FC Halifax Town secured a confident 3-0 win over Leeds United U21s at The Shay in the National League Cup group stage, maintaining their perfect record with two wins from two. Owen Devonport was the star of the show, scoring once in the first half and adding a second-half brace to complete his first hat-trick for the club since Tom Denton’s feat back in August 2016.
Halifax started brightly, with Owen Bray nearly opening the scoring early on. Usually known for cutting inside from the right, Bray surprised the Leeds defence by driving down the flank and firing a powerful shot with his weaker foot, though it narrowly missed the far post. The move was set up by Jamie Cooke, who skillfully navigated past defenders to find Bray in space.
Cooke continued to make dangerous runs, weaving past a few challenges on the left before delivering a teasing cross to Devonport. The striker rose well but just could not keep his header down, the ball looping over the bar by inches.
Halifax were clearly the dominant side in the opening 15 minutes. Thierry Latty-Fairweather’s overlapping runs down the left helped stretch Leeds’ defence, creating opportunities from wide areas. From a resulting corner, Devonport went close again with a firm header that was parried away by goalkeeper Rory Mahady, and Jevon Mills’ follow-up effort was dramatically blocked on the line.
Leeds had their best chance of the first 20 minutes when Oliver Pickles delivered a dangerous ball deep into Halifax’s box. Nat Ford reacted quickly to get a vital touch and deny Jacob Render at the back post, preventing the visitors from finding an opening.
Later, Leeds’ Joshua McDonald made a strong run down the right, cutting the ball between Halifax’s defence and midfield. Jayden Lienou, advancing from left-back, took a shot from 12 yards that Ford brilliantly saved, only for Lienou’s rebound to hit the post. The young defender is still chasing his first professional goal.
Halifax made Leeds pay soon after when Jay Turner-Cooke delivered a pinpoint corner from the left. Devonport met the ball with power and precision, heading it low into the keeper’s near post to break the deadlock. That goal marked Devonport’s third of the National League Cup campaign after earlier strikes against Eastleigh and Middlesbrough U21s.
Just before halftime, Turner-Cooke almost doubled the lead with a curling free-kick that forced Mahady into a fingertip save, keeping the pressure on Leeds heading into the break.
The second half saw Halifax maintain control and build on their advantage. A clever short corner routine between Turner-Cooke and Latty-Fairweather opened up space on the right flank. Turner-Cooke’s whipped delivery found Devonport, who expertly guided a cushioned header into the far corner, making it 2-0 in front of the South Stand.
Leeds looked to respond, with Logan White and Firth linking well down the right. White attempted to cut inside and shoot, but his effort was stifled when the ball became trapped between his feet.
Halifax kept pressing. Devonport showed intelligent hold-up play, laying off to Angelo Cappello, who had come on for Cooke earlier. Cappello’s shot was well saved at the near post by Mahady.
Late in the match, a mistake from the Leeds defence allowed Devonport to get clean through. Calm and composed, he rounded the keeper and with defenders scrambling back, coolly slotted the ball home from a tight angle to complete his hat-trick.
Defensively, Halifax were solid throughout, with Nat Ford and Jevon Mills making key interventions, including crucial saves and blocks, helping Town keep a clean sheet. Their blend of creative attacking play and disciplined defending secured a comprehensive victory and kept them second of their National League Cup group.
**Match Stats**
FC Halifax Town
12 Ford, 32 Smith (29 Tarima 83), 16 Mills, 3 Adetoro, 36 Latty-Fairweather, 20 Jenkins, 27 Turner-Cooke (4 Hugill 56) 19 Warburton, 17 Bray (9 Harris 70), 10 Cooke © (11 Cappello 70), 31 Devonport (24 Hayes-green 83)
Subs: 1 Johnson, 8 Hmami
Leeds
1 Mahady, 2 Firth (16 Philpott 70), 3 Lienou, 4 Pickles (Brockie 56), 5 Howard, 6 Howson, 7 McDonald, 8 Cresswell, 9 Render, 10 Douglas, 11 White
Subs: 12 Ombang, 15 Dudley, 17 Matykiewicz
Referee: Matthew McQuillan
Goals: Devonport 26, 52 80
Yellow Cards: Cappello 90
Red Cards: None
Attendance: 524
FC Halifax Town 3 Leeds United 0
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