RUSK: WE WERE LACKING FIGHT
STOCKPORT COUNTY boss Simon Rusk admits the Hatters showed a lack of fight late on as FC Halifax continued their promising start to the season.
A first half Matty Warburton strike and second-half goals from Tom Bradbury and Billy Waters were the difference between the sides, in a solid performance from the Shaymen.
It sees Pete Wild’s side sixth in the table after seven games. Wild said: “I was really pleased. We had to defend a lot in the first half, we were compact, and we stopped their threats. It gave us platform for the second half to go on and win the game.”
But for Rusk’s men it was another disappointing defeat as they failed to build on a much-needed midweek win at Maidenhead United.
“All round a disappointing performance, we let ourselves down all over the park,” Rusk, whose side sit 11th, said. “There was a lack of fight especially late in the game.”
The first half saw limited clear-cut opportunities, but it was Stockport who started stronger in front of their 868 away fans.
In the 15th minute, John Rooney came close to the opening goal when he did well to create space for himself just inside the penalty area, curling an effort towards the corner only to be denied by the inside of the post.
The woodwork again prevented the visitors from taking the lead in the 36th minute. A dangerous ball flashed across the area from striker Alex Reid, with Halifax skipper Niall Maher firing the ball onto the crossbar to just about clear the danger.
Despite Stockport pressure, it was Halifax who took the lead in the 40th minute. A poor challenge from Liam Hogan just outside the area gave the Shaymen a free kick in a perfect area, and Warburton made no mistake, firing it powerfully into the bottom right corner.
After the restart, the Shaymen continued to threaten with Billy Waters having a great opportunity to double the lead. The striker latched onto a long ball and, with only
the keeper to beat, tried a lobbed finish that only narrowly went wide of the post.
It took until the 80th minute, but eventually Halifax got the all-important second goal. Substitute Jamie Allen did brilliantly to play a quick one-two with Jordan Slew, before putting a perfect low cross in for Bradbury, who fired home.
In the 93rd minute, the game was put beyond all reasonable doubt. A Matty Warburton through ball picked out Billy Waters, who had been lively all game, and the striker calmly put the ball past Ben Hinchliffe to make it three and wrap-up all the points for Halifax.
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