Halifax Town secured a narrow victory away to Curzon Ashton in a Club Friendly on the first of August. The match ended 1-0 after C. Carty converted a penalty in the 84th minute. By then, both sides had been testing each other for over an hour without finding a breakthrough.
And here's the thing about this result — it came down to a single moment rather than sustained pressure. Halifax worked the penalty opportunity when they needed it, while Curzon failed to defend it properly. The hosts had not seen a shot on target all evening, which tells you something about how the game unfolded.
Possession figures showed Halifax in control throughout, holding 62 per cent of the ball compared to Curzon's 38 per cent. The visitors also completed 35 throw-ins against just 14 for the home side. To be fair, the attacking numbers don't tell the full story — both sides registered zero attacks in the data, which suggests a cautious pre-season approach.
Halifax have been scoring freely in their recent friendlies, netting 15 goals across five matches while conceding 11. They beat Rochdale 3-2, Spennymoor Town 3-1, and Gainsborough Trinity 3-2 in quick succession. That kind of momentum gave them confidence when the penalty situation arose.
Curzon's recent record has been more uneven. They drew 1-1 with Cleatoro but suffered heavy defeats against Chester and Marine. The 4-1 win over Hebburn Town looked like their best performance, but the overall pattern shows a side still finding its rhythm ahead of the new season.
The result leaves Halifax with a positive note as they prepare for competitive football. For Curzon, it was another chance to work out kinks, with 22 points still to earn in their upcoming campaign. Three or four moments like that penalty decision often separate a friendly win from a draw.