Gainsborough Trinity's impressive 2-2 draw at high-flying Halifax should bring a swagger back to the team ahead of Saturday's visit of Altrincham, says boss Steve Housham.

Trinity went to the Shay on Tuesday evening intent on ending the home side's seven-match winning run in Blue Square North.

And they certainly had their work cut out as the Shaymen dominated the opening spell, forcing Housham to rethink his strategy after just half an hour.

Town had taken a seventh-minute lead through Lee Gregory and were threatening to run riot in front of 1,300 fans before Housham changed his formation with Leon Mettam coming on for Lee Ridley.

"I did feel sorry for Lee (Ridley) who had played just half an hour, but I had to change the formation," he said.

"Halifax are a very good team and something had to be done, we had to press more and get to the second ball.

"So I changed to a 4-3-3 set-up and I think it saved us in the first half.

"Halifax had won seven matches on the bounce and you could see their confidence there from the start.

"They set a good tempo and they had a very quick and physical presence which we needed to address."

Halifax failed to take advantage of their dominance in the first half and they were pegged back by the Blues on the stroke of half-time.

Kevin Sandwith swung over a free-kick just before the break and defender Andrew Boyce bundled it home at the far post.

It was Boyce's second goal in two games after he scored the winner against Histon last Saturday.

"I think we did well to go in at 1-1 at the break. They will be disappointed not to have gone further ahead," added Housham.

"But we had a chat at half-time and got ourselves organised and in the end I think we could have won the game.

"It's a mark of a good side when you can earn a draw away at a good team like Halifax and still be disappointed not get all three points.

"But the lads will take a lot of confidence from this result for the game against Altrincham on Saturday."

Trinity enjoyed a good spell of possession and made it count after 57 minutes when Leon Mettam laid it back for Connor who fired home.

The Shaymen's equaliser arrived after 73 minutes when Liam Needham's first-time cross was lashed home by Simon Garner from eight yards.

"It was a good result for us and it moves us back into the play-off places," said Housham.

"It will give us a lift, psychologically when you see yourself in those play-off spots. It is ours to keep now."

Trinity have another big tests on Saturday when they welcome Altrincham to the Northolme, a team on a four-game unbeaten run and who also have the services of striker Damian Reeves, who has hit five goals in his last two games.

"It is a big game for us, a real six-pointer," added Housham.

"We will have to watch Reeves, but at the same Altrincham will have to watch Paul Connor and Ryan Kendall.

"Connor has scored three in two games now and he was excellent again on Tuesday.

"Getting that first goal for the club last Saturday will have brought the confidence he needed.

"He is doing very well for us and on Tuesday he showed another aspect to his game playing just behind the front men.

"But it wasn't just about Connor. Everyone worked their socks off and left the pitch absolutely shattered.

"I can't really ask for any more of the players I was delighted with the way they dug in. On the face of it a draw away at Halifax looks good, but I can't help thinking we could have won."