‘We deserved at least one, if not three points’ says Shaymen boss

TOWN MANAGER Pete Wild thought his side deserved at least a point after their 1-0 defeat to Stockport County at The Shay.

Paddy Madden’s goal just before half-time was enough for County to seal the win.

“I thought we were excellent, I thought we were really good, with and without the ball,” said Wild. “We’ve gone more than toe-to-toe with them and deserved at least one, if not three points.

“We did a lot of tactical work on containing their wide men, because a lot of their play comes through their wide men. I thought the two wingers, Danny and Jamie, got that spot on, along with the two full-backs. We did a lot of work on containing the second ball when it goes up to Cardwell, and I thought we did that really well.

“In possession, we knew we could have a lot of the ball. I think you’ve seen probably the best on the ball performance from us all season in terms of how we’ve moved the ball, manipulated the ball and passed through the lines.

“I think tactically, the lads were spot on.”

After a strong start by Stockport, Town grew into the game, with Nathan Clarke heading over from a corner before Jake Hyde’s knock down was struck just over by Kieran Green from an angle.

But 44 minutes of hard work, discipline and diligence from Halifax were undone when hesitancy by Niall Maher was brutally punished by Madden, who finished spectacularly past Johnson with the only shot on target of the opening half.

Town finally registered a shot on target when Green played in Allen but keeper Ben Hinchliffe was off his line quickly to keep out the shot.

Sam Johnson reacted well to keep out Ash Palmer’s header as Stockport came closer to adding a second.

Green headed off target from a Woods corner as Town pressed to the end.

Halifax: Johnson, Byrne, Clarke, Maher, Senior, Allen (Chadwick 77), Green, Summerfield, Woods, Williams, Hyde. Subs not used: Davison-Hale, Bradbury, Tear, Spence.

Shots on target: 1; Shots off target: 7

Corners: 4

Stockport: Hinchliffe, Jennings, Hogan, Palmer, Southam-Hales, Rooney, Collar (Maynard 61), Croasdale, Walker (Minihan 87), Cardwell (Bennett 84), Madden. Subs not used: Fitzsimons, Reid.

Scorer: Madden (45)

Shots on target: 2; Shots off target: 6

Corners: 4

Referee: Steve Copeland

Town man of the match: Kieran Green