Josh Wilde was left bitterly disappointed as FC Halifax Town crashed out of the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round against Tranmere Rovers this weekend, just fingertips away from the coveted First Round tie.
The Shaymen slumped to a 3-1 defeat and the full back knows the side were not at 100% and performed poorly at the Shay, something of a rarity this season so far.
‘Just not good enough really, first half we had a few chances, thought we were a bit better first half for 20 minutes or so, disappointing with the goal to concede and then that one just before half time obviously has killed us really and knocked our confidence.’
‘Second half we never really got going, never looked like scoring and they’ve deserved to win on the day.’
Two first half goals, including one on the stroke of half time, were too much for Billy Heath’s men to respond to before the away side added a third and the timing of the second goal couldn’t have been worse.
‘It’s a big blow. We just got ourselves back in the game, if we’d have seen it through till the second half I think we would have gone in a bit more confident.’
‘Showed no real endeavour to get back in the game. Looked like it was probably over soon as the ball went in and I think that’s obviously what the gaffer was saying to us that it’s disappointing which it is, we need to work harder and we’ll try and do that on Saturday.’
A tough game from the minute go and Wilde knows it was made much harder by the way the side let their heads drop when the goals went in.
Billy Heath will be disappointed, as a manager who always praises his side’s character and spirit in going behind and trying to get back into games but it just seems like the second goal killed any momentum that Town had, even if the goals were very well taken.
‘They were good goals but they were avoidable, we shouldn’t have given away a free kick on the edge of the box for a start, and it’s just not good enough. We know we didn’t play well enough, and that’s the biggest disappointment really. We could’ve done more today.’
‘We didn’t really work hard enough without the ball, didn’t press them enough so there’s just loads of things we need to work on really and put it to bed and push on next Saturday.’
‘We already had a bit of a task on our hands and then obviously the third’s gone in, again we shouldn’t have let our heads fall like we did.’
Although there were few positives to take from the game, this defeat allows the Shaymen to concentrate more on the league and push for success in the National League this season, and Wilde knows how strenuous cup runs can be, even if he is disappointed.
‘It can take its toll on you, cup runs, so I mean obviously now we’re out of that, we’ve got the league to concentrate on, we’re doing well in there in that league.’
‘We’re all massively disappointed. FA Cup, everyone wants to be in it but we’ve just got to try and get over it as quick as you can and move on to Saturday’s game and we need a win, we need a win Saturday to get confidence back up and take it from there really.’
Torquay are the opposition on Saturday, again at the Shay and it’ll be massively important to get back to winning ways and try and get another good run of form going.
Wilde knows there’s lots to work on, but knows when the side are at full tilt, they perform a lot better than they did this afternoon and that’s the main aim going into this next fixture.
‘No games a given, they’re struggling but we can’t just go into it thinking we are going to win, it’s not going to happen you need to make sure you’re putting full effort in in every game.’
‘We’re better when we’re 100%, everybody putting it in, winning the first balls, picking the second balls up and I think that’s where we lacked today.’
A disappointing result but the lads will be looking to bounce back immediately and Torquay would be a great game to do so and regain some confidence at the Shay.
For more post-match reaction from not just Wilde, but also Connor Oliver and manager Billy Heath, head on over to Shaymen TV for full interviews and match round-up.
Read more posts by FC Halifax Town
;
