Spennymoor Town vs FC Halifax Town

Halifax started brightly and should have led inside 40 seconds when an early effort curled just wide. Tayt Trusty's ball found Hmami, who saw his effort go narrowly past the post.

The breakthrough came on 30 minutes. Amari Morgan-Smith capitalised on a goalkeeping error, won the ball and rolled it across to Hmami, who thumped home into an empty net from close range.

Halifax should have doubled their lead before half-time. Arian Allen connected with a low ball across the face of goal from five yards, but his effort struck the underside of the bar and bounced out.

David Kawa made it 2-0 in the 57th minute with a moment of individual quality. He took a fine touch on the edge of the box with his left foot, then lifted a first-time shot with the outside of his right into the top corner.

Spennymoor responded immediately. Ben Pollock launched a brilliant long ball forward to captain Rob Ramshaw, who controlled expertly, shrugged off a challenge and slid the ball into the bottom right corner in the 61st minute.

Any hopes of a Spennymoor comeback were extinguished 12 minutes later. Hmami picked up possession 25 yards from goal and lofted a stunning strike over the trialist keeper and into the net — his second of the afternoon and a goal worthy of winning any match.

Conor Carty forced a smart save from the Spennymoor keeper in the closing stages, while Dan Jones tried his luck from distance twice for the hosts, once from near the halfway line and once from inside his own half, but the Halifax trialist keeper scrambled back to claw away the latter effort.

Spennymoor had momentum after Ramshaw's 61st-minute strike reduced the deficit to 2-1. The Brewery Field crowd was lifted and the hosts sensed an equaliser. Hmami's 73rd-minute wonder goal — a long-range curler — killed any comeback hopes immediately and restored Halifax's two-goal cushion within 12 minutes of the hosts' goal.

Josh Hmami (FC Halifax Town) — Two goals, one a poacher's finish from close range and the other a spectacular long-range strike. The midfielder was the game's decisive influence, taking his chances clinically and looking sharp throughout.

David Kawa (FC Halifax Town) — Scored a beautifully taken goal to make it 2-0, controlling on the edge of the box before lifting a clever finish into the top corner. A constant threat in the final third.

Rob Ramshaw (Spennymoor Town) — The Moors captain scored a well-taken consolation goal, showing excellent control and composure to finish after a superb long ball from Ben Pollock. Led the line well against a strong Halifax defence.

Player of the Match: Josh Hmami (FC Halifax Town)

The provider data shows a 1-3 scoreline that accurately reflects Halifax's superiority. The Shaymen created the better chances throughout, with Arian Allen hitting the bar from five yards and Hmami converting two of his three clear opportunities. Spennymoor's goal came from a rare moment of quality — Pollock's long pass and Ramshaw's finish — rather than sustained pressure. Halifax's trialist goalkeeper was called into action late on, particularly to deny Dan Jones's audacious effort from his own half, but the visitors never looked like relinquishing their lead after Hmami's second.

This was a pre-season friendly for both sides and neither manager will read too much into the result, but the performance will please Halifax boss Chris Millington. The Shaymen have now won two of their pre-season fixtures and travel to Rochdale on Tuesday 28 July for their next outing. Spennymoor, who play in National League North, host Newcastle United's Under-21s on Thursday 30 July in their penultimate pre-season test.

A thoroughly professional away performance from FC Halifax Town against lower-league opposition. Hmami's double was the difference, but the Shaymen's overall control of the game — even with multiple trialists and heavy rotation — was the most encouraging sign. Spennymoor competed well in spells but lacked the cutting edge to trouble a well-organised Halifax defence consistently.