"You can see they're getting better each game," says McGrath ahead of Aldershot clash

The Shaymen recorded their second league win of the season on Tuesday night when they beat Hartlepool 1-0.

And McGrath says he has generally been pleased with what he's seen from his players so far this term.

"I think bar the first 45 minutes at Altrinham, the lads have delivered a really high energy, high intensity, high work rate level of performance," he told the Courier.

"The results haven't followed, like at Forest Green and at home to Boreham Wood, but we're now starting to eradicate the little mistakes.

"I thought True Grant's distribution, for the majority, was excellent (against Hartlepool), and you forget they're such a young group, and they will get better.

"True's only 20, Tayt's only 22, Cody Johnson's 21, Raheem's 23. The granddad of the group is Shaun Hobson and Morgs (Amari Morgan-Smith) is the great-granddad of the group.

"They will learn, Obviously it's a new style of play, a new management team but I think you can see they're getting better each game."

Tuesday's win moved Town above Hartlepool in the National League table, and they will jump ahead of Aldershot if they win there on Saturday.

But McGrath says he won't look at the league table until 12 or 15 games in.

"That's where it settles down," he said.

"We've put in some really good performances.

"I think Tuesday would have been a bit different if we'd managed to score some of those chances, we could won 3-0 or 4-0.

"I think in terms of creating chances, it's there. In terms of energy levels, it's there.

"Even the second-half on Friday night against Altrincham, I thought the levels rose but they hit new heights on Tuesday night."

McGrath handed first league starts to Tayt Trusty and Amari Morgan-Smith on Tuesday night.

"I had no hesitation in chucking Morgs and Tayt in, so every one of those players could be in contention for the starting line-up on Saturday," he said.

"What I love about the group is Cruz (Allen), Owen (Bray), Deniche (Hill), Arian (Allen) - Connor Douglas didn't make the squad - the attitude is spot on.

"There will be players missing out each week but that's the remit I gave the chairman. I want a good, healthy squad.

"There might be some incomings and outgoings but in the main, I'm really pleased with it."

On the absence of winger Connor Douglas from Tuesday's matchday squad, McGrath said: "That was just team selection.

"We really like Dougie, he's a really, really good player, got loads of energy.

"But we felt it'd be good for him to see the game from outside to in. We had a good conversation, he knows the way we work.

"He worked with us last year and he'll play plenty of games."

On winger Arian Allen's absence, McGrath said: "Arian didn't train all week, had a really light session with us on Monday.

"He was probably 75 per cent fit to play but we didn't want to take a chance on him."

Injured duo Mackenzie Maltby and AJ Warburton aren't expected to be back in contention this weekend.

"Mackenzie is reacting really well to training but I think Saturday will be too soon, and it's going to be too soon for AJ as well," McGrath said.