FC Halifax Town: Two points dropped, reflects Town boss

Kingsley James put Town into a deserved lead only for Kadell Daniel to equalise for Welling.

Halifax are still unbeaten under Harvey, but the manager felt his side were below-par.

“We weren’t good - that’s probably the worst we’ve played since I’ve been in charge - I think it’s two points dropped.

“Having said that I think they came on strong in the second half.

“We were so lax today, there was no energy and no urgency.

“They may well have got a winner but it should have been wrapped up earlier. We had two really good chances.

“Nicky Wroe’s had an open net and I can’t believe he’s knocked it over the crossbar.

“Then Kingsley’s got through with a great opportunity - he’s got a tremendous strike but he didn’t hit that one at all well and it was straight at the keeper.

“We should have had it wrapped up in the first-half so it’s two points dropped for me.”

Harvey was forced into two changes for the game after midfielder Sam Walker was injured in training on Thursday but both Harvey and chairman David Bosomworth were tight-lipped about the absence of Shaun Tuton.

The forward has been linked to a move to the Football League and talk of his possible departure was on the lips of most Town fans before kick-off.

The alterations continued for Harvey during the game as Halifax switched formations - changing from a 4-4-2 to a 5-4-1 after taking the lead - something which the manager felt was necessary.

“I shouldn’t have to be doing that,” he said. “They should be able to react and do the job.

“Sometimes I have to make decisions for them when I feel they’re not coping with what’s happening and I felt that was the case.

“It looked like on occasions we weren’t coping so I’ve got to try and make a change that will overcome a problem.

“When I have to do that it’s not a good sign usually and you just hope it works out.”

Harvey praised the performance of keeper Sam Johnson, who pulled off a tremendous double save at the start of the second half, but could do little to stop Welling’s equaliser.

“They were two tremendous saves,” added Harvey, “although the fella should have scored, but Sam’s done tremendously to keep us in the game at that stage.

“There were early signs that ‘come on boys, that shouldn’t be happening straight after half-time’.

“There was maybe a lack of concentration and we needed to wake up to that.

“They stayed on top for a period then but Sam was magnificent.”

The transfer window is set to close at 11pm on Monday, but Harvey says he isn’t expecting to be too busy.

However, forward Danny Hattersley, who recently had a loan spell at Chester, could be on the move again.

“There’s a couple of clubs that are interested in him,” said Harvey, “but whether’s he’s going to go or not I’m not sure. It’ll be down to him.”

Striker Shaquille McDonald’s loan is set to expire on Monday, and Harvey is hoping to keep the Derby player at the club.

“I would like to,” said the Town boss. “I know he hasn’t had a great deal of game time with us but he’s a good boy, he’s got talent and we’ve enjoyed having him.

“If it’s possible I would like to extend that.”