King keeps Halifax’s FA Cup flame burning

Posted Wednesday, November 21, 2018 by PA

Cameron King’s first-half strike proved vital as Halifax beat League Two side Morecambe 1-0 to book their place in the FA Cup second round.

The midfielder’s 11th-minute goal was enough to win the replay and set up a tie at home to AFC Wimbledon on December 1.

The Shaymen were the better team in the first half and deservedly led at the break.

Mark Halstead spilled a speculative shot from Ryan Sellers but Josh Staunton stabbed the rebound wide, before King made the decisive breakthrough.

Dayle Southwell released King down the right wing and he cut inside to fire across Halstead, despite the attention of two defenders.

After Sellers’ corner struck the crossbar, the home side thought they had doubled the lead through Matty Kosylo’s close-range finish, only to be denied by a late offside flag.

Kosylo warmed Halstead’s palms again as Halifax showed their strength on the counter-attack.

Jim Bentley’s side came out reinvigorated for the second half and pushed the National League side deeper but struggled to create clear-cut chances.

Rhys Oates went close on two occasions from outside the area and was denied by a last-ditch block from Nathan Clarke, with the home side hanging on to reach the second round for just the second time in 10 years.