The relief was plain to see on the faces of the Players and Fans as Chris Wilders men recorded only their 3rd victory away from home in this Conference campaign which has been dogged by bad luck and injury.
Sadly the injury curse refuses to go away with Adam Quinn the latest victim with facial and leg injuries after an early challenge.Sheffield United loanee Ryan Cresswell replaced Quinn and enjoyed an excellent debut alongside another youngster in Neil Trotman.
With talisman Quinn already substituted many amongst the 200+ Halifax Town fans may heve felt they were in for a long afternoon when Stafford took the lead in the 7th minute.Craig Mawson was unable to take a right wing cross and one time Shay target David McNiven showed his goal poachers instinct and pounced to give the hosts the lead.
The Town response was superb as they carved the home defence open at will with Lewis Killeen involved in everything good Town created.And it was possibly a surprise that it took until the 25th minute for an equaliser to arrive with a 4th goal in 4 games for Darryn Stamp.Felix Bastians left wing cross found Killeen who had his shot blocked but the ball fell to Stamp who converted coolly from 8 yards out.
Killeen had a shot deflected narrowly wide and from the resulting corner Trotman when close, signalling his intentions for later.
From another attack Town took the lead and Killeen again had an effort blocked.This time the rebound fell to Bastians and his left foot shot was clinical and Town celebrated taking the lead.
There was a scare on 34 minutes when Mawson waited for the ball in his area but Guy Madjo beat him to it, however Trotman was on hand to avert the danger.
Stamp almost scored his second goal of the game when his header from Bastians inswinging corner was cleared off the line.
Then the drama began as the half time whistle aproached.Mawson was yellow carded when Madjo latched onto a long ball and was brought down whilst rounding the Town Keeper.Having conceded the penalty Mawson made amends with a fine save low to his right to deny Stafford an equaliser and McNiven his second goal of the afternoon.
Town attacked and Killeen had yet another shot deflected for a corner.Tom Kearney's delivery was good and Trotman rose the highest to send Town in with a 3 v 1 half time lead.
Stafford threw men forward at will in the second half as any side would chasing the game but Bastians had the first shot of the second half but he was unable to trouble Danny Alcock.
Shane Smeltz replaced Stamp who is being nursed through games following his recent hamstring trouble.
That man McNiven cut the lead on 69 minutes.Madjo got behind the Town rearguard and his cross was converted by McNiven with the assistance of the post.
This signalled an onslaught from the home side but the Town rearguard stood firm with Cresswell and Trotman excelling, ably assisted by full backs Matt Doughty and Gus Uhlenbeek.There was a final scare when the ball broke to McNiven in a goalmouth melee but Mawson's point blank save ensured Town held on for 3 valuable points.
Whilst the 2nd period didn't produce the clinical attacking football of the 1st there will be no arguments over which side deserved the 3 points.And, Chris Wilder will be looking for his team to build on this result and performance when they entertain Weymouth at The Shay on Tuesday night, kick of 7.45pm
