FC Halifax Town 1 Cambridge United 1: Aspin says draw feels like victory for Halifax

Lee Gregory’s 17th goal of the season brought Halifax level after Tom Elliott’s opening goal, which came after the award of a free-kick which Elliott scored.

He was unhappy with referee Darren Handley’s decision to penalise a challenge on Cambridge full-back Gregg Taylor, but praised the way his team responded after a slow start.

He said: “We were fortunate to not go behind in the first 10 minutes, I felt we were really sloppy and could have got punished. We didn’t come out of the blocks very well which is disappointing.

“I was relieved when we got into the game and then once we found our feet I felt we matched them.

“I’m really proud of the players’ efforts. Some games when you draw it feels like a defeat but this game feels like a win because when you’re playing against a team that’s been at the top all season, when you’re down to 10 men, when you feel you’ve been robbed of a goal that goes against you and the player who scores it should have been marked by the player who went off injured – you feel you’ve had a bit of bad luck there.

“But I’ve always said if they give 100 per cent effort and commitment that’s all I ask.”

Halifax goalkeeper Matt Glennon was in sparkling form, Ryan Donaldson, Matthew Barnes-Homer, Ashley Chambers and Elliott all denied in the first half.

Elliott then rose highest to nod in a free-kick, but the Shaymen reacted well. Gregory controlled Adam Smith’s high cross before firing low past John Sullivan to maintain Halifax’s record of scoring in every home league game this season.

FC Halifax: Glennon, Challinor, Roberts, Ainge, McManus, Clay (Jackson 60), Pearson, Maynard (Marshall 65), Smith, Wilson, Gregory. Unused substitutes: Senior, Worthington, Gray.

Cambridge United: Sullivan, Tait, Coulson, Miller, Greg Taylor, Donaldson (Hughes 85), Champion, Dunk, Chambers (Arnold 83), Elliott, Barnes-Homer (Berry 65). Unused substitutes: Norris, Roberts.

Referee: Darren Handley (Lancashire).