Halifax Town 0 City 1

There was more questions than answers after City's final pre-season outing.

Stuart McCall's men were made to look very ordinary by a fired-up Halifax outfit who helped confirm to the City boss his squad requires urgent attention before Saturday's League Two kick-off.

They could have easily been three goals down by the break against Conference opponents and needed the brilliance of Omar Daley and Barry Conlon's long-awaited first goal to save their blushes.

People don't tend to read too much into friendlies but this didn't feel like your typical warm-up affair.

Both sides fielded their strongest XI for most of the match and tackles flew in like a real full-blooded local derby so the performance couldn't be swept under the carpet.

It was a perfect work-out in time for the visit of Macclesfield but McCall must have been alarmed by his side's sloppiness in an error-strewn first half and, Daley aside, their lack of real creativity.

Halifax had a great chance to take the lead after just four minutes when former City winger Danny Forrest skipped down the right. However, unmarked Andy Campbell rifled his left-foot effort over the bar when the ball arrived back in a perfect position.

The hosts were far sharper early on and dominated the opening stages.

Last man David Wetherall was lucky to escape without even a booking after nudging Campbell over when the former Middlesborough hitman had raced away down the middle.

Another former Bantam, Tom Kearney, saw his long-range shot blaze wide after another slick build-up as City struggled to get into the game.

Joe Colbeck graced the right touchline on a couple of occasions but frustratingly couldn't deliver the final ball.

McCall had demanded more attacking edge going into the clash but it wasn't until the 25th minute that they managed a strike on goal, Daley cutting in from the left but seeing his drive easily blocked.

Scott Phelan came in for injured Paul Reid but the former Everton youngster was often wasteful in central midfield and City created little.

Nathan Joynes escaped the offside trap to sprint on to Colbeck's long ball but Halifax keeper Craig Mawson raced out of his box to bravely head clear and it was Chris Wilder's side who bombed the best opportunity of the half when Campbell sprung City's own trap to freely set off down the left.

The talented but injury-plagued forward homed in on Ricketts' goal and could have finished himself but unselfishly pulled back for Darryn Stamp.

Fortunately for City, Campbell had delayed long enough for Paul Heckingbottom to recover and pull off a desperate tackle to clear the danger with the empty net gaping.

Conlon scuffed a shot at the other end after Daley - always City's most promising outlet - had engineered a rare opening while just before the break Ricketts had to come to the rescue with a header after Campbell threatened to latch onto another piercing cross-field pass.

Having rode their luck, though, City re-emerged after the re-start and scored with their first attack in the 47th minute.

It was a crisp move, initiated by a strong Joynes who spread play wide to Darren Williams, the right-back then curling an inviting ball in behind for Daley to escape.

The Jamaican had temporarily switched flanks and easily reached the by-line before delivering across the box for Conlon to scramble home.

Trickster Daley then teased the Fax defence on the other side before smashing a low shot just wide and City finally clicked into gear.

Trialist Alex Rhodes, on for Colbeck, was unlucky with a far post header after Eddie Johnson had whipped in a decent cross although they were grateful for a linesman's flag when Stamp was clear through on Ricketts and harshly pulled backed.

But Daley was at it again after a flashy turn in the box almost finished with a second and, although Rhodes had to clear Adam Quinn's header off the line from a corner at the death, City were rarely troubled again.

They finished in control as the rain began to pour but the time for practice is soon over and McCall will still be busy in the days ahead.

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