FC Halifax Town 3-3 Eastleigh: We can't keep giving three goals away, says Heath

Halifax found themselves 2-0 down before a Scott McManus penalty reduced the deficit.

Sam Johnson was then sent-off before Eastleigh extended their lead, but the 10-men fought back with a goal by Tom Denton, after which Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney was dismissed.

Substitute Dan Batty then salvaged a draw for Town in injury time.

“It was really good in some aspects. I thought we started as good as we could have done,” Heath said.

“We were on the front foot, full of verve. I think we had five or six shots on goal, and other opportunities.

“Then we shot ourselves in the foot. The first goal was bizarre. It’s a mistake.

“Then the second goal’s disappointing as well because he’s run across that near post area, we know where he’s going to make the run, and he’s got a free header.

“Suddenly all the first 20 minutes has gone out of the window.

“We got the important goal to make it 2-1, we re-gather ourselves and Sam gets himself sent-off. His decision-making is problematic at the minute.

“They get the third and you think the game’s finished.

“But I’ve said before these lads are resilient and fair play to them, because we made it 3-2 when we were a man down.

“Their keeper gets sent-off and it looks like there’s only going to be one winner.

“When do you have a game with two keepers sent-off? It just summed up a crazy, crazy game.

“If we’d had a bit more time I think we’d have probably won the game.

“It’s been a topsy-turvy game, patches were brilliant, but we gave away cheap goals and we can’t keep giving three goals a game away.

“If you score three goals at home you should be able to win the game.”

Heath was disappointed at his team’s defensive frailties, with Town having now conceded 14 goals in their last five games.

“We haven’t won because we’ve not defended well enough and we’ve given cheap goals away,” Heath said.

“Now it’s the flip-side - the goals have come through for us but the disappointing thing is conceding the goals.

“The first one was such a poor goal. We started the game really bright and we were fully in control.

“It shook us, and then they scored again soon after.

“The players have been magnificent though - I don’t think there’s a lot of teams that would have pulled it round from 3-1.

“Again they’ve showed character and desire.”

Asked whether Town’s fightback from 3-1 down showed that the team were still playing for Heath, he said: “Just because you lose games it doesn’t mean they stop playing for you. It’s utter nonsense.

“We’re losing because we’re making mistakes and we’re in a tough league and we’ve got seven players missing.

“But anybody who watched that game must have seen we were worth something from it.”

Heath’s decision to substitute Adam Morgan when he brought on replacement keeper Tom Nicholson provoked an angry response from some Town fans.

When asked about the decision, Heath said: “It was so we don’t lose our shape. And I got it right.”

Heath also said Nathan Hotte will be out for four weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in Saturday’s game.