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

HALIFAX TOWN 3 - 0 DROYLSDEN

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER - Monday 27 August 2007

Report by Gary Owen

Halifax striker Andy Campbell put The Bloods to the sword on Bank Holiday Monday with a hat-trick to cap a fine display from himself and his team-mates, which at times left Droylsden chasing shadows.

With off-field issues and frustrated fans affecting The Shaymen, many believed that this could be Droylsden's day, but things began to go wrong as early as the fifth minute, when The Bloods were caught napping at a free kick, which found Danny Forrest in space on the right of the penaly box. His low cross was converted at the far post by Campbell to leave Paul Phillips fuming with his defenders.

Ged Murphy, Steve Daly and Jamie McGuire all went close for the visitors with efforts from distance, but Craig Robinson then almost sold Phillips short, but The Bloods' custodian beat Campbell in the race for the ball.

Phillips then pulled off the first of many stunning saves, this time to deny Lewis Killeen after Campbell had set him up, and then Steve Bushell and Steve Torpey both wasted chances for Town.

However, on 35 minutes, the hosts doubled their advantage in rather fortuitous style, when Campbell and Phillips ended one-on-one after Killeen had put Campbell clean through. Phillips just got there first, but couldn't fully gather the ball, and it ricocheted off the Halifax striker and looped over the grounded Bloods ‘keeper and into the net.

Torpey curled an effort wide, and Terry Fearns volleyed over after Daly had won a tussle with Cortez Belle, but the half ended leaving Dave Pace with much to do.

After the break, Torpey saw two efforts go off target, before Jamie Tandy shot woefully high and wide when he could have taken more touches to either be better placed or to find a team-mate.

The introduction of Jody Banim and Gavin Salmon (for Gareth Morris and Fearns) seemed to give The Bloods more impetus, and Salmon almost got The Bloods back into the game, but he couldn't fully connect with Robin Gibson's cross, and his header skewed wide of the far post.

McGuire then saw his piledriver deflected for a corner, but The Bloods couldn't make their spell of pressure tell, and the killing blow came on 65 minutes, when Banim's clumsy challenge on Tom Kearney earned The Shaymen a spot kick, and Phillips almost got his hands to Campbell's penalty, but it was 3-0 to Halifax and to Campbell.

After that it was all one-way traffic towards the Droylsden goal, and had Phillips not been in inspired form the scoreline could have been worse. Torpey teed-up Kearney, but his shot was too high, before Torpey himself could only shoot tamley at Phillips.

Phillips saved Griffith's 18 yard effort, and he saved again at point blank range from Campbell.

With five minutes remaining, Phillips pulled-off another blinding save to thwart Torpey, and the referee's final whistle brought respite for The Bloods, and with five games in The Bloods still serach for that elusive first victory.

However, on displays like this, it could be a little while in coming. With two homes games lined-up, Droylsden need to make The Butcher's Arms the fortess it has been of late, and that will enable them to finally climb the table.

HALIFAX: Mawson, Toulson, Quinn, Bushell (Kaerney, 60), Belle, Forrest (Stamp, 73), Griffith, Wright, Campbell (Doughty, 88), Killeen, Torpey.

Subs not used: Scott, Butler (G/K).

DROYLSDEN: Phillips, Gibson, Murray, Cryan, Robinson, Morris (Banim, 55), Murphy, McGuire, Denham (Tandy, 37), Fearns (Salmon, 55), Daly.

Subs not used: Marsh-Evans, Senior (G/K).

ATTENDANCE: 1,302