It was two months to the day since the last fans team fixture for the Shoemakers, but on the evidence of this latest performance, you wouldn't have known. Beautiful sunshine gave an early spring like feel as the two teams kicked off at the Racecourse. The home side settled into the game the quickest, striker Sean Bellham forcing the Halifax keeper into an early save.

Richard Fletcher's pressure on the defence created a great opening for Martin Holmes moments later, but the Shoemakers' man couldn't find the target. Luis Pereira then had a terrific volley blocked following a half cleared corner. From that corner, Mark Kennedy's turn and sweetly struck left foot shot was brilliantly saved by the keeper.

The home side deservedly broke the deadlock on 25 minutes, Sean Bellham's through ball released Martin Holmes, who sweetly lobbed the ball over the keeper and made sure by heading it in from close range.

The Shoemakers finished the half on a high after being rarely threatened by the Shaymen.

The second half began the same as the first with the home side on top, although there was more of a competitive edge, but every strong challenge was followed by a sporting handshake. Dale Smith shot narrowly wide early on and Martin Holmes nearly got his second but the keeper saved well at his feet.

The home side almost had the ball in the net with 20 minutes to go, but the referee had already blown for a foul on the keeper. The visitors' chances were still few and far between thanks to resolute defending from Steve Marley, Simon Sidwell and James Averill.

Like the previous game against Carlisle, the Shoemakers conceded an equaliser against the run of play, with just under 15 minutes to Ben Fawkes hit a 25 yard effort that cannoned off the underside of the bar, hit the Shoemakers keeper on his back and fell behind the line.

The home side continued to battle for the winning goal, but the breakthrough just wouldn't come. The final whistle sounded on a second successive 1-1 draw for the Cobblers Fans Team in this, the first meeting between the two sides. Halifax continued their journey on to their first team game at Rushden that afternoon with the Shoemakers' best wishes.

Team - Russ, James Averill, Simon Sidwell, Steve Marley, Mark Kennedy, Ian Errington, Ant Collett, Sean Bellham, Luis Pereira, Martin Holmes, Richard Fletcher - James Boddington, Dale Smith, Ant Fragolo

Footnote - With the lack of recent fixtures, we were all extremely pleased with the performance against a hardworking Halifax side. It was almost like we'd never been away. Everybody worked really hard from defence to attack, the only down side was not to take the victory.

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