FC Halifax Town suffered a frustrating 3-2 defeat against Barrow AFC after a dramatic second-half comeback saw The Bluebirds overturn a two-goal deficit, despite a Ben Tollitt brace putting The Shaymen in control.
Town faced some familiar faces, with Barrow starting three former Shaymen in Arian Allen, Adam Adetoro and Thierry Latty-Fairweather.
The Bluebirds applied pressure from the start, but Town’s back line prevented any early opportunities.
The Shaymen almost took the lead in the eighth minute after Barrow failed to clear their lines. A long ball from Cody Johnson found Conor Carty, who drove forward before getting a shot away, but his effort was comfortably saved.
Town came close again three minutes later after another long ball found Conor Douglas, who made a daring run before sending the ball across the face of goal towards Carty, whose effort was saved well by Ben Winterbottom.
Town won a free kick in the 22nd minute following a foul on Dylan Crowe. Johnson whipped the ball in, but Barrow cleared their lines. Play was then paused following a clash of heads between Adetoro and Shaun Hobson, with Adetoro replaced by Danny Amos in the 26th minute.
The Shaymen took the lead two minutes later after Carty intercepted a loose pass and drove forward before laying the ball off to Tollitt. The winger showed some lovely footwork to beat his man before slotting home.
Barrow captain Isaac Marriott received the first booking in the 34th minute following a crunching challenge on Tayt Trusty. Corey Edwards was also booked two minutes later after pulling Douglas to the ground.
Barrow won a free kick in a promising position, but their effort struck the wall. Raheem Conte then received a yellow card in the 40th minute for a shirt pull.
The Bluebirds made two changes before the second half, with Mikey Lane and Innes Cameron replacing Allen and Alex Reid.
Barrow applied the pressure after the restart, but Town defended well to deny an equaliser.
The Shaymen made two changes in the 53rd minute, with Deniche Hill and Zak Gilsenan replacing Crowe and Cruz Allen.
Town doubled their lead in the 61st minute through Tollitt once again. Johnson played a wonderful ball over the top, allowing the winger to take a great touch before dancing past three Barrow players and placing his effort into the bottom-left corner.
Barrow responded with another change in the 63rd minute as Seb Thomson replaced George Altar.
The Shaymen enjoyed a flurry of chances after doubling their advantage but couldn’t find a third.
The Bluebirds pulled one back in the 74th minute following a wonderful strike from outside the box.
Carty was booked two minutes later before Town introduced Amari Morgan-Smith and Will Hugill in place of Carty and Trusty.
Barrow equalised in the 81st minute after a piercing cross into Town’s box found substitute Cameron, who managed to turn the ball past True Grant.
The Bluebirds thought they had completed the comeback three minutes later following a corner. Grant produced a wonderful save, but Barrow capitalised on the rebound and fired home, only for the effort to be ruled offside.
Town were reduced to ten men in the 89th minute after Conte received his second yellow card for bringing down the last man.
With four minutes added on, Barrow completed their comeback in the 91st minute. Another dangerous delivery found Cameron, who leapt above Hobson, Flint and Grant to head home the winner.
Despite Tollitt’s impressive brace putting Town in a commanding position, The Shaymen were left empty-handed after three late Barrow goals secured all three points for The Bluebirds.
Match Stats
FC Halifax Town
33 True Grant, 3 Raheem Conte, 5 Shaun Hobson, 8 Will Flint, 9 Conor Carty (14 Amari Morgan-Smith 79) 11 Connor Douglas, 17 Ben Tollitt (24 Tommy McDermott 90), 20 Tayt Trusty (4 Will Hugill 80), 23 Dylan Crowe (16 Deniche Hill 54) 27 Cruz Allen (10 Zak Gilsenan 54), 30 Cody Johnson (c)
Subs: 13 Kobe Mathers, 6 Mackenzie Maltby
Barrow
1 Ben Winterbottom, 2 Marcel Oakley, 3 Adam Adetoro (22 Danny Amos), 5 Corey Edwards, 9 Alex Reid (18 Ines Cameron 46), 11 George walker (14 Seb Thompson 62), 19 Arian Allen (32 Mike Lane 46), 26 Rakeem Harper, 27 Isaac Marriott, 33 Xavier Benjamin, 36 Thierry Latty-Fairweather
Subs: 10 Keaton Ward, 17 Katia Kouyate, 23 Dan Mooney
Referee: Michael Barlow
Goals: Tollitt 29, 61, Thompson 74, Cameron 81, 90 +2
Yellow Cards: Marriott 35, Edwards 37, Conte 41, Carty 76
Red Cards: Conte 89
Attendance: 1375 (365 away)
FC Halifax Town 2 Barrow 3
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