Big win for Shaymen at Brighouse

As promised, the new boss fielded completely different line-ups in each half and they were too strong for their Northern Premier League hosts.

Only three of The Shaymen’s FA Trophy final winners - Jordan Burrow, Connor Hughes and Josh MacDonald - were in the starting line-up.

It took Town 24 minutes to break through but then last season’s leading scorer Jordan Burrow bagged two in seven minutes, with a towering header and an effort from close range.

Hughes extended the advantage just before the break and youngsters Elliott Harrison and Shiraz Khan put more daylight between the teams early in the second half.

Tom Haigh and Ernest Boafo might have scored for Brighouse in the opening 45 minutes and Paul Quinn’s hosts got on the scoresheet with an excellent half-volley from Jacob Buchanan.

Matty Kosylo, who played for Nantwich last season, was calling the shots for Halifax, who moved further clear in the final quarter.

Jamie Jackson, back in a Town shirt after a season’s absence, made it 6-1 and there were a couple of confidence-boosting goals from Richard Peniket to seal a comfortable win.

Halifax now move on to Worksop on Monday evening while Brighouse will go to Buxton on Friday.

Brighouse Town: Hagreen, Harris, Coduri, Pollard, Field, Hurtley, Buchanan, Haigh, Robinson, Bunch, Boafo. Subs: Subs: Hewitt, Stead, Fisher, Everingham, Mallory, Atkinson, Scully.

FC Halifax Town, first half: Drench, Moyo, Wilde, Hone, Garner, King, Hibbs, MacDonald, Hughes, Denton, Burrow.

Second half: Nicholson, Roberts, Baldwin, Barrows, Hotte, Harrison, Sinnott, Kosylo, Khan, Jackson, Peniket.