Manager Billy Heath told Shaymen Player HD that his team ‘thoroughly deserve to be in the tie’ following his side’s 0-0 draw away at Dagenham & Redbridge. The away team bounced back at Victoria Road following their disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brackley last weekend.
Heath felt that it ‘wouldn’t have been undeserved’ if the away team had proceeded to the second round of The Emirates FA Cup, despite being plying their trade in a division below the East London club.
“I thought they were fantastic, we thoroughly deserve to be in the hat as well, I thought we gave as good as we got and I think we had the best chances of the game.
“We’re disappointed in a way because like I say, I thought we did enough, maybe that’s looking through blue-coloured glasses if you like, but I thought we did enough today.”
Despite the result, Heath was keen to affirm that this was no ‘drab’ 0-0 draw: “I don’t think you can say it wasn’t entertaining because there was a lot of goalmouth action, there were lots of incident, talking points and good football.”
The biggest talking point of all coming eight minutes into the second half when Town midfielder Josh MacDonald was brought down inside the area, a decision that referee Neil Hair was reluctant to give: “I thought it was a nailed-on penalty, I asked the referee and I said ‘why would he go down?’
“He’s clean through and can do whatever he wants to do. Why would he go down? He said there was contact but not enough to give the penalty, I think it’s very difficult, the players all said they couldn’t believe that he didn’t give it.”
The gaffer was most impressed with the way his team battled for the draw that will be replayed next Tuesday (15th Nov): “I think they looked very bright in the last fifteen minutes and obviously, we put a lot of effort in, and they threw forward and gambled a lot. We stood up to them and got the bodies in the right places.
“When the ball dropped in our box we had three and four men challenging for it and ready to go for the second ball. That was most pleasing, we seemed to be there all day today.”
Heath was also very grateful for the outstanding away support: “As for the fans that came today from Halifax, thank you for the support because they were very vocal, and I can only thank them for coming. They were brilliant at the end, and all the way through the game.
“It’s a long way to come and hopefully we’ve given them something to cheer about today”
Town’s next outing will be at the Warehouse Systems Stadium where they will face Ossett Albion in the West Riding Cup on Tuesday night. Manager Heath sees this as an opportunity to mix up his side: “some lads will take part, some won’t, there’ll be a mixed bunch.”
Find our full post-match interview with the gaffer and centre back Scott Garner on Shaymen Player HD now.
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