Halifax Town Edge Past Boston United in Thrilling National League Encounter

Halifax Maintain Home Dominance with Victory Over Boston

FC Halifax Town won 2-1 at home to Boston United in Paul Hurst’s return to the visiting dugout. The match, played on 17 January 2026 at The Shay Stadium, proved crucial for Halifax’s push up the National League table, as they continue to build on their impressive home form this season.

Match Details and Key Moments

Owen Bray scored his fifth goal of the season after Town intercepted a loose Boston pass, allowing Angelo Cappello to deliver a pinpoint cross from the left, which Bray headed across goal and into the far corner. However, United’s response was strong and they were level within seven minutes – with Dylan Hill retrieving Marcel Lavinier’s deep cross for Aboh to rifle home powerfully from 16 yards.

The decisive moment came early in the second half when Halifax re-took the lead five minutes after the break when Cody Johnson touched home from close-range after the Pilgrims had failed to deal with a Town corner. Despite Boston’s efforts, including Aboh rattling the crossbar with a deflected strike, Halifax held on for a vital three points.

Significance for Both Teams

Town boss Adam Lakeland admitted his side were below-par after their hard-fought win, but goals from Owen Bray and Cody Johnson saw Halifax maintain their strong home form. Halifax entered the match with 11 wins, 5 draws and 10 losses for 38 points, whilst Boston United sat on 6 wins, 8 draws and 13 losses for 26 points.

The victory underscores Halifax’s ability to grind out results even when not at their best, a quality that could prove essential in their promotion push. For Boston United, despite an improved performance under new management, the defeat highlights the challenge of climbing away from the lower reaches of the National League table. The match demonstrated the competitive nature of England’s fifth tier, where every point matters in the battle for promotion and against relegation.