Assistant boss hails excellent victory

Andy Cooper praised FC Halifax Town's professional performance after last Sunday’s 2-0 win at Oxford City put them back within a point of the play-offs, writes Tom Scargill.

First-half goals from Rob Harker and Andrew Oluwabori saw off bottom side Oxford as Town made it six wins from seven.

"I think we made harder work of it than we should have done, especially in the first-half," said the Town assistant manager.

"We knew they were going to come out bright, we've done a lot of homework on them in the last three games and I know they conceded early against Chesterfield but in terms of their general play, they've started well, pressing, going for teams.”

Cooper added: "We knew it would be like that and we were a bit sluggish, a bit disappointed how we started, we didn't quite get into our stride.

"But I thought over the course of the game - the last 10 minutes of the first-half and then we were in complete control second-half and should have been well out of sight.

"I guess the teams were feeling each other out at the start, televised game, they've got a certain style that wasn't going to change, but once we got to grips with it and were able to nick the ball off them and get the goals and the way we worked them, which is what we've been working on this week.

"A few words were said at halftime in terms of not getting complacent and I thought we were really good value second-half.

"Just disappointed we didn't take more of the chances we created, but credit has to go to the keeper as well because he's made at least five or six really strong saves.

"I thought it was a professional performance second-half, we were on it and at our game.

"The disappointing part from us was the first 15 minutes and we weren't at our best either side of the goals but I have to credit the opposition for that because they had a really good go at us."

Harker and Oluwabori's goals came within a minute of each other midway through the first-half of the match.

Cooper said: "They both came from Sam, out from the back.