FC Halifax Town under-19โs manager Mark Trueman has said that his side have โdone the club proudโ following their 2-1 away defeat to Hartlepool United in The FA Youth Cup third qualifying round.
Two quick-fire goals from Connor Simpson and Joseph Jackson put Hartlepool into a 2-0 after just 15 minutes at Victoria Park before Sam Clayton pulled one back late on with a looping header.
Trueman was pleased with his sideโs performance against a strong Hartlepool side. โTheyโve done the club proud and theyโve done me proud,โ said Trueman.
โWeโve got a group of players that have basically come together this year really. Weโve got second years and first years to make a squad. Credit to the lads on how much theyโve learned during this short space of time.โ
โAgain, we learn from it. Weโll watch the video footage and we go again.โ
โI think the team have showed today, even at 2-0 down that they can bounce back. Iโve got no doubt that the lads will bounce back and will go and win the game next week.โ
The manager felt that it was always going to be tough to come back having fallen two goals behind early on, but was pleased that his side kept on fighting until the final whistle.
โWe knew about the danger of their big number nine (Connor Simpson),โ continued Trueman, โheโs just peeled off the back and then for the second goal, weโre not bright enough from the second ball.
โIt was a great finish and then after ten minutes itโs tough to come back from 2-0 down. But, credit to the lads that theyโve really worked hard.โ
โFor me, they dominated the game in terms of possession. I thought we created some good chances but you know in the final third we just let ourselves down today.โ
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