FC Halifax Town booked their place in the Emirates FA Cup for the first time since 2022 with a 3-1 win over National League side Southport 3-1 at Haig Avenue with two goals from Will Harris and one from Josh Hmami.

Town boss Adam Lakeland made two changes to last weekend’s starting line-up against Brackley Town with Will Harris & Owen Bray in for David Kawa and Owen Devonport.

The Shaymen went ahead on 4th minute, Angelo Cappello interception in own half from Jordan Keane’s pass, he raced down the left, his cross was headed against the bar by Josh Hmami and Will Harris back in the starting lineup had a simple finish from close range for the perfect start.

Two minutes later Owen Bray skipped past former Town defender Sam Minihan and his pull back in the penalty area found Sean Tarima, but his shot had to be turned around the post by Chris Renshaw for the corner, which was taken short but the cross into the box was able to be cleared by the home side.

The lead didn’t last long, another former Town man Jordan Slew combined on the left with Sonny Hilton, the pull back found it’s way to James Simms and he fired past Sam Johnson for the equaliser.

Town nearly went again on 12 minutes, Josh Hmami got in behind Southport following a header which didn’t have enough on it back to the goalkeeper and he tried to chip Renshaw, but his shot was off the bar for a second time, but this time Harris couldn’t get onto the rebound.

Turner-Cooke looked for Cappello down the line, he managed to cross the ball on the by-line, and his pull back found Bray, and he forced a fine save from Renshaw as Town looked dangerous heading forwards.

Southport down the right, Hilton shot from the edge of the box was turned around the post by Sam Johnson as the chances kept coming at both ends of the pitch.

A minute later another chance, this time for Slew. He picked up on a loose ball at the edge of the box, but his effort was saved by the legs of Johnson.

Town retook the lead on 23 minutes. Cappello down the left, his cross was met perfectly by Josh Hmami, and his header was past Renshaw into the bottom corner against his former Club for 2-1.

Angelo Cappello was the first man to go into Aaron Jackson’s book in the 29th minute for stopping a Southport attack by Paul Murphy-Worrell on the right-hand side.

A freekick into the Southport box, was cleared. Tarima couldn’t control and Southport were able to counterattack with the ball out for Slew but his ball into the box was cut out for a corner by Shaun Hobson.

Hilton’s ball in the box for Simms was put behind for a Southport corner by defender Jevon Mills. Taken short, but Town defended well, and no opportunity was created by the home side.

Slew down the left-hand side, cut in and had the goal in his sights. His shot had to be turned around the post by Johnson for another corner. This time, the ball into the box was headed past Johnson by Simms for what the majority of Haig Lane thought was going to 2-2 but referee Aaron Jackson gave the Shaymen a freekick.

Into the second half, another long run by Cappello combined with Cooke, back to Cappello. His cross looked for Harris, but former Town defender Jordan Keane had to be there to put out for a corner.

Town made it 3-1 from the set piece, the ball was played short, Jay Turner-Cooke had time and space in the box, his cross was headed powerfully past Renshaw by Harris for his second goal of the game on 50 minutes.

Hilton’s freekick into the box was headed into the air, the ball was played out to Slew, however his shot was only into the side netting from a tight angle.

Adam Lakeland made the first chance of the game on 56 minutes with Thierry Latty-Fairweather on for Sean Tarima.

Hmami went into the book on 57 minutes followed a minute later by Slew much to the delight of the travelling fans before Southport made their own change of Danny Lloyd on for James Simms.

Substitute Amaral went into the book for a foul on Latty-Fairweather who had gone on a charging run following an interception for the fourth Southport booking in 10 minutes.

Turner-Cooke’s corner into the box was met by Jevon Mills and his half volley was over the bar.

Town players and fans alike were appealing for a penalty for handball but had to settle for another corner, which was delayed by a double change for Town with Jenkins and Devonport on for Hmami and Turner-Cooke.

Jack Jenkins was disposed just outside his own box, Southport came forward through Hilton but his shot was deflected out for a corner by Jenkins who did well to get back to prevent a goal.

A good win for the Shaymen and sees them go into the draw for the 1st round which will be on Monday evening at 6.30pm on TNT Sports 1 where Town will be ball number 61.

