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Halifax 0 Stanley 0

30 July 2016

Stanley signed off their pre-season friendlies with a goalless draw against FC Halifax Town.

Goalkeeper Aaron Chapman saved a first half penalty as John Coleman's team had their final outing before the League Two opener with Doncaster.

The Reds posed early threat with Terry Gornell shooting wide from distance and Shay McCartan capping a winding run with a low shot also wide of the target.

Chapman was soon called into action in the visitors' goal though, expertly turning Jordan Burrow's header over his bar before holding onto a free header from a corner from defender Daniel Hone.

His opposite number Steven Drench had to wait longer for a test, though Bastien Hery's 20 yarder had him worried as it flew just wide just before the keeper had to save a low free kick from Sean McConville.

The Shayman broke away from that Stanley attack, midfielder Josh MacDonald burst into the box and referee Aaron Jackson adjudged that Callam Jones had committed a foul, pointing to the spot.

Burrow stepped up and took the kick, only for Chapman to get down to his right and push the effort out.

After the break half time sub Steven Hewitt hit a shot high and wide after being teed up by fellow replacement Rommy Boco and Scott Brown drilled one over the top.

Coleman's side then enjoyed good spells of possession without providing a real examination for Drench while Chapman's half time replacement Elliot Parish was mostly restricted to collecting crosses.

When Halifax did craft an opening thanks to MacDonald's run and cross, striker Tom Denton could only poke the ball off target.

At the other end it was a similar story for another centre forward as Gornell showed great strength to hold up the ball on the edge of the D but struck his shot just over the bar.

When Drench was exposed, as when Boco beat him to a poor backpass and crossed for Hewitt, a defender came to the rescue, in this case blocking the former Burnley man's goalbound attempt.

Former Shayman Matty Pearson then showed similar resolve to acrobatically head clear another MacDonald delivery.

As both teams sought a late breakthrough referee Mr Jackson asked Gornell and Hone to be replaced following a flare up on the edge of the box. Nathan Webb came on for the Stanley striker.

Home sub Matty Kosylo was thwarted when Frazer Shaw deflected his shot wide for a corner as both teams looked to settle after a series of changes but neither could find a goal.

Stanley: Chapman (Parish), Jones (F Shaw), Beckles, Hughes, Pearson, Brown, Conneely, Hery (Hewitt), McConville (B Shaw), McCartan (Boco), Gornell (Webb)


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