Shay

Given the usual suspects were playing away or not at all I ventured down to Shay Stadium to watch FC Halifax Town take on Stockport County, two famous clubs that currently find themselves in the National League North, the sixth tier of English football. Would we see a repeat of the famous 1934 score line that saw Stockport put thirteen past Halifax with no reply in the old Division Three North?

As I remarked a couple of weeks ago when I was at Harrogate Town, this league is full of sleeping giants, and the promise of hundreds of Hatters fans venturing over the Pennines had the local constabulary out in force. 

The two teams started in sixth and seventh place in the table, both hoping to be in the mix for a play-off spot behind runaway leaders AFC Fylde. The Shaymen have a strong home record;  County are excellent away. It transpired that the two cancelled each other out. Stockport dominated the first half, but with few clear chances. Halifax grew into the game, controlled much of the second half and had a couple of excellent chances, but it remained goalless.

Before the match I had an hour or so in the drizzle exploring the town's backwaters, including an impressive display of chimney pots.

Match highlights can be viewed here.