FC Halifax 3 Welling United 0: Gregory hat-trick as Shaymen beat Welling

Talisman Lee Gregory was in lethal form for the Shaymen, grabbing himself a first-half hat-trick and the match ball, giving manager Neil Aspin his 150th win as FC Halifax Town boss.

Gregory opened the scoring after just eight minutes, heading the ball into an empty net after seeing his initial header from Adam Smith’s cross saved by goalkeeper Lee Butcher.

Halifax’s No 11 doubled the home side’s advantage with a stunning, close-range overhead kick after Adam Smith had headed the ball high into the air.

The victory was wrapped up for Halifax after just 36 minutes, with Gregory tapping the ball into an empty net once again, after great work down the right-hand side involving Adam Smith and Dan Gardner.

Matt Glennon saved a first-half penalty from Welling striker Kurtis Guthrie to ensure three points and a second successive clean sheet.

“It’s one of the best, easiest even, 45 minutes I’ve had,” said Gregory. “Everything just fell for me so it was good.”

FC Halifax: Glennon, Toulson, Roberts, Ainge, McManus, Smith (Marshall 74), Maynard, Pearson, Lowe, Gregory (Holsgrove 74), Gardner (McReady 59). Unused substitutes: Senior, Johnson.

Welling: Butcher, Fazakerley, Franks, Blaine Hudson, Cargill, Clarke, Gallagher, Day, Healy, Pires (Hughes-Mason 67), Guthrie. Unused substitutes: Turner, Corne, Griffin.

Referee: A Backhouse (Cumbria).

Man of the match: Lee Gregory.