Halifax Town’s efforts were thwarted by Jordan Tunnicliffe’s first-half goal in their recent match, leaving them unable to secure an equaliser despite a dominant second-half display.
Town manager Millington expressed his frustration, stating, “I felt we deserved to win. We made our task more difficult by conceding a poor goal, which I believe is the worst we’ve conceded this season.”
Millington criticized his team’s defensive lapses, noting, “We’ve been at fault for almost every goal we’ve conceded this season. The players need to step up and handle situations in our box more effectively.”
Regarding Solihull’s decisive goal, Millington added, “Adam was blocked off, and while I need to review the footage to determine if it was a foul, it clearly affected our ability to win the initial contact. The ball ended up in the net from within our six-yard box, which is unacceptable.”
Despite Town’s improved performance in the second half, Millington highlighted that the team was strong in both periods. “We were comfortable in the first half, controlling possession and moving the ball through the thirds. Had we scored or kept the game at 0-0, we would have been pleased with our performance.”
He acknowledged that the team’s current challenges are partly due to a difficult start to the season and a shortage of key players. “We’ve had a tough beginning, exacerbated by missing personnel. Our new formation is starting to work, but it’s unrealistic to expect immediate results from players coming back from injury.”
Millington also noted the team’s youth compared to their opponents’ experience. “Our squad is very young, and we faced a more experienced team. We need to learn from these experiences and avoid giving teams an early advantage.”
The manager pointed out that Town has conceded first in their last three games, often due to soft goals. “If we stop conceding early, we give ourselves a better chance to secure at least a draw. Our style of play should allow us to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes if we manage the game better.”
On a positive note, Millington welcomed the return of injured players Kane Thompson-Sommers, Jo Cummings, Max Wright, Harvey Sutcliffe, and Ryan Galvin, who all trained with the team before the game.
“It’s encouraging to have these players coming back. Angelo Cappello showed his quality even when played out of position, and Adam Adetoro excelled in possession. Owen Bray and Flo Hoti made a significant impact in maintaining possession and penetrating the opposition’s defense.”
Millington praised the versatility and performance of Jamie Cooke, who has adapted to multiple roles, contributing effectively in each. “Having these players returning is positive, but we need to consistently perform at a high level to secure victories and ensure that returning players earn their place back in the team.
