Stoke 3-0 Halifax

Stoke 3-0 Halifax

Stoke coasted into an FA Cup third round home tie against Everton with a comfortable replay victory over the League's bottom club.

Halifax started brightly with City keeper Neil Cutler at full stretch to tip over an early effort from Andy Woodward.

But it was plain sailing after Bjarni Gudjonsson rifled in a 22nd minute free-kick and Chris Iwelumo had prodded Stoke's second five minutes later.

Brynjar Gunnarsson's header killed off the game two minutes after the interval and the visitors' sorry night was complete when substitute Peter Wright was sent off for a late challenge in stoppage time.

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Stoke: Cutler, Henry, Shtaniuk, Handyside, Vandeurzen, Neal, O'Connor, Gunnarsson, Gudjonsson, Iwelumo, Cooke. Subs: Alcock, Dadason, Goodfellow, Wilson, Rowson.

Halifax: Butler, Chris Clarke, Mitchell, Matthew Clarke, Woodward, Jules, Redfearn, Harsley, Fitzpatrick, Kerrigan, Midgley. Subs: Crookes, Stoneman, Jones, Wright, Herbert.

Referee: S Mathieson (Stockport)