A tense and closely fought encounter at York Road saw FC Halifax Town secure a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Maidenhead United, thanks to Florent Hoti’s second-half strike. Under the watchful eye of referee James Bancroft, the opening exchanges proved a cagey affair, with both sides struggling to penetrate resolute defences. The physical nature of the contest was evident early on, as Halifax’s Angelo Capello was shown a yellow card for a foul in the 14th minute. Despite periods of probing pressure from both teams, clear-cut chances remained elusive, and the sides went into the break goalless.
The second half began in much the same vein, with a midfield battle dominating proceedings. Maidenhead’s Shawn McCoulsky received a yellow card in the 55th minute for a clumsy challenge. The decisive moment arrived in the 69th minute, just four minutes after Max Wright’s introduction from the substitutes’ bench. Wright provided the crucial assist, setting up Florent Hoti to break the deadlock with a clinical finish that left the Maidenhead goalkeeper with no chance.
Hoti’s goal spurred Maidenhead into action, and the home side pressed forward with renewed urgency in search of an equaliser. A flurry of substitutions followed for both teams as they sought to gain an advantage in the closing stages. Maidenhead looked to inject fresh impetus into their midfield and attack, while Halifax aimed to solidify their defence and protect their slender lead. As frustrations mounted for the home side, Will De Havilland was booked in the 88th minute. Despite their increased efforts, Maidenhead were unable to breach the resilient Halifax defence, and the visitors held on to claim all three points.
The victory lifts Halifax Town to 9th in the National League table, while Maidenhead United remain in 23rd. The result continues a recent positive trend for Halifax in this fixture, marking their second win in the last three meetings between the two sides.