‘We found a way to win’ says delighted Shaymen boss Wild

TOWN MANAGER Pete Wild says he was proud that his side found a way to win after edging a close-fought contest 1-0 at home to Solihull Moors.

Martin Woods’ penalty shortly after half-time proved decisive but The Shaymen had to work hard for their win.

“It shows we’ve got character, resilience, it shows we stand up, it shows we can defend our own box, it shows people are desperate to do well for this club and put their bodies on the line,” said Wild. “I’m really proud with how we found a way to win.

“When a new manager comes in and when you’ve just had a heavy defeat, we knew there’d be a reaction.

“I said to the players ‘expect a reaction’. I thought they worked really hard for the new manager.

“I thought we looked tired and I think it was a tired performance from us, but we found a way to win.

“We’ve waited for our opportunity, we’ve took the penalty well, and then we’ve got men heading the ball in our own box, people tackling, winning headers, doing everything they can to stop them scoring.

“When you’re not great, you find a way to win.

“I think that shows real promise, good teams find a way to win and we’ve done that.”

Mitch Hancox hit the post with a low shot after quarter of an hour, putting the stamp on Solihull’s impressive start, and leading Pete Wild to leave his seat in the East Stand and talk tactics with Chris Millington on the touchline.

Jamie Ward then hit the bar, possibly helped on its way by

Sam Johnson, with a curling effort from 20 yards as Solihull just lacked the goal to cap their spirited display.

But two minutes after the restart, Woods converted from the spot after Jeff King was shoved over in the box.

The Shaymen’s slender lead looked paper thin when substitute Kyle Hudlin played in Ward, whose shot was superbly cleared off the line by Neill Byrne, and then Hudlin inexplicably put the rebound wide from five yards.

A crashing shot then flew just wide from Solihull as Town clung on.

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Maher, Bradbury, King (Allen 61), Woods, Green, Earing, Williams, Hyde (Campbell 37), Chadwick. Subs not used: Renshaw, Clarke, Tear.

Scorer: Woods (47)

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 6

Corners: 4

Solihull: Boot, Coxe (Archer 85), Cameron, McNally, Cranston, Maycock (Hudlin 68), Ball (Usher-Shipway 79), Storer, Hancox, Ward, Rooney. Subs not used: Gleeson, Piggott.

Shots on target: 4

Shots off target: 8

Corners: 4

Referee: Aaron Jackson

Town man of the match: Niall Maher