A third goal of the season from Marvin Robinson helped United to a draw at The Shay tonight. Robinson's goal early in the second half briefly lifted United's hopes, but an equaliser from Danny Forrest all but ended any distant dreams of catching champions-elect Dagenham.

With three changes to the side that beat Altrincham, United started surprisingly nervously and the home side had had two efforts on goal before skipper Barry Quinn saw a header nodded off the line from a third minute corner. Even that early the Halifax fans were ready to turn on their side's defending and there was a mutinous feel in the main stand as the game opened brightly enough.

Rose fired wide on 13 minutes as United started to put a few moves together, and Chris Zebroski showed great pace on fifteen to leave a defender for dead . Indeed, the Millwall loanee looked bright, sharp, and composed,  and will certainly have impressed the fantastic away fans who had braved the traffic and the plunging temperature.

The game itself might not have set too many hearts pounding, although Halifax were the side to create two chances just after the half hour mark, with a Killeen free kick deflected narrowly over and then a Forrest header clearing the bar by a similar margin.

United got their passing going on 37 minutes, stringing together a move that was very easy on the eye and earned them a corner, which Luke Foster headed over, and Micky Corcoran was desperately close to heading a Rose free kick home as we reached 40 minutes and United started to impress more and more.

In fairness, United had looked the more likely side to break the deadlock and came closer than ever just two minutes after the break as Zebroski burst into the box and the ball squirmed as far as Pettefer whose prodded effort was half stopped by keeper Mawson and rolled narrowly wide.

Not to worry, as seconds later United were ahead as Robinson bagged his second goal in two games. From Danny Rose's corner the ball was thumped against the post by Foster, then headed forward, and as Halifax defenders hesitated Robinson pounced to stab the ball home from five yards. Marvellous.

Robinson and Zebroski were linking well, but it was the midfield trio of Pettefer, Rose and Hargreaves who were really setting the tone, working phenomenally hard for the cause and winning every 50/50 ball.

However, Halifax reacted well to the goal and had their best spell of the game from then onwards, and were level on 70 minutes as they made a good spell of possession pay. For the second time in two minutes Killeen was given too much space on the left and crossed, and this time Danny Forrest was in acres of clearing to trap the ball, spin and hammer the ball past Turley for the equaliser. It wasn't particularly clever defending, but the goal had been coming and United needed to beware for the next few minutes as the home side pressed them deeper and deeper into their own half.

They were fortunate to get away with Foster slipping in his own six yard box and blatantly/inadvertently handling the ball on 87, and in the end needed to stand firm as the home side ended the game the stronger of the two teams.

A valuable point in the quest for the play-offs, but surely now that has to be United's target?

Report Chris Williams at The Shay. Pictures courtesy of www.kippax.com (take a look for many more excellent pictures)