Grosvenor Vale was the stage for a dramatic National League encounter, as Wealdstone secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over FC Halifax Town. The match, a physical contest rather than a tactical exhibition, was significantly shaped by an early red card.
The game’s defining moment occurred in the 15th minute when FC Halifax Town’s William Harris was dismissed for violent conduct, reducing his side to ten men. Wealdstone promptly capitalised on their numerical advantage. Just three minutes later, Sean Jordan Adarkwa found the net, assisted by Omar Mussa, giving the home side the lead.
Despite their disadvantage, FC Halifax Town displayed considerable resilience. Manager Adam Lakeland responded with a tactical substitution in the 25th minute, introducing David Kawa in place of Owen Bray. The change proved effective, as Kawa equalised in the 35th minute, assisted by Shaun Hobson, bringing the score level at 1-1. Earlier in the half, Wealdstone’s Enzio Boldewijn received a yellow card for a foul.
At the start of the second half, Wealdstone made their first substitution, with Alfie Massey replacing Dylan Kadji. Wealdstone maintained their pressure, and in the 54th minute, Jack Cook scored to restore their lead, with Omar Mussa again providing the assist. The match remained a combative affair, with Junior Tiensia of Wealdstone and David Kawa of FC Halifax Town both receiving yellow cards shortly after the goal.
As the game progressed, both sides made further substitutions in an attempt to alter the course of the match. Wealdstone introduced Max Kretzschmar, Phillip Chinedu, Dominic Hutchinson, and Daniel Nkrumah, while FC Halifax Town brought on Angelo Capello, Tom Pugh, and Jack Jenkins. These changes, however, failed to impact the scoreline. The remainder of the match saw a flurry of yellow cards, with Will Hugill and Cody Johnson of FC Halifax Town, and Deonysus Woodman and Daniel Nkrumah of Wealdstone all being cautioned.
In the end, Wealdstone successfully defended their lead to claim a valuable three points. This victory continues their positive start to the season. For FC Halifax Town, however, the defeat exacerbates their early-season struggles, leaving them languishing near the bottom of the table as they seek solutions.
