FC Halifax Town v Halesowen Town FC

Halesowen Town pulled off the shock of the day as the eighth-tier Southern League Division One Central club beat high-flying National League outfit FC Halifax Town 1-0 at The Shay in the third round of the FA Trophy.

The match was turgid at times but Halesowen – 54 places below the Shaymen in the football league pyramid – were worthy of their win, secured through Jamie Molyneux’s second half goal.

The part-timers had already played 11 matches just to reach the third round of the competition, and the hunger on their faces was clear from the get-go.

Halesowen kicked the game off, for a place in the fourth round of the FA trophy.

Halifax had the first chance of the game, in the third minute, with midfielder Jeff King’s shot on the edge of the box, narrowly goes over the bar. The second chance of the game also fell Halifax’s way, just a few minutes after, with Jack Redshaw’s shot being blocked, leading to a corner for the home side.

The chances kept coming for Halifax, with midfielder Josh Staunton’s strike narrowly going wide. Redshaw got another shot away from the edge of the box and was deflected wide for a Halifax corner. The following corner came front post and Staunton’s header went narrowly wide.

Halesowen’s first chance of the game came in 18th minute, as a cross came back stick into midfielder Joshua Hawker, who was unable to get a shot away. As the 25th minute commenced, both fans had a minute’s applause for former Halifax player Jordan Sinnott.

Halesowen’s second chance of the game came from a Halifax mistake giving the ball away, however they were unable to capitalise on the mistake.

The best chance of the first half fell Halesowen’s way with James Bowen’s deflected strike missing narrowly wide.

In the 38th minute Halifax got another chance, and once again it fell to Staunton. But midfielder's strike goes over.

The first chance of the half fell to Halifax, a header from Danny Williams went straight into Halesowen’s Brandon Bunn’s hands.

Halesowen broke the deadlock in the 48th minute, the striker Jamie Molyneux slotted the ball home to put the away side one goal up.

The away side in the 52nd minute came close to a second, with Montel Gibson’s shot hitting the side netting.

A great chance fell to Halifax’s Tobi Sho-Silva, however he was unable to capitalise as the shot went wide for a goal kick.

A heavy challenge on Halifax’s Michael Duckworth in the 76th minute brought a stoppage to the game.

Halifax were unable to equalise and eighth tier Halesowen secure a spot in the fourth round of the FA trophy.