Town boss McGrath 'super proud' of his team in their FA Cup defeat

The Shaymen were knocked out in the first round by their League Two opponents but were a match for their hosts, dominating the second-half but unable to find a way back into the game.

"Super proud, really, really proud," McGrath said.

"Not only went toe-to-toe with a League Two side, fifth in League Two, but we dominated a League Two side.

"The moment of the game was their first goal but look at the moments we created.

"The only real thing I've got a negative view on is our moments in the final third, where we've normally been really, really good and clinical.

"We had so many good chances to put the ball across the box, when we did there was no-one there, chances 12, 14 yards out clearing the stand, crosses not being delivered right, slide passes just too short.

"And that's the difference in football, what happens in both boxes is the difference, but it wasn't for the want of trying and I thought we dominated, especially second-half, I thought there was only one team in the ascendancy and we got sucker-punched by the late corner.

"But I'm really, really proud of the boys."

McGrath admitted the home side's extra quality in the final third was the difference between the teams.

"I think so, Evans tucked it away really well," he said.

"If we go in at 0-0 then it's obviously a different game, but that's the difference, the ball falls to him and he slots it into the top corner, great finish.

"We should stop the cross and we could be tighter to him, but we then get moments down our end and it just doesn't go right for us.

"I've said to the boys that we need to use that as a reference point. Because we're quite a ball-dominant team, we will be in those situations again where we get our forward players get those chances again.

"It's extremely rare for us not to score and the lads are disappointed but you can only come away with nothing but pride from that game because they represented me in the manner I want to be represented.

"We were really good on the ball, crisp with our passes and it was just that bit of quality in the final third."

McGrath says he wants his team's level of performance to remain as high going forward.

"After the game, I've said we need to now allow your Kidderminsters, Fyldes, Carlisles, Hartlepools, everybody we're fighting for a play-off spot, allow them that same standard of Halifax Town," he said.

"We need to deliver that kind of performance. I know they can't do it for the next 30-odd games but we will try our level best to play and work hard.

"Our intensity was really good, we went man-for-man and they ended up going quite long.

"They didn't get Evans into the game, they got the nine on the far side in it a bit.

"But it tells me I've got a group of players that, if we get it right, on the day, we will beat anyone we come up against."

The Shaymen were applauded by the 339 travelling Town fans at the end in appreciation of their efforts.

"Amazing, they were loud and proud the whole game, we could hear them the whole 90 minutes," McGrath said.

"That's why I took the players so close to the fans, we're starting to build a rapport with them now.

"Home and away, the follow us and support us and they've got a group of players who are doing for themselves but for the supporters as well.

"The reception we got after the game, that's why we stayed there so long because they've travelled down in their numbers, paid their money and I'd like to think they've gone away with the same pride I've got in the players."

On whether he might have brought on substitutes Owen Bray and David Kawa any earlier in an attempt to get back in the game, McGrath said: "We thought Conor Carty is going to be dangerous, Tolls has been dangerous historically.

"You take Tolls off but he's got the ability to deliver something.

"If I had to re-do it again, I'd probably stay the same. We brought Conor out to the right because Dougie took a knock and we thought we'd keep him on but keep him close to Morgs, and he had a great opportunity to get in from a great ball by Hobbo but he slips.

"I think we got everything right in terms of team selection, players' decision-making was good.

"Yes we're out of the FA Cup and we're disappointed but we come away with nothing but positive thoughts."