Halifax Town 0-1 Ebbsfleet United

Halifax Town 0-1 Ebbsfleet United
Vanarama National League
Saturday 14th March 2020

If this was to be the final football game before the apocalypse then it's certainly one which didn't whet the appetite as Gozie Ugwu's early strike settled a poor game.

Expectations were high beforehand, then after the 5.20pm kick-off things quickly went downhill.

Despite being at opposite ends of the National League table; Halifax challenging for a play-off position and Ebbsfleet in the relegation zone, both teams seemed to specialise in giving away possession cheaply and making poor decisions on the ball. The endeavour was there (and the visitors were slightly the better side) but the quality certainly wasn't.

It was grim to watch from the cold stands at The Shay and with it being the only televised game in Europe this weekend, I doubt it was much more entertaining for those watching from their warm living rooms whilst supping a few pints of Corona!

There was still an attendance of over 2,000 with a sprinkling of neutrals sporting colours from clubs such as Grimsby, Doncaster, Newcastle, Huddersfield and Bradford. Ebbsfleet's away fans (around 50 in total) consisted of a guy constantly shouting 'Go, Go, Go, Go, Go' in one of those annoying, soft southern accents, another wearing an oxygen mask and yellow washing up gloves, and a group near the back trying to act as casuals. Fair play to them for making the long trip!

The result (along with AFC Fylde's win over Aldershot) means Ebbsfleet are in with a good chance of staying up and it's dragged Chesterfield, Maidenhead and Wrexham into the mire. Three teams will go down; Chorley are the whipping boys and 'down' already so after that it's two others - take your pick, though whether the season will actually be completed is another matter altogether!

Now on the subject of the Coronavirus...

It didn't come as a shock when the Premier League and EFL made the decision on Friday to postpone all games for three weeks in light of events a few hours earlier during which both Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for the virus. This, undoubtedly, was a 'turning point' in how UK football would (and did) react to the outbreak - the most surprising thing was that the National League weren't involved in these discussions anyway so that a blanket stop could be enforced!

With new cases rapidly rising and, given the evidence from elsewhere, also expected to do so for some time to come, the idea of 'elite football' (as it's been coined) restarting on Friday 3rd April is fanciful. You don't need to be a medical expert or a rocket scientist to work out the virus will soon be more prevalent and individuals associated with some of the PL/EFL's clubs will be affected on that very date - thus meaning a re-start is practically impossible!

How long will the situation last after that? Who knows?

Personally, although I'd like to see the season completed, if this enforced break ultimately stretches into several weeks/months (and beyond the point when the play-offs usually happen) then I believe the best solution at that stage might just be to bring a halt to decide positions on a points per game ratio. Liverpool, certainly, don't deserve to lose the Premier League title. Likewise, Southend, Bolton and Stevenage don't deserve to stay in their respective divisions when they've been hopelessly cut adrift for most of the campaign and I just think they'll be less legal ramifications by deciding things on a PPG basis (should it come to it) than declaring the whole season null and void.

Back to yesterday, anyway, and I found it startling that some individuals on social media platforms chose to criticise Halifax Town for cutting admission prices to £10 for Season Ticket holders at clubs in the Premier League or EFL. Ultimately, the club were just provided with an option to play by the National League (who decided to allow games to go ahead). Halifax weren't at any fault whatsoever and the simple solution for those complaining and moaning is, if you think it's too 'risky' to go to a football game (or go shopping, use public transport, socialise or many other things) in the present climate, then don't go or don't do it! Almost every adult is capable of taking responsibility, making decisions for themselves, considering the risk-factors and it's a matter of individual choice which needs to be respected. You'd have thought that after all the Brexit arguments and then the last General Election, individual choices might be respected by others, but it seems some elements of social media are still learning!

What's for certain is that if the players or those people directly associated with either club had shown symptoms or reported being unwell then the game would have swiftly been postponed - as was actually the case with a handful of National League fixtures elsewhere.

Whether the government will now place a blanket ban on all sporting events or social gatherings, of any sort, in the next few days remains to be seen. I thoroughly expect something will happen so memories of this FC Halifax Town versus Ebbsfleet United clash might just need to live a little longer, before a point is reached when football does resume.