On a chilly winter evening, FC Halifax Town hosted Rochdale at The Shay Stadium, with 2,682 spectators in attendance. Prior to the match, the head-to-head records showed that the two teams had played each other three times in the last three seasons, with FC Halifax Town winning one, drawing one, and losing one, while Rochdale had also secured one win, one draw, and one loss. The highly anticipated match between the two National League teams ended in a goalless draw, with both teams creating scoring opportunities but ultimately failing to capitalise on them.
The first half saw both teams struggle to find their rhythm, with neither side able to dominate possession. However, as the half progressed, the visitors began to assert their authority, with Liam Hogan receiving a yellow card in the 43rd minute for a foul, the only notable incident of the first 45 minutes.
The second half commenced with renewed intensity, as both teams sought to break the deadlock. FC Halifax Town made their first substitution in the 66th minute, replacing Max Wright with Tom Pugh, in an attempt to inject fresh energy into their attack. Shortly after, in the 71st minute, Jamie Cooke made way for Florent Hoti, as the home team continued to search for a breakthrough. With the current league standings seeing FC Halifax Town in seventh place and Rochdale in ninth, both teams were eager to secure a vital three points.
Rochdale, too, made tactical changes, substituting Connor McBride for Devante Rodney in the 63rd minute, followed by the introduction of Aidan Barlow for Leon Ayinde in the 77th minute. The visitors’ Ryan East received a yellow card in the 84th minute for a foul, adding to the sense of urgency as the match drew to a close.
In the final ten minutes, both teams made further substitutions in a desperate bid to snatch a winner. FC Halifax Town brought on Luca Thomas for Angelo Capello in the 88th minute, while Rochdale introduced Ian Henderson for Kairo Mitchell in the 86th minute, and Jili Buyabu for Tarryn Allarakhia in the 89th minute. Despite these efforts, the match ended without a goal, as both teams were forced to settle for a share of the points.
The draw sees FC Halifax Town maintain their seventh position in the league standings, with 52 points from 32 matches, while Rochdale remains in ninth place, with 45 points from 28 matches. Although neither team was able to secure a vital three points, the goalless draw will be viewed as a hard-earned point for both sides, given the intensity and competitiveness of the match.