Danny Clarke said that today’s 3-3 draw against Eastleigh was described as ‘mixed emotions’ with Halifax trailing by two after just 22 minutes.
Speaking to FCHT Media Team member, Charlie Russell the former North Ferriby United attacker said: “We battered them for the first 20 and then conceded two stupid goals off set pieces which isn’t usually us.
“We did well to get back into it.”
The game was certainly an interesting one with both goalkeepers seeing red and a dramatic late equaliser from on-loan youngster, Daniel Batty.
Clarke mentioned how he enjoyed these types of games at the final whistle: “They’re my type of games when things get a bit rowdy and a bit more active in the middle of the park where it’s a bit to-and-fro rather than the slow build up play you sometimes get in this league.
“You see to get more enjoyment out of them.
“I was trying to keep the lads heads up as it was a freak goal really.”
With Town goalkeeper, Sam Johnson seeing yellow after the first goal many Halifax players were involved with a confrontation with the referee Karl Evans.
Clarke explained the situation saying: “I don’t quite know what happened and I’ll have to see it again.
“I saw Sam [Johnson] on the floor and the ball was over the line, that’s not what I was disputing, it was because some of the lads thought he had been pushed in.”
Picking up a card 15 minutes before half-time and with his side losing by two, the 32-year-old tried endlessly to get his teammates’ heads up. Clarke went on to say: “We all had to dig in and I put a stupid tackle in to be fair but that was purely to get the lads going and get more of a fight going.
“It is very hard to work for the full 90 and they were very organised.
“Obviously when they got the keeper sent off it disrupted them.
“They’re a good team and it was going to be hard to break them down.”
With Town remaining 17th in the league with the visitors just one point behind them, the next few games are vital if the Shaymen want to climb the table. Clarke spoke about today’s opponents as well as looking towards’ the next fixture: “It was more of the fact that we conceded three today as when you’re scoring three at home you should be winning.
“It’s the other side we need to sort out, which seems to be the case at the minute.
“The part time, full time thing does have some significance, but it comes down to the 90 minutes at the end of it.
“We performed for the first half-hour and the last 45, it was that little bit in between but that’s where you don’t want to concede goals.
“Every game is important, we just want to get out of this rut and it’s not like we are trying or the rumours that we’re not playing for the manager as we are all putting it in.
“We just can’t seem to get everyone on the pitch.”
Clarke continued by discussing the current injuries which have affected the side: “[Nathan] Hotte has done his hamstring today and he’s another player we are going to have missing, we just need everyone on the pitch and everyone available so the gaffer can make a selection.
“He’s [Billy Heath] gone with Hibbsy [Jake Hibbs] today and what a performance, but if he goes down we’re down at low numbers again.”
Earlier this week the club recalled youth players, Ross Barrows and Marco Basic who had both been out on loan. With the squad affected by injuries, there could be a possible chance for them in the first team. Speaking about youngsters at the club, Clarke backed the likes of Barrows saying: “It would be great for them and there’s only one way to see if they are ready and that is to throw them in.
“Obviously that is up to the gaffer if he wants to take a risk with the young lads, he’s got to look at the position we are in and see if that is the best way forward.
“If it does come down to that then the lads do brilliant in training, so we will just see and hopefully they will shine if they get the chance.”
Watch the full interview on Shaymen TV Right now.
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