Halifax 2, Harriers 0

HARRIERS paid the price for a lacklustre first half as they slipped to defeat at the Shay Stadium.

For the second game in a row, the Reds were not at their best in the opening 45 minutes as goals for Louis Maynard and Richard Peniket ensured their defeat.

The visitors dominated the second half but could not convert several chances.  Their best opportunity fell to Chey Dunkley, who was denied by a post.

Manager Gary Whild made four changes from the side which drew 3-3 at Barnet last week.

Jamie Grimes replaced the injured Josh Gowling, while midfielder Aman Verma stepped into to fill the gap left by the suspended Kyle Storer.

After his second half heroics at The Hive, Michael Gash was handed a start and the captaincy, while Ahmed Obeng was preferred to Marvin Johnson.

Halifax were forced to make a change before the kick-off when Danny Hattersley fell ill and former Reds man Peniket came in as a late replacement.

Whild had warned his players to expect an aerial bombardment and from the start, Halifax tested the visiting defence with a series of crosses and forced three corners in the first ten minutes.

The away side were also starting to force set pieces as the game became evenly-balanced.

The hosts had half chances, with Steve Williams firing a decent effort wide from ten yards out and former and Peniket had a header saved by Danny Lewis.

The hosts took the lead in the 36th minute when Scott Boden teed up Maynard, who rifled home from the edge of the area.

A poor header from Dunkley then allowed Peniket to round Lewis, who had rushed out to clear the danger, and slotted home from a tight angle in the 41st minute.

Halifax had to make a change at the start of the second half, when Adam Smith came on for the injured Paul Marshall.

Peniket nearly their third goal moments after the re-start but Lewis was equal to his shot.

Harriers were looking more lively and had a chance in the 52nd minute when Gash rose highest to meet Kevin Nicholson's corner but header over the bar.

Whild hauled off Gittings and replaced him with Johnson as the away team switched to a more direct 4-4-2 formation with wingers on both flanks.

While the change certainly injected some purpose into Harriers, who were seeing more of the ball, Halifax's defence was holding firm.

Midfield Josh O'Keefe was handed his first start for Kiddy this season when he replaced Verma in the 66th minute.

Jared Hodgkiss made a goal saving challenge on Halifax substitute Jamie Jackson as he raced into the box.

Former Hereford man O'Keefe nearly made an immediate impact when Obeng's back heel set him free on the left, only for him to fire an effort over the bar.

Nathan Blissett looked to have a goal-scoring chance when he raced grout on goal only for a brilliant recovering challenge from Marc Roberts to conceded just a corner in the 75th minute.

Harriers were denied by the woodwork in the 78th minute.

Johnson delivered a good cross from the left and Dunkley made good contact with his head but his effort crashed off the bar. Grimes then saw his follow-up blocked.

But for all their pressure in a much-improved second half, Harriers were unable to find all-important lifeline they needed as they slipped to a fourth away defeat of the season.

Harriers: Lewis, Hodgkiss, Dunkley, Byrne, Gash, Blissett (Styche, 79), Obeng, Grimes, Verma (O'Keefe, 66), Gittings (Johnson, 53), Nicholson.

Subs not used: Green, Reid.

Halifax: Glennon, Ainge, McManus, M Roberts, Williams, K Roberts, Maynard, Marshall (Smith, 46), Pearson, Boden (Jackson, 58), Hattersley.

Subs not used: Senior, Bolton, Schofield.

Referee: Martin Coy.

Attendance: 1437 (99)