FC Halifax Town secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Braintree Town at the Shay Stadium in a National League match decided by a late Adam Senior goal. The closely contested affair featured tactical substitutions and resolute defending from both sides.
The first half was a tight affair, with neither team able to establish control. The combative midfield battle resulted in a yellow card for Braintree’s Louie Annesley in the 40th minute following a foul. Halifax were compelled to make an early substitution in the 37th minute, with Angelo Capello replacing Festus Arthur in a tactical switch.
At the interval, Halifax manager Chris Millington sought to inject more energy into his attack, introducing Zak Emmerson for Daniel Nkrumah. The second half mirrored the first, with both teams struggling to create clear chances. A series of cautions ensued, beginning with Angelo Capello of Halifax in the 67th minute, quickly followed by Braintree’s Matt Robinson a minute later. Halifax then made a further change in the 59th minute, bringing Sean Tarima on for Owen Bray.
As the match entered its final stages, the game began to open up slightly. Halifax introduced Tom Pugh in place of Jack Jenkins in the 71st minute. Braintree responded with a substitution of their own in the 76th minute, Jacob Pinnington replacing Jamal Fyfield. Just six minutes later, Pinnington received a yellow card in the 82nd minute, preceding the game’s decisive moment.
In the 83rd minute, Adam Senior finally broke the deadlock for Halifax, sparking celebrations amongst the home supporters. Halifax then sought to reinforce their defence, substituting Adam Alimi-Adetoro for Luca Thomas in the 87th minute.
The victory strengthens FC Halifax Town’s position in the play-off places. They currently sit 6th with 70 points, and this win guarantees them a play-off quarter-final spot. Braintree Town, in contrast, remain in 19th place with 53 points, looking to improve their form to move up the table.