Stockport County 2-1 FC Halifax Town: "There's loads of positives to take" says Wild after battling defeat at Stockport

Town took the lead through a bizarre own goal but a goal in each half, including a wonder strike from substitute Adam Thomas, sealed a comeback for the hosts.

"I thought we were excellent tonight again," said Wild. "We've gone toe-to-toe with one of the better sides in the league and more than acquitted ourselves.

"I thought a draw would've been a fair result. It's a wonder strike to win the game, but we've had our chances and unfortunately not taken them.

"But there's loads of positives to take. What a great advert for non-league football that was.

"I think it shows the quality we've got in our side that we can go toe-to-toe with what will be one of the promotion contenders.

"If we play like we've played tonight, we'll win more than we lose."

When asked what he had said to his players after the game, Wild said: "Get your heads up, go again, I thought you were excellent. It's a wonder-strike that's won the game.

"You can't be disappointed with your night's work. We can't dwell on that, we've just got to go again Saturday."

When asked what had pleased him most about his side's performance, the Town boss said: "How we dealt with their threats, how we dealt with them tactically, and how, when we tweaked it at half-time, we were comfortable.

"We looked to hit them on the break, we did that lots of times, but unfortunately, just didn't pick the right pass in the final third.

"But if you look at our players and how well, to a man, they've delivered, if I'm a fan sat at home watching that, I'm thinking 'right, well, we've got a team here and a team that's going to play some attractive football and is going to go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league'."

Wild said midfielder Martin Woods felt ill at half-time and had to be taken off.

The Town boss was unhappy with referee Adam Herczeg's performance, which led Wild to remonstrate strongly on the touchline as the game went on.

"He got absolutely smashed in the corner," Wild said of wing-back Danny Williams.

"I think that's what disappointed me, their staff have obviously got in the referee's ear at half-time and he's come out and absolutely crumbled second-half.

"I wanted to try and be a little bit calmer this year and unfortunately I've lost my head again, which is disappointing from me, but how can you keep your head when things like that go against you?"