FC Halifax Town 3-3 Hartlepool United (4-2 on penalties): "We made hard work of it" says Wild after FA Trophy win

The Shaymen went through 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw in normal time.

"I thought for 25 minutes we were 'wow', we ran all over them, we pushed all over them, we implemented the game plan exactly how I wanted to play," Wild said.

"It's weird in times in football, sometimes when you go 2-0 up too early, people can start doing things they wouldn't normally do, start making passes they shouldn't be doing.

"And I thought that's what led to the first penalty. We played too long, we've not held the ball up, and before you know it it's in our box and it's handball.

"That frustrated me, that our levels dropped. I didn't think we were anywhere near where we should be.

"And then second-half I thought we just didn't get going. So for large parts of the game I didn't think we were great.

"But, all that considered, and going down to ten men, to see the game out and win on pens shows we've got character and they deserve credit for seeing the game out.

"But in terms of a football performance and how I'd want to see my team play, I didn't think it was great.

"I said after the game to the players 'I praised you at quarter to ten on Tuesday night for how well I thought you played but got beat, you've won today and I didn't think you were great'."

Wild added: "I just thought we made silly mistakes, didn't hold the ball up, dropped too deep, didn't lay a glove on them high enough out of possession.

"All the things we've been really good at, we didn't seem to be as potent at today, which is frustrating really.

"We knew Hartlepool would have a spell and then they started to roll out different players and you knew they'd get a grip of the game.

"We just made hard work of it if I'm honest."

Town played a 4-2-3-1 system instead of their usual 3-4-1-2 formation.

"It's something we've gone to in games, but we wanted to try it from the start today to see if we could make it better, fine tune it and make sure it becomes another solid system for us," Wild said when asked about the switch.

"I thought we caught them on the hop a little bit, because I think they'd come to try and match us up.

"It still needs work, it's had a good road test but it gives us another dimension to our play."

On the three penalties awarded during the game, Wild said: "I think all three of them were pens.

"I think we can deal with the first ball that comes in the box better (for Hartlepool's first equaliser), I think we can be better on the ball to stop the ball coming back in.

"I thought Gevaro started like Gevaro can do when you get him on the ball (for Town's penalty)."

On Jeff King's red card for Hartlepool's second penalty, Wild said: "The lad's dropped on the line to try and stop it going in the net.

"For a minute I thought the ref hadn't seen it and I was buzzing and hen his liner confirmed it."

Wild says King will miss just one game as the dismissal wasn't for violent conduct but wasn't sure yet whether the suspension will apply for FA Trophy games or league games too.

When asked about debutant Billy Chadwick, who scored for Town in normal time and the penalty shoot-out, Wild said: "I thought he was really solid, it was exactly what I thought we'd get from him.

"He was really solid in terms of his play off the right and then I thought we saw the best of him, in probably what is his strongest position, when he went centrally.

"It was a really good finish (for his goal) and I knew he'd taken penalties in the EFL Trophy from keeping a close watch on him, so I knew it wouldn't faze him.

"When I asked who wanted to take a pen his hand went straight up.

"I've known about him for a while, he's one of three or four young under 23s I've got my eye on, centre forward-wise at the moment.

"For a first outing I'm really pleased with how he performed.

"If we play a (front) three he can play centrally or off the right, if we play a two he can play centrally.

"I think he's a strong boy, you can play into him, and he's really tidy with the ball."

It was announced before the game that striker Jake Hyde is facing six weeks out with a hamstring injury.

"It's really tough for him to take but that's football," Wild said.

"He's already on the road to rehab. If we can get him back quicker than six weeks then fantastic."