A pulsating 2-2 draw unfolded at The Shay Stadium, with FC Halifax Town and Wealdstone sharing the spoils in a dramatic encounter that did little to alter either side’s league position. Penalties, late goals, and two red cards ensured a captivating spectacle for both sets of supporters.
Wealdstone gained the upper hand in the 35th minute when Sam Ashford calmly slotted home a penalty, silencing the home crowd and giving the visitors a valuable lead going into the break. The second half, however, provided a stark contrast to the first. Just seven minutes after the restart, Halifax were awarded a penalty of their own, which Florent Hoti confidently converted, levelling the scores at 1-1 and reinvigorating the home support.
Wealdstone’s advantage was restored just eight minutes later. A slick passage of play culminated in Micah Obiero finding the net, assisted by Jack Wells-Morrison, putting the visitors back in the ascendancy. Their hopes of securing all three points suffered a significant blow in the 73rd minute when Adrian Mariappa was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Despite their numerical disadvantage, Wealdstone resolutely defended their lead, but the relentless pressure from Halifax eventually paid dividends. In the dying embers of the match, substitute Tom Pugh, assisted by fellow substitute Angelo Capello, dramatically rescued a point for the home side, sparking jubilant celebrations amongst the Shay faithful. The drama continued deep into stoppage time when Wealdstone’s Jayden Mundle-Smith received a straight red card for violent conduct, compounding the visitors’ frustration.
The draw leaves Halifax 11th in the National League, while Wealdstone remain 23rd. The two sides had met four times in recent seasons prior to this fixture, with each team boasting two victories apiece.