A hard-fought encounter at the Shay Stadium ended in a 1-1 draw between FC Halifax Town and Oldham Athletic, a result that did little to ease either side’s anxieties in the National League. A cautious opening half saw few clear-cut chances, with the only notable incident being a yellow card for Oldham’s Callum Dolan in the 35th minute for a foul.
The second half, however, sparked into life just two minutes after the restart. A well-worked move in the 47th minute saw Mike Fondop-Talum tee up Mark Kitching, who calmly slotted the ball home to give Oldham a 1-0 lead.
The goal galvanised the home side, and Halifax manager’s tactical switch in the 58th minute, introducing Max Wright, paid immediate dividends. Just four minutes after coming on, Wright provided the assist for Adam Senior to equalise in the 62nd minute, sending the Shay Stadium crowd into raptures.
The match became increasingly frenetic as both teams searched for a winner. Oldham’s hopes suffered a significant blow in the 81st minute when substitute Otis Khan received two quick yellow cards, resulting in a red card and reducing the visitors to ten men. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Oldham defended resolutely, frustrating Halifax’s attempts to capitalise. The closing stages were punctuated by further yellow cards for Fondop-Talum, Besart Hoti, and Jordan Bray, reflecting the intensity and rising tensions of the final minutes. Despite both teams pushing for a late winner, neither could break the deadlock, and the points were shared.
The draw sees Halifax climb one place to 15th in the National League table, while Oldham move up to 11th. Oldham’s winless streak now extends to six matches, while Halifax will be relieved to have found the net after failing to score in their previous fixture. This latest encounter adds another chapter to the recent history between these two sides, with Halifax maintaining their superior head-to-head record over the past five meetings.