FC Halifax Town boss Billy Heath has said that his side were second best as FC Halifax Town’s defence of the FA Trophy came to an end following a 3-2 replay defeat to Matlock Town.
The Shaymen struggled to compete against the Northern Premier League side and were easily punished by goals from Ted Cribley and a brace from Marcus Dinanga, leading Heath to recognise that the visitors deserved their well fought victory.
“We were poor again for the majority of the game. We only really played for a fifteen minute spell in the second half and scored two goals but in general Matlock deserved to win, there are no complaints with that. We were just very poor”
“Just when we looked like we were creeping on top we gave another horrendous goal away and that is the theme at the minute but, like I say, they deserved the win”
“They did not really have to do too much to get the opportunities, it was a mistake for the second one. We were just second best throughout the game and the only time we played we got two goals from it but it was too little too late. Over the two games the best team won”
After going into half time 2-0 down, a stern team talk and squad rotation allowed the Shaymen to come out fighting. An impressive finish from Jake Hibbs before Matty Kosylo once again came off the bench to score and put the home side back in the game.
A fightback looked on the cards until a third Matlock goal put a stop to Town’s hopes of progressing to the next round. Heath understands that his side were punished with the third goal and puts this down to a possible dip in confidence within the squad.
“It brightened us up. We made a couple of changes, switched it around a bit and get ourselves back in the game at 2-2. To be fair you think ‘let’s get the winner’ but five minutes later once again we just shoot ourselves in the foot and give away another horrendous goal”
“It was a 70 yard ball across field, it gets knocked in and once again we defend so poorly and it’s in the back of the net. I have said to the players if confidence is low they have got to work harder and get out of that low confidence because when they go on the pitch they gave got to play through it”
“It is ridiculous that it is two weeks today since we beat Dagenham but this is football, this is what football does. (It shows) how quickly things can change, that is about mind-set so the players have to be brave now and start getting on the football again”
The defeat is one that is definitely hard to take, but Heath says there is no time to dwell on the poor performances and his side now have to concentrate on regaining their form.
“It is definitely a mental thing. We tinkered with personnel because it is a cup game and we wanted to have a look at one or two players… We looked so short of confidence but like I say, they have got to roll their sleeves up”
“That is what you have got to do. You have got to be strong now, we have to get back on the football again and we have got to be brave”
You can now watch the full interview with Heath along with more post-match reaction from Cliff Moyo and Jake Hibbs on Shaymen Player HD.
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