FC Halifax Town manager Billy Heath believed that his boys did put in a good performance against Gateshead on Monday but they did so without a little bit of luck that would have seen the Shaymen take all three points.
“I think first half, we could have taken the three points, hitting the cross bar twice. We had a couple of other decent opportunities, just a bit unfortunate today, just that little bit of luck did not go our way.”
“When you look at it overall, a point away at Gateshead after backing up for Saturday, especially with us being part time as well, the players were absolutely magnificent today.”
Heath did speak about how the sending off for Matty Kosylo has possibly forced him to change the way the boys played.
“We spoiled it a little bit when Kosy got himself sent off because our attacking threat was limited but we did create some good opportunities even with ten. When Kosy got sent off we had to dig in and still came up with some good stuff.”
Heath spoke about the team’s passion and desire in the game and how the players fought for the shirt.
“We defended as if our lives depended on it. The team spirit, desire, I thought we were fantastic.
“We withdrew Josh MacDonald at the start and played Scott MacManus infant of Josh Wilde just so it would give us a bit of flexibility, to allow us to swap the formation and swap to three which we did.
“Their formation could have caused us some problems at times which is why we switched it and we were on top for most of the game then.
“Injuries didn’t help us again, another injury to Clifford, again it just seems to be injury after injury at the minute. But then Josh MacDonald comes on and just plays seamlessly so the players are phenomenal for what they have done over the weekend.
Like I say it is a really good point but just slightly disappointed that we didn’t get three.”
Billy Heath showed his disappointment in the decision to send Matty Kosylo off for a second bookable offence and talks about the winger’s ability.
“He’s playing really well at the minute and then he gets sent off, he has not gone to catch the lad, he’s gone to nick the ball and he’s caught the lad but it was way too hasty by the referee to get him off.”
“It’s not as if he has tried to bounce into someone he’s gone to get the football. That aggression serves him well a lot of the times, because he’s small, he gets bumped he gets pulled and dragged so he should stand his ground. It was just one of the bizarre decisions throughout the game.”
Heath could not miss any player out during his post-match after the game because he believed that every player played their part in the result.
“It’s difficult because everyone played their part. Sam Johnson has made a crucial save at a crucial time, it’s not just the save. To be a good goalkeeper at this level, you should be able to make good saves, that is the easy part. It’s the handling it’s the long throws, and the choices. Sam’s choices today have been magnificent. He has come for crosses and long throws.
Fair play to the boys again today, they showed a lot of character at a difficult place to come.”
FC Halifax Town have now played four away games and no goals conceded, Heath spoke about the way he sets up his team and what has helped that impressive record.
“The thing is that we are not setting up negative. We set up our shape today as 4-4-2. We are not being negative away from home which is what helps the performances.”
Looking forward to AFC Fylde on Saturday, Heath looks to continue the run, although he knows that Fylde are a tricky side to play and that the team need to be on their game from the start.
“Obviously Fylde will be different, they are expansive, they’re sharp and will make you move very quickly so we need to be disciplined.”
“We are on a nice little run at the minute so we need to keep it going. We are not getting carried away but we need to take it on now because these boys after a slightly sensitive start to the season, if we keep playing as well as we have we will be fine.”
On Clifford Moyo:
“He has just tweaked his hamstring so now we need to get a right back into the club and as soon as we can because we have not got any.”
Heath could not stop singing his lads praises after a big point away at Gateshead especially against a full-time team.
“There is a lot of tired legs, but it was a big performance today. It is so difficult playing in these bank holiday games, people don’t realise but it is so hard to come and get the result. The lads should be really proud of themselves.!”
Can you make the AFC Fylde game at the MBi Shay Stadium on Saturday 2 September? Come and cheer the Shaymen on!
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