Road to Wembley - Shame on Shaymen

Halifax Town's hopes of a run as N&R's Wembley dream team was left in tatters after they were stuffed at home by Burton Albion.

Incidents midway through the first half and early in the second against high-flying Burton Albion ended the Shayman's time in the FA Cup. Halifax were reduced to 10 men after 25 minutes when Anthony Griffith became the fifth player in eight games to be sent off after he clipped Shaun Harrad's heels as he raced towards the edge of the Halifax area.

Burton's DARYL CLARE smacked home the free kick to deliver a double whammy and when Cortez Belle delayed a clearance and gifted JOHN McGRATH a second three minutes after the break the game was over a contest. Albion went on to bag a couple more before the end, picking Town off on the break as the home side tried in vain to get back into the game.

There was nothing to suggest it would end up such a one sided game in an entertaining opening 20 minutes which saw chances at both ends.

Burton's third goal in the 63rd minute came from a Poole clearance that was flicked on by Harrad. CLARE latched onto the ball and fired home from the right side of the area. Then Clare reacted quickly to flash a shot across the face of goal and wide and hammered a free kick into the Halifax defensive wall as he went in search of a hat-trick.

But the fourth goal went to McGRATH who tapped home from close range after Legzdins had saved superbly from Clare, who shot from eight yards.

Halifax had chances for a consolation late on, but Shaw had a header from Daryl Taylor's cross deflect wide and Bushell sent a shot from another Taylor delivery from the right over the bar.

Halifax Town: Legzdins, Scott, Young, Belle (Taylor 50), Doughty (Wright 50), Heslop, Kearney, Griffith, Torpey, Stamp (Bushell 29), Shaw.
Subs (not used): Mawson, Quinn.
Sent Off: Griffith (25)
Att: 1,936

Nigel Clough's Burton Albion become our newest team and were drawn at home to Barnet in the 2nd Round. The winner has the chance to pit their wits against one of the English big shots in the 3rd Round. More on the Brewers soon.