Kidderminster 1-2 Halifax: We showed a lot of character, says Heath

The Harriers had won their last 13 home games in a row and were unbeaten at Aggborough since October 22, but goals from Tom Denton and Jordan Sinnott cancelled out Joe Ironside’s early opener.

“The players were talking about (Kiiderminster’s home form) on Thursday at training, but we just said to them ‘let’s make sure we stop that’. It’s a fantastic three points,” Heath enthused.

“The players knew they hadn’t performed first-half but when things aren’t going well you’ve got to stay in games, and we did that.

“They showed a lot of character and a lot of belief and desire. You have to keep going and you hopefully get your rewards.

“It’s not about football now, it’s about players going the extra yard, if he runs forward 20 times I’m going to stay with him 20 times, and if we have to grind it out we grind it out.

“Possession-wise and passes completed they would probably dwarf us massively. But when we looked as if we weren’t going to get anything, we haven’t just drawn, we’ve won.”

Heath admitted his side were not good enough in the first-half.

“We started the game really poor, not at the races, second to everything, never got out the blocks at all,” he said.

“We knew they start well, especially at home but too many times there was no pressure on the ball, they were first to everything that dropped,m they were sharper than us.

“The goal is woeful, so disappointing for a number of reasons. A straight ball has just dropped into the six-yard box, and you’ve got to deal with it better all round. The boy’s got a free header from three yards.

“But we clawed our way back from the first bit of football we played.

“But we still ended up going in 1-1 at half-time. Obviously the big one is the penalty miss right on half-time.”

But Town were much improved after the interval after some stern words from their manager.

“The paint nearly came off the wall at half-time because I was disappointed, but we reacted,” Heath said.

“I said at half-time ‘do we want to try and win this league, or are we going to amble out of it?’

“But the players were magnificent second-half. They kept going, they kept trying to press, trying to make it difficult for Kidderminster and at the end, Clifford (Moyo) comes on and I’ve no idea why he’s in the box, because we told him to sit and let Jordan Sinnott be the highest midfield player.

“But he’s done ever so well and it’s a penalty and Jordan keeps his nerve, because it’s so high pressure at that point.

“We know at that point if we get the goal we’re not going to lose the game. That’s not being negative.

“They’re a good team, the best team we’ve played all season, and to get three points was massive.”

Denton scored his 17th goal of the season in the game, and impressed his manager with his all-round performance.

“I thought Tom Denton was absolutely magnificent - he did exactly what we needed him to do and got hold of the ball,” Heath added.

“I’m pleased he got the goal because he’s had opportunities of late and hasn’t taken them. I thought he caused them problems all afternoon - anything that was delivered in the box he was on it.

“He’s had two second-half chances where one’s just missed the far post and then he’s crashed it against the crossbar.

“But the goal lifts the weight off him because it has been playing on his mind that he’s not got the goals with the opportunities that have been presented to him.”