Cordner, Senior, Kellerman, Dallison-Lisbon, and Cooke were all cautioned, reflecting the growing frustration on both sides. Cooke’s afternoon then took a turn for the worse in the 91st minute when he received a second yellow card, reducing Halifax to ten men for the closing moments. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Halifax held firm, resolutely defending their lead to secure all three points.
While both sides made further late substitutions, they ultimately proved inconsequential. Capello’s early goal remained the decisive moment of the match. The victory lifts Halifax to 14th in the table with 8 points, while Ebbsfleet remain rooted to the bottom in 24th place with just a single point. The two sides had met three times in recent seasons prior to this encounter, with one win apiece and a draw, highlighting the historically close nature of this fixture.