Southport exit the FA Cup at the expense of Halifax Town as the Sandgrounders suffer a 3-1 defeat at Haig Avenue.

An equaliser from Jim Simms couldn’t propel Southport back into the cup tie as the National League opposition won in a thrilling contest.

Separated by over 40 league places, Halifax showed their supremacy and broke the deadlock with their first attack. Josh Hmami unleashed an effort that rattled the crossbar and fell fortuitously to Shaymen number nine Will Harris who tapped in from close range after just four minutes.

But Southport heads didn’t drop, just five minutes later the game was level after Simms turned in an effort from Paul Murphy-Worrell to cap off an electric first ten minutes.

Halifax displayed their National League quality in the minutes that followed, but not without the hosts having chances of their own. Hmami hit the woodwork again after spotting Chris Renshaw off his line before ex-Shaymen Jordan Slew produced a top save from Halifax’s goalkeeper Sam Johnson to keep the scores level.

After two close efforts, it was third time lucky for Hmami who got his goal in the 23rd minute. A mazy run and delicate cross from Angelo Cappello was met by the attacker who fired home for the seventh time this season.

Simms thought he had a second just before half time following a fantastic header from a corner, but was denied by the referee who spotted a foul in the box.

With only one goal separating the two sides, the game poised going into the second half, with the next goal surely being crucial in deciding the tie.

Unfortunately for Southport, it was the West-Yorkshire side that got the goal to double their advantage. A slick corner routine saw Harris power in a header at the back post for his second of the afternoon just five minutes after the restart.

Yet the Sandgrounders showed fight to keep their FA Cup hopes alive, and had a golden chance to reduce the deficit through Sonny Hilton. After dispossessing the Halifax defence the midfielder delayed for a moment too long before releasing his shot, and saw his effort blocked just in front of goal.

However, there was to be no late FA Cup drama, and the visitors stood firm to put their name in the hat for the first round for only the second time in the last four seasons.

IN-FORM FC Halifax Town made it six successive wins as they ended Southport’s FA Cup run with a classy away performance in the north-west.

Adam Lakeland’s National League high-flyers proved too good for the Sandgrounders after capitalising on a goal-laden opening.

The Shaymen took the lead inside four minutes through Will Harris, only for Jim Simms to level for Port four minutes later.

Former Port striker Josh Hmami restored the visitors’ lead on 22 minutes, leaving Harris to make sure of victory early in the second half.

“We did what we needed to do and found a way to win the game,” Lakeland said.

“We wanted to get ahead early which we did but when they make a good save and within a couple minutes they scored. We just felt like it was going to be a difficult cup tie.

”The Shaymen got off to the best possible start when, on four minutes, Angelo Cappello drove the length of the pitch and crossed for Hmami, who rattled the bar with a header and Harris reacted the fastest to tap into the net.

Moments later, Southport were level after Jordan Slew and Sonny Hilton combined down the left, Paul Murphy-Worrell’s effort was fired across the face of goal and poked home by Simms.

Top scorer Hmami nearly regained the lead for Halifax after spotting Chris Renshaw off his line and attempted an audacious effort from range but again saw his effort strike off the woodwork.

But it was third time lucky in the end for the former Sandgrounder who found the back of the net after 22 minutes, heading another inviting cross from Cappello into the far corner.

The rest of the half followed in a similar vein with chances for both sides providing an intense end to end first half – both Sam Johnson and Renshaw forced into making great saves to keep the scoreline at 2-1.

Notably, just before the end of the half, Simms had a goal ruled out after heading in an inswinging corner but referee Aaron Jackson blew up for a foul.

Quickly after the break, Cappello’s dangerous burst down the left flank provided the Shaymen a corner in the 50th minute.

Hmami’s short corner found Turner-Cooke who picked out Harris at the back post and the striker neatly notched his second of the game and Halifax’s third.

Chances becamse few and far between fro Port, although Sonny Hilton showed promise after winning the ball back and firing on goal but Jack Jenkins recovered well to block.

Lakeland’s men saw out the victory to add to their five straight league successes and seal their progression.

STAR MAN: Angelo Cappello (Halifax)

ATT: 2,194

ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★

REFEREE: Aaron Jackson