Seven days ago Mark Whitehouse was the best player on the park for Ossett Albion as they were beaten 4 v 1 in a West Riding County Cup game at The Shay.Exactly a week later the same player came off the bench to make his Halifax Town debut and score the equaliser in the 2 v 2 draw with York City.
The game itself was a rousing affair with both sides playing their part in a thoroughly entertaining game that could have gone either way.In the end both sides had to settle for a point each and the end to end encounter got a deserved ovation from the fans at the final whistle.
Town started brightly on a difficult bumpy, sandy and icy surface.The strike partnership of Jon Shaw and Nathan Joynes both had shots off target in the first 6 minutes and this was followed by a Tom Kearney effort.Craig Nelthorpe was cautioned for a foul on the left but then set up Matt Doughty to shoot just wide.
York threatened with a break down the right and Martyn Woolford met the cross at the far post but his shot was way off target.Ex Shayman Stuart Elliott was off target from 25 yards.Woolford had 2 other efforts and Onome Sodje almost stole in at the near post with Adam Quinn clearing.
The Shaymen took a 27th minute lead courtesy of a superb Nathan Joynes header.Thomas Harban was fouled on the right and Joynes rose to meet Kearney's pinpoint delivery and his thumping header nestled in the back of the net before Tom Evans in the York goal could react.
The lead lasted for only 5 minutes.Quinn was adjudged to have fouled Leo Fortune-West on the right but the free kick was partially cleared.Sodje latched onto the ball back into the box and slotted home under Adam Legzdins and the game was level again.
Joynes nearly doubled his tally with the last chance of the first half but his header from Matt Doughty's cross was inches from hitting the net.
Town's midfield trio of Simon Heslop, Anthony Griffith and Tom Kearney took control of the midfield from the moment the second half started.Heslop worked a shooting opportunity for Harban then set up Nelthorpe but Keeper Evans collected the cross.
Chris Wilder gave new boy Mark Whitehouse his debut on 70 minutes, replacing Nelthorpe on the left as Town went on search of the winner.But it was the visitors who scored when Referee Naylor was the only man in the ground to spot a Kearney foul 25 yards from goal in centre field despite the ball being on the left wing.A cleverly worked free kick saw Woolford convert from 25 yard with a low left foot shot and the Minstermen's long winning run looked like continuing.
The Shaymen had other ideas.Andy Campbell replaced Kearney and within 2 minutes they were level when Whitehouse seized on a loose ball 25 yards out, beat 2 men with pace and slotted past Evans to cap a dream debut at Conference level.
Town did have a let off when City substitute Craig Farrell broke on the left and his cross looped off Simon Ainge and looking to be dropping over Legzdins into the net.Thankfully it went over the bar and Town can reflect on a very spirited performance that possibly deserved more against a very good York side.Chris Wilder will be expecting more of the same when his side meet Cambridge United at The Shay on Saturday, kick off 3pm.
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