FC Halifax earn FA Cup replay after goalless draw at Morecambe

Posted Sunday, November 11, 2018 by PA

FC Halifax earned an FA Cup first-round replay after a brave display against League Two Morecambe.

The Shaymen rode their luck at times but defended resolutely to keep the home side at bay, and thought they had won the game in injury time when Jonathan Edwards headed in a Ryan Sellers cross, only for the goal to be ruled offside.

The home side had the majority of the chances and they came close to scoring when Halifax defender Josh Staunton headed an Andrew Tutte cross against his own bar.

Rhys Oates also went close but was denied an early second-half opener by Matty Brown who produced a superb goal-line clearance after the Morecambe player had dinked the ball over Sam Johnson.

The first half was a lacklustre affair with few clear chances.

Morecambe dominated the possession but Halifax defended well and kept the league side out with relative ease.

Visiting keeper Sam Johnson was the busier of the two stoppers and made a good save low to his left to keep out a long-range Jordan Cranston effort before reacting sharply to tip over an A-Jay Leitch-Smith shot from the edge of the box and a Vadaine Oliver header.

Oliver went close in the second half with an acrobatic overhead kick before Halifax staged their late rally.