Jordan Burrow’s first goal since November saw FC Halifax Town beat Chester FC by 1-0 to set up an FA Trophy quarter-final against Gateshead.
In the re-arranged game following Saturday’s postponement due to a waterlogged pitch, Burrow’s close-range effort on the stroke of half time ended up settling matters.
FC Halifax Town 1-0 Chester FC
The FA Trophy
Third Round Proper
Wednesday 10 February 2016
The Shay, FC Halifax Town
Winners receive £7000 from prize fund
By Pippa Field
The game didn’t take long to burst into life, with Scott McManus seeing his shot deflected wide for the hosts before Ross Hannah’s glanced header also deflected off target for Chester.
The best chance arrived on the half-hour mark when a free-kick went all the way through to Halifax’s Richard Peniket, but he could only poke wide.
But the breakthrough did eventually come in first-half stoppage time, when a throw from the left was headed upwards and Kingsley James acrobatically hooked the ball on for Burrow to finish.
In the second-half, Peniket had a glorious chance to double his side’s advantage when one-on-one with Jon Worsnop after 65 minutes, but the keeper saved well with his legs.
Ryan Higgins threatened for the visitors but his shot went high and wide while Worsnop again came to the rescue to deny Burrow.
There was still time for late drama, with Chester winning a late corner but the hosts successfully cleared before Burrow was unable to add the gloss at the other end as he shot over on the rebound.
The Shaymen will now face former boss Neil Aspin in the next round with the former Town boss now in charge of Gateshead.
