Emirates FA Cup


Home Win
FC Halifax Town 2 - 1 Exeter City
Who will win?
1

FC Halifax Town
x
Draw
2

Exeter City
Match Date: November 1, 2025 | Kick-off: 15:00 GMT | Competition: England FA Cup
The FA Cup always delivers drama, and this First Round clash between FC Halifax Town and Exeter City has all the ingredients for another potential upset. Taking place at The Shay, Halifax come into this fixture with home advantage and the backing of Football Park’s predictive model, which identifies them as strong contenders to progress despite facing League One opposition.
According to Football Park’s algorithm, the hosts hold a 70% chance of victory, compared to just 10% for Exeter, suggesting this may not follow the usual script. The data also points toward an open, competitive match, with a projected 2.50 total goals and an 80% probability of Over 1.5 Goals. With both sides capable of scoring, this Cup tie could be decided by small margins — and Halifax’s early momentum may prove decisive.
Football Park’s advanced model — based on over 200 performance indicators and statistical patterns — provides a clear edge for the home side. The predictive probabilities are as follows:
Home Win: 70.0%
Draw: 20.0%
Away Win: 10.0%
Both Teams to Score: 56.0%
Over 2.5 Goals: 46.7%
With 1.80 expected home goals compared to Exeter’s 0.70, the Football Park model points to Halifax’s attacking efficiency and superior home data as the difference-maker. Notably, Halifax have a 60% probability of leading at half-time, strengthening the model’s confidence in their early control of the game.
Predicted Score: 2-1 Halifax Half-Time/Full-Time Projection: Home/Home
Football Park’s analysts have identified the top two betting markets that offer optimal value based on the algorithm’s highest-rated confidence percentages.
At odds of 3.80, the model assigns a remarkable 70% probability to a Halifax victory — a strong value proposition for bettors seeking an FA Cup upset. Halifax’s home form, coupled with Exeter’s inconsistency away from home, supports this projection.
Football Park’s predictive confidence stems from Halifax’s attacking intensity and historical FA Cup performances at The Shay, where they have consistently troubled higher-tier opposition. The expected match goals (2.50) metric reinforces this, highlighting Halifax’s offensive advantage and ability to convert chances efficiently.
With an 80% probability of Over 0.5 first-half goals and 40% for Over 1.5, this market provides a realistic opportunity for early action. Halifax’s aggressive starts in home matches — backed by a 1.30 expected first-half goal figure — suggest the first 45 minutes could be decisive.
In a knockout context where momentum is critical, both teams are likely to attack early, making this selection a statistically supported and value-driven choice.
This tie epitomises what makes the FA Cup so compelling: a lower-league side entering with confidence and data-backed form against a higher-tier opponent struggling for consistency. Football Park’s model identifies Halifax’s defensive shape and counter-attacking transitions as key factors, particularly against Exeter’s possession-based system.
With both teams averaging close to one expected goal per match, set pieces and defensive lapses could determine the result. Halifax’s 40% chance of scoring two or more goals highlights their attacking depth, while Exeter’s 56% probability of finding the net keeps the BTTS market in play.
Historically, cup ties between National League and League One sides favour teams with early dominance — a pattern reflected in Halifax’s 60% half-time win probability and Home/Home full-time correlation.
Football Park’s model outlines the most probable game phases based on match progression probabilities:
0–15 minutes: Balanced start; Halifax expected to press early.
15–45 minutes: Likeliest scoring window, with both teams creating chances (Probability of Over 0.5 first-half goals: 80%).
45–70 minutes: Tactical readjustment; Exeter likely to increase possession share.
70–90 minutes: Halifax expected to close the game out; counter-attacking threat remains high.
Given the expected flow and data trends, a 2-1 full-time scoreline aligns closely with Football Park’s algorithmic projection.
Football Park’s analytics team consistently identifies value in markets where statistical probability significantly outweighs bookmaker pricing. For this fixture:
FC Halifax Town to Win @ 3.80 represents a prime example of mispriced odds, with the model’s 70% projection implying far greater winning potential.
Over 1.5 First Half Goals @ 2.62 combines predictive data on attacking intent with the historical trend of early FA Cup goals.
These selections align with Football Park’s principle of identifying bets supported by measurable probability, rather than narrative bias.
All predictions published by Football Park are based on performance analytics and probabilistic modelling. They are designed to guide informed betting decisions, not to guarantee outcomes. Always gamble responsibly, and ensure that betting remains a form of entertainment rather than expectation.
Football Park provides bettors with a range of different football betting predictions across Europe, the EFL and Non-League football, offering model-based insights that combine historical data, performance trends, and market value.
Explore more FA Cup match previews and predictive insights at Football Park to find statistically sound bets across this weekend’s fixtures.

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