Saturday 30th August | Enterprise National League | The Shay Stadium

Dryden named an unchanged starting XI from the side that impressed in Monday’s first half against Gateshead, with the only change to the squad seeing Charlie Cooper continue his recovery from an Achilles injury, missing from the bench.

The hosts began brightly, putting early pressure on the Yeovil backline. Cody Johnson fired over from distance after seven minutes, before a dangerous delivery from Will Hugill caused problems inside the box, with Jake Wannell producing a vital block.

Yeovil’s first opening came from a Brett McGavin free-kick on 11 minutes, which found Morgan Williams inside the area. The defender’s flicked header dropped comfortably into the hands of Sam Johnson. Moments later, Wannell was again in the right place to block Owen Bray’s attempt.

On 17 minutes, the Glovers had the ball in the net when Harvey Greenslade lifted a composed finish over Johnson, only for the flag to cut short celebrations with the striker straying narrowly offside. Josh Sims then began to trouble the Halifax defence, delivering a series of dangerous crosses. One was turned behind for a corner, while another led to a short routine between McGavin and Sims, which eventually fell to Morias. The forward twisted inside the crowded area before firing just over the bar.

Halifax threatened shortly after the half-hour when Sean Tarima’s cross evaded everyone in the middle before Bray recycled possession, but Ward gathered calmly. The Yeovil goalkeeper was tested more seriously in the 41st minute, tipping over an ambitious long-range strike from Jay Turner-Cooke.

The deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time. A cross from Jamie Cooke caused chaos inside the Yeovil six-yard box, and after a scramble Tarima teed up Bray to calmly slot home and send the hosts into the interval ahead.

Half-Time: FC Halifax Town 1–0 Yeovil Town

Yeovil began the second half with renewed intent and almost levelled immediately when McGavin’s free-kick whistled past the upright. Soon after, Greenslade saw a strike blocked following a clever pass from McGavin, and from the resulting corner Yeovil were awarded a penalty. Luke McCormick was brought down inside the area by Johnson and Junior Morias stepped up to score, netting Yeovil’s first penalty in almost two years.

Six minutes later the turnaround was complete. Sims broke down the right and whipped in a superb cross to the near post, where Greenslade arrived to plant a bullet header past Johnson and give Yeovil the lead. The striker wheeled away to celebrate in front of the 143 travelling supporters.

Halifax, however, hit back quickly. In the 65th minute another low delivery from the left picked out Bray at the far post, and he finished from close range to claim his second of the afternoon and restore parity.

With just over a quarter of an hour remaining, Dryden introduced Campbell, Jarvis and Cousin-Dawson, but it was the hosts who struck next. A deep cross from the right found substitute Will Harris, who rifled a finish into the roof of the net to make it 3–2.

Yeovil pushed hard in the closing stages. Jarvis flicked down a cross for Alex Whittle, whose strike cleared the bar, before the striker himself was denied by Johnson in stoppage time. Plant’s deep cross was met perfectly by Jarvis at the back post, but Johnson produced a superb save to claw the header away.

Despite dominating the final minutes, the Glovers could not find a leveller, and Halifax almost added a fourth when Harris went through one-on-one, only for Ward to save.

Referee Richard Aspinall’s whistle confirmed a narrow defeat and Yeovil’s third in succession. The Glovers now look to dust themselves down as they prepare for Tuesday evening’s trip to Solihull Moors, with the search for a new permanent manager continuing.

Full-Time: FC Halifax Town 3–2 Yeovil Town
Scorers:
FC Halifax Town – Owen Bray (45′,65′), Will Harris (79′)
Yeovil Town – Junior Morias (52’), Harvey Greenslade (58’)