FC Halifax Town skipper Matty Brown has called for his side to find the goals soon following Townโs second goalless draw of the Vanarama National League season so far, this time against Chester FC.
It was a relatively slow afternoon for both sides as they struggled to come close to breaking the deadlock. Townโs best chance arguably came from substitute Josh MacDonald, whoโs chipped cross appeared to trouble Chester โkeeper Conor Mitchell, crashing off the bar as it fell from the air.
For the home side, it was James Akintundeโs late effort that produced a fine save from Sam Johnson to clinch the point. With the lack of chances, Brown says that the goals need to come soon if the Shaymen are to make their defensive life that little bit easier.
โI think we started the game okay, we were on the front foot and caused Chester problems under difficult conditions to play in. In the first half, when you are on top, you really need to score, it makes it a lot easier to defend and look after your lead. We havenโt got off the mark yet with the goals.
โOverall, in the second half I would say they edged it but it was a typical โstart of the seasonโ game and we canโt really argue with the draw. We need to start picking points up, three points rather than just oneโ.
Despite not finding any goals so far, Town have looked relatively solid at the back of the pitch. Even with the new additions to the squad, Brown believes that Billy Heathโs defensive philosophy has made its mark quickly following the end of pre-season.
โMe and Garner have built up a bit of a partnership now and we know how each other play. We trust each other, Josh Wilde as well, Duckworth played well in the first half and then Scott McManus came on and did ever so well.
โWe defended well then the likes of Hotte, Bohan and Connor Oliver have picked up the pieces afterwards so it is a team gameโฆ We feel like we could defend well if we get into a lead, itโs just a matter of putting chances away now.
โFor as long as the gaffer has been at the club, he has built up the foundations of being solid and being nasty at times as well as organised.ย Thatโs his bread and butter, he has drilled that into us.
โAs defenders, that is what you want. You want games like that when youโre concentrating on heading balls and putting your body on the lineโ.
Now heading into just the second week of the 2017/18 National League season, the Shaymen are gearing up for their fourth game, as Dover become the latest visitors to the MBi Shay Stadium.
In what is likely to be a game filled with chances, Brown is naturally expecting a tough challenge, although is confident that the home crowd will spur the team on.
โIt will be totally different, from what I remember they will go more or less man-for-manโฆ The last time we played them we won 4-2 if I remember rightly. They have lost a few players but I know it will be a tough game like every other one in this league. At the end of the day, we are at home so we have the ascendency.
โโฆ The fans are great all the time, you could hear them today pushing us along. I have said all along that the fans are great here, the more fans that turn up on Tuesday night will help us because we respond to thatโ.
Head over to Shaymen TV to watch the full interview with Brown, along with post-match reaction from Heath and Johnson.
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