Following FC Halifax Town’s 1-0 win away at Oldham Athletic, manager Chris Millington spoke to Shaymen TV to give his thoughts on the game.
“It was an event, it was lively,” Millington said. “It was a great atmosphere. As a game, as a spectacle, it was an entertaining one. For us, as a group of players and staff, it largely went how we hoped it would in terms of the way game played out, but more so in terms of the result. We certainly hoping for the result today, so all in all, we’re pleased.”
Town got off to a rapid start, winning multiple corners and creating plenty of chances, with the only thing lacking being a goal.
“The opening ten minutes, we were pretty much camped in their half,” Millington told Shaymen TV. “The first 20 altogether, we were very comfortable in the game and those are the spells where we need to be scoring goals. We need to be taking the lead and imposing ourselves even more in those moments in games. But then, Oldham grew into it. If you look at the Oldham starting 11, they are all very good footballers. The subs they bring on are very good footballers. The intensity in their play, and clearly the red card shows it, they play right on the edge. So they are always going to be a handful and they are going to continue to pick up points and move up the table. They had their spell, maybe 20 minutes to 35 minutes, then we saw the half out well. The second half, with the atmosphere and the situation with the sending off, the intensity grew and it became a bit of a basketball match and I would have liked it if we had controlled it a bit better. But, all in all we have to be pleased with the result.”
Mani Dieseruvwe netted the only goal of the game after his initial penalty was saved, ensuring Town took home all three points.
“He doesn’t want penalties on his tally,” Millington joked. “He only wants goals in open play, so he did a little one-two with the keeper. I think Mani deserves a special mention today because he was absolutely outstanding, he didn’t give them a minutes peace, he threatened in behind, and when the ball came into him he held it up and he got hold of it and helped get us up the pitch. The two lads around him in Milli Alli and Max Wright were nice and bright. Everybody deserves credit today, but I think Mani deserves a special mention.”
Town had two debutants in the squad with Max Wright in the starting XI and Fidel O’Rourke coming off the bench late on.
“Fidel nearly scored with his first touch,” Millington told Shaymen TV. “But that is what he will offer. He’ll threaten in behind and you saw it on a couple of other occasions in the five-ten minutes he was on, as soon as we got the ball back, he had one thought and that was to see if he could get in behind the defence. It was a stark introduction to National League football for him with this type of tie, but we have seen a little glimmer of what he can offer the team.”
Up next for the Shaymen sees Town host Barnet on Tuesday night as we head into one of the busiest periods of the season.
“Barnet will be the same again,” Millington said. “It will be direct, physical, they are athletic and quick, and their style of play means our defence will have to be absolutely solid again. But we will be at home, and hopefully this result will give the fans something to get behind. Of course at the Shay we know we will have a couple more metres to play, get the ball down, and stay in possession for longer spells. But, I want the lads to enjoy today first because it has been a lot of hard work.”
Watch the full interview on Shaymen TV.
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