FA Cup highlights: FC Halifax Town vs Exeter City — early strike and stoppage-time blow send Grecians through

Exeter City are into the second round of the FA Cup after a composed 2–0 win away to FC Halifax Town at The Shay on Saturday, November 1, 2025. An opener inside two minutes from Danny Andrew and a first-half stoppage-time finish by Jayden Wareham did the damage, with the League One side showing calm control against National League hosts who pushed but couldn’t find a route back.

Halifax Town vs Exeter City highlights: the moments that mattered

Exeter came flying out of the blocks. With barely any time to settle, Danny Andrew stepped onto a neat lay-off at the edge of the box and drilled low into the corner for 0–1 on 2 minutes. The strike instantly flipped the dynamic, forcing Halifax to chase while the visitors settled into a compact shape and measured tempo.

Halifax responded with energy down both flanks, particularly through direct running that asked questions of the Exeter back line. Several dangerous crosses skimmed across the area without a decisive touch. When the hosts did pierce the lines, last-ditch blocks and alert goalkeeping preserved the advantage.

The game’s hinge came at the end of the first half. Deep into added time, Exeter struck again: Jayden Wareham stole a yard between centre-backs and swept home for 0–2 at 45+4, a gut-punch that altered the team talks and handed the visitors a two-goal cushion to protect after the break.

Key incidents and timeline

• 2’ — GOAL: Exeter lead 0–1 (Danny Andrew, low finish from the left edge).

• 45+4’ — GOAL: Exeter double the lead 0–2 (Jayden Wareham, clinical close-range finish).

• 66’ — Halifax ring the changes to chase the game, pushing fullbacks higher.

• 72’ — Exeter book a tactical foul as pressure builds on the counter-prevention front.

• 90+4’ — Full time: Halifax Town 0–2 Exeter City.

Attendance was just under two thousand, and the atmosphere matched the occasion—noisy, committed, and hopeful of a trademark FA Cup twist that never quite materialized.

Tactical snapshot: why Exeter’s plan worked

Exeter’s approach was pragmatic and precise. After the early breakthrough, the visitors dropped into a mid-block 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 hybrid out of possession, with wide players diligently tracking Halifax’s overlapping fullbacks. In possession, they targeted quick switches to pull Halifax’s lines apart, then underlapped to create shooting lanes at the top of the box. The second goal perfectly encapsulated that pattern: patient circulation, a sharp vertical pass, and a decisive run between defenders.

For Halifax, the plan relied on stretching the field and flooding the box from wide service. Periods of pressure forced scrambles and half-chances, but the final touch was missing. Set-pieces were another avenue—delivered with pace—but Exeter defended first contacts well and kept the second balls tidy.

Standout performers from Halifax Town vs Exeter City

• Danny Andrew (Exeter) — Struck early to set the tone, then managed the left channel with experience, balancing forward thrust with defensive discipline.

• Jayden Wareham (Exeter) — Movement between centre-backs was a constant headache; his stoppage-time goal was ruthless and well-timed.

• Exeter back line — Compact and organized, repelled crosses and protected the six-yard box when Halifax turned up the heat.

• Halifax wide players — Carried the biggest threat for the hosts, repeatedly winning territory and forcing blocks, even if the final product fell short.

What the result means in the FA Cup context

For Halifax, this was a test against higher-tier opposition that showed plenty of endeavour but punished lapses at both ends of the first half. The Shaymen exit the competition but can bank the performance levels—especially their response after going behind—as positive markers for league focus.

Exeter, meanwhile, advance with minimal fuss and a clean sheet, exactly what cup managers want away from home. The balance of clinical finishing and controlled defending should serve them well in the next round. With the second-round draw looming, they’ll be seen as awkward opponents—disciplined without the ball and efficient when chances drop.

Quick box: Halifax Town vs Exeter City at a glance

• Score: FC Halifax Town 0–2 Exeter City

• Goals: Andrew 2’, Wareham 45+4’

• Venue: The Shay, Halifax

• Crowd: Just under 2,000

• Storyline: A classic cup tie shaped by timing—an instant opener and a halftime dagger—leaving the hosts chasing a game the visitors controlled.

The highlight reel in one line

Early precision and late-half ruthlessness defined Exeter City’s FA Cup highlights at Halifax Town—two strikes, stout defending, and safe passage to round two.