Bushell's freekick set Town on their way to 3-2 win

Halifax Town take a one goal lead to Essex on Wednesday following a pulsating encounter at The Shay which ended 3 - 2 to The Shaymen.

Play off games are reputedly tense affairs littered with errors from nervous players but no-one in either dressing room had read the script in what was both clubs first taste of play off action.

Chris Wilder restored the rested quartet of Adam Quinn, Danny Forrest, Lewis Killeen and John Grant to the starting line-up with Steve Bushell

Two goals from Dennis Oli in second half

retaining his midfield berth ahead of Tyrone Thompson who was carrying an injury during the week.

The visitors started in lively fashion and only an Assistant Referee's flag prevented them taking a 12^th minute lead. Aaron McLean broke from midfield and his through ball was converted by Michael Kightly but the celebrations were cut short.

This sparked Town into action with some superb football. Neat passing released the impressive Matt Doughty on the left but he was fouled. From the resulting free kick Bushell curled the ball at pace into the top corner and The Shay celebrated. And, Bushell almost added a second goal moments later when he met a Doughty cross at the far post but his fierce shot was blocked and rebounded into his face. This left the departing midfielder with a facial injury and forced him to leave the field to be replaced by Tyrone Thompson.

A second goal wasn't long in coming and Doughty was involved again. Cross field passing saw him in acres of space on the left and his measured cross was met by Ryan Sugden's bullet header that gave Ashley Bayes in the visiting goal no chance. Within 2 minutes Killeen extended the lead. The move started on the right with Steve Haslam and reached Killeen on the left who slotted a left boot shot into the net, fans and players celebrated.

Ryan Sugden almost made it four but his shot went narrowly wide and twice referee Shoebridge turned down penalty appeals for hand ball.

Grays reminded Town of their danger as John Martin had penalty appeals turned down and narrowly missed a Kightly cross.

The visitors were a transformed side in the second half and pulled a goal back through a Dennis Oli header. Martin Foster was adjudged to have committed a foul near the half way line and Oli rose the highest in a crowded penalty area to head home.

A dozen minutes later and the Grays reduced the defecit again. Adam Quinn slipped whilst attempting a clearance and Oli lobbed Jon Kennedy from the left hand side of the area.

Both sides had chances after this. Oli header over and Killeen fired narrowly wide but Town will head south in good heart on Wednesday.

1	Jon Kennedy			:			Ashley Bayes	1
2	Steven Haslam			:			John Nutter	3
5	Adam Quinn			:			Jamie Stuart	4
16	Greg Young			:	46		Christian Hanson	26
3	Matthew Doughty			:			Cameron Mawer	20
26	Danny Forrest			:			Glenn Poole	23
4	Steve Bushell		31	:			John Martin	10
8	Martin Foster			:			Stuart Thurgood	6
10	Lewis Killeen			:			Michael Kightly	14
11	Ryan Sugden			:			Aaron McLean	11
20	John Grant		73	:			Dennis Oli	7
25	Brian Smikle			:	46		Andrew Sambrook	2
18	Tyrone Thompson		31	:			Ade Olayinka	19
19	Peter Atherton		73	:			Mark DeBolla	21
24	Lee Butler			:			Gary Hooper	8
15	Chris Senior			:			Nicky Eyre	16

Goal Attempts	5	:	11	Goal Attempts
On Target	3	:	6	On Target
Crosses	4	:	1	Crosses
Corners	3	:	6	Corners
Offside	2	:	4	Offside
Fouls	9	:	12	Fouls
Free kicks	18	:	12	Free kicks
Yellow cards	-	:	1	Yellow cards
Red cards	-	:	-	Red cards
% Possession	53	:	47	Possession %