FC Halifax Town boss Billy Heath believes that his team gave all that they could to try and secure the three points for the second game in a row, but it was just not meant to be for the home side.
โI think we pushed hard at the end, for the last 25 minutes we really were pushing. We maybe should have got the winner, I think we had a few chances to get the winnerโ
โ(It was) probably (right to be) a draw maybe because we started the game pretty slow, we didnโt have that verve that we had on Saturday. We looked probably a little bit jaded I think and then we concede a goal which, to be fair, I need to have another look at because from my angle, Iโm not sureโ
Visitors Altrincham, one of three other teams relegated with Town at the end of last season, provided a tough encounter putting the home side behind on two occasions. However, goals from Tom Denton and former Altrincham man Jordan Sinnott ensured that Halifax ended with a well-earned point.
โOnce again we showed resilience, we got ourselves back in the game. Big โDentsโ reacts ever so well from off the keeper when he puts it in then we come out in the second half and, to be fair, I think weโve only had three shots on goal in the full game, but itโs getting it over the line that countsโ
โIn the last 20 minutes we had them on the rack and once we got the equaliser there was only one team looking to go anywhereโ
Despite only managing to add a point to the board, Heath remains optimistic about his squad but believes the busy schedule may be taking its toll.
โIf you look at it one way, weโre unbeaten in nine games with the pre-season gamesโฆ At the end of the day weโve got four points from two games which is not a bad returnโ
โIt may have caught up with one or two of us because obviously these boys have got to go to work! We just looked a little bit on our heels but, like I say, it was very pleasing that in the last 25 minutes we pushed, we looked fit and we looked strongโ
Denton, scoring his fourth goal in two games, headed the Shaymen level from close range following Altrinchamโs early opener. After going behind again to a questionable penalty, fellow new-boy Sinnott produced a moment of magic to salvage the draw.
A powerful right-footed shot from the edge of the area flew into the top corner and sent the home crowd into a frenzy. A quality that Heath knew all too well of.
โWe know Jordanโs go that quality, like I say he could easily start any of the games, the players on the bench could start easily. It sometimes works, it sometimes doesnโt but the boy has got immense quality and the finish was just sublimeโฆ Heโs only got three minutes on the pitch and he produces that!โ
As for Denton, Heath knows that his impressive run of form is down to hard work on and off the pitch.
โThe goal tonight off him is a great finish, itโs a goal scorerโs finish. We know what he does very well, weโve worked with him to try and do things that come off the keeper but heโs sharp and heโs playing well. When strikers are scoring goals, theyโre happyโ
You can watch the full interview with Billy along with reaction from Kevin Roberts and Jordan Sinnott now on Shaymen Player HD.
Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist