FC Halifax Town: “It was a really good exercise” says Wild on behind-closed-doors friendly with Huddersfield Town under 23s

Town boss Pete Wild says he was “really pleased with how it went” after Halifax’s behind-closed-doors friendly defeat against a strong Huddersfield Town’s under 23s.
Pete Wild. Photo: Marcus BranstonPete Wild. Photo: Marcus Branston
Pete Wild. Photo: Marcus Branston

Town took the lead through Niall Maher but went on to lose 3-1 at Huddersfield’s Canalside training base, with the game being arranged due to The Shaymen not having a match this weekend.

Wild was able to give a game to Jake Hyde, Nathan Clarke and Kian Spence as they come back from injury.

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“We managed to get 18 of our lads, one trialist and two youth team lads a game so everybody got the minutes they needed,” Wild said.

“We went 1-0 up and had a pretty strong team out until 60 minutes.

“They equalised bang on 60 and the game got away from us as we made changes and moved people around.

“But it was a really good exercise.

“Nathan Clarke came through unscathed, Kian Spence got some minutes and it was a chance to blood some a couple of young players as well, so I’m really pleased with how it went.

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“And more importantly, how we played and how we looked structurally was a real positive.

“For 60 minutes we looked really tough to play against, hard to beat, created chances.

“As the game goes on, people came on, people came off, some playing out of position, that’s what happens in those games.

“Fair play to them, they took their chances and the game got away from us but I got out of it what I needed to get out of it, which is the most important thing.”

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On Hyde’s contribution, Wild said: “He looked really lively, really sharp and looked like somebody we could play into, I was really pleased with that.”

Wild says Hyde could now be in contention to start against Hartlepool on Tuesday.

“We’ll see how his body reacts tomorrow and if I feel like he’s where he needs to be then he comes into contention,” said the Town boss.

“Clarkey played the first half-an-hour and did well, and Kian came on for the last 30, so they both got 30 minutes.”

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On recent trialist Jack Dunn, Wild said: “We’ve not decided to move that forward due to finances.”

The Town boss said discussions will take place this weekend about whether Town add to their squad.

“That’s still in the balance,” he said. “I know we’ve put a statement out today around the loan.

“Me and the chairman will work over the weekend to decide what’s the most appropriate way to see if we can bolster the squad and we’ll take it from there.”