FC Halifax Town: It's a great start, says Heath after Nuneaton win

Halifax boss Billy Heath praised his side's start to the season after striker Tom Denton's hat-trick helped them to a 3-2 win at Nuneaton.
FC Halifax Town manager Billy Heath.
FC Halifax Town v Sheffield United.  Pre-season friendly.  19 July 2016. Picture Bruce RollinsonFC Halifax Town manager Billy Heath.
FC Halifax Town v Sheffield United.  Pre-season friendly.  19 July 2016. Picture Bruce Rollinson
FC Halifax Town manager Billy Heath. FC Halifax Town v Sheffield United. Pre-season friendly. 19 July 2016. Picture Bruce Rollinson

Denton’s three goals on his Town debut sealed a deserved win for The Shaymen at Liberty Way,

Heath said: “It’s a great result and a great start for us.

“I thought we played really well. In the first-half we could have had a couple more goals instead of being level.

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“The negatives were the two we conceded, especially the first one which was poor.

“But the lads were fantastic. It was uncomfortable in this heat against a side that manipulate the ball the best in this league and we’ve come out winners.

“That takes a lot of endeavour, courage and hard-work and at times we played some good stuff.”

Heath was pleased with his side’s reaction to Nuneaton’s first equaliser, and that The Shaymen took their chances after the restart.

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“The set-piece was good, I was pleased about that, it was executed really well,” he said on Denton’s first goal.

“Then we commit the cardinal sin a couple of minutes later of conceding from a set-piece, which was disappointing.

“But the reaction was good after the goal.

“In the second-half the only difference was we scored the goals when we created the chances this time.

“We should have kept pressing but it’s sometimes human nature when you’ve gone 3-1 up away from home that you start to sit in, which is what you don’t want to do against Nuneaton because they manipulate the ball.

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“But they’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“We’re not getting carried away, it’s the opening day of the season but it’s nice to get the first three points.”

Heath believes Denton is underrated at this level, and said his striker showed his qualities in the win.

“He’s a very good player. I’ve said all along I don’t understand why people don’t give him the credit he deserves,” Heath said.

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“What he does he does the best in this league by a long way.

“Why people don’t appreciate what he does I don’t know, whether it’s snobbery because, let’s face it, he’s not the easiest on the eye the way he plays the game.

“But he sticks to his strengths and so do we.

“When you deliver balls in, he will score goals, period.”

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