Droylsden F.C.-The bloods on the net!

DROYLSDEN 2 – 0 HALIFAX TOWN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER – Monday 24 March 2008

Report by Gary Owen

The Bloods gave their slim survival chances a massive boost with this victory over the Shaymen on Easter Monday.

An early goal, a clean sheet, and a decisive second goal on the counter-attack provided a huge smile on Dave Pace's face, as Droylsden recorded their fourth victory this term.

On the downside, however, Greg Strong saw red for two cynical fouls, the first on the dangerous Andy Campbell, who had forced Paul Phillips into two fine saves in the opening three minutes. Hence, it was somewhat against the run of play when Droylsden took the lead. Halifax failed to fully clear a low cross in from the left flank, and the ball fell to Jamie McGuire just outside the box, whose first time strike found the bottom corner to record his sixth goal of the season. McGuire almost doubled the lead moments later, but Craig Mawson was quick off his line to block.

Phillips again denied Campbell, as the former Middlesbrough striker's pace was causing problems for the Bloods' defence.

Play switched to the other end, though, and as Halifax could only half clear an Ashley Burbeary corner, Chris Denham's rising drive flew just over the bar.

On 26 minutes Daniel Forrest looked to have won his side a penalty kick, as he seemed to be fouled by Steve Halford, but the referee waved away his appeals.

Phillips again saved from Campbell, this time with his head just outside the box, but the ball fell to Lewis Killeen. His goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Strong.

Then came the first of Strong's two yellow cards, as he blocked Campbell's path to goal, leading to his ultimate replacement by Daryl Taylor. From the free kick, Phillips was at full stretch to beat away Tom Kearney's shot.

Droylsden looked to consolidate their lead just after the break, but Terry Fearns could not quite reach Denham's shot at the far post, which was going wide.

However, they did double their lead on 52 minutes when Burbeary won possession on the half-way line and fed Fearns, who took the ball on to the edge of the box and beat Mawson with a shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

This signalled an onslaught from the Shaymen, and Droylsden's cause was made more difficult when Strong was dismissed on 67 minutes for his second cautionable offence, this time on Forrest, and so Fearns was sacrificed to allow Colin Cryan to enter at centre-half. From the resultant free kick, however, Anthony Griffin volleyed the ball back across the face of goal, but Simon Ainge could not turn his header goalwards.

Droylsden defended their lead resolutely, with Lee Roche blocking an effort from Killeen, and Phillips fielding crosses and punching clear in a frantic last twenty minutes, but Halifax lacked the final quality to really test the Droylsden skipper, thanks mainly to the other nine players in front of him, who defended well as a unit.

In a rare foray forwards, Burbeary found space in the inside left channel and rolled the ball towards Steve Daly in a central position, but with both players at full stretch in an attempt to get the ball, Mawson won the tussle for Halifax.

With the 90 minutes just about up, Kearney toe-poked wide after another melee in the Bloods' box, which just about summed-up Halifax's day.

TEAMS:

Droylsden Phillips, Roche, Newton, Halford, Strong, Mackin, McGuire, Burbeary, Denham, Fearns (Cryan, 69'), Daly (Talbot, 90').

Subs. not used Lynch, Munroe, Murphy.

Halifax Town Mawson, Davies, Wright, Quinn (Ainge, 15'), Gaia, Kearney, Griffin, Forrest, Doughty (Heslop, 57'), Campbell (Taylor, 43'), Killeen.

Subs. not used Legzdins, Whtehouse.

REFEREE: Mr. R. L. Metcalfe (Preston, Lancashire)

ATTENDANCE: 887