Half-time substitute Josh Wilson ran out of superlatives for the makeshift defence that FC Halifax Town were forced to field for much of the game against Aldershot, after playing his part in a well-earned point at The Electrical Services Stadium.
The Shaymen were forced to reshuffle their defensive unit not once but twice as injuries to Simon Ainge and Matty Pearson meant that midfielders Lois Maynard and Craig Clay had to fill in at centre back and right back respectively.
“The lads have done tremendously well in the back four. As I am during a game I’m constantly screaming at them to try and get up the pitch but they literally couldn’t because the wind boxed them in and wouldn’t let them. Matty Glennon could barely reach 40 yards with the goal kick, so overall I think the lads dug in and we’re delighted with a draw at the end of the day.”
“You could have gone across the back four and picked any of them as man of the match, I thought Lois Maynard was particularly impressive. He has been trying to get back into midfield after spending a couple of games at right back but he has done us a massive job today at centre half. Jon Challinor you have to mention who covered at left back and looked like he had played there for all of his career but that is what this squad is all about, we are a great set of lads and if the gaffer needs a hand in a position because of injury we’ve got plenty that are willing to go in and do a job and that is great.”
The former-Guiseley striker was introduced at half-time and was asked to play in and unfamiliar role due to the various changes that needed to be made by manager Neil Aspin, but was happy with the shift that he put in.
“Matty Pearson came off at half-time with a problem with his back so initially I came on to fill the hold left in central midfield when Craig Clay had to move to right back. I was just happy to get on the pitch, it wasn’t really a game for a midfielder because the ball was just going long because of the weather conditions, neither team was getting the ball down and playing, but I was happy with my performance when I came on, I think I helped the team, particularly when we were pushing for the equaliser so I can look back at my performance and say I was pleased with it,” he said.
“Obviously with me coming on at half-time I watched the first half and my assessment of that was that we had started well, but then the pitch was cutting up and the weather was atrocious so the lads were happy to come away with a point in the end. Going behind late in the game to go 2-1 down, of course we will take 2-2 especially with conditions like that today.”
The Shaymen were really unlucky in the game to see a penalty that could have been deemed as harsh, given against them and then saw the weather conditions worsen in the second half which favoured the home side. Aldershot’s second goal was really aided by the wind and Wilson was keen to absolve goalkeeper Matty Glennon of any blame.
“Matty just said that he was blocking the near post because if the lad shoots he had to be there so the weather has helped, he’s hit it at a height and it’s stayed at that height and it was a great strike of the ball to be honest, maybe on another day he might have been able to stop it but I was too busy marking my man to tell, but these things happen and the lads dug in deep, got up the other end of the pitch and got their reward.”
One other player that Lee Gregory sang the praises of was top scorer Lee Gregory, who he admitted he has been impressed with.
“He is tremendous, quite unbelievable to be honest. Game after game he keeps delivering the goods for us and not many strikers do that in this day in age. Everytime he gets in behind he looks like he is going to score, it is a pleasure for us to have him and it is certainly a pleasure for us to play with him.”
